This year at the Cannes Film Festival, sex has an unprecedented spotlight. Such films as John Cameron Mitchell's two million dollar Short Bus, which received the most attention, have presented un-simulated hardcore sex scenes. Even big names have been bidding on these risqué films, such as Sony and Paramount, although to a lesser extent, probably because NC-17 films are difficult to market to mainstream audiences.

This has catalyzed a debate among filmmakers and those involved in the industry about where the line is drawn between artistic expression and pornography and whether the sex in these films is present for creative purposes or simply to draw in viewers.

Even the billboards are sporting sexual imagery. Sean Ellis' Cashback has erected a billboard which displays a topless woman pushing a grocery cart as an attention grabber; and, flyers for film 1-900 depict a woman masturbating on the toilet.