Sexuality Happens

Want to know where I am? I know you do. I am at the Pornotopia Film Festival (featuring tons of sex-positive porn – queer, trans, kinky, and more!). I’m in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And if you are there too, you should email me (essinem at gmail dot com), or DM me on my twitter. My friend Molly is a co-owner of Self-Serve (the sex-positive store that is putting it on), and was nice enough to put me on the screening committee. There will be some amazing movies there, including Dacia’s Love Machine (Audacia Ray), Chemistry (by Tristan Taormino), Good Dyke Porn, Couch Surfers (by Trannywood Pictures), the Crash Pad Series (by Pink and White), Exploring the O (Jamye Waxman), Trans Entities (Morty Diamond) and MUCH MORE! Basically, it’s going to be awesome. Don’t you wish you were there? Good thing I am :)

-Essin’ Em

Here’s the 4-1-1:

Self Serve, Albuquerque’s favorite sexuality resource center, is pleased to announce the return of their headline-making PORNOTOPIA film festival, presented in partnership with The Guild Cinema from November 14 to 16, 2008. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at Self Serve November 7th; discounts are available for multiple screenings. All screenings will take place at the Guild, 3405 Central Ave NE. All events are 18+ with ID required.

Molly Adler and Matie Fricker, co-founders and co-owners of Self Serve, have curated a selection of independent erotic films that celebrate sex in all its fun, healthy, tender, raw, and real beauty. For the 2008 Festival, they’ve added a comedy component to the festival, featuring Porn Parodies (Itself) Friday night at 9 pm, the first Pornotopia Art Show, and a live performance Saturday night. Additionally, they’re proud that over 70% of the movies are made by women filmmakers.

“Pornotopia is all about a fun and empowering erotic experience,” Matie explains. “After the overwhelming success of last year’s festival, Molly and I were struck by the need for people to celebrate… It’s the core principle behind our store and this festival. The Art Show at Stove is a natural extension of promoting healthy, raw and real images of sexuality from various perspectives.”

Molly says, “Pornotopia is a a celebration of quality erotic film. Its about exposing people to a genre of film that’s quickly dismissed as offensive or, at best, just formulaic. Matie and I believe this Festival provides a great opportunity to be surprised by the movies we’ve chosen with the help of our Screening Committee (of 20 viewers).”

Self Serve has partnered with STOVE Gallery in PORNOTOPIA: THE ART SHOW. Stove will host an art show from November 7-30, with an Opening Reception November 7, 5-10 pm. Stove Gallery is located at 114 Morningside NE in Upper Nob Hill.

Saturday, November 15 at 10:30 is Female Trouble, the John Waters classic, a live performance by Santa Fe Drag Star Wenda Watch, and special guest appearance by Mink Stole, herself.

At the eve of Last year’s Pornotopia Festival, the City of Albuquerque zoning office threatened to shut down the festival, cite and fine the Guild Theater for adult zoning violations. The Guild Cinema and Self Serve, with attorneys from the ACLU, met with representatives of City Councilor Rey Garduno, City Zoning, and the City Attorney’s office and are continuing to work towards a mutually satisfying resolution. The ACLU of New Mexico stands by Self Serve and The Guild Cinema and their constitutionally protected right to promote awareness about sexuality without the fear of government censorship or other appraisal.

Some Highlights from the Pornotopia Film Festival include:

Feeling It, Not Faking It! Director: Petra Joy

Award-winning director Petra Joy continues her sensual revolution of the adult movie genre. Her third erotic film Feeling it! celebrates intimacy, sensuality and ecstasy. The focus is on female pleasure. The film is based on Petra’s motto Feeling it, not faking it! and features players who enjoy a genuine sensual chemistry rather than putting on an act for the cameras. This movie is a visual erotic feast that aims to inspire, excite and liberate beyond the cliches of mainstream porn that leave most women cold. Petra is proud to promote safe sex and feature a multinational cast. Excerpt scenes: Feeling It & Artcore. Petra Joy just received the special “Award for Pioneering Achievements in Adult Films for Women” at the Venus trade show in Berlin in October.

Chemistry – by Tristan Taormino

Imagine an uncensored, intimate look at seven stars who know who they are and what they want. When left to their own devices for two days, anything goes. Get a unique perspective as they film each other with their own “perv cam” and share personal revelations in the private confessional. See all the elements come together in this wild experiment: raw emotions, spontaneous sex, explosive orgasms, and that one ingredient that drives everything: chemistry. Chemistry won the 2007 Feminist Porn Award for hottest gonzo sex scene and Hottest Diverse Cast among many other accolades.

Kiss Attack – by Carlos Batts

Kiss Attack is the first ever action / erotic film by former New Mexican Carlos Batts. Kiss Attack is a revolutionary sex fantasy that blends an exotic cast which includes April Flores, Sasha Gray, LA Cholita and more. Features comic illustrations, animation, martial arts and ground breaking music. April Flores was voted #8 in Fleshbot.com Crushes of 2006. Fleshbot says: “In a landscape of willowy porn babes. April Flores’ unabashed (and all-natural) extra-curviness is a refreshing antidote to the two-beach-balls-on-a-stick look…”

Cinco Historias Para Ellas (Five Hot Stories For Her) – Written and Directed by: Erika Lust

A compilation of five short films written and directed by Erika Lust, created especially for women and couples. Erika presents modern, urban, spicy and erotic stories featuring natural and realistic sex. “Five Hot Stories for Her” won Best Script at the Festival of Erotic Cinema in Barcelona 2007, Best Film for Women at the Erotic E-Line Awards (Berlin 2007), obtained an Honorable Best Mention at the CineKink Festival (New York 2008) and most recently was awarded Best Movie of the Year at the Feminist Porn Awards (Toronto 2008).

BDSM: It’s Not What You Think- by Wade Keye, Erin Palmquist, Brad Vanderbilt, R. Trent Walton

BDSM It’s Not What You Think confronts stigma and stereotype surrounding kink and fetish play through leading voices within the BDSM community. With intimate interviews and playful vignettes this film targets progressive outsiders and guides them through the minefield of misconceptions and prejudice that kinksters must routinely face.

Un Chant D’Amour

This showcase features Jean Genet’s rarely seen semi-pornographic film UN CHANT D’AMOUR. Originally made for Parisian gay porn collectors in 1950, the film is visually reminiscent of Jean Cocteau’s Blood of a Poet, Belle et la Bete and Kenneth Anger’s Fireworks. The story, set in a prison with three main characters, a guard and two prisoners, is a voyeuristic, confrontational, poetic masterpiece. Despite all elements of his writings being present, Genet actually denounced the making of this film when he became popular as a novelist. Forbidden in France upon its release, and until recently was only available in the US in censored form and through underground distribution, UN CHANT D’AMOUR is now released from its obscurity and is presented in its complete version.

Crash Pad Series 1 by Pink & White Productions

In The Crash Pad Series, Volume 1, leading indie feminist porn director Shine Louise Houston returns to the world of her astonishing debut film The Crash Pad. The premise: some lucky women are given keys to a very special apartment, and once inside, they let their inhibitions go. Sexy femmes, buff butches, cute bois, and assorted sexy transfolk unleash their passions behind closed doors – but you’ve got the key to come inside and watch. Winner of the 2008 Feminist Porn Award for Hottest Dyke Film!

Viva – by Anna Biller

A suburban housewife in 1972 is abandoned by her husband, and goes out to find herself in the middle of the swinging Playboy-era sexual revolution. Looking for love and adventure, she explores nudist colonies, orgies, prostitution, bisexuality, and Bohemia, becoming a Candide of the 1970’s and finding liberation along the way. Just an FYI: This soft core feature has no “insertion.”

For tickets and more information, call 505-265-5815 or visit www.selfservetoys.com.

For details about the City’s effort to cite the Festival for zoning violations, contact Whitney Potter, Communications Director at 505-266-5915 ext. 1003 or cell 505-507-9898 wpotter@aclu-nm.org

About Self Serve

Self Serve opened in January 2007 as Albuquerque’s first sex education center and retail shop, and was voted “Best Sexy Shop” in the Alibi Best of Burque Poll 2008. Through the store, website, and toy party service, Self Serve provides women and others with the opportunity to learn about sexuality and their bodies while shopping for high-quality sex toys and other pleasurable sundries. Self Serve supports women, LGBT people, and anyone seeking healthy, positive sexual attitudes and perspectives, and sensual pleasure in everyday life.

Contact Info:

Matie Fricker

Molly Adler

selfservetoys@gmail.com