CANFAR’s new short film shares the experiences of three Canadians who have lived with HIV for over 35 years…
A powerful new Canadian documentary is exploring HIV and aging, a growing public health topic that has often been overlooked in public discourse due to stigma and a historical perception of HIV as a disease primarily affects younger populations. The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research’s (CANFAR) first-ever documentary short, Still Here, is a 40-minute look at the lives of three members of the community that have all lived for over 35 years with HIV.
Still Here highlights both resilience and realities of HIV and aging by following three individuals, each with unique stories: Juno Award–winning singer/songwriter Billy Newton-Davis, drag artist and community builder Jade Elektra, and Indigenous HIV advocate Trevor Stratton. The powerful documentary reminds us that while treatment advances have transformed HIV into a manageable condition, long-term survivors face new health considerations, from co-morbidities to the ongoing impact of stigma.
The subject of HIV and aging is a significant. According to CANFAR, half of all Canadians living with HIV are over the age of 50 and one win five new HIV diagnoses across the country are people who are over the age of 50. Startling statistics that make the documentary, which has just been released to the public, feel even more timely.
“Canada reported its first case of AIDS in 1982, when the life expectancy for someone diagnosed was just one to three years,” said Roxanne Ma, Interim Co-Executive Director at CANFAR. “This documentary shows how far we’ve come – people living with HIV can and do lead long, healthy lives thanks to medical breakthroughs. But it also underlines the urgent need to address the unique challenges of aging with HIV.”
“Knowledge gaps fuel stigma and keep people from getting tested or seeking treatment,” added Ma. “Through long-form storytelling, Still Here challenges perceptions by showing Billy, Trevor and Jade living the full, rich lives that were once thought impossible for people with HIV.”
Still Here was initially screened in community previews in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa earlier this fall, but CANFAR hopes it can now reach a wider audience through streaming. You can watch CANFAR’s power short documentary Still Here below.
For more information visit: canfar.com/still-here.
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