CineKink kicks off national tour in Las Vegas at theatre7

June 9, 2011 - PRLog -- CineKink co-founder and director Lisa Vandever describes her film festival as a mix of genres and tastes with an emphasis on works that are sex-positive.

"Especially films that have a fun and smart take on the subject of sex," Vandever said. "Generally, there's a little something for everyone."

The kinky film festival, as it has been nicknamed, kicks off its annual national tour in Las Vegas this weekend, June 10-12, at theatre7 (1406 South 3rd Street, Las Vegas, NV 89104).

CineKink: Las Vegas offers shorts and features of a wide and exciting world of sexual diversity, with works ranging from documentary to drama, comedy to experimental, mildly spicy to quite explicit - and everything in between.

"The programs we’re screening have already been culled from what we were able to screen at our annual kick-off to the season, CineKink NYC," Vandever said. "This includes all of the 2011 award-winners. My suggestion would be to pick up one of the discounted passes and take in all of it!"

Tickets are $10 at the door or  $8 in advance for each screening block. All-access passes are $40 ($30 students/seniors; $25 friends/CineKinksters).

This is the eighth season for the main festival in New York City and the second time for the tour  to visit Sin City.

"It’s an incredible amount of work, but what really keeps us going is that wonderful spark that occurs when a particular film meets an audience that just gets it," Vandever said. "That sense of like-minded community is absolute magic."

Two blocks of short films play on Friday. Pride & Predilections, a fun and festive assortment of shorts about sexual orientation, identity and one’s place in the world, gets things going at 7 p.m. Lust, Love, Life, a sexy selection of shorts celebrating those all-crucial four-letter words, wraps up Friday night's schedule, starting at 9 p.m. An after party follows at the Artifice Bar, 1025 First Street.

Adventures in the Skin Trade, a block of shorts about sex, money, performance and perception, gets the fun started Saturday at 4 p.m. A free panel, featuring Vandever, Las Vegas Weekly film editor Josh Bell, UNLV women’s studies professor Lynn Comella, and filmmaker Vivian Darkbloom, discussing sex in cinema follows at 6 p.m.

A special screening of award-winning shorts deemed 2011’s Best of CineKink screens Saturday at 8 p.m. Darkbloom's Indietro, CineKink's Audience Choice Award Winner for Best Narrative Feature, plays at 10 p.m. The film stars William Van Noland, Aurora Snow, Madison Young, Lilla Kat and Ned Henry and shows what happens when Mr. and Mrs. Suburbia pay a visit to the home of the King and Queen of Kink.

Kink Crusaders, CineKink's Audience Choice Award Winner for Best Documentary about the International Mr. Leather contest, closes the festival on Sunday with a 2 p.m. screening.

"Last year was our first time in Vegas," Vandever  said. "It turned out to be a great city for us and I’m so glad we are able to come back.  The local audience has been incredibly enthusiastic and supportive.  And it’s also a very nice draw for our filmmakers and regulars from other cities, who get to mix in a little extra Vegas fun with their CineKink experience."

Located near the "Downtown Las Vegas" sign in the arts district, theatre7 is an artlover's and indie film fan's paradise. Owned by filmmaker Derek Stonebarger (I.M. Caravaggio), theatre7 screens independent films, doubles as an art gallery and hosts live theatre performances.

Since opening in March, theatre7 has screened the Las Vegas feature films One Long Day, Thor at the Bus Stop, You People, the world premiere of Albert Pyun's Tales of an Ancient Empire, and a number of films from grindhouse legend Ted V. Mikels. In May, the venue was home to the hybrid stage production OSCAR: A Good Man, which received positive reviews and was featured on the front page of the L.A. Times.

CineKink kickstarts a slew of festivals hosted at theatre7. Horror short films directed by women will take center stage in July with the Viscera Film Festival. Underground and grindhouse works are spotlighted in October with PollyGrind. The Vegas Independent Film Festival takes place at theatre7 in November.

For more information on theatre7 or to buy advanced tickets for any upcoming events, visit http://www.theatre7lv.com/ or call 702-568-9663.

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