May 22 (Bloomberg) -- Madonna screened her documentary about Malawi AIDS orphans at the Cannes Film Festival and revealed its director, Nathan Rissman, was previously her children's nanny.

``I Am Because We Are'' was written, narrated and executive- produced by the singer, songwriter and actress. Madonna is the adoptive mother of a boy from Malawi whose natural mother died of AIDS, and whose father, she said at a news conference with about 200 reporters, has ``absolutely agreed to the adoption.''

``I'd like to make more films,'' said Madonna, dressed in a violet open-back floral dress, her blond hair in twists and curls. She said she aimed to release both documentaries ``focusing on children'' and feature films, and that she and Rissman had ``ideas about projects in other parts of the world.''

During the question-and-answer session, it emerged that Rissman had been employed by Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie for a number of years. ``He's a great nanny,'' said Madonna. ``It's manny,'' Rissman said, correcting her with a smile.

Heart-rending in so many parts, the documentary begins by showing children who have lost both parents and sometimes live on one meal a day. Dying parents are shown, too. One emaciated mother talks to the camera, shares her sadness at being unable to raise her child, and, by the next scene, is pictured dead.

Malawi, says Madonna in the voiceover, is the world's second- poorest country, with two-thirds of the population living on less than $1 a day, and 1 million AIDS orphans out of a population of 12 million.

Motherless Children

``Everyone needs parents, but what if there are no parents?'' the 49-year-old asks, sharing the story of how her own mother died when she was just a child. ``Whose job is it to look after these motherless children?''

Zooming in on individual kids -- including the nine-year-old girl who looked after little David Banda in the orphanage where Madonna found and adopted him -- the film then zooms out to provide context on Malawi's recent history and society. It shows tribal practices that contribute to the spread of AIDS, the witchcraft that leads to so many children's mutilation for body parts and the filth and lack of sewage that spark so many other diseases.

The documentary is steeped in educational insights from Harvard Medical School Professor Paul Farmer and economist Jeffrey Sachs, and moving commentary from South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton also speaks out.

``I went to Malawi thinking I was going to save children's lives and make a big difference in their lives, and hopefully I did,'' said Madonna at the press briefing. ``The surprise for me was how much they changed me.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Farah Nayeri in Cannes farahn@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 22, 2008 12:00 EDT