By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK A groundbreaking new AIDS documentary film series was last Wednesday premiered at the Polytechnic of Namibia. The four film series, titled ‘Acceptance’, produced by Polytechnic students, has been screened by the NBC’s television service as from last Sunday and will continue to be screened for the next three weekends. “This is the first in a series produced under the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief as part of the Polytechnic’s new initiative to become a centre for film instruction in Namibia,” said the ChargÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚© d’Affaires of the American Embassy, Eric Benjaminson, at the official launch of the film series. According to him, the films have a greater importance for Namibia in its fight against the AIDS pandemic. “These videos showcase new Namibian voices telling uniquely Namibian stories. We applaud the female characters in the films courageously speaking out about their experiences in living with AIDS. For this we salute them. The premiere of the film ‘Makiti Aftermath’, selected both for its stories, and the skill in which it was produced is both a cautionary tale and one of hope,” Benjaminson said. The other three documentary films in the series are titled ‘Climbing Kilimandjaro’, ‘Testimony’ and ‘Kaapena Shikkukutu Shahuku’ “We need these young film directors to continue producing this kind of work so that average Namibians can understand the risks they take and seek the hope that treatment and counselling on AIDS can provide. We need bold men and women, such as the new Director General of the NBC, who are willing to air such stories,” he said of Bob Kandetu, who was absent from the event. The ChargÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚© d’Affaires also mentioned that his government has since 2004 contributed N$870 million towards the fight against AIDS in Namibia.