Unlike the trio of Canadian porn providers recently chastised by the CRTC for failing to provide the required amount of Canadian content on their specialty channels, the Feminist Porn Awards have for the past nine years been recognizing cream-of-the-crop productions filmed right here in this country with a special made-in-Canada category.
The Feminist Porn Awards, hosted by Good For Her, showcase films and websites that were directed, produced, or conceived by women or traditionally marginalized people; feature the “genuine pleasure, agency and desire for all performers, especially women and traditionally marginalized people”; and incorporate the principles of intersectionality.
When it comes to feminist pornography, there’s something for everyone. Besides the best-in-Canada category, the annual event hands out statues for sexiest straight film, smutty schoolteacher, and most deliciously diverse cast.
According to creative director Lorraine Hewitt, to be nominated in the Canadian content class, a production must be shot here by a resident of Canada. Films vying for awards arrive from around the globe. Submissions with a Canadian postmark receive special attention. “When we receive a notable Canadian submission,” Hewitt explains, “we highlight it.”
One goal of the FPAs is to support the growth of the feminist porn industry worldwide—cultivating homegrown talent is a no-brainer. Global awareness of locally produced quality feminist porn puts Canada on the map, and in turn creates industry buzz.
The FPAs are more than an awards ceremony: the five-day affair is an orgy of events, including special screenings, cocktail parties, conferences, and opportunities to hobnob with the stars.
This year’s naughty nominees include Sonya JF Barnett’s feature No Artificial Sweeteners and Carey Gray’s Power at Play.
Last year, Barnett took home a bedazzled butt plug for her film I Want You to Watch. Barnett doesn’t buy it when the specialty channels admonished by the CRTC claim that there just isn’t enough material produced north of the 49th parallel to meet the federal agency’s Canadian-content quota. Because our neighbours to the south flood the porn market with so much mainstream material, Barnett believes broadcasters are simply too lazy to look for material produced within Canada. “They have a great opportunity here to promote the artistry—yes, porn is art—that comes out of Canada. All they have to do is look.”
In the meantime, the 2014 Feminist Porn Awards continue to do what they do best: recognize and award all that’s awesome about made-in-Canada feminist porn.