One of the problems independent filmmakers have faced in the last decade has been the studio's co-option of the specialty film genre. Acquistions have dropped as the mini-majors have set out to make, with bigger budgets, better production values, and real stars, the kinds of quirky character-based stories that in the '80s and '90s were largely the province of independent filmmakers.
A particularly cruel example of this trend was driven home by a press release, excerpted below, I received from
CineKink, an organization devoted to "the recognition and encouragement of kink-positive depictions in film and television." In order, I guess, to snag some mainstream column ink for its annual CineKink festival, the customary "awards wrap-up" release headlines not some of the genuinely kinky winners -- like Napoleon Lake's short
Alice in Footland which received an honorable mention in the Audience Choice category -- but rather a studio release, Warner Independent's
At Home at the End of the World, which received a Special Tribute Award for "its presentation of a polyamorous relationship and its positive portrayal of family and commitment outside of traditional monogamy." Runner's-up included HBO's
Six Feet Under, Comedy Central's
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and Fox's
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
With the Hollywood ass-kissing out of the way, here then is the rest of the press release listing CineKink NYC's more authentically pervy winners:
"A selection of CineKink NYC audience choice and festival awards were also
announced at the ceremony, presented to filmmakers whose works appeared in
the festival in a variety of categories:
CineKink Choice - AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Born in a Barn (Elizabeth Elson, 2004, USA, 53 minutes), an intimate and
sometimes humorous look into the erotic lives of four seemingly ordinary
people and the fast-growing fetish world of ponyplay.
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE:
Slaves (Ich Bin Niemand, 2003, USA, 101 minutes) a graphic,
documentary-style profile of artist R.C. Horsch and his sadomasochistic
relationships with several different women.
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD - HONORABLE MENTION:
Alice in Footland (Napoleon Lake, 2004, USA, 59 minutes) follows Alice's
visit to an fetish wonderland and a new interpretation of the old classic.
CineKink Best - FESTIVAL AWARD FOR BEST SHORTS
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Liberty in Restraint (Michael Ney, 2004, Australia, 35 minutes) follows
fetish photographer, Noel Graydon, showing his work in progress, a passion
for his art and its themes, and the transgressive activities of the
community he moves within.
BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT
Haircut (Bryan Jackson, 2004, USA, 8 minutes) depicts the close-up results
of a routine haircut taken to extreme.
BEST ANIMATION SHORT:
Dream Human (tsubasa, 2003, USA, 5 minutes) details the mechanistic
creation of a perfect erotic vision.
BEST MUSIC VIDEO:
Spanky! Spanky! (DJ Spot, 2002, USA, 3 minutes) features the original perv
pop stars, Dick-n-jayne, with an ode to spanky! spanky!
HONORABLE BEST MENTION:
I Sit on Acid (Ryan J. Wolowski, USA, 3 minutes) uses a self-held camera
to explore imagery, body, sexuality and self.
# posted by Scott Macaulay @ 11/05/2004 11:04:00 PM
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