AllMovie

In 1983, a growing number of Americans became aware of a sexually-transmitted disease that was spreading among gay men, Haitians, and intravenous drug users that became known as AIDS. Mathilde Krim, a veteran research scientist working with the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, had been studying the new illness and believed more time and money needed to be invested in its prevention, treatment, and eventual cure. With this in mind, Krim spearheaded the formation of the American Foundation for AIDS Research, or amfAR, and as Krim rallied support from the scientific community, Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor became the public spokesperson for the organization, working against widely held fear and prejudice to convince people of the importance of amfAR's mission. Filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman offer a concise look into the history of this pioneering AIDS research organization and the two women who helped make it a reality in the documentary The Battle of amfAR. The film received its world premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.