INTIMACY COORDINATION IN PRACTICE

Consent, Communication and Safer Intimate Scenes | How are intimate scenes created safely, ethically and collaboratively?
About this Event

Love, Sex & Cinema Film Festival in partnership with Sex School presents:

INTIMACY COORDINATION IN PRACTICE

Join Sex School founder Anarella Martinez-Madrid for an exciting 90-minute in-person event where you'll dive into the world of Intimacy Coordination.

Whether you're familiar with what intimacy coordination entails or just curious to learn from scratch, you will receive industry insights and practical tips from an industry professional who works as an IC for Erika Lust.

This is a great chance to learn, ask questions, and connect with like-minded folks. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to expand your knowledge in a relaxed, inclusive, and friendly setting.

Facilitator: Anarella Martínez-Madrid

Audience: Performers, filmmakers, producers, directors, crew members, students and anyone interested in intimacy coordination, consent-based practices and safer creative environments

Duration: 90 minutes

Format: Slide-based workshop with guided discussion, practical tools and scenario-based exercises

Cost: Donations on the day are encouraged to cover facilitators' time and expertise (cash only)

Refreshments: Drinks, available at the venue at Spati prices (cash only); strictly no BYO please.

Limited spaces available, don't miss out!

Workshop Synopsis

How are intimate scenes created safely, ethically and collaboratively?

This introductory workshop explores the role of intimacy coordination in film, television, adult productions and other performance-based environments. It is designed for both industry professionals and people who want to better understand how consent, boundaries, communication and care can be integrated into creative work.

Participants will learn what an Intimacy Coordinator does before, during and after production, and how this role supports performers, directors and production teams. The session introduces practical tools for boundary conversations, active consent, scene choreography, health communication, trauma-informed practice and conflict response.

The workshop also examines how power dynamics, identity, privilege and production pressure can affect a person’s ability to communicate freely. Through guided discussion and realistic scenarios, participants will explore how to recognize discomfort, respond to changing boundaries and build environments where people can work with greater clarity, dignity and trust.

No previous professional experience is required.

Workshop Goal

To introduce participants to the fundamental principles of intimacy coordination and provide practical tools for creating safer, more respectful and more collaborative intimate work.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Explain the role and purpose of an Intimacy Coordinator.
• Understand how intimate scenes are prepared, choreographed and supported.
• Distinguish active consent from compliance or assumed agreement.
• Use clearer language when discussing boundaries and intimate actions.
• Recognize how power dynamics and production pressure can influence consent.
• Identify common signs of overwhelm, freeze, fawn or dissociation.
• Respond more effectively when consent or boundaries change.
• Understand the role of documentation, health protocols and professional accountability.

90-Minute Workshop Outline

Closing Statement

Intimacy coordination is not only about preventing harm. It is about creating the conditions for clearer communication, stronger collaboration and more confident creative work.

Love this content? Well, the night is not over.

Join us after this event for Love, Sex & Cinema Film Festival After Dark, the festival's closing night - an intimate late-night showcase of bold, provocative or transgressive cinema pushing the boundaries of storytelling, sexuality and cinematic expression.

b- ware! Ladenkino| 23.00 - late

Gärtnerstraße 19, 10245 Berlin

Program and tickets here: https://www.lovesexcinema.com/program

Agenda

🕑: 07:05 PM - 07:10 PM
1. Welcome and Introduction

Info: -Why intimacy coordination matters
-What participants can expect
-Creating an open and respectful learning space
-Intimacy coordination as a collaborative practice

🕑: 07:10 PM - 07:20 PM
2. What Is an Intimacy Coordinator?

Info: -Definition and scope of the role
-What an IC does and does not do
-Common myths and misconceptions
-Supporting both creative vision and performer wellbeing

🕑: 07:20 PM - 07:30 PM
3. How Intimate Scenes Are Prepared

Info: -Script and scene review
-Identifying intimate content
-Boundary conversations
-Choreography and planning
-Closed-set protocols
-Before, during and aftercare responsibilities

🕑: 07:30 PM - 07:45 PM
4. Consent and Boundary Communication

Info: -Consent as active, informed and reversible
-Consent versus compliance
-Yes / Maybe / No tools
-Traffic-light systems and pause signals
-Checking in before and during a scene
-How to communicate a change of mind
Core principle: Consent is not only a document. It is an ongoing practice.

🕑: 07:45 PM - 07:55 PM
5. Health, Hygiene and Intimacy Materials

Info: -Safer-sex materials
-Toy cleaning and storage
-Lubricant compatibility and expiration
-STI testing protocols
-Medical privacy
-Respectful and non-stigmatizing language

🕑: 07:55 PM - 08:10 PM
6. Trauma-Informed and Inclusive Practice

Info: -Fight, flight, freeze and fawn responses
-Dissociation and delayed reactions
-Recognizing overwhelm
-Supporting neurodivergent participants
-Language and cultural barriers
-Gender, sexuality, race, disability, age and body diversity
-Equity versus identical treatment

🕑: 08:10 PM - 08:20 PM
7. Boundary Changes and Conflict

Info: -What happens when someone becomes uncomfortable
-Miscommunication versus boundary violation
-How and when to pause a scene
-Responding without blame
-Accountability and escalation -Documentation and follow-up

🕑: 08:20 PM - 08:35 PM
8. Scenario-Based Practice

Info: Participants discuss realistic fictional situations involving:
-A performer changing a boundary during a scene
-A person agreeing under production pressure
-A power imbalance between experienced and less experienced participants
-A communication failure between departments The group identifies:
-What should happen immediately
-What language should be used
-Who is responsible for responding -How the situation could have been prevented

🕑: 08:35 PM - 08:40 PM
9. Rights, Documentation and Production Protection

Info: -Consent agreements
-Scene breakdowns
-Performer releases
-Health and testing protocols
-Closed-set documentation
-Incident reporting
-Workplace safety and duty of care
-Documentation as evidence of responsible practice

🕑: 08:40 PM - 08:45 PM
10. Final Reflections and Takeaways

Info: -Consent must remain active and reversible.
-Intimate scenes should be planned, not improvised without agreement.
-Clear communication protects both people and productions.
-Safety and creativity are not opposing goals.
-Everyone involved contributes to the culture of the space.