WASHINGTON, D.C. –- Concluding an extensive national call for submissions and thorough review process, BET, the Black AIDS Institute, Kaiser Family Foundation and YWCA proudly announce today that “Let’s Talk” and “Multitude of Mercies” are the two winning screenplays of the 2nd Annual Rap-It-Up/Black AIDS Short Subject Film Competition (RIU/BASS).

After a thorough review and judging of the more than 200 entries by a committee of health educators, entertainment executives and celebrities, the final decision was unanimous to choose two winners for their exceptional entries in this year’s RIU/BASS film competition.

The phenomenal writing team of Drew Anderson, Justin Follin, Charneice Fox and Michelle Sewell from Washington, DC, won for their stirring screenplay “Multitude of Mercies,” a story depicting how a young Black minister personally deals with HIV/AIDS in his church.

Michelle Lynne Coons of Los Angeles also won for her poignant screenplay, “Let's Talk,” which tackles a difficult subject facing many couples today – how to raise the issue of HIV testing in the context of a burgeoning relationship.

Both screenplays will be produced into short films to debut on BET on World AIDS Day (December 1, 2005) and National HIV Testing Day (June 27, 2006) respectively.

The RIU/BASS Film Competition was first launched in January 2004 to raise awareness about HIV prevention, testing, treatment and the impact of HIV/AIDS in Black communities in the United States. HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of death for African Americans between the ages of 25 – 44 and is the top cause of death for African-American women between the ages of 25 – 34.

“We are proud of the notable success this film competition has garnered over the last year as part of our overall effort to inform our viewers about HIV/AIDS,” said Reginald Hudlin, BET’s President of Entertainment. “In addition to providing a platform for potential filmmakers to showcase their work, it also provides an invaluable vehicle for the network to educate our audiences about this epidemic.”

“As an actor, I know the tremendous power and influence a film has on its viewers,” said Hill Harper, actor and RIU/BASS judge. “After reviewing the many thought-provoking entries, I look forward to seeing the winning films’ potential impact in changing someone’s sexual behavior or outlook on HIV/AIDS. Because of that, I’m proud to have been a part of this overall effort to educate the community about the devastating effects of this deadly disease.”

“It will require a diversity of Black voices to end the AIDS epidemic in Black communities,” stated Phill Wilson, Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute. “The RIU/BASS film competition is an attempt to provide a creative forum for some of those voices. Both ‘Multitude of Mercies’ and ‘Let’s Talk’ add a much needed perspective to the HIV/AIDS discourse in Black America.”

“As HIV/AIDS continues to disproportionately impact African Americans, stories like ‘Multitude of Mercies’ and ‘Let’s Talk’ help raise awareness and reduce stigma,” said Tina Hoff, Vice President and Director of Entertainment Media Partnerships at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The RIU/BASS Film Competition is a part of BET’s Rap-It-Up HIV/AIDS corporate initiative, a public education partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation that has been informing young adults about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) since 1998. To date, BET’s Rap-It-Up has tested over 8,000 young people for HIV, managed over one million calls to the Rap-It-Up toll-free hotline, hosted teen forums for over 9,200 youth in over 29 markets nationwide, and reached millions of viewers through HIV-related programming, including award-winning news specials, documentaries and public service announcements (PSAs).