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The Dilemma of Desire

An exploration of “cliteracy,” and the clash between gender politics and the imperatives of female sexual desire. A feature length documentary by two-time Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Maria Finitzo, the film explores the work of four women who are shattering myths and lies about female sexual desire, bodies and - ultimately - power.

Entertaining, thrilling and radical, THE DILEMMA OF DESIRE explores the work of four women who are shattering myths and lies about female sexual desire, bodies and – ultimately – power.

Groundbreaking artist Sophia Wallace challenges long-held ideas of women with her “cliteracy” project, putting front and center the clitoris as fundamental to female orgasm. Dr. Stacey Dutton, a neuroscientist who realized she had never seen a drawing of the clitoris until she discovered Wallace’s work, is now committed to studying its biology and pushing the publishing industry to correct the deliberate omissions of the clitoris in major anatomy textbooks. With 20 years of research, Dr. Lisa Diamond is dismantling outdated notions about women’s arousal. And industrial designer Ti Chang heads CRAVE, a company dedicated to designing and manufacturing elegant vibrators for women.

Providing the embodiment of this work are the personal stories of Umnia, Becca, Jasmine, Sunny, and Coriama – five young women discovering and owning their sexuality.

THE DILEMMA OF DESIRE is a powerful reminder that true equality will come only when we all arrive at a place of understanding and acknowledgement that women are sexual beings, entitled to live their lives fully within the expression of their desire.

Filmmakers

cinematography

Hillary Bachelder
Bing Liu
Adam Singer
Keith Walker

Original Music

Miriam Cutler

Post Production SupervisorDigital Finish/Color

Matt Taylor

Audio Post-Production Director of Film Strategy

Nolo Digital Film Inc.

Director of Development

BAM Studios

Director of Editorial

Tim Horsburgh

Director of Programs and Engagement

Joanna Lakatos
Leslie Simmer

Finance Manager

Laura Gomez-Mesquita

Additional Kartemquin Staff

Jamie Bourne

Max Asaf
Abbie Brewer
Carlos Cova
Andrea Dr Fraga
Tina Figueroa
Ryan Gleeson
Keira Kennedy
Tikahya Lampley
Julia Martin
Nancy McDonald
Viorica Mereuta
Jim Morrissette
Anu Rana
Ingrid Roettgen
Leah Sacks
Risé Sanders-Weir
Elise Schierbeek
Whitney A. Spencer
Betsy Steinberg
Anthony Stoll
Emily Strong
Pedro Urgiles

Media

Awards and Distinctions

AFI Docs

Official Selection

2020

Against Gravity Warsaw

Official Selection

2020

Ashland Independent Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Bergen International Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Big Eddy Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Bright Lights Film Series @ Emerson College

Official Selection

2020

Charlotte Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Cleveland International Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Deadcenter Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Denver Film Society Women + Film

Official Selection

2020

DOC NYC

Official Selection

2020

Doclands Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Fabulous International Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Guelph Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Hot Docs

Official Selection

2020

Ji.Hlava International Documentary Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Mill Valley Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Milwaukee Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Minneapolist/St.Paul International Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

NHdocs: New Haven Documentary Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

NorthwestFest

Official Selection

2020

One Take FIlm Festival

Official Selection

2020

Philadelphia Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Raindance Film Festival (London)

Official Selection

2020

Reel Q Pittsburgh LGBT Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

RePro presented by Mama.Film

Official Selection

2020

Seattle Queer Film Festival

Winner

Audience Award for Favorite Documentary

2020

St.John's International Women's Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

St.Louis International Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

SXSW

Official Selection

World Premiere

2020

TLVFEST: Tel Aviv GLBT Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Women's Voices Now Film Festival

Official Selection

2020

Woodstock Film Festival

Official Selection

2020