SAN FRANCISCO—NakedSword Film Works (NSFW), the independent film arm of NakedSword.com, debuts Zolushka, an acclaimed festival short by cult Seattle filmmaker Wes Hurley. Zolushka, a queer retelling of the Cinderella story featuring Colby Keller in a genre-pushing role, which played festivals including Outfest, Newfest and MIX Brazil, and won the audience award at Cologne’s Homochrom festival.
Tim Valenti, President of Falcon Studios Group, and creator of the NSFW line, praised the unconventional Zolushka.
“We’re proud to be able to debut Wes’ incredibly funny, sexy film," Valenti said. "Our goal with NSFW has always been to give exposure to filmmakers who push boundaries of sexuality and film. Zolushka is the perfect example, It’s not a hardcore film by any means, but it uses sexuality hilariously and unashamedly. I loved it.”
Zolushka tells the story of a bar worker who pines for visiting go-go boy Colby Keller. Harassed by evil co-workers, who try to claim Colby for themselves, Zolushka undergoes a radical transformation, eventually landing his prince—until the clock strikes midnight.
Dubbed the “Netflix of Gay Porn” by the San Francisco Chronicle, NakedSword.com launched NSFW in March, 2016 as a way to help non-adult, independent filmmakers to reach a wider audience. Curated by Newfest programmer Adam Baran, and I Want Your Love producer Jack Shamama, NSFW brings sexually charged, though not necessarily explicit, independent film to the large NakedSword.com audience.
Previous films in the diverse NSFW line-up have included Brontez Purnell’s 100 Boyfriends Mixtape, Konstantin Bock’s Hattie Goes Cruising, Antonio Hens' Doors Cut Down (en malas compañías), Robert Aquino’s Catharis and Menela’s Raspberry Reich GR.
NakedSword.com has a long history of supporting independent film. The company produced Travis Mathew’s I Want Your Love, and co-produced Seed Money, director Mike Stabile’s documentary about gay activist Chuck Holmes, currently in festival release.
The full list of NSFW films can be found at NakedSword.com/NSFW. Press links and passes to NSFW to review Zolushka are available upon request; contact Mike Stabile at [email protected] or call 415-710-9184.
