December 1 is dubbed as World AIDS Day, wherein people join together to fight against HIV and AIDS, and the stigma and impact that comes with them to this day.
Aside from this, it is also a great reminder of the stories of those we lost in the crisis, which help us empathize with them and educate ourselves about the illness.
With that, in commemoration of this year's World AIDS Day with the theme "Equalize," here are some documentary films you can stream to raise your awareness on the matters of HIV and AIDS:
1. 'How To Survive A Plague' (2012)
HIV Aids Connection reviews "How to Survive a Plague" as an Academy Award-nominated documentary that covers the events at the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York City.
It follows a group of activists as they struggle to get a response from the United States government to address the growing issue, and to develop effective medications for the illness.
This documentary is available to stream on Prime Video and Netflix.
2. 'United In Anger: A History Of ACT UP' (2012)
Along with the documentary "How to Survive a Plague," "United In Anger" tells the stories of progress made by the activist organization ACT UP, beginning from how it was founded.
Streaming on Youtube and Prime Video, the documentary follows how the small group of activists rose, fought, and survived the HIV/AIDS crisis.
It also details the specific steps the organization made to actualize their calls, and contextualize their activism around the destigmatization of the HIV/AIDS conversation.
3. 'We Were Here' (2010)
GLAAD reports that "We Were Here" is a story from the opposite coast of the United States as San Francisco became the hotbed for the HIV/AIDS crisis in California.
It has firsthand accounts of people living with HIV/AIDS, and archival footage that shows who the city was kicked down by the relentless disease.
"We Were Here" also tackles the overlooked roled of queer women in the crisis, and it is available for streaming on Netflix.
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4. 'Tongues Untied' (1989)
The Ida writes that "Tongues Untied" is a documentary film that aims to shatter America's brutal silence on the issue of sexual and racial differences when it comes to the epidemic.
It blends actual archival footages with personal fiction to portray the story of black gay man that not only speaks about the physical events of the crisis, but also about the deeper truths on thoughts and experiences.
This 1989 documentary can be streamed on Youtube for those who want to watch it.
5. 'Fire In The Blood' (2012)
Speaking of tackling the issue of being from a marginalized sector during the HIV/AIDS crisis, "Fire in the Blood" revolves around the story of those in the global south.
This documentary shows a small group of activists fighting big pharmaceutical companies who gatekeep the access to AIDS drugs.
Streaming on Netflix, this film is a solid reminder to continue to fight corporate interest to keep the global community safe.
6. 'Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt' (1989)
According to The Ida, "Common Threads" documents the story behind the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, which introduces views to five personalities who are each represented by a panel on the quilt.
Streaming on Kanopy, this documentary follows the events leading to the political tipping point of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States as activists push the federal government to act.
7. 'Vito' (2011)
Available to stream on Amazon, "Vito" is a documentary on the story of GLAAD co-founder Vito Russo's life and activism as he did work towards a wider acceptance of the LGBT community.
This film shows how influential Russo was in getting voices of people living with HIV/AIDS heard by the media and by the institutions who are neglecting them as they fight for visibility and recognition.
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