Tomorrow afternoon I set off to Toronto for a couple of weeks. It’s a business trip focused on the Feminist Porn Awards and Feminist Porn Conference but I’m also doing some shooting and attending some other events. To give a quick summary:
I’m attending the Feminist Porn Awards night on Friday the 4th, because I have three nominations. Dear Jiz is a contender for best short but I really would love it if I could get an Honoured Website award for Bright Desire. It’s where all my films are and it best represents my work and my feminist ethos.
I’m also attending the Public. Provocative. Porn screening at the Bloor Docs cinema on Thursday the 3rd. There’s a whole bunch of films screening and many of the performers and filmmakers are there. It’s nice to get into a big cinema and watch smut on the big screen, such a bonding experience. Although, me being the picky filmmaker, I’m more likely to be critiquing or appreciating technique rather than squirming in my seat.
After the film screening I’m going to the official FPA After Party at The Steady Cafe and Bar. I can’t vouch for how coherent I’ll be by 11pm (especially when I’ll still be a bit jetlagged) but I’ll do my best. Especially when I’m listed on a poster as being a porn star. I’m flattered… but I’m definitely a “behind-the-camera” type.
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The weekend of the 5th-6th of April is the Feminist Porn Conference at the University of Toronto Bahen Centre for Information Technology. I have three presentations happening over the two days:
Feminist Pornography: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why It Matters
Saturday, 11-12:30
Lynn Comella, Courtney Trouble, Ms. Naughty, Tanesha H.D.
From the mainstream press to adult industry trade shows, feminist pornography is a hot topic for discussion and debate. Despite all the recent attention, however, there remains a lack of clarity about what constitutes feminist pornography. How is feminist porn different than “porn for women”? In what ways is feminist porn political? Is it simply a clever marketing ploy, as some people have suggested, or something else? This panel seeks to open up a dialogue about what feminist porn is, what it isn’t, and why the label feminist porn matters in a cultural climate that continues to be hostile to both feminism and sexuality more generally.
Pornographers Without Borders
Saturday, 2:00-3:30
Jennifer Lyon Bell, Pandora Blake, Ms. Naughty, Ovidie
Although feminist porn in North America has gained a lot of media attention in the last few years, it is growing and thriving in Europe and Australia as well. This panel features filmmakers who live and work in France, the Netherlands, the UK, and Australia. Panelists will explore how their aesthetics, agendas, and challenges overlap with and differ from American and Canadian feminist porn; they will also address how their work is received by international audiences. They will discuss distribution channels and strategies with an eye toward growing a global feminist porn movement.
Film Screening + Director Q&A: Aussie Porn with Ms. Naughty and Zahra Stardust (Australia)
Sunday 10:15-11:45
Zahra Stardust and Ms. Naughty
Over the last couple of years the Australian porn industry has flourished and gained a reputation for being more “natural” and respectful towards the performers. Within this wider industry a small group of female, feminist-identified filmmakers have been creating their own vision of good porn. Last year they met as a group for the first time and have since collaborated on each other’s projects. This session gives a glimpse of the varied work created by Australian feminist pornographers.
Films:
Zahra Stardust and Ms. Naughty, An Open Letter To My Lovers… 11:00min
Zahra Stardust, Tales Of An Unrepentant Wench… 10:00min (approx)
Gala Vanting/Sensate Films, Touch 4:05min
Morgana, Duty Bound, 3:50min
Anna Brownfield, The Band excerpt, 4min
Aeryn Walker: Waking Up To You, 2:53
Ms. Naughty, Dear Jiz, 9:49 + Tease 10min + The Male Gaze In Porn 2:19min
On top of all this I’m shooting five scenes and hopefully talking to some media types who might be interested in Bright Desire and my work. I think there’s a total of one day in the two weeks when I’m not madly rushing about doing something. That day will be spent laying like a starfish on a hotel bed, guzzling wine.
If you’re going to the awards or conference and you see me, please say hello. I’m the one with the red hair, no fashion sense and a large and hairy husband standing close by. At the awards, I’ll be looking extra ridiculous because I’ll be wearing parts of what used to be a muppet.