Intimacy Takes Center Stage: A Deep Dive into the Debut Intimacy Coordinators Film Festival

Welcome to Flicker Festival, a groundbreaking event where intimacy coordinators transcend their role as on-set guardians of closeness to curate a cinematic celebration of intimacy.

Launching Flicker Festival: A New Era for Intimacy Coordination

On October 16, the historic Culver Theater became the backdrop for the inaugural Flicker Festival, a unique short-film festival conceived and run entirely by intimacy coordinators. These professionals, often the unseen custodians of on-screen contact, work to ensure every touch and glance is impeccably orchestrated.

“People think of us as the set police,” says Yehuda Duenyas of CINTIMA, the SAG-AFTRA-accredited company spearheading this initiative. He envisions both the job and the festival as opportunities to embrace a sex-positive and cinematic approach.

Yehuda Duenyas, CINTIMA

Founded by Duenyas alongside co-creators Jimanekia Eborn and Jaclyn Chantel, CINTIMA aimed to highlight intimacy choreography’s artistry onscreen. Out of 50 submissions, 30 shorts were chosen, each offering a unique interpretation of intimacy. From playful and awkward to profound, the featured works include original shorts, glimpses of films like Shortbus and Chocolate Babies, and commercials for brands like Lelo and Pair of Thieves.

A Night to Remember: Glamour, Stars, and Shorts

The festival featured a red carpet spectacle and a juried panel including stars like Rutina Wesley and Danielle Deadwyler. Attendees were advised to dress to impress, but also to keep personal space in mind—no sneaky movie-theater moves here.

Political Undercurrents in Chicago Fire’s New Season

The latest season of Chicago Fire stirs discussions with its storyline depicting first responders under siege in a chaotic cityscape—a narrative echoing critiques often heard from political figures like former President Trump.

The show’s divergence into politically charged territory represents a departure from its usual less overtly political storytelling. While Law & Order thrives on real-world parallels, Dick Wolf’s Chicago series have historically avoided such explicit commentary.

This season’s thematic focus on tensions between city officials and first responders mirrors real-life friction in Chicago under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s leadership. The longevity of this narrative shift is yet to be seen, and Wolf’s camp remains tight-lipped about any new political direction.

Mindy Rickles Channels Her Father’s Legacy in New Podcast

Mindy Rickles reflects on her childhood among Las Vegas’s lights, her father’s sharp wit evening’s entertainment. With the podcast Mindy, Ed and Don Rickles, Mindy and her husband, Ed Mann, invite listeners to explore the legendary Don Rickles’s life and comedy from a deeply personal perspective.

Episodes blend archival clips of Don’s performances with Mindy’s insights, offering fans a fresh understanding of his enduring appeal. She captures his thought process, stage presence, and the evolution of his comedic repertoire for a contemporary audience.

By candidly addressing the more controversial aspects of Don’s work with care and humor, from nostalgic recordings to modern sensibilities, Mindy honors and contextualizes her father’s legacy, ensuring his humor resonates anew.

The podcast is available on platforms like iHeart, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, inviting people to immerse themselves in the world of Don Rickles.

Reporting based on the original article; quotes reproduced verbatim.