CineKink NYC 2008 Film Line-Up
by Andre Soares
CineKink NYC 2008 will take place from February 26–March 2. The scheduled shorts and features sound kinky enough, but I can only vouch for two that I’ve seen: John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus and Anna Biller’s Viva.
The former, a sexual dramatic-comedy about various New York City couples of myriad sexual orientations and dysfunctions, was screened at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. The latter, an amoral morality tale about a lonely housewife who discovers sexual and emotional freedom (and the costs of that freedom), was screened at the AFI FEST 2007.
Shortbus, though well worth a look, was a disappointment. The sex scenes, however explicit, seem phony. Alas, so does much of the drama. On the other hand, several comic moments are quite funny, especially one involving an egg-shaped vibrating beeper named after Nagisa Oshima’s In the Realm of the Senses.
Viva was a pleasant campy surprise. Co-produced, directed, written, edited, production designed, costume designed, and just-about-everything-else by Anna Biller (right), who also stars in the title role, this great-looking dramatic sex comedy follows the emotional and (softcore) physical misadventures of a pretty and lonely housewife in the Los Angeles of the early 1970s.
No matter how small its budget was, Viva feels more authentic than most studio productions set during that era. In fact, the film looks and sounds exactly like the sexploitation flicks made in those days. Viva’s chief flaw is its excessive 121-minute running time. Now, watch for the hilarious Sex and the Single Tomato sequence.
From the CineKink press release:
KICK-OFF!
The kink-filled festivities begin Tuesday, February 26th, at 8 PM, with a fundraising kick-off gala and opening night screening to be held at Taj Lounge (48 W. 21st Street, NYC), a pansexual celebration that, in addition to music, performances and a silent auction, features a trio of spectacular works by New York-based directors — SCHWARZWALD, TEAM QUEEN and A DOG’S TALE. [More info on CineKink 2008's opening night.]
SPECIAL LOCATION:
Taj Lounge
48 W. 21st Street
SPECIAL ADMISSION:
$20/$15 advance; students/seniors $12, advance only.
CINEKINK NYC SCREENINGS
The festival then moves to Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue, NYC), Wednesday, February 27 through Saturday, March 1, with several different film and video programs scheduled for each day. Regular screenings conclude on Sunday, March 2, with the addition of a jump to Pioneer Theater (155 E. Third Street, NYC) for a final round of CineKink NYC matinees.
Among the headliners, first up, on Wednesday, February 27 at 7 PM, is the festival’s CineKink Tribute screening of SHORTBUS [above], honoring the ground-breaking film for its "extraordinary depiction of kink in mainstream film and television." Then, at 9:30 PM, a program titled "New York Stories," surveys adult entertainment offerings from New York-based directors Tony DiMarco, Venus Hottentot, Michael Lucas, Radley Metzger, Porno Jim, Audacia Ray and Candida Royalle.
On Thursday, February 28 at 7 PM is TRIPLE X SELECTS: THE BEST OF LEZSPLOITATION, an international feast of lesbian-exploitation highlights from the 1960s and ’70s, presented in all of their notoriously twisted glory, followed at 9 PM by VIVA [above], the sordid tale of a bored housewife who gets swept up in the sexual revolution, a highly stylized film that draws on classic exploitation cinema for its look, characters and story-line.
On Friday, February 29 at 7 PM, it’s CALL ME TROY, an inspirational and moving tribute to gay activist and spiritual leader, Reverend Troy Perry. At 9 PM, SUSAN FOR NOW is a first-person account of a woman reclaiming her sexual freedom after a ten-year period of self-imposed celibacy. And at 11 PM, it’s SEX MANNEQUIN and SUPERFREAK [above], a shape-shifting, body-swapping double-header of girl-girl adventures.
Kicking off Saturday, March 1 at 1 PM, "Lust, Animation!" is a colorful collection of naughty bits — some animated, all with lust burning hot in their hearts. At 3 PM, "Chick Flicks" presents works by women directors that incorporate explicit sex into their stories of hook-ups and romance. At 5 PM, during "Women Behind the Lens," a panel of female directors will discuss their roles within the adult entertainment industry and the individual approach each takes in depicting sexuality on screen. At 7 PM, it’s "Mix, Match & Mingle," [above, the short Wildest Dreams] a round-up of shorts that look at the delights — and some dilemmas — of moving beyond monogamy, followed by "Give & Take" at 9 PM, a kinky collection of works that probe, prod and play with the dynamics of sexual power and release, control and submission. And, rounding out the day’s screening schedule at 11 PM, THE THREE TRIALS is a dark, fairy-tale fantasy set against a backdrop of sexual fetishes.
SUNDAY
Festival screenings move to Pioneer Theater on Sunday, March 2 at 1 PM with the New York premiere of ANNIE SPRINKLE’S HERSTORY OF PORN, featuring the best (and worst) clips from dozens of the 150+ films that Annie Sprinkle [right] made from 1973 onwards. At 3 PM, "Sunday How-To Sex-O-Rama" is a selection of excerpts taken from top-notch educational and how-to offerings. Concluding the festival’s regular screenings at 5 PM, the US premiere of SILKEN SLEEVES sensuously presents four seasons of domination and submission as rendered by bondage expert and artisan, Midori.
CINEKINK AWARD CELEBRATION — Sunday @ 6:30 pm
Come out and drink a toast to this year’s fantastic crop of CineKink filmmakers! Featuring encore screenings of jury-selected best shorts from the festival, along with presentations of the annual CineKink Awards. (FREE admission; location tba)
CINEKINK AFTERGLOW — Sunday @ 8:30 pm
But wait, there’s more! Be sure to come out for our popular Afterglow Party, one last chance to meet, mix and mingle with your fellow CineKinksters and enjoy a few more select screenings, this time in a relaxed play party setting. Lounge on the sofas, find yourself a private nook or recline across a spanking bench and settle in for one final evening of CineKinky goodness unfolding all around you. Not to be missed! (More info to come, but please note that a very limited number of $25 advance purchase admission will be released; priority VIP admission will be given to CineKink NYC All-Access Pass holders.)
For a closer look at the entire line-up and information on ALL of the hot works in the schedule, visit http://www.cinekink.com/program/
Advance tickets and passes are already on sale. Ticket prices for each regular screening are $10/$8 advance; $6 for seniors and students. Special event/party admissions are as noted above.
Discounted CineKink NYC All-Access Pass, including admission to all 16 regular film programs, plus the Kick-Off Gala & Opening Night Screening, party, the Awards Celebration and priority VIP entrance to the AfterGlow Party. Representing a 50 percent discount over individual ticket purchase, supplies will be restricted.
CineKink is also looking for volunteers. "We’ve got a variety of volunteer shifts and positions available — and can offer you comp tickets and our eternal thanks and admiration in return! Just email volunteers at cinekink dot com to sign-up! (Though, er, please watch for a return verification email from us if this is your first time corresponding with us. We really do want to hear from you.)"
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3 Responses to “CineKink NYC 2008 Film Line-Up”
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Note: All comments are moderated. Different views and opinions are welcome, but abusive/bigoted/flaming comments will NOT be approved. Also, please be aware that the Alternative Film Guide has NO contact information for the talent mentioned in this blog or any information pertaining to or access to distributors'/producers' film prints.
Too bad I don’t live in New York.
I wanted to know if there was any information regarding when Cinekink is going to be held in 2009. I did go this past year with a few friends and I have to say, the Annie Sprinkle History of Porn was so amazing! I was a fan of hers since reading Female Ejaculation and the G Spot. She’s not only super sexy, but a really intelligent lady with a wealth of information about these subjects. Thank you!
Hello Tamara,
When I find out about CineKink ‘09, I’ll make sure to make that info available.