July 10, 2007
San Francisco Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival
Screenings, Conversation and Party
The 5th Biennial San Francisco Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival :: July 14 - 22 :: The San Francisco Sex Worker Festival was established in 1999 to provide a forum for the accomplishments of sex worker artists and filmmakers and to show work about sex workers and sex industries from around the world. The Sex Worker Festival provides an opportunity to recognize and honor prostitutes, dancers, porn performers and other sex workers who have historically been a dynamic part of arts communities. The Festival includes performance events, parties, art exhibitions, film screenings and educational discussions and seminars. Visit our website for full schedule and event details, and come join in on the fun!!
1. Asian Sex Worker Film Screening at Ar+Space :: July 20, 7-9 PM :: Location ar+space gallery (1286 Folsom Street (nr 9th) :: Sliding Scale $5-$20 (no one turned away for lack of funds).
We, Asian Sex Workers is screening videos by sex workers from San Francisco and from around the globe. We are proud to have the opportunity to present the premiere screening of "Memory of Mrs. Guan," the story of the leader of the sex worker movement, Guan Xiou Qin (of COSWAS in Taiwan) who committed suicide recently as a culmination to her political struggles. These videos range widely from this very political memoir to the experimental work "Whore's Diary : Pornography made by me & my client by BuBu de la Madeleine. Miss Erochica's Burlesque Diary explores a background of images through which burlesque artist, Erochica Bamboo, constructs her persona. This collection provides a unique view of Asian women in the sex industry, usually portrayed as victims and slaves, here portrayed as strong, often political, proud and sexy individuals with a range of goals and struggles.
2. We, Asian Sex Worker Exhibit: Migrant Sex Work Forum and Discussion in conjunction with 5th Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival :: July 18, 7PM :: ar+space gallery (1286 Folsom Street (nr 9th) :: Prices: Sliding Scale $5-? (no one turned away for lack of funds).
7pm: Migrant Sex Work Panel and discussion - Panelists include local experts in issues of sex worker and migration. Topics include the underside of 'rescues,' adverse impact of US trafficking policies, migrant rights and more.
8pm: Urban Justice Center presents "Taking the Pledge" USAID money, anti-prostitution pledges and migrant sex work presentation/discussion. Taking the Pledge by Melissa Ditmore & Erin Siegel (Network of Sex Worker Projects) - 13 min - Powerful activist detailing with interviews spanning the globe, addressing the impacts of new US funding restrictions under the Bush administration.
9pm Melissa Gira: Report Back from Cambodia - Representing Desiree Alliance, the Ms. Gira recently attended a consultation in Cambodia held in conjunction with The Sexual Health and Rights Project of Soros' Open Society Institute to organize cross cultural efforts to support sex worker rights.
3. Roaming Hookerfest: Outdoor Video Projection Roaming the Streets of San Francisco in conjunction with the San Francisco Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival :: July 20, 9-11PM :: 1st screening at corner of 16th and Folsom (route to be posted at website) :: Free.
The Roaming Hookerfest is a traveling outdoor caravan of sex workers bringing the films to the street. This first-ever Roaming Hookerfest was developed by Festival co-director, Erica Berman (AKA Fabulous). Fabulous wanted the festival to reach out past the usual crowds so she created this guerilla art event. On Friday night of the festival we will be driving a movie van with films and safer sex materials to alleyways throughout San Francisco. We will be showing a half hour of excerpts and short films highlighting the festival. We will post the locations and the list of movies at our site.
Meet us at 16th and Folsom at 9 PM for an elegant soiree on the streets. Dress up or dress down! Join our caravan afterwards for a party at Lipo Lounge, Red Lit Dance Nite with DJ Bent in Chinatown. Drink, eat Chinese food and discuss 'sex worker sinema' with sex workers from around the country.
The movies we will screen focus on entertainment for sex workers on the street including The Aphrodite Project by Norene Leddy which presents magical hooker platforms, designed for the street hookers of the future, and Jyanta Meetei's Street Survivor a precious portrait of a Taiwanese street hooker, her time and the cop who arrested her.
4. Red Lite Dance Nite-Afterparty for the Roaming Hookerfest :: July 20, 2007; 11pm :: Venue: Lipo Lounge, 916 Grant (nr Washington) :: $5-20 sliding scale; free for ho's with no dough
An incredible nite of booty beats, reggaeton rythms, and more music than you can imagine at the Red Lite Dance Nite!!! An extremely rare West Coast appearance by the infamous DJ bent - spinning reggaeton, funk carioca, hip-hop, baltimore club, miami booty bass, reggae/dancehall, and a whole lot more.
This is the after party for the Roaming Hookerfest, so drink, dance, eat Chinese food nearby and discuss 'sex worker sinema' with sex workers from around the country. This party supports Sex Worker Arts & Film Festival and this fall's National Sex Worker Activist Trainings.
Media Contacts: 310-562-8201; 415-751-1659
Telephone number (public): 415-99-ASIA-9 (415-992-7429)
Posted by jo at July 10, 2007 04:31 PM
