As a sponsor of picturesfestival.com, The Walrus presents an online photo essay by filmmaker and photographer Liz Marshall.

A Portrait of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa

“I had the honour to work for the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) to document the impact of HIV/AIDS on communities and individuals in sub-Saharan Africa; specifically on women, orphans and grandmothers. In the spring of 2006 I journeyed with a small documentary crew through urban and rural South Africa, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda, to visit some of the grassroots organizations SLF supports. Seventy-two hours of dense material, in eight African languages, has since been developed into three half-hour films; a trilogy that gives voice to those who are sick, dying, and resiliently surviving in the face of the AIDS pandemic. As part of this unforgettable and life-changing assignment I took over 500 photographs, both in black and white and colour. The following sequence of images represents the spectrum I witnessed; one that revealed itself in every moment: poverty, human suffering, gender inequality, and overwhelming injustice combined with unimaginable strength of character, intense beauty, and a glowing spirit of generosity.”
— Liz Marshall

Biography
Liz Marshall is an award-winning filmmaker who has travelled extensively to make documentaries on socio-political issues including censorship, war-affected children, globalization, sweatshop labour, refugees, and HIV and AIDS.

While contributing to award-winning programs with television networks she has also directed films in partnership with non-governmental organizations War Child Canada, PEN Canada, Right To Play, and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Additionally, for the last decade, Liz has been making short art films and music videos. She is also a passionate stills photographer. www.lizmars.com

About the Stephen Lewis Foundation
The Stephen Lewis Foundation helps to ease the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa at the grassroots level. It provides care to women who are ill and struggling to survive; assists orphans and other AIDS affected children; supports heroic grandmothers who almost single-handedly care for their orphan grandchildren; and supports associations of people living with HIV/AIDS. To find out more, visit www.stephenlewisfoundation.org.