Access to Life – The Marie Sonie St. Louis Story

The story of Marie Sonie St. Louis of Haiti is one of four intimate portraits produced by Podium Arts as part of the "Access to Life" project, for The Global Fund in partnership with Magnum Photos.  This initiative is part of a major international campaign presenting the dramatic achievements of TGFs' HIV treatment efforts in countries around the world.  Originally produced for use at the Access to Life Launch Event (also designed and produced by Podium), the video stories are now being repurposed for multiple platforms including the Web, press (aired on PBS "Now" and NBC Nightly News) and live presentation (featured in the opening plenary session at the XVII International Aids Conference in Mexico City).  Featuring original underscore by Senegalese world music artist Youssou N'Dour, the stories combine the images of world class photographers from Magnum Photos with video and audio documentation captured around the world.  All video content for the project was finished in HD video. Multiple portraits in this series won Telly Awards for achievements in Social Issues video communications.

Magnum Photographer:  Jonas Bendiksen -- Field Writer/Producer: John Coll Metcalfe