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(WASHINGTON) As a number of documentary films attacking U.S. policies debut and launch production in various countries, a new film explores the horrors of the AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and documents the leading-edge successes coming from the unprecedented and massive American humanitarian effort to combat it in some of the poorest areas of the world.

The new film -- "STEPPING UP: AMERICA RESPONDS TO GLOBAL AIDS," by filmmakers Ed and Michael Lopatin -- is set to debut at twin events in Washington, D.C., and at the XV World AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

Billions of dollars in U.S. aid is now flowing into Africa to combat AIDS, and President Bush has just announced an increase of funding and an expansion of the target countries for the global effort. But never before has a film shown where this aid money is going, who it is helping, and why it is so important.

"STEPPING UP" takes the viewer into the urban communities of South Africa, and out to the areas of rural devastation in Botswana and Uganda. Through the voices of African men and women from all sectors of society, it tells the story of what AIDS has done to entire nations, and how their agony is mixed with the hope that a better day may be ahead.

The filmmakers visit harried American aid workers, desperately trying to scale up facilities to deal with the overwhelming numbers of dead and dying spilling out from hospital wards out onto the hospital lawn.

African women speak forcefully about their plight in a culture which stifles their voices and worsens the spread of HIV, and yet emerge as the conscience of their nations.

And the cameras watch the faces of AIDS patients who were near death as they are told for the first time that their blood tests are bringing back good results.

"STEPPING UP" bears witness to the sorrow of orphans picked up alone from funerals throughout rural areas, and to grandparents who have lost all their adult children to AIDS and are left with scores of grandchildren to care for.

It also finds hope in an auto factory, where the managers and unions have joined hands to provide assistance to every HIV-positive worker, and halting the tide of illness and death.

Featuring the voices of the leaders in the U.S. AIDS effort in Africa -- from Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), a lead sponsor of the effort in Congress, to Randall Tobias, President Bush's Global AIDS envoy -- the film explains what led to the massive relief effort, how it works, and what it now means to individual African men and women facing the devastation every day.

As the world media focuses on war and conflict in the Middle East, the dramatic and unfathomable events unfolding in Africa can no longer be ignored. With all the debate over the role of America in the world, and with new scrutiny on the U.S. relief effort in Africa, "STEPPING UP" brings the reality of this important issue of immense humanitarian importance directly to the American people.

"STEPPING UP" - A FILM BY ED AND MICHAEL LOPATIN

Sponsored by the AIDS Responsibility Project

WASHINGTON LAUNCH VIP RECEPTION

Featuring:

SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR (R-IN), Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

AMBASSADOR RANDALL TOBIAS. President Bushs Global AIDS Coordinator

Members of Congress; Members of U.S. Delegation to XV World AIDS Conference (Bangkok)

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at The Stephen Decatur House, Washington, D.C.

(Jackson Place and H Street, N.W., on Lafayette Square)

**Invitation Only**

CAPITOL HILL SCREENING and LUNCHEON

Luncheon and full screening of the film at the United States Capitol

for Congressional Members and Staff

Wednesday, July 7, 2004, 11:30am

**Invitation Only**

More more information: events@aidsresponsibility.org