Films & Events

Join us for a special collaboration with Harriet Hancock Center where we highlight powerful stories that deserve to be seen on the big screen, including the moving documentary 5B, directed by Dan Krauss and Paul Haggis. The film tells the remarkable true story of the nurses and caregivers who, in 1983, opened the first dedicated AIDS ward at San Francisco General Hospital during the height of the AIDS crisis. At a time when fear, stigma, and misinformation surrounded the disease, the staff of Ward 5B chose compassion over fear—pioneering new standards of patient care rooted in dignity, empathy, and human connection.

Through powerful first-person testimonies from nurses, patients, and loved ones, 5B captures a pivotal moment in American history and honors the quiet heroes who changed how the medical world treated people living with AIDS. The documentary premiered at the San Francisco Doc Stories and later screened at the Cannes Film Festival, earning international attention for its emotional storytelling. It also received the Grand Prix in Entertainment at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, recognizing the film’s powerful impact and cultural significance.

Both heartbreaking and uplifting, 5B stands as a tribute to courage, compassion, and the people who changed the course of healthcare during one of the most devastating public health crises of the modern era.

Prior to the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to hear a brief presentation from Carmen H. Julious, CEO of Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services. This presentation will share an overview of the comprehensive HIV/AIDS resources and support services that PALSS offers across South Carolina, as well as highlight the organization’s ongoing efforts to promote education, advocacy, and community care for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS.

2018. 93 min.

Rated PG-13 for thematic content including unsettling images, and some strong language.