While I was in Berlin, XConfessions went Polyamorous! One of my favourite films Sweet But Psycho was screened at the fab venue Guarrantinas for an evening of discussion, performance and film around the subject of “Polyamory vs. Polygamy“. Plus my Talent Manager in the office, and favourite performer Kali Sudhra was performing in a scene directed by Nico Bertrand!

Kali performs in my latest release Spit It Up which you can watch now!

Plus I have licensed Nico Bertrand’s movies on my Netflix-style streaming platform Erotic Films! You can find all of them >>here<<

From what I’ve heard from the girls in the office, the space looked super kinky and cool. Lots of the guests turned up in fetish gear (or naked!) and the vibe was one of total acceptance and freedom. I wish I’d been there!

The night also featured:

• A discussion by Noemí Casquet on Polyamory
• Two performances directed by Nico Bertrand: Clamor Popular & PoliAnexos
• An exhibition of polaroids: Pollas Instantáneas by Diego Sotelo
• Dinner by Mil Fleurs
• and film projections of “Perdidos en Verano” by Sebastián Gomez Ruiz and Francesca Rauchi

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Danke Schön, Berlin!

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Oh my, what an INCREDIBLE trip I just had to Berlin! It’s not often that I leave the comfort of Barcelona – except on very special occassions. And last week I had two open-air screenings of multiple XConfessions films with Q&As in collaboration with the Berlin Film Society, at the amazing Sisyphos! Loads of you turned up, and we gorged on cock-shaped ice lollies, amazing food, beer and cocktails and so much fun and laughter I am just dying to go back!

Thank you Berlin Film Society, you rock!

As every guest arrived, they wrote down their secret sexual confession or fantasy on a post-it, and I handpicked my favorite! The winner received an amazing sex-toy – she was super pleased I think! And thank you to Other Nature alternativer Sexladen for making it happen!

There were multiple performances from some incredible people! Shibari and interpretive dance, all with a fantastically queer, alternative vibe. We loved it!

You can check out the Facebook events here and here to see what these amazing spaces have coming next!

Myself and Pablo got up to so many other exciting things too while we were in Berlin! We went to Gay Pride which was so much fun, plus we stayed in a super funky hotel called Zoo Hotel Berlin – check out my instagram to see me prowl around like a tiger…

Soho House Berlin also put on a party for us to celebrate, and I saw loads of my favourite Berliners, including my dear friend Lina Bembe, who I’ve worked with on multiple films for XC! Check some snaps on my Insta too!

Berlin, you always steal my heart. I can’t wait to come back! Can I have better weather next time though please 😉

Super special thanks to:

Berlin Film Society
Sisyphos
Tech Open Air
Hotel Zoo Berlin
einhorn
Lusty Ice

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XConfessions went to the windy city, for a night of screenings at Taboo Tabou! A woman-owned sex shop in Chicago specializing in lingerie, BDSM, toys and everything sexy! Their goal is to promote a body and sex positive environment that transforms the person beyond the bedroom.  Taboo Tabou is the ultimate girl power experience, selling sex toys and hosting private parties and workshops.

They screened four of my films and from the looks of their facebook live streaming, had an amazing time! They even wrote a little blog about it 😀

Math Mag Anniversary & 4th Issue Launch

Next the XConfessions sex-positive train was in New York for the Math magazine anniversary party! This Brooklyn-based magazine is always seeking new perspectives on lust, love, and sex. 

I feature in the third edition of Math mag, with an interview and a bunch of pictures from XC. I am super proud to be a part of this progressive, positive, modern magazine. Sexuality as art, art as sex, sex with film and filmic sex! What more could you want from your magazine reading? It looked like a very fun party and I wish I could have been there! Maybe next time 😉

Check out their blog on the night here!

From vintage films and Instagram feeds to modern art and cam sites, we find inspiration everywhere. With a passion for re-envisioning porn through depictions of desires that are often sought but rarely seen, we celebrate desire and sex with a special attention to quality, narrative, playfulness, nuance, passion, and variety. Math Magazinemaintains a dedication to highlighting an array of genders, an assortment of bodies, and a bouquet of beauty types in every issue.

*Math Mag launch photos courtesy of Tramaine George

To celebrate my deepening connections with those across the pond, I am giving you a 20% discount on the store for today only! 

Use code JULY4TH for 20% OFF 

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

Happy 4th Lusties!

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And to celebrate I rounded up all the women and men from the office and my crew to come on down for some pizza and booze! But not only that, we screened an exclusive “soft” preview of XC Vol. 9 for the surprised lucky diners at Frankie Galla Cha Cha Cha Pizzeria! And Kali wore her special Pizza earrings too ☺️

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I am so unbelievably proud of my incredible team! To be seated at a table with a group of such fiercely hardworking, creative, intelligent, powerful women is an experience and a privilege that everyone should have – and one that I get to enjoy every day! Women have come to work with me from all over the world – London, L.A., Paris, you name it!

We are totally sober here! 😅 😂 🤣

After our pizza we went to MACERA bar, where they don’t have any branded alcohol but make all of it themselves! Super delicious cocktails went down a treat – although some of us are regretting it in the office today! This would be a great location for a film one day, don’t you think? 😉

This is Thais and Marc! Thais is my Cinematographer – she holds the camera on every one of my XConfessions shoots, so what you see is what she wants you to see! And so incredibly beautifully. XC would NOT be possible without the talents of this Almodovár-esque queen!

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From today, Sept 9th until Saturday 24th you’ll be able to watch all 6 volumes of the XConfessions compilations in the Buenos Aires Mon Amour Cinema (Bama Cine). The entire XConfessions trajectory, on the big screen! Check the program here.

I’m thrilled to bring, once again, my erotic short films to the cinema. It’s a great way of connecting with people and receiving fresh feedback! And of course, a wonderful opportunity to push a little bit further the debate around the adult industry, and explore the cinematic potential of eroticism.

Among the short films screened are Try My Boyfriend, An Appointment With My Master, A Talk Too Dirty, I Wish I Was a Lesbian and one of the first XC short films We Know You Are Watching.

And what a cool poster they made me!

Unfortunately I won’t be there in person 🙁 But if you are in Buenos Aires and decide to attend, I would love to know what you think!
You can get more information, times & schedule in Bama Cine’s Facebook Page.

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Sexhibition is a young successful project – their first event was in 2015 and counted with more than 10.000 people. Cheryl describes it as a”female company, with focus of female sexuality and empowerment firmly at the heart of the event”. Loving every word in this discourse, aren’t we? Their phrase is “the largest celebration of sex and sexuality in UK”, and that’s exactly what they are.

I wasn’t lucky enough to attend to the festival (Barcelona is keeping me busy! Check out the films I’ve been working on), but I’ve heard that Sexhibition 2016 was a blast! The program had everything sex positive, from alternative films screenings and fashion shows to talks with the legend Stoya. Plus a ton of performances of amazing artists that I’m dying to see. A potpourri of cool sex stuff well put together, just how we like it.

Unfortunately I have no good pictures of the screenings but I know if was full! So if you were there and have some nice pictures of the event, please send them to me! I’m a very proud mama who’s happy to see our lil XC creatures being screened in important screens around the globe.

Cheryl, thank you so much for the invitation. Long life #Sexhibition!

You can know more about Sexhibition by following them on Twitter or Facebook Page.

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Friday was an awesome day. We did a screening of XConfessions in Filmoteca de Catalunya, a very important public institution ran by the government in Barcelona. They had invited us to open a summer program about movies that had faced censorship, and of course I was thrilled to say yes! But I have to say, showing my work in a respected cinema isn’t the main reason why I was so happy that night. I’ll tell you why.

Screening explicit films on big screens can tell us a lot more about society than one would normally think. Cinemas are places made for us to live shared experiences, and putting sex in that equation isn’t the most normal thing. It can make the viewers face their own fears and judgements – from the moment you buy the ticket until your feelings when you leave the theater. When you are sitting on a chair and you see a cock that on screen has 5 meters, and realize that your arm is sitting only 15cm away from the complete stranger in the seat next to you, your brain can tilt as your mind get lost in questions: Will this scene last much longer? Will this stranger get a boner?Am I making weird faces? Wait, is the stranger’s boner giving me one?

The answer, if I could interrupt the screening to respond, would be “it’s fine if it does!”. Because sex and arousal are normal things that we live with the people that we love the most. Still, we can’t talk about it in public places. Why?

Confirming that an institution so important and relevant in Barcelona’s cultural and historical life like Filmoteca is willing to get in this debate was the biggest joy I could possibly have from the screening. They were brave to open their doors and let me – a feminist pornographer! – in, and bring with me a good amount of close-ups of cunnilingus. That means a lot to me and to everyone who’s working hard in creating new ways on which sex is depicted. I know (because they told me) that the organizers have received a few angry emails from a few pure-at-heart members who couldn’t understand why they had to stoop to the point of adding “libertine actions” to the program, which is even more reason for me to stand up and applaud their initiative. As one of the viewers said before asking his question during the Q&A, Filmoteca was “filled with young people who might have never reached this institution if it wasn’t for tonight” – and, again, I really think this says A LOT about our society.

The house was full – we’ve filled every one of the 360 seats. Plenty of familiar faces, friends, coworkers, performers, and of course the amazing girls from the crew who could finally admire their work within the best conditions of image and sound.

I’ve always dreamed on screening my films in a public event in the city I chose to build my life. In Barcelona I shot my first film over a decade ago, created my very own production company and started XConfessions. It was also in Barcelona that I fell in love and I had two kids. *eyes tearing up*

So here’s a huge thank you to everyone who came to watch, to the organizers from Filmoteca and for every single one of you who collaborate and share your erotic stories in XConfessions!

If you want to organize a screener of XConfessions in your own city, let me know through this form. Let’s spread the love!

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Wow. Berlin, what can I say? You sure know how to make a gal feel welcome! I’m still buzzing  – thanks so much to everyone (500 hundred of you!) who came down for my screening of XConfessions and Q&A at Berlin Film Society last night. You all helped to make it an unforgettable night. I love Berlin, and I feel like Berlin really gets me. The openness, the energy and the engagement from the audience made the event feel like one of the highlights of my year already.

Last year’s we brought XConfessions to the big screen at Chicago International Film Festival and Raindance in London, and to be able to do that at Berlin Film Society too is just beyond exciting. I have a deep admiration for their work – they do such a great job at showcasing independent and auteur cinema as well as new, innovative filmmaking talent. One of their central aims is to create a multicultural dialogue among members of diverse cultures in Berlin, and they’ve quickly built a strong reputation for presenting insightful films that are often overlooked in mainstream German cinema distribution. Hats off to you!

Thanks again to the society for having me, and to everyone who showed up, asked questions, enjoyed themselves and made it an amazing night. As the event on 10 February sold-out quickly, we set up an encore screening on the 12 February (tomorrow!) as well. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and talking to you then. It also happens to be the society’s fourth anniversary that weekend, so all the more reason to come out and party with us. Join the Facebook event here.

But for now,  phew – I think a large beer and a bratwurst is in order.

Auf Wiedersehen!

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We did it!  As some of you know, I was invited yesterday night at the amazing 51st Chicago International Film Festival – to screen a selection of short films of the XConfessions project. I was introduced by Chicago-based filmmaker and now friend Maria Finitzo.

And I have to say, I’m super proud. This has been a big step not only for me as a filmmaker, but for everyone who believes in feminism, in empowering women and in giving erotic movies a different perspective. What made the festival organizers put my name on the program -next to renowned directors like Todd Haynes, Michael Moore or Paolo Sorrentino- was, I hope, my willingness to express female pleasure, and the effort in making every one of my films to feel real.

It was a great chance to present a selection of XConfessions films, talk about onscreen pleasure and explicit movies, and share my experiences and hopes. And the cinema was packed with more than 150 people!

It was a great night for @xconfessions in the @chifilmfest I’m super happy! pic.twitter.com/PfzcvoroRS

— Erika Lust (@erikalust) October 22, 2015

Oh, and a HUGE thanks to Camille Lugan (Programming Director) for this incredible opportunity. And, of course, to Maria Finitzo – who is developing a very promising documentary about female pleasure.

For those of you interested in reading the short talk I did las night before showing the short films, here it is:

I believe that sex is greater than porn, don’t you?

Pornography has been focusing exclusively on the anatomy of sex: breasts, butts, cocks, bigger cocks, vaginas, blowjobs, deepthroats and the mandatory final cum shot.

For me sex is MORE than the fluids, the penetrations, the positions…

For too long we have been watching the worst representation of human sexuality on our screens. Women as mere objects of pleasure and men as penetrating sex machines. Our sexual minds have been contaminated by cheap, sexist, ugly and boring porn. And that poor representation of sex has been influencing many aspects of our culture, our sexual behaviour and even sex education.

People seem to believe that nothing can be done. That porn is just porn. But I think that the time has come to openly talk about porn, to say what we like and dislike.

Me? I want to see emotions, connection, intimacy, complex feelings…..
I want intriguing storylines, good characters, female pleasure, beautiful cinematography.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about romantic chick flicks, champagne, a charming prince…. All I want is a nouvelle vague of independent adult cinema.

I’ve been running XCONFESSIONS for two years now.
Every day anonymous users write their adventures, kinks and fantasies… Then, each month, I choose 2 of the best to be turned into erotic short films.

The magic starts with the creativity of the crowd, and it ends in films made with love, passion and hard work. The films are shot in groups of 5 or 6, every 3 months. We shoot on selected locations in Barcelona and surroundings, with an Arri Alexa camera and a almost all female crew of 15.

Opposite into mainstream porn, we pay enormous attention to all the details: the photography, the narrative, the cast, the make up, the wardrobe, the locations, the music, the editing, the color correction, the graphic design…. And of course the sound… All the ingredients of good cinema.

Today XConfessions has 100.000 active members and counting, who have written more than 500 confessions. And we have already shot 60 short films based on their stories.

I want to thank CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL for inviting me to show a selection of my XConfessions.

After the screening I’ll be back with Maria Finitzo for a Q&A, so save your questions for then.

I hope to encourage the audience and filmmakers in the room to join this much needed erotic evolution. We need more films showing sex with a cinematic, artistic and creative new approach.

Thank you.

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