Many thanks to all of our filmmakers… and congrats to this year’s winners!
Rounding out multiple days of screenings and parties in its 15th anniversary appearance, organizers for CineKink NYC/2018 announced the recipients of awards in a range of categories during the film festival’s closing celebration on Sunday, March 18, 2018.
“It was incredibly gratifying to stride into our 15th season with such a diverse range of quality offerings,” noted Lisa Vandever, CineKink co-founder and director. “Congratulations and thanks are in order, not just to the winners tonight, but to all of the filmmakers for contributing to such a stellar line-up!”
CineKink 2018; photo by Stacie Joy
Audience Choice Awards for CineKink 2018 were presented to “Fantasy” (Dashiell Demeter) for Best Narrative Feature, with “V-Card: The Film” (Jamal Green) winning for Best Documentary Feature.
In the shorts competition, juried festival awards went to “Queen Kong“ (Monica Strambini) for Best Dramatic Short, “Asian Man, White Woman” (Woody Fu) for Best Comedy Short, “Cruising Elsewhere” (Ryan White), “Don’t Call Me” (Olympia De G.) for Best Experimental Short, “Yes Campaign” (Ms. Naughty) for Best Advocacy Short, and “F*ck Yes” for Best Digital Series (Erica Anderson, Elisabeth Aultman, Emily Best, Julie Keck, Jessica King, Lauren Schacher and Blessing Yen).
Honorable Best Mention awards were presented to “Laurels” (David Brundige), “Library Hours” (Jim Vendiola), “Morning After” (Patricia Chica), “Rituals + Worship” (Morgana Muses), “Shapeshifters” (David Bloom) and “Writing in Bed“ (Shine Louise Houston).
Determining the shorts awards, CineKink jurors this year included Charles Mallison, a curator for Stigma Unbound, Viviane Tang, ring-leader of the sex blog “Viviane’s Sex Carnival,” and Bill Woods, a film festival programmer and curator of the New Filmmakers series at Anthology Film Archives.
The annual CineKink “Bring It!” award, determined by audience ballot during a presentation of excerpts showcasing current adult cinema, went to “The Pickup” (Urvashi).
The CineKink Tribute, recognizing extraordinary depictions of kink and sex-positivity in mainstream film and television, was presented to the feature film “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” (Director Angela Robinson; Annapurna Pictures).
Honorable mentions for the CineKink Tribute went to the television series “Brooklyn 99” (Dan Goor and Michael Schur; FOX), “I Love Dick” (Jill Soloway and Sarah Gubbins; Amazon) and “Sense8” (Lana and Lilly Wachowski; Netflix).
Works eligible for consideration this year were those released or aired in the United States from January 1 until December 31, 2017.
Making its 15th anniversary run March 14-18, 2018, CineKink NYC featured a specially selected program of films and videos that celebrate and explore a wide diversity of sexuality. Billing itself as “the kinky film festival,” the event is dedicated to the recognition and encouragement of sex-positive and kink-friendly depictions in film and television. With offerings drawn from both Hollywood and beyond, works presented at CineKink NYC ranged from documentary to drama, comedy to experimental, mildly spicy to quite explicit – and everything in between.
Sponsors of CineKink NYC/2018 included Bowery Bliss and njoy, along with Film Festival Secrets, Manshop, Punk Pop and Purple Passion. Community partners included Leather Archives & Museum, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Pleasure Salon and Riverdale Avenue Books.
Selections from CineKink NYC will be featured in a traveling version of the festival, slated to appear in various cities throughout the coming year.
See below for detailed descriptions of the works.
CINEKINK CHOICE – AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
CineKink Choice awards, which go to feature-length works in competition during the festival, were determined by audience balloting at the close of each eligible work’s screening. The 2018 award winners are:
CineKink Choice Award for Best Narrative Feature:
Fantasy
In an attempt to improve their marriage, a couple books an appointment with renowned sex therapist Dr. Harvey Buñuel. Over the course of five sessions he has them participate in increasingly surreal exercises designed to help with their intimacy problems. What will be the ultimate solution? Directed by Dashiell Demeter, 2017, USA, 63 minutes. Stars Cerris Morgan-Moyer, Andy Gates and Pancho Moler.
CineKink Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature:
V-Card: The Film
Dillon, a 23-year-old virgin (not for lack of trying), sets out on a comedic, documentary journey to discover what virginity means in our society. Along the way he talks to sex therapists, porn stars and everyday people about what they think virginity means in our modern times. Why is sex so important, and how can he make sense of why he has been so unlucky in lust? Is there really only a first time for everything or is there more then one cherry to be popped? Dillon is more than willing to finally find out. Directed by Jamal Green, 2017, USA, 81 minutes. Interviews include Asa Akira, Joanna Angel, Nina Hartley, Krystyna Hutchison, Sara Jay, Belle Knox, Lexi Belle, Ryan Driller, Evan Stone and more.
CINEKINK BEST – JURY AWARD FOR BEST SHORTS
CineKink Best awards, which go to short works in competition during the festival, were determined by jury ranking, with additional deliberation by the festival director. The 2018 award winners are:
CineKink Best Dramatic Short:
Queen Kong
A smartly-dressed man and woman are trying to have sex behind a tree. In the distance is the music of a party. She’s beautiful and he’s too drunk and the persistent ringing of his phone breaks the mood. The interlude goes unconsummated, until Queen Kong steps in. Directed by Monica Strambini, 2016, Italy, 20 minutes. Stars Valentina Nappi, Luca Lionello and Janina Rudenska.
CineKink Best Comedy Short:
Asian Man, White Woman
Can’t a guy just get a little fantasy time?
Directed by and stars Woody Fu, 2017, USA, 2 minutes.
CineKink Best Documentary Short:
Cruising Elsewhere
Whatever happened to Wohler Beach? Oral histories and spectral pornography resurrect memories of a once legendary gay beach.
Directed by Ryan White, 2017, USA, 13 minutes.
CineKink Best Experimental Short:
Don’t Call Me
Dick, Cunt, Asshole… why are those words insults, when these body parts are so magnificent? Directed by Olympe De G., France, 3 minutes. Stars Bishop Black, Rooster and Heidi Switch.
CineKink Best Advocacy Short:
Yes Campaign
A whimsical, sex-positive look at the many wonderful ways we can say “Yes” to each other. Inspired by the recent marriage equality vote in Australia, a celebration of acceptance and consent. Directed by Ms. Naughty, Australia, 2017, 8 minutes. Features Jiz Lee, Sadie Lune, Lilith Jovian, Dante Dionys, Bishop Black, Rooster X-Ray, Kali Sudhra, Parker Marx, KAy Garnellen, Luke, Dion De Rossi, Leo, Nichole, and Lina Bembe.
CineKink Best Digital Series:
F*ck Yes
Sometimes love is lifelong; sometimes it’s just for tonight. This adult sex ed series shows that consent isn’t only mandatory, it can be very sexy. Created by Erica Anderson, Elisabeth Aultman, Emily Best, Julie Keck, Jessica King, Lauren Schacher and Blessing Yen. (Episodes featured at CineKink included The Bucket List, Foreplay, Threesome and Toys, from directors Jessica King, Erica C. Anderson and Emily Best.)
CineKink Honorable Best Mentions:
Laurels
French director Pauline Sala is dismayed that another filmmaker will be sharing her hotel room in order to save a fledgling film festival some money. This strange woman has a secret that Pauline will soon learn, however, and surely won’t ever forget. (Directed by David Brundige, 2017, USA, 7 minutes. Stars Vahina Giocante and Rhian Rees.)
Library Hours
A recent widow named Camille falls into a strange, long-distance courtship with a librarian named Delphine, her dead husband’s first wife. A love story about books and bondage. Directed by Jim Vendiola, 2017, USA, 11 minutes. Stars Cam Damage and Melissa Vento.
Morning After
After a long time abroad, a young man returns home and reunites with friends. A sensual game amongst them forces him to confront deep conflicts that lead to a powerful awakening. Directed by Patricia Chica, 2017, Canada, 15 minutes. Stars Thomas Vallières, Kristian Hodko, Zoé De Grand Maison, Joey Scarpellino and Jordana Lajoie.
Shapeshifters
Part Three of the Sex & Space Trilogy. After two porn films with dancers, this is a dance film with porn stars, where Jiz Lee, Gala Vanting, KAy Garnellen, Bishop Black, and Jasko Fide talk about their performance practice and try out some contemporary dance improv tasks. No sex, no nudity? Scandalous! Directed by David Bloom, 2016, Germany, 20 minutes.
Writing in Bed
A mean case of writer’s block and noisy roommates make it very hard for Parker to get any work done. But when a rowdy and tipsy Aaron stumbles into her room late at night, she finds herself drawn to an inspiring distraction. Directed by Shine Louise Houston, 2017, USA, 19 minutes. Stars Ingrid Mouth and Tommy Pistol.
“BRING IT!” – ADULT INDUSTRY SHOWCASE AWARD
The CineKink “Bring It!” award is determined by audience ballot during a presentation of short works and excerpts showcasing adult cinema.
BRING IT! Award 2017:
The Pickup
An erotic film about a “chance” encounter. If we are open, the erotic can find us in the course of our daily lives in unexpected and wonderful ways. We have the choice to engage and accept the adventure presented. Directed by Urvashi, 2017, USA 16 minutes. Stars Avalon and Angel.
CINEKINK TRIBUTE – RECOGNITION OF SEX-POSITIVITY IN MAINSTREAM FILM/TV
Annual festival award for Extraordinary Depiction of Kink and Sex-Positivity in Mainstream Film/Television. Works eligible for consideration this year were those released or aired in the United States from January 1 through December 31, 2017.
CineKink Tribute/2018:
Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (Director Angela Robinson; Annapurna Pictures)
Honorable Mentions:
Brooklyn 99 (Creators Dan Goor and Michael Schur; FOX))
I Love Dick (Creators Jill Soloway and Sarah Gubbins; Amazon)
Sense8 (Creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski; Netflix)