By Lori Perkins
CineKink, the annual NYC-based kinky film festival, announced that a 4K restoration of the classic 70’s porn film Deep Throat will be shown Friday, August 4, 9:00 PM as a featured presentation during the 20th anniversary return of its film festival.
Hot on the heels of the film’s 50th Anniversary World Tour, the event will mark the return of the adult classic to the city where it first burst onto the scene in 1972, with lines forming down the block for a chance to take in this explicit curiosity. After the screening, a panel will discuss the impact the iconic work has had over the years. No one involved in the production, cast or crew, had any idea of the unprecedented success the film would achieve. It would usher in an era now referred to as “Porno Chic” and change American culture forever.
“From our vantage 50 years down the road, it’s hard to imagine the furor that Deep Throat created at the time,” said Lisa Vandever, co-founder and director of CineKink. “While mores were certainly being challenged on many fronts, sex was rarely discussed, let alone seen unfolding onscreen to a mainstream audience. It’s an honor that we’re able to include this history-making film as part of CineKink’s 20th anniversary celebration.”
Gerard Damiano Jr. and Christar Damiano, son and daughter of the legendary director, Gerard Damiano Sr., who have been instrumental in restoring Deep Throat to match his original vision, will present the film and take part in a post-screening discussion about their father, his work and his legacy. "Deep Throat has been controversial since its release and has touched on many issues, from freedom of speech, to defining obscenity.” says Gerard. “On our tour we discovered that people around the world have heard of the film, but few today have actually seen it. We are happy for the opportunity to present it theatrically, as it was originally intended to be seen, and share stories of being on location in Miami during production.”
Christar adds “The fact that CineKink falls on what would have been our father’s 95th Birthday this year is a perfect opportunity to honor him. He will always be known for ‘Deep Throat,’ but went on to make some of the most important films of the ‘Golden Age of Porn.' We will invite everyone to join us after the screening for a birthday party!”
Additional participants in the post-screening discussion will include Kaytlin Bailey, a sex worker advocate and host of the ‘Old Pros’ podcast; Whitney Strub, an Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Rutgers University, who has written and edited several books on the role of pornography in our culture; and Veronica Vera, porn star, journalist, and Founder of Miss Vera's Academy for Boys Who Want to be Girls.
At the conclusion of the event, Gerard Jr. and Christar will host an after-party in honor of their father’s 95th birthday. The location for the party will be announced to those in attendance at the screening.
Tickets to Deep Throat: 50th Anniversary Celebration may be purchased online and are $20; $15/students & seniors; $12/CineKink members. Admission is restricted to those 18 and over only. CineKink NYC festivities kick off on Wednesday, August 2, with an opening reception, and run through Sunday, August 6, with several film programs taking place each day, concluding with an awards ceremony and closing party.
For more information, visit CineKink. .