Festival organizer Jelena Vermilion says the goal of the event opening Thursday evening is to demonstrate the resilience and diversity of sex workers. She says she began working on the festival more than a year ago, taking inspiration from her late friend, American activist Carol Leigh, who launched the original Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival in San Francisco in Leigh, a trailblazing advocate for sex workers, died in November and Vermilion says she began planning a Canadian version of the festival after attending a memorial honouring Leigh.
Vermilion describes herself as "an aspiring filmmaker" and she sees "the power of media as an opportunity to transform prejudice into empathy. Beyer, who died last year, was a former sex worker and performer who helped decriminalize sex work in the country. Premiering at the festival is a documentary by the stripper-led Ontario organization, Work Safe Twerk Safe, on the experience of strippers during the pandemic lockdowns. Share by Email. The festival is being hosted by two Hamilton theatres.
Vermilion said both nights will feature a panel discussion of local sex workers. She said she hopes the festival can grow and eventually become a biannual event. Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press.
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