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The annual CineKink celebrates subject matter you don't ordinarily find in mainstream movies, ranging from SM to swinging, fetishes to sex changes. By showcasing alternative lifestyles in all their glorious diversities and representing all forms, "documentary to drama, camp comedy to hot porn and everything in between," the festival brings together the edgiest artists working in filmmaking. This ain't no Sundance, that's for sure! Their raison d'etre speaks for itself: "CineKink is an organization that recognizes and encourages the positive depiction of alternative sexuality in film and television, most visibly through its annual film festival, CineKink NYC." They offered a four-day feast of specially-selected films and videos this past October and the organizer, Lisa Vandever, suggested I screen the Audience Choice award winners. "Born in a Barn" received Best Documentary, "Slaves" received Best Narrative Feature, and "Alice in Footland" received Honorable Mention. I was more than pleasantly surprised by the audiences' acumen.  Born in a BarnDirected by Elizabeth Elson I found this documentary riveting. With no questions or commentary from the camerawoman, director Elizabeth Elson, the viewer is left to form their own judgments. I felt nothing short of complete compassion for these people. But I wonder if less sophisticated folks might come away with an entirely different perspective. Ms. Elson pointed her lens on the subjects and let them chat away, in this case about their fetish for being - or training - human horses: the equestrian fetish. Men, women and couples explain why they enjoy being saddled and ridden, or training their ponies to canter or jump. The films makes these horses and their trainers appear about as "normal" as members of a quilting club or Mason's lodge. They're just a group of folks who get together to celebrate their common interest.  The most interesting, and perhaps distressing, point the movie makes (or at least my personal takeaway) is how solitary having such a specific fetish can be. Trigger relates that finding someone you connect with is difficult, and finding someone who shares your particular fetish is as well. But finding someone who you connect with who also shares your fetish is practically impossible. His future looks painfully lonely, and it made me want to search the world for the perfect horse trainer to keep him happy in oats and hay.Anyone who harbors a private kink should see this film. Better yet, anyone who claims an inability to understand fetishes should watch it, and learn not only compassion, but how oddly normal fetish freaks actually are. Read more about Born in a Barn at ThreeGracesFilms.com.  Alice in FootlandDirected by Napoleon Lake In this modern-day take on the classic tale of Alice, our heroine disappears into a gym locker instead of down the rabbit hole of old. And what she encounters there is way more than a tea party! It's a land of "foot sex" and fetishism, but our Alice gets deviant down under and she winds up in a wicked sex scene with a lovely blonde lass. The two are then punished by the evil queen, but, of course, everyone lives happily ever after. This is soft-core porn and only vaguely a flat-out foot fetish flick, with some spanking, tickling and hot wax thrown in for good measure. I should disclose that I'm friends with the director and the evil queen as well, which definitely colored my appreciation of the film. That said, the most appealing aspect is that this is definitely different from what you'll find coming out of California. There's an amateur flavor to it, though the filmmakers are quite experienced. The actresses are also both semi-skilled and refreshingly real. No plastic boobs or over-primped porn divas here. The soundtrack is, thankfully, completely innocuous. You almost don't even notice it, which with smut is a very good thing. I found myself a bit too distracted by the nuts and bolts - and friends! -- to really get revved up, but anyone looking for wank fodder would be satisfied. I hear there's going to be a sequel! Read more about Alice in Footland at RedLightTV.com.  SlavesDirected by Ich Bin Niemand The cover blurbs and press quotes that accompany this DVD are terrifying. Reading that "in this world, sex is extreme, often violent, and sometimes people die," and being told that this film explores a "bizarre, dysfunctional lifestyle," you know you aren't in for a feel-good flick. Having actually met the subject of this film, R.C. Horsch, I can definitely attest to the dysfunctional part. But what's even more terrifying than the cover blurbs is the fact that this DVD is actually being passed off as a documentary. Three minutes into the film it becomes clearly evident -- to me, at least -- that this is complete fiction, often hilariously so. Whether or not other viewers will be similarly amused is another thing. Anyone unfamiliar with BDSM and vampirism might believe they are seeing a real-life story about a transgressive artist, which is no doubt what Horsch intends. (Though the director is credited as "Ich Bin Niemand," which loosely translates as "I am nobody," it is somewhat safe to assume that Horsch is the director.)  "Slaves" is the third part of a trilogy concerning the life and work of Horsch, the previous two parts being books of his images. Horsch is an erotic photographer whose work has appeared in countless magazines and anthologies. This piece gives voice to seven of his subjects and, unfortunately, to the artist himself.It is beautifully filmed and the women are all shudderingly convincing. The only drawback is that Horsch receives too much screen time. He's an entirely unattractive, unpalatable man, even more so when he's munching away on raw meat, one of his many "evil" attributes. I certainly hope the viewers who helped this film garner the Audience Choice Award appreciated the sly pretense behind it and are howling in the aisles. It is a worthwhile investment of your time if taken with more than a grain of salt. Like perhaps a few fava beans and a nice chianti.
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