OFFICIAL SELECTION - Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival | EXCELLENCE AWARD - Out On Film Atlanta LGBTQ Film Festival
Aids • Activism • LGBTQ • Latino • Reality Television • Civil Rights • Same-Sex Marriage • 1990s • Miami • San Francisco • MTV
Date of Completion: 2021 | Run Time: 98 minutes | Languages: English & Spanish | Captions: Yes | Includes: Transcript | Director: William T. Horner & Stacey Woelfel
To borrow the slogan of MTV’s The Real World, this is the true story—the true story of a pandemic; politics; misunderstanding and prejudice; the impact of the media; and, most importantly, AIDS activist Pedro Zamora, his life, his joy, and his influence, as told by people who knew and loved him, and by those who witnessed the strength of his commitment and its impact. Pedro refused to give in to the disease he knew would kill him, demanding throughout his decline and hospitalization that MTV “keep the cameras rolling.” While he died on November 11, 1994 at the young age of 22, his insistence on his way with bravery, humanity, and love truly changed the world. ...this is the true story—the true story of AIDS activist Pedro Zamora’s way.
"The terrific documentary "Keep the Cameras Rolling: The Pedro Zamora Way" charts how the charismatic and articulate HIV-positive Cuban-American Zamora with movie star looks, wound up a star on MTV's 1992 "The Real World (the first reality TV show). He educated viewers about living with HIV, then as one of TV's few openly gay people, married his boyfriend in the first televised gay wedding, decades before it became legal. Roommate Judd Winick and housemate Pam Ling later married, becoming HIV activists and preserving Pedro's legacy with their heartbreaking reminiscences. The documentary brings the affable, impassioned, brave Pedro back to life, helping us understand why he deserves to be remembered and cherished, after his 1994 death at age 22, hours after "Real World's" final episode aired."
QueerGuru | Ris Fatah, Writer
"A beautiful tear-jerking documentary, well worth your time."
Film Threat | Benjamin Franz, Writer
"Keep the Cameras Rolling: The Pedro Zamora Way will likely prove a documentary people may not necessarily seek out. But, they will never forget its warmth if they watch it."
AWARDS
Excellence Award | Out on Film Atlanta LGBTQ Film Festival
Audience Award | Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival
Outdstanding Excellence Award | LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival
Audience Choice Award | Durango Independent Film Festival
FILM FESTIVALS
Outfest Fusion
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
St. Louis International Film Festival
Miami Film Festival
Kansas City Film Fest International
Way Out West Film Fest
Milwaukee Film Festival
San Francisco Documentary Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival
NewFest New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival
OUTshine at Home Film Festival
New York Latino Film Festival
Dayton LGBT Film Festival
Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival