Chocolate, wine and films are on the menu this weekend in Las Vegas for fans of CineKink. Founded in 2003 by Lisa Vandever, CineKink is a one-of-a-kind film festival and screening series that recognizes and encourages the positive depiction of sexuality and kink in film and television. From New York to Vegas to San Francisco, CineKink brings independent films to cities across the nation, introducing artists and fans of the various genres to one another.
Its purpose: "Celebrate and explore a wide and exciting world of sexual diversity, with works ranging from documentary to drama, comedy to experimental, mildly spice to quite explicit - and everything in between."
Modern Love recently spoke with the New Jersey based Vandever, who studied film in undergraduate and graduate school, before working in public television. Her background in producing and programming has served CineKink well, particularly since the artform is off the beaten path (no pun intended, really).
Modern Love: This festival originally started as a homegrown effort to watch films together with friends, and it is now quite a production. How has it changed in the past seven years?
Lisa Vandever: The festival grew out of a smaller event, which took place over a weekend, and has now expanded to encompass nearly a week of films and parties. I’d say the main difference between now and then is how much more quality programming is available. I used to feel like I was really scraping to find enough films for our schedule, now we have the luxury of choosing from a really outstanding assortment of sex-positive, well-produced works, cutting across a range of genres.
ML: The films and programming aren't your standard mainstream fare, and yet, at the same time, the general public is more aware of the broad range of sexual experiences thanks to the Internet. How are you seeing this reflected in who attends the festival, and the responses you are getting from sponsors and attendees?
LV: Like the Internet, attending a film screening is a great way for someone to explore a particular sexual interest and even to meet others of a possibly like-mind, though in a safe, generally familiar setting—it’s just a movie, after all, not nearly as intimidating as venturing out to a club for the first time. We tend to draw smart, open-minded folks with a general curiosity and, what often surprises some, who might seem very ordinary and day-to-day. Our audience is looking for fun and intelligent fare that celebrates sexuality without being too pandering or giggly about it — the CineKink sponsors we’ve had come on board recognize and appreciate that approach and sensibility.
ML: What misperceptions would you like to dispel about kinky films and sex, in particular to those who have little to no awareness or experience of these practices?
I think the first thing to dispel is the thought that women wouldn’t be interested in either. For so long, our society’s common narrative has been that women aren’t really sexual beings – or that they “shouldn’t” be. But the female audience for all types of kinky movies, from the slightly erotic to more explicit fare, is very healthy and growing – and a good half of the films we’ve featured over the years have been directed by women. I like to think that at CineKink we have created a safe space for expanding the conversation about sex – for everybody – so that people are able to discuss and explore their desires.
ML: Tell me more about female sexual diversity.
LV: It’s funny – and so obvious now that I’m thinking about it – how much of our programming revolves around female exploration of sexuality. Just in this year’s schedule, several of our best shorts literally trace that journey from college age (‘Walking the Dog’) through mid-adult (‘Libidoland’ and ‘Handcuffs’) to old age (‘Hungry for Love’). Our Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary went to ‘My Sexuality: A Sensory Experience,’ which follows five seemingly ordinary women as they take on defining and discovering what makes them feel like a sexy, sexual being. With the film ‘Swingers,’ there’s a great view of how important female desire and consent are in shaping this particular sexual culture. And with the shorts program ‘Yes, Mistress,’ along with our Audience Choice Award-winning narrative feature, ‘S&M Judge,’ we see both aspects of the power exchange dynamic, where erotic pleasure can be found in either taking or giving up control of a sexual situation, from the light and playful aspects of a silk scarf and perhaps a little “slap and tickle” to something much more extreme – with the woman making the decision as to where she resides in the equation.
CineKink’s Las Vegas festival is taking place May 13 – 15, 2010, and will benefit the Erotic Heritage Museum. CineKink organizers are planning a similar event in San Francisco later this summer. For more information, including films, sponsorships and ticket prices, visit their website.
For a review of the films and events, read the article by Sarah Estrella.
Read Modern Love's Alphabet Erotica series for ways to give your inner vamp freedom to explore.
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