Madonna: Pop Star, Philanthropist, Documentarian

Jen Smith
Fancast.com

Today is World AIDS Day, and pop star/philanthropist Madonna is doing her part to raise awareness. Her documentary, “I Am Because We Are” makes its TV debut tonight on the Sundance Channel.

It’s much more than just a side project—she wanted to awaken the American people to the crisis in the impoverished African nation of Malawi.

Malawi has an overabundance of children who are orphaned as a result of the country’s AIDS problem. Madonna adopted her 3-year-old son from Malawi, but has continued her efforts by building a school there and filming the documentary.

Madonna wrote, produced and narrated the story, which also features President Bill Clinton and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. She tells an AP reporter that she had many goals for the film.

“I did get to a point where I thought, ‘I’m being overambitious, I’m trying to say too much, I’ll never accomplish it,’ she said. But I feel proud of the fact that I did get to make all my points.”

The documentary airs tonight at 9 p.m. on the Sundance Channel.

Watch Madonna talk about another one of her films, Filth & Wisdom, on Fancast.