scotsfiancee
11th August 2006, 14:09
Hong Kong opens first sex workers film festival
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 04:34pm (Mla time) 08/11/2006
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's first sex workers film festival will kick off later on Friday, showing movies about prostitutes' lives aimed at shedding light on a taboo subject in Chinese society.
Concern group Zi Teng will show a total of nine films on prostitutes from Hong Kong, Taiwan, India and the United States, some of which were shot by the sex workers themselves.
Zi Teng spokeswoman Elaine Lam said response for the festival has been better than expected with several shows sold out.
"I guess it's the first time we do this in Hong Kong. When we talk about sex and sex workers, people tend to be interested in it," Lam said in her office decorated with bras and underwear donated by prostitutes.
Lam said she hopes the film festival will challenge stereotypes in a conservative Chinese society which discriminates against sex workers.
"There are deep prejudices towards them. Everyone thinks they only love money, all of them are linked with gangsters or drug dealers, so we hope to use this opportunity to allow the sisters to tell their stories through their own eyes," Lam said.
The films include a documentary on homosexual sex workers, another on Taiwan's 'mail-order brides' and an X-rated portrayal of Carol Leigh, one of the most prominent campaigners for sex workers' rights in the United States.
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 04:34pm (Mla time) 08/11/2006
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's first sex workers film festival will kick off later on Friday, showing movies about prostitutes' lives aimed at shedding light on a taboo subject in Chinese society.
Concern group Zi Teng will show a total of nine films on prostitutes from Hong Kong, Taiwan, India and the United States, some of which were shot by the sex workers themselves.
Zi Teng spokeswoman Elaine Lam said response for the festival has been better than expected with several shows sold out.
"I guess it's the first time we do this in Hong Kong. When we talk about sex and sex workers, people tend to be interested in it," Lam said in her office decorated with bras and underwear donated by prostitutes.
Lam said she hopes the film festival will challenge stereotypes in a conservative Chinese society which discriminates against sex workers.
"There are deep prejudices towards them. Everyone thinks they only love money, all of them are linked with gangsters or drug dealers, so we hope to use this opportunity to allow the sisters to tell their stories through their own eyes," Lam said.
The films include a documentary on homosexual sex workers, another on Taiwan's 'mail-order brides' and an X-rated portrayal of Carol Leigh, one of the most prominent campaigners for sex workers' rights in the United States.