AIDS documentary Battle of amFAR airs this Sunday on HBO
Wed. November 27, 2013 6:45 PM
Hollywood, CA -
HBO Documentary Films presents a weekly series this fall, debuting provocative new specials every Monday from October 7 through December 9. In the darkest days of the AIDS pandemic, two very different women – Hollywood superstar Elizabeth Taylor and research scientist Dr. Mathilde Krim – joined forces to create amfAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research), America's first AIDS research foundation.
In 1981, research scientist Dr. Mathilde Krim learned of unusual cancer cases, all of which involved gay men, that were showing up in the medical practice of a friend. A politically and socially active New Yorker, she was eager to learn all she could about the disease, and when people began to die, the potential magnitude of the problem became a concern. In response, Dr. Krim and a few colleagues committed their own money to gaining a better understanding of the disease.
AIDS research found an unlikely ally in Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor, who was devastated by the loss of her good friend, actor Rock Hudson, to the disease. When Dr. Krim called Taylor to see if she would be interested in getting involved with the cause, the actress agreed immediately, and amfAR, the first national organization to mobilize the scientific community in the fight against AIDS, was born. As they started speaking out about the disease and the need for research, Krim recalled that Taylor "was terrific. She was moving. The public responded to her."
In addition to recent and archival interviews with Krim and archival footage of Taylor, THE BATTLE OF AMFAR features interviews with amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole, AIDS activist Richard Berkowitz, philanthropist Aileen Getty (Elizabeth Taylor's daughter-in-law), journalist Regan Hofmann, New York University microbiologist Dr. Nathanial Landau, AIDS researcher Dr. Jeffrey Laurence, researcher Dr. Mario Stevenson and Black AIDS Institute founder Phill Wilson, among others. Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's previous HBO credits include the Oscar®-winning "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt," the Emmy®-winning "The Celluloid Closet" and "Paragraph 175." Epstein also directed the Oscar®-winning film "The Times of Harvey Milk."
Directed by Rob Epstein (HBO's Oscar®-winning "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt") and Jeffrey Friedman (HBO's Emmy®-winning "The Celluloid Closet"), and executive produced by iconic New York fashion designer and amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole, THE BATTLE OF AMFAR tells the story of the unlikely pairing of these extraordinary women, who came together to fight the disease. To mark World AIDS Day, the thought-provoking documentary has a sneak peak SUNDAY, DEC. 1 (3:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO2, followed by its prime-time debut MONDAY, DEC. 2 (9:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.
Other HBO playdates: Dec. 2 (5:15 a.m.), 5 (2:45 p.m.), 7 (5:10 a.m.), 8 (5:00 p.m.), 10 (10:30 a.m., 12:30 a.m.), 14 (11:45 a.m.) and 25 (5:20 a.m.) Other HBO2 playdates: Dec. 4 (8:00 p.m.), 12 (1:45 p.m.), 16 (3:45 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 21 (10:50 a.m.) and 31 (5:15 p.m.)
In 1981, research scientist Dr. Mathilde Krim learned of unusual cancer cases, all of which involved gay men, that were showing up in the medical practice of a friend. A politically and socially active New Yorker, she was eager to learn all she could about the disease, and when people began to die, the potential magnitude of the problem became a concern. In response, Dr. Krim and a few colleagues committed their own money to gaining a better understanding of the disease.
AIDS research found an unlikely ally in Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor, who was devastated by the loss of her good friend, actor Rock Hudson, to the disease. When Dr. Krim called Taylor to see if she would be interested in getting involved with the cause, the actress agreed immediately, and amfAR, the first national organization to mobilize the scientific community in the fight against AIDS, was born. As they started speaking out about the disease and the need for research, Krim recalled that Taylor "was terrific. She was moving. The public responded to her."
In addition to recent and archival interviews with Krim and archival footage of Taylor, THE BATTLE OF AMFAR features interviews with amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole, AIDS activist Richard Berkowitz, philanthropist Aileen Getty (Elizabeth Taylor's daughter-in-law), journalist Regan Hofmann, New York University microbiologist Dr. Nathanial Landau, AIDS researcher Dr. Jeffrey Laurence, researcher Dr. Mario Stevenson and Black AIDS Institute founder Phill Wilson, among others. Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's previous HBO credits include the Oscar®-winning "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt," the Emmy®-winning "The Celluloid Closet" and "Paragraph 175." Epstein also directed the Oscar®-winning film "The Times of Harvey Milk."
Directed by Rob Epstein (HBO's Oscar®-winning "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt") and Jeffrey Friedman (HBO's Emmy®-winning "The Celluloid Closet"), and executive produced by iconic New York fashion designer and amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole, THE BATTLE OF AMFAR tells the story of the unlikely pairing of these extraordinary women, who came together to fight the disease. To mark World AIDS Day, the thought-provoking documentary has a sneak peak SUNDAY, DEC. 1 (3:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO2, followed by its prime-time debut MONDAY, DEC. 2 (9:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.
Other HBO playdates: Dec. 2 (5:15 a.m.), 5 (2:45 p.m.), 7 (5:10 a.m.), 8 (5:00 p.m.), 10 (10:30 a.m., 12:30 a.m.), 14 (11:45 a.m.) and 25 (5:20 a.m.) Other HBO2 playdates: Dec. 4 (8:00 p.m.), 12 (1:45 p.m.), 16 (3:45 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 21 (10:50 a.m.) and 31 (5:15 p.m.)