Special allows young people across latin america and the caribbean to talk openly about issues related to hiv and aids
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LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX! UNICEF AND MTV’S STAYING ALIVE ANNOUNCE XPRESS FOR WORLD AIDS DAY SPECIAL ALLOWS YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN TO TALK OPENLY ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO HIV AND AIDS New York/Sao Paolo, November 27, 2007 – In partnership with UNICEF, MTV Networks International’s global multimedia HIV and AIDS prevention campaign, Staying Alive announces Xpress, a tri-channel production for World AIDS Day. A co-production between Staying Alive, MTV Brasil, MTV Latin America and Caribbean channel Tempo, the special will be available to all broadcasters and content distributors worldwide for TV, online and mobile, 100% cost and rights free. Translated in English, Spanish and Portuguese, Xpress will air globally starting on World AIDS Day, December 1. Following from last year’s successful program Sexpress Yourself, Xpress is a one-hour special in which young people across the Latin American and Caribbean region are given the opportunity to talk openly and honestly about core issues that affect them; including sex, poverty, gender-based violence and self-expression. Set against the backdrop of the vibrant dance hall scene in Jamaica, the favelas of Brazil and the violent scenes of gender violence in Juarez, North Mexico, young people, musicians, and actors talk candidly about sexuality, homophobia, gender roles, and HIV and AIDS. In addition, Xpress sees dancehall sensations Ce’cile and Tanya Stevens give their take on gender roles, while acclaimed music video director Ras Kassa (Welcome to JamRock, Damien Marley) discusses the impact dancehall has on the Jamaican culture. In Brazil, hip hop phenomenon and social activist, MVBill, takes a fresh look at the issues of poverty, violence and homophobia in the Brazilian shantytowns. Ilana Sod, journalist and MTV Latin America VJ travels to Juarez in the north of Mexico to confront the on-going violent murders of women in the Mexico/USA border town. "MTV’s Staying Alive continues to provide young people with critical prevention messages on HIV," said Georgia Arnold, Vice President, Public Affairs, MTV Networks International. "In the case of Xpress, we are able to reach key populations across Latin America and the Caribbean to engage with them and discuss what might be taboo in their communities." “HIV continues to be a burning issue for young people but increasingly it cuts across many areas. We can’t get effective HIV prevention messages out to young people if we’re not talking about poverty, about violence, about gender roles, about issues that are at the core of young people’s sexuality and sexual behaviours. Xpress gives the microphone directly to young people and they express openly and creatively about how challenging it is living in a world with HIV and social problems in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Mark Connolly, Senior Advisor, UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, MTV will premiere previously announced documentary 48Fest: Kenya, also on World AIDS Day. This special follows 30 young people as they script, shoot and edit a three-minute film on women and HIV/AIDS in a 48-hour period. 48Fest: Kenya was held during the 2007 International Women’s Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. Also airing is Testing Diaries, a half-hour programme that chronicles the journey of three young people in Jamaica, India and Ghana, as they make the decision to get tested for HIV. The special follows these young people as they reflect on the reasons to get tested to the dramatic moment when they find out their results. Please check your local listings for specific airtimes for all programmes. Xpress was produced by Sonya Wells. Mauro Garcia Dahmer directed while Georgia Arnold and Cathy Phiri served as Executive Producers. UNICEF provided funding for the programme. Music for the soundtrack was provided by MV Bill, Ce’cile, Tanya Stevens, Firebug and FLU. Launched in 1998, Staying Alive is a multimedia global HIV and AIDS prevention campaign that challenges stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS as well as empowers young people to protect themselves from infection. The Emmy award-winning campaign consists of documentaries, public service announcements, youth forums and multi-lingual Web content. Staying Alive provides all of its television programming rights-free and at no cost to 3rd party broadcasters globally to get crucial prevention messages out to the widest possible audience. The Staying Alive campaign is a partnership between MTV Networks International, UNAIDS, UNFPA, The David and Lucille Packard Foundation, the Kaiser Family Foundation and M.A.C. AIDS Fund. More information about Staying Alive can be found at the newly relaunched www.staying-alive.org. MTV Networks International is also an active member of the United Nations-supported Global Media AIDS Initiative (GMAI). MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Game One and IFILM. MTV Networks' brands are seen in 510.8 million households in 161 countries and 32 languages via more than 145 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 300 digital properties. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B). UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. Note to broadcasters: To air Xpress, or any other Staying Alive programming rights free and at no cost, contact: Ludo Dufour (dufour.ludo@mtvne.com) in London at +44 (0) 20 7478 6314. -Ends-
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