“Godmother of Feminist Porn,” Candida Royalle’s Femme Productions Commemorated in PinkLabel.TV Classics

Early Films by late erotic film pioneer streaming, honored for Women’s History Month

For Immediate Release:

SAN FRANCISCO, California, USA (March 1st, 2023) — Pink and White Productions announces the addition of early films by famed erotic film pioneer Candida Royalle, considered the “Godmother of Feminist Porn” to its Classic Collection on indie adult film streaming platform PinkLabel.TV.

The timing of the collection aligns perfectly with March is Women’s History Month, recognizing Royalle’s profound influence on women in the adult film industry. Considered the “Godmother of Feminist Porn,” Royalle was one of the first directors to create films that acknowledged a female audience.

Royalle started in the late 70’s as a porn performer. In 1984, she moved behind the camera, with her debut film, FEMME. Her work was groundbreaking in that it prioritized women’s fantasies and pleasure in a style that was radically different from popular adult media at the time that was marketed strictly to heterosexual men. Her movies were story-based, with attention to acting and cinematography. They were promoted as films for couples, which had yet to be done in the adult industry, and invited women as viewers to proudly explore and celebrate their sexuality. Some of her films, such as Revelations, also canvassed political topics like censorship.

Femme Productions’ early films span 1984 to 1993, and include stars like Nina Hartley, Jeanna Fine, Siobhan Hunter, Gloria Leonard, Richard Pacheco, and Steve Lockwood. Femme Productions provided a platform for other female directors to create their erotic visions, such as Abiola Abrams (under the pseudonym Venus Hottentot) and British director Petra Joy. Her Star Director Series, featured women like Annie Sprinkle, Veronica Hart, Veronica Vera, and Gloria Leonard. (These five women had previously founded the porn star support group “Club 90” and are widely recognized as pioneers of the feminist porn movement.)

Besides her movies, Candida also created a line of sex toys called Natural Contours, one of the first vibrators to eschew the standard phallic shape. She was a sought-after public speaker and had many appearances on popular television shows discussing female sexuality. She also wrote “How To Tell A Naked Man What To Do” and contributed an essay to the “Coming Out Like a Porn Star” anthology. She was member of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists, (AASECT) and a founding Board member of Feminists for Free Expression (FFE). She was awarded a doctorate degree in Human Sexuality from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (IASHS) for her lifetime work. In 1997, she was honored by the XRCO Hall of Fame. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at world’s first Feminist Porn Awards in Toronto, Canada.

Candida Royalle passed away in 2015 after a long battle with cancer. Her work and life is captured through intimate conversations in Sheona McDonald’s documentary film CANDICE, which also releases on PinkLabel.TV, in coordination with the celebration of Candida’s legacy. The dialogue Royalle brought forward on sex-positivity and women’s sexual autonomy echoes far beyond the adult film industry.

The historic collection receives a celebrated and exclusive release on PinkLabel.TV. The collection joins the platform’s classic adult film archive and “feminist porn gaze” collection.

Browse the collection here: https://pinklabel.tv/on-demand/studio/candida-royalle/
More information about Candida’s life and work can be found at CandidaRoyalle.org.