An interview with Brendan Crabb, President of Burnet Institute, on funding, the role of philanthropy, science today and in the future.

Sharon Lewin, Australian Infectious Disease physician and researcher, talks about the advances in HIV research and challenges for the future.

XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. Ending of a panel session on the vaccine trials of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). Seth Berkley, Alan Bernstein and Omu Anzala respond to questions from the audience.

This film tells the US story of the AIDS epidemic starting in the early 1980's. Scientists and activists, both pioneers and youths of today, talk about research, prevention, treatment and care. They also discuss stigma, homophobia and poverty as closely related to HIV and AIDS.

In the last part of the interview with Dr Anthony Fauci he reflects on the global HIV/AIDS situation and response. He also compares AIDS to other diseases such as the Bird Flu, and discusses the specific social and socioeconomic factors of HIV/AIDS.

Sten Vermund from University of Alabama reflects on the history of the global AIDS epidemic and his involvement in the field as a young scientist in the 80's. He discusses the social and economic factors of HIV/AIDS, such as stigma, poverty and the drug industry.

The primary focus of this documentary is on the history of how the AIDS epidemic started in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York in 1981. Many different stories are told about people affected or surrounded by HIV and AIDS in the early years of the epidemic.