The one word to describe the Feminist Porn Festival is “stimulating.”
The festival, housed in Toronto on April 15, brought together hundreds of people dedicated to celebrating the world of feminist porn — a relatively new genre of pornography.
Festival director Alison Lee described the genre as “films that showcase genuine sexual pleasure.”
Sexologist Jaiya echoed Lee’s description during the inaugural “Public, Provocative, Porn” screening and panel discussion. “Feminist porn is about honoring all body types, all expressions of sexuality,” said Jaiya.
“It makes conservatives and right wing feminists both pissed off,” added feminist author, educator, and porn director Tristan Taoromino.
After the panel, several films made in the past year were screened. The porn presented was not softcore — there was as much smacking, spitting and sucking as any other mainstream porn flick.
The Barbara Streisand inspired slapstick sex comedy “Mommy is Coming,” directed by Cheryl Dunye, was the most talked about film at the festival.
“I haven’t seen good porn with a great story executed that way — with a high production value and humor,” said New Yorker Kim Crosby, 27, an executive director, “It’s really disarming.”
After the screenings, an awards ceremony celebrated categories such as the Smutty Schoolteacher Award for Sex Education and Most Deliciously Diverse Cast.
Porn stars like Jiz Lee, Judy Minx and April Flores handed out and received the awards, taking each moment in the spotlight to proclaim the importance of pushing the boundaries of pornography.
“I think attitudes in the United States are changing in porn,” said Philadelphia native J.D. Bauchery, 28, of HotMoviesForHer.com, “People are starting to realize that porn with substance is worth watching.”
The ceremony ended and the party began. Porn actors, directors and aficionados mingled on the dance floor late into the night.
Heartthrob of the Year winner and trans activist Drew Deveaux spoke to Metro before her departure. “The bedroom is the last frontier,” she said.
A scene from “Mommy is Coming” written, directed and starring Cheryl Dunye.
Hundreds of people attend the viewing of “Public, Provocative, Porn” a screening and panel discussion of feminist porn.
Cheryl Dunye, right, and sexologist Jaiya, left, chat on stage.
The United States was repeatedly referred to as “Our perverted brothers and sisters to the South.”
The awards ceremony celebrated such categories as the Smutty Schoolteacher Award for Sex Education and Most Deliciously Diverse Cast
CoCo La Creme performed between awards.
The porn presented was not softcore— there was as much smacking, spitting and sucking as any other mainstream flick.
The male burlesque troupe “Boylesque” performs between awards.
Performance artist Ryan G. Hinds sang tunes from RENT to rouse the crowd.
Revelers applaud a performance.
The party continued long into the night.
