Rounding out multiple days of screenings and parties in its 16th annual appearance, organizers for CineKink NYC/2019 announced the recipients of awards in a range of categories during the film festival’s closing celebration on Sunday, April 7, 2019.

“It’s exciting to see sex-positive filmmaking come into its own, and display such a range of voices and talent,” said 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 this year’s outstanding line-up!”

The festival’s first-ever CineKink Artist Spotlight award, designed to recognize outstanding artistry over a body of work, was given to Jennifer Lyon Bell, whose erotic films Headshot, Matinee, Skin Like Sun, Silver Shoes and this season’s Adorn, have been featured at CineKink since 2006.

Audience Choice Awards for CineKink 2019 were presented to The Artist & The Pervert (Beatrice Behn and René Gebhardt) for Best Documentary Feature, with Two in The Bush: A Love Story (Laura Madalinski) winning for Best Narrative Feature, and Sickies Making Films (Joe Tropea) receiving an Honorable Mention.

In the shorts competition, juried festival awards went to Adorn (Jennifer Lyon Bell) for Best Dramatic Short, Me Time (Iyabo Boyd) for Best Comedy Short, The Baroness (Isabel Faintych) tied with What’s Your Policy On Orgasms? (Zoe D’Amaro) for Best Documentary Short, Remember Me (Luis Camacho) for Best Musical Short and Sweet Sweet Kink: A Collection of BDSM Stories (Maggie Bailey) for Best Animated Short.

Honorable Best Mention awards were presented to Lesson 1 and Lesson 8 (Alberto Ferreras), Birthday (Shine Louise Houston), I Am Lucie Bee (Ms. Naughty) and The Alley (Inka Winter).

Determining the shorts awards, CineKink jurors this year included Christopher Holland of Film Festival Secrets, Viviane Tang, co-founder of The Pleasure Salon, 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 vote during a presentation of excerpts showcasing current adult cinema, went to PSA (Urvashi) tied with Transcendent Bodies (Barbara Carrellas).

The CineKink Tribute, recognizing extraordinary depictions of kink and sex-positivity in mainstream film and television, was presented to the feature film Blockers (Director Kay Cannon; Universal Pictures). Honorable mentions for the CineKink Tribute went to the television series The Bisexual (Desiree Akhavan and Rowan Riley; Hulu), Wanderlust (Nick Payne; Netflix), and the film Cam (Daniel Goldhaber; Netflix). Works eligible for consideration this year were those released or aired in the United States from January 1 until December 31, 2018.

Making its 16th annual run April 3-7, 2019, 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/2019 included Bowery Bliss and njoy, along with Film Festival Secrets, TheFoodPornHub and Lustery, as well as Purple Passion, Riverdale Avenue Books and The Eulenspiegel Society. Community partners included Folsom Street East, Lesbian Sex Mafia and Pleasure Salon.

Selections from CineKink NYC will be featured in a traveling version of the festival, slated to appear in various cities throughout the coming year.

 

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 2019 award winners are:

CineKink Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature:

The Artist & The Pervert

An intimate look at Georg Friedrich Haas, a famous Austrian composer and child of Nazi parents, and his wife, Mollena Williams-Haas, a renowned American kink educator and descendant of African slaves. Together they live in a public, kinky relationship. She is his “slave” and muse, he is her “master” – a combination that pushes many people’s buttons and touches on matters of race, sexuality, politics and power relations. (Directed by Beatrice Behn and René Gebhardt, 2018, Germany, 96 minutes.)

CineKink Choice Award for Best Narrative Feature:

Two in the Bush: A Love Story

On the same day she loses her job, Emily arrives home early from work to find her girlfriend in the throes of passion with someone else. In an instant, her entire life is turned upside down. Moving in with her best friend, Emily lands a new gig working for a dominatrix, promptly falling for both her new boss…and her boss’s boyfriend. A wise and witty look at the world of bisexuality, polyamory and dungeons, Two in the Bush asks us to consider what risks are worth taking for love. (Directed by Laura Madalinski, 2018, USA, 97 minutes. Stars Sarah Mitchell, Travis Delgado, Caitlin Aase and Melissa DuPrey.)

CineKink Choice Award / Honorable Mention:

Sickies Making Films

A love letter to the movies, Sickies Making Films looks at society’s urge to censor films and asks why? Finding reasons both absurd and surprisingly understandable, the documentary uses the Maryland Board of Censors (1916-1981) as a lens, incorporating archival materials, classic film segments, and interviews with filmmakers and exhibitors, who were subjected to censorship, to provide a context for the way films are vetted and rated today. (Directed by Joe Tropea, 2018, USA, 83 minutes. Features John Waters, Pat Moran, Alan Shecter, Aaron Seidler, Robert Headley, Laura Wittern-Keller, David Taft Terry, Richard Macksey and Ross Freedman.

 

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 2019 award winners are:

CineKink Best Dramatic Short:

Adorn

In an experimental erotic game, Sadie and Parker face each other naked; by the end they are mostly clothed and utterly exhausted. What’s in between is unique and completely improvised by the performers themselves. (Directed by Jennifer Lyon-Bell, 2018, The Netherlands, 28 minutes. Stars Sadie Lune and Parker Marx.)

 

CineKink Best Comedy Short:

Me Time

After a long work week, Deborah is exhausted and needs to relax. But she is conflicted as to how. (Directed by Iyabo Boyd, 2019, USA, 9 minutes. Stars Adenike Thomas.)

 

CineKink Best Documentary Short – tie:

The Baroness

The Baroness, New York’s premier designer of elegant and provocative latex, navigates the ever-growing world of latex fashion. (Directed by Isabel Faintych, 2018, USA, 6 minutes.)

-tie-

What’s Your Policy on Orgasms?

In this portrait of feminist porn director Jennifer Lyon Bell, she shares her views on filmmaking and allows the audience into the backstage of her latest film, Adorn.  (Directed by Zoe D’Amaro, 2018, The Netherlands, 8 minutes. Features Jennifer Lyon Bell, Sadie Lune and Parker Marx.)

 

CineKink Best Animated Short:

Sweet Sweet Kink: A Collection of BDSM Stories

Takes a sweet, sweet peek into the kinky world of bondage, dominance, and sadomasochism through four different stories of intimate connection, consensual exploration, and deep self-reflection. (Directed by Maggie M. Bailey, 2018, USA, 17 minutes. Stars Anonymous, Miss Wednesday, Spankbillhard, Kira Wolf Arnault, Jack and Tiffany.)

 

CineKink Best Musical Short

Remember Me

In 2017, Dr. Ralph Bruneau became International Mr. Leather (IML). As part of his step aside at IML 2018, he presented the incoming contestant class and the audience with a gift: this video short, drawing upon a musical theatre background that was unknown to many. (Directed by Luis Camacho, 2018, USA, 5 minutes. Stars Ralph Bruneau.)

 

CineKink Honorable Best Mentions:

The Alley

An unexpected encounter at the laundromat… and a woman who knows what she wants. (Directed by Inka Winter, 2018, USA, 11 minutes. Stars Mr. and Mrs. Wylde.)

Birthday

A night out, an old friend, and a special treat. (Directed by Shine Louise Houston, 2018, USA, 7 minutes. Stars Nenna Feelmore and Barbary Rose.)

I Am Lucie Bee

Sex worker, artist and geek Lucie Bee invites us into her bedroom, and shows off her cosplay outfits, her comics, her sex toys and her real self. (Directed by Ms. Naughty, 2018, Australia, 13 minutes.)

Lesson #1

Boy meets Girl…and after a passionate encounter they make the mistake of comparing profiles in their dating app. (Directed by Alberto Ferreras, 2018, USA, 7 minutes. Stars Shirley Rumierk and Francisco Solorzano.) 

Lesson #8

A gay app hookup takes an unexpected turn, proving that the best-laid plans won’t get you laid as you planned. (Directed by Alberto Ferreras, 2018, USA, 5 minutes. Stars David Fraioli and John David West.)

 

“BRING IT!” – ADULT INDUSTRY SHOWCASE AWARD / 2019

The CineKink “Bring It!” award is determined by audience ballot during a presentation of short works and excerpts showcasing adult cinema.

PSA

An erotic film about 1950’s good ol’ educational TV. We learn a great deal about the era-appropriate, martini-drinking married couple, including what they have tried in bed… and would still like to try. (Directed by Urvashi, 2018, USA, 16 minutes. Stars Rogue and Remy.)

-tie- 

Transcendent Bodies

A young trans woman with a body that is still transforming explores her desires, arousal and orgasm during an Erotic Awakening massage. (Directed by and featuring Barbara Carrellas with Rowan, 2017, USA, 24 minutes.)

 

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, 2018.

CineKink Tribute/2019:
Blockers (Director Kay Cannon; Universal Pictures).

Honorable Mentions:

The Bisexual (Desiree Akhavan and Rowan Riley; Hulu)

Wanderlust (Nick Payne; Netflix)

Cam (Daniel Goldhaber; Netflix)

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 15^th 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!”

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)