CULTURE

XXX-rated rendezvous

Do you feel like spicing up your weekend? Well, you’ll certainly have the opportunity to do so, as the Second Berlin Porn Film Festival in Athens is currently under way at the Gagarin 205 club. Following last year’s success, the event, which is jointly organized by Proud Promotions, Astra Productions and Stereomatic, kicked off yesterday and will run to Sunday. Claiming to highlight just how slight the difference between art and pornography is, and hoping to put to rest the stereotypes regarding the porn industry, the festival offers a variety of films and happenings to please all (adult) tastes. From soft to hard and post-porn films and live happenings, straight, gay and lesbians are all welcome at the Gagarin. The festival opened with a classic, Radley Metzger’s award-winning «The Opening of Misty Beethoven,» which is based on the myth of Pygmalion. Program highlights include the documentary «Llik Your Idols,» with various artists commenting on the porn industry and on New York’s Cinema of Transgression movement, as well as a documentary on legendary actor John Holmes, who was the inspiration behind the box-office hit «Boogie Nights.» Todd Verow’s latest challenging production, which gives a revealing look at New York, is also part of the program as is Adam & Eve’s award-winning film «Pirates XXX,» a twist on «Pirates of the Caribbean» with lots of digital effects. Two films by controversial director Bruce LaBruce will be shown and famous lesbian porn filmmaker Maria Beatty will present her selection of the past year’s best lesbian films. The program further includes a film by Japan’s bondage artist Yukimura Haruki. Every day, the screenings are followed by live performances by some of Europe’s biggest fetish shows and music acts, including Wendy Delorme & Louis de Ville from Paris as well as Lazlo Pearlman. The festival will end with the Closing Queer Party on Sunday night. Gagarin 205, 205 Liosion, tel 210.854.7600.

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