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Gay Men’s Guide to Safer Sex 97 – Director’s Cut (18*) + ScreenTalk Rob Falconer & guests

,Cinema 1
Two men lie naked in bed together, kissing and embracing tenderly.

Time travel back to 1997 and see a new cut of Rob Falconer’s landmark film, a frank and unapologetically erotic guide to enjoying safe same-sex when resources for gay men were hard to access.

Five years after The Gay Man’s Guide to Safer Sex (1992), director Rob Falconer filmed a follow-up in 1997, as so much new information had become available since the original guide’s release. It features expert advice from medical consultant Mike Youle, fearlessly honest interviews with gay men talking about their sex lives and groundbreaking sex scenes, some featuring adult performer Aiden Shaw.

From kissing tips to full-on intercourse, this frank and sex-positive guide was a refreshing celebration of gay sex at a time when many LGBTQ+ people were pressured into feeling fear and shame. It is an invaluable snapshot of queer life in the 90s, too, backed by a pulsating techno soundtrack courtesy of electro combo Angel.

Tagged with: Cinema

1997 (Director’s Cut, 2024) UK Dir Rob Falconer 55 min

Please note: this programme includes scenes of real sex.

This screening will be followed by a ScreenTalk with director Rob Falconer and Dr Will Nutland & Marc Thompson (co-founders, The Love Tank) and special guest Aiden Shaw, hosted by Selina Robertson.

Speakers

Aiden Shaw’s (aka Aiden Brady) bio reads more like a stream of consciousness. He’s written books, music albums, produced independent films, was the highest paid US pornstar. In NY he contributed to an interiors magazine, and one on HIV. He’s headlined Gay Pride San Francisco, sang naked in front of Bjork, acted alongside Tilda Swinton, and modelled for Jean Paul Gaultier.

Dr Will Nutland established The Love Tank in March 2018, having been one of the original founders of PrEPster. He has a doctorate in public health, from the London School of Hygiene + Tropical Medicine where he is an Honorary Assistant Professor, teaching in health promotion, and in applied communicable disease control.

Marc Thompson is a creative activist, health promotion specialist, an awarding winning podcaster and LGBTQ cultural archivist and has been at the forefront of HIV activism since his own diagnosis in 1986. He is the co-founder of Prepster, the Love Tank and Blackout UK.

Showing With

Sleeping Dragon

World premiere of a new film by Falconer – a moving tribute to artist, writer and long-term HIV/AIDS survivor George Hodson (1949-2023).

2024 UK Dir Rob Falconer 12 mins

Cinema 1

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.