The Dutch/Flemish Federation of Sexologists invited Blue Artichoke Films to come to their annual conference in Antwerp, and to present information about our vision for alternative erotica.

The Nederlandse/Vlaamse Federatie Seksuologie conference was attended by hundreds of sexologists, sex therapists, sex educators, teachers, and journalists. Though some folks stopped by our stand because they were already curious about new movements in sexfilm, or because they were already familiar with Blue Artichoke because of the recent media attention about us, others noticed our film clips and simply stopped for a while to watch. Many of these professionals wanted to share their thoughts about how Blue Artichoke films feel different in a good way — from what they’re used to seeing in sexually explicit film.

Lots of professionals asked us about whether they could use these films as sex-ed or therapeutic films. Truthfully, we hadn’t considered that before “we’re making them simply because we think they’re hot? but they pointed out some interesting qualities. Our attention to female pleasure, foreplay, safer sex, and general sense of naturalness are, they told us, helpful to a lot of potential clients. For those sex professionals who went home with a copy of a film, we hope to hear about their clients’ reactions.

Thanks to Peter Leusink, the Director of the Dutch Federation of Sexologists, for inviting us.

Special thanks also to Blue Artichoke helpers Sara S’Jegers (co-founder of the wonderful Belgian feminist collective FC Poppesnor), Kevin Mulder (Blue Artichoke Films excellent intern) and Marije Janssen (organizer of one of our favorite Amsterdam events, “Pinched: Sex Love and Countercultures” pinched.nl)