The program includes feature films, documentaries, and shorts, alongside Q&As, panel discussions, lectures, and workshops, creating a unique and immersive four-day experience. In the interview, Yavuz Kurtulmus and Jasmin Hagendorfer share more about the festival and the visions behind it.
Porn Film Festival Vienna First of all, how did the idea to create a Porn Film Festival Vienna come about? Have you already seen similar forms of the festival elsewhere? What was your point of departure, and how did the step from idea to realizing the project happen?
The idea for the Porn Film Festival Vienna had been brewing long before its first edition in 2018. Porn is everywhere – it shapes culture, influences almost all of us, yet nobody talks about it. Statistically, most people watch it, but shame and stigma keep it hidden. That silence has allowed mainstream porn to operate unchecked, often under exploitative conditions, with society either looking the other way or criminalizing it instead of engaging critically.
Inspired by other Porn Film Festivals we knew Austria needed its own. Yavuz Kurtulmus came from the film festival world with a focus on diversity, Jasmin Hagendorfer from art and film, and together with a passionate team, we made it happen.
Who is the audience for the festival? What can someone attending the screenings expect to see?
Our audience is diverse, spanning students to older generations and including individuals from feminist, queer, working-class, and kinky communities – also it’s important to emphasize that these identities can overlap and are not mutually exclusive. Some attend out of curiosity, experiencing porn in a cinema for the first time, while others are the familiar kinky regulars, we see year after year.
And then some simply wander into Schikaneder, intrigued by the vibrant crowd and the allure of a space that celebrates alternative and subversive cinema. Each screening offers something different – a carefully curated selection that challenges norms, sparks discussions, and celebrates desire in all its forms.
Diversity in the program is very important. How do you ensure that the festival reflects this diversity?
Diversity is at the core of the Porn Film Festival Vienna, reflected not only in the selection of our films but in our entire program. We showcase a wide range of perspectives, bodies, desires, and storytelling styles, with a strong focus on feminist, queer, and intersectional approaches to sexuality. In addition to screenings, we offer workshops, talks, and special formats. This year, we’re focusing on bridging the age gap—because (ethical) porn isn’t just for the youth. Accessibility is also a key priority and has become a fixed part of our program. Last year, for example, we introduced a sold-out, first-time experiment: screening porn in complete darkness (*Porn In The Dark*), where only the sound remained.
We generally remain open-minded in our curation, regularly visiting other festivals to discover new perspectives and voices, additionally, we are lucky enough to be supported by a diverse team bringing together different backgrounds and experiences to shape a program that reflects this breadth
Porn as a genre is often reserved for private spaces, but the Porn Film Festival brought it into a cinema setting. What inspired this decision?
The idea behind the Porn Film Festival Vienna is rooted in exactly this question – why should porn remain confined to private spaces? Porn is political, and it deserves to be seen, discussed, and engaged with publicly. It takes up so much space in society, yet most people only ever experience it alone or maybe with a partner at best. Putting it on the big screen changes everything. The atmosphere in the cinema is unlike any other – some people giggle, others shift in their seats, unsure how to react. Some exchange glances and flirt with their date, while others sit completely absorbed, eyes fixed on the screen as if they’re watching the most gripping film of their lives.
And just to be clear – because people always ask, and it’s our favorite persistent myth – no, we don’t allow sexual acts in the cinema. We’re a film festival, not *that* kind of screening room!
What, for you, is the difference between erotic and pornographic film? These are often placed in the same category—do you see a distinction?
Erotic and pornographic films are often lumped together and while *Erotica* is considered sensual and artistic, *pornography* still somewhat carries a stigma, seen as dirty, degrading, or sleazy, despite being a major part of culture and academic discourse through Porn Studies and gender studies.
At PFFV, we challenge these biases – not just through our film selection but through the conversations we spark.
It even becomes quite clear from our merch (tote bags and stickers) that outright poses the questions: *What is porn?* and *What is sex?* And sure enough, every time we carry our tote bags, someone stops us to ask. That’s exactly the point – to take these conversations out of the private sphere, spark debate, challenge assumptions, and get people rethinking what pornography really means.
Is there any form of censorship at the Porn Film Festival?
Like any other film festival, we operate within the legal regulations of what we can and cannot show, and we adhere to those guidelines. That said, we are deeply committed to diversity and representation. We make a point of amplifying voices that are often censored or overlooked – such as sex workers – ensuring they have space on screen and in the conversation.
This year, we’re screening *Remote Sex Work*, a documentary that gives a voice to online sex workers and takes viewers behind the scenes of their daily lives. Shot by former and current sex workers Carmina and Prune, it offers an intimate, firsthand perspective on the realities of the industry in the age of subscription-based platforms like OnlyFans and MYM.
How have you grown in the last years, and what is new in 2025?
Yes! The Porn Film Festival Vienna has grown in many ways – more films, more visitors, and a bigger platform for conversation. As the second-largest porn film festival after Berlin, we’re bringing 18 feature films and 150 shorts across 20 curated programs in 2025, expecting around 9,000 attendees. But for us, it’s not so much about scale but rather the impact we have.
This year, we’re also tackling the *generational gap*, challenging the idea that ethical porn is just for the young. We’re expanding *Porn in the Dark* that works with audio only and is part of our push for *accessibility*. And we further explore *AI and sexuality*, our focus last year, looking at how technology is reshaping desire, intimacy, and representation.
Beyond the festival, we’re growing *PORNights*, our monthly screenings in Vienna, and strengthening national and international collaborations to keep the conversation on ethical, feminist, and diverse pornography going year-round.
Join us for *Porn Film Festival Vienna 2025* from April 10 – 14 where porn is unapologetic, subversive, and way too good to watch alone!
Porn Film Festival Vienna – www.pffv.at
Yavuz Kurtulmus is a pioneering figure and visionary in advocating for queer minorities and diversity. As the founder of MiGaY, Austria’s first platform dedicated to LGBTIQA+ migrants, he has passionately championed visibility, representation, and rights for queer minorities and people of color for over 15 years. In 2012, he established the Transition International Queer & Minorities Film Festival, Europe’s only queer film festival explicitly dedicated to gender diversity and queer migration narratives. Expanding his impactful presence in the international film festival landscape, he launched the Queer Shorts Vienna Film Festival in 2023, providing a prominent platform for short films exploring queer identities and experiences. Yavuz consistently fosters powerful collaborations with globally recognized events and institutions, including the Teddy Award at the Berlinale, Oslo/Fusion Festival, and Wien Museum, elevating queer cultural discourse and visibility across borders. As the founder & creative force behind the Porn Film Festivals in Vienna, Barcelona, Athens, Paris, London Madrid & Istanbul, Yavuz aims to underscore the critical intersections of sexuality, gender expression, and diversity, emphasizing their transformative impact on contemporary society. Drawing from his background in activism and festival management, Yavuz also stepped into filmmaking and production in 2023, creating impactful films that spotlight diverse narratives and marginalized voices through his company, YK Media.
Based in Vienna, Jasmin Hagendorfer is an acclaimed contemporary artist, filmmaker, and curator known for her exploration of socio-political themes and gender identity through a variety of artistic mediums. Her works are showcased internationally, reflecting her commitment to addressing critical issues through art. Hagendorfer is also a prominent figure in the realms of feminist and queer theory, particularly through her role as co-founder and festival director of the Porn Film Festival Vienna. This festival uniquely blends feminist and queer perspectives with art and pornography, fostering dialogue and reflection on the intersections of these fields. Hagendorfer also delivered a TEDx talk in Vienna titled „How Good Porn Can Save the Planet,“ where she discussed the potential environmental and sustainable benefits of high-quality, alternative pornography. Additionally, she has contributed a chapter to the book „Fragile Fäden – Beziehungsweisen im Kapitalismus“ (translated as „Fragile Threads – Modes of Relationship in Capitalism“). In this chapter, Hagendorfer explores how intimacy, sensuality, and capitalism intersect and influence personal and societal relationships, using the concept of pornography as a lens to envision alternative futures. She is also one of the editors of the newly released book Arse Elektronika: Sexponential, to which she contributed two articles—one exploring deepfakes and porn, and another presenting a transcript from her documentary on sex robots. Her filmography includes works such as „Fudliaks! Tear The Sexes Apart!,“ „Slugfest,“ and „Musings of a Mechatronic Mistress,“ which further exemplify her innovative approach to art and social commentary.
