E4. Best Documentary (Nominee)
Denis from Delaware
From Magenta Stafford
A brief snippet into the astounding life of American-Australian man, Denis Chandler. From his family life and upbringing, to the hardships of the AIDs epidemic in New York, Denis shares the intimate story that is his life.
Hello, my name is Magenta Stafford and I am from Brisbane, Queensland! I am currently studying at Brisbane State High School in year 12, and my film ‘Denis from Delaware’ was shortlisted for the Editing category. I am an aspiring filmmaker who hopes to continue my film studies throughout university in the following years, and dream to work in the industry in the future.
What inspired you and your work?
My film Denis from Delaware was created from the desire to discover. As a young woman born in the early 2000’s, I realised I didn’t have a great understanding of the lives of AIDs survivors now, and what they experienced in the past. Denis is a close family friend of mine, and through many conversations with him over the years I came to realise the rich history he had behind him, which has helped contribute to his amazingly bubbly personality. His openness, and willingness to be so vulnerable made me realise the perfect person to shed light on, and share personal experiences was him. With this documentary, I hoped to bring greater awareness of the AIDs epidemic to a younger generation, as well as share a bit of Denis’ light with the world, in hopes to encourage others to be as brave and loveable as he is.