Sex Positive

Director: Daryl Wein
Cast: Richard Berkowitz, Larry Kramer, Edmund White, Joseph Sonnabend, Sean Strub, Gabriel Rotello, Bill Stackhouse, Demetre Daskalakis, Richard Dworkin, Ardele Lister
Format: HDCam   Runtime: 78 minutes
More Info

screening in: Documentary Competition

Screening Times

4:15 PM, Saturday March 8th - Austin Convention Ctr
Add this to my SXSW Calendar

11:00 AM, Monday March 10th - Austin Convention Ctr
Add this to my SXSW Calendar

9:00 PM, Friday March 14th - Austin Convention Ctr
Add this to my SXSW Calendar

everything subject to change

 Watch Film Trailer:
Quicktime (640x480)    MPEG-4 (320x240)  
help

Download:
Quicktime
MPEG4

Synopsis:
Sex Positive explores the life of Richard Berkowitz, a revolutionary gay S&M hustler turned AIDS activist in the 1980s, whose incomparable contribution to the invention of safe sex has never been aptly credited. Berkowitz emerged from the epicenter of the epidemic demanding a solution to the problem long before those both within and outside of the gay community would take heed. However, it was not Berkowitz's voice alone that sparked contention. Dr. Joseph Sonnabend, a controversial virologist and AIDS doctor, postulated that AIDS was more complicated than just a new virus. With Sonnabend's theory in tow, Berkowitz fought, alongside beloved activist and musician Michael Callen, for safer sex practices with out giving up on sex altogether. Sex Positive explores the explicit bravery of this unrecognized triumvirate, and their dire quest to save lives in the midst of unwavering dissent. Through the eyes of Mr. Berkowitz, we are made witness to a graphic testimony of sex, death, and betrayal, placing the invention of safe sex in a fresh and compelling context.Now destitute and alone, Mr. Berkowitz tells his story to a world who never wanted to listen.

Director's Bio:
Daryl Wein studied drama and film at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and USC School of Film and Television. His short film, Unlocked, for which he was co-writer, producer and director, was officially selected for the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. It won Best Dramatic Short Film at the Evil City Film Festival in New York City and has played at numerous other festivals around the world including the Gijon International Film Festival in Spain and the Los Angeles Uncensored Film Festival in California.At age 16, his first short film, Life is a Train, won Third Prize at the International Young Filmmaker's Festival in New York hosted by The Directors View. This attracted the attention of apple.com, which ran a series of articles about him online. His success inspired the state of Connecticut to honor him with the "You Belong in Connecticut Young Media Maker Award."As an actor, Daryl was the guest star on the season finale of "Law and Order," and has appeared in "Law and Order: SVU," "ED," Comedy Central movies, various stage productions, and over 10 national commercials.