Film from PodHER Outsmarts Social Algorithms to Get People Talking about Female Pleasure

Just like Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha did 20 years ago, the new short film 'Thirst,' wants them to be able to talk openly about female pleasure. The only difference is, now women need to outsmart social media’s algorithms to do so.

'Thirst' was created by women for women in partnership with PodHER, a female, Latina-run non-profit (founded by Brazilian ballerina and Dior ambassador Ingrid Silva) that helps women of all backgrounds embrace and understand their power through storytelling and meaningful conversations.

The film addresses sexual inequality and the pursuit of female pleasure, which is often overlooked and deprioritized in our society–in an effort to change sexist social media censorship rules, and was inspired by research by University of Columbia professor Dr. Jessie Ford, which focuses on the impact sexual inequality, stigma, and power have on sexual health.

To outsmart social media algorithms, the film uses water as a visual metaphor, shows a woman on a journey of self-exploration and pleasure, follows a sensual rhythm, and is set to Nina Simone’s 'I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free.' The four-minute short builds to a climax, all under the radar of algorithms to avoid censorship.

Shot in 35MM by Larissa Zaidan, created by Klick Health, directed by YUCA, and produced by The Youth, 'Thirst' is already making waves at film festivals, winning 'Best Women Short' at the IndieX Film Fest.

The film links to a petition that calls on social media companies to remove the sexist censorship algorithms that unfairly silence the sex educators and pleasure-focused companies that are seeking to change the narrative about women’s pleasure and sexual health.