Have you seen the "Anopheles" documentary yet?
It's a full-length documentary that tells the story of the partnerships, science and community engagements that drive efforts to eliminate malaria on an island off the coast of Central Africa. Billed as a University of California Malaria Initiative (UCMI) film, it includes UC Davis medical entomologists Greg Lanzaro and Anthony "Anton" Cornel.
It deals with the scientists' work in São Tomé and Príncipe. As of Friday, the movie, produced in 2025 by Dulcinea Productions and directed by Will Agee, is available to stream online and on Roku. (See
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"It is a beautiful film, roughly one hour long," said Lanzaro, a professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He is the former director of the now-folded UC Mosquito Research Program, and an affiliate of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.
Cornel, a member of the faculty of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is a research entomologist based at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier. Lanzaro and Cornel have a long history of working together in Africa in mosquito research and are known as "The Blood Brothers."
The logline of the trailer: "In São Tomé and Príncipe, an island nation off the coast of Central Africa, a passionate team of scientists and volunteers from around the world confront humanity’s most lethal enemy in a quest to eliminate malaria once and for all. Set against the lush rainforests and vibrant communities of the islands, Anopheles captures this bold mission of genetically modifying mosquitoes to halt the spread of the disease and a race to inspire the government to allow a release. "
"Anopheles is an inspiring journey to the center of the world and the frontlines of a historic battle, showcasing innovation, collaboration, and the power of science to transform lives through ingenuity, courage, and hope."
From the press kit:
"This groundbreaking documentary takes the viewer to one of the least visited places on earth, São Tomé and Príncipe, revealing how this tiny island nation is in fact at the bleeding edge of a timeless global health struggle. Through intimate interviews, the film reveals the human stories behind this ambitious endeavor — dedicated researchers, resilient locals, and a shared hope for a malaria-free future. Set against the lush rainforests and vibrant communities of the islands, the film captures their bold mission: genetically modifying mosquitoes to halt the spread of the disease and a race to inspire the government to allow a release."
The documentary has won recognition across the international film festival circuit, with official selections at the Catalina International Film Festival, Carmel International Film Festival, and ECOCINE Film Festival. The film earned the Platinum Award at the Global Indie Filmmaker Awards and the Documentary Feature Award of Excellence Special Mention (Top 10) at IndieFEST Film Awards, where it also received Awards of Excellence for both direction and cinematography. Additional honors include second best feature film at The Monthly Film Festival (TMFF) and a perfect 10/10 review at the Megaflix Movie Awards.