LUNAFEST: Films By, For and About Women

[edit] About LUNAFEST

LUNAFEST is a national film festival that began in 2001 that features short films by, for, or about women. In 2001, a group of people at CLIF Bar were trying to come up with new and unique ideas to support women’s issues and give back to our community. Through the power of creative minds, LUNAFEST was born and since its inception LUNAFEST has proven to be a successful and amazing adventure.

In addition to providing national exposure for emerging women filmmakers, LUNAFEST also supports one of the most important causes for women today by donating a portion of the proceeds from the festival to The Breast Cancer Fund (BCF). In 2004, LUNAFEST was held in 60 venues across the country, growing from an eight-city tour when it launched in 2001. As part of our goal to generate awareness of women's issues, LUNA has raised more than $75,000 for the BCF and we look forward to continuing to raise funds to go back into our communities and to help BCF grow.

LUNAFEST is not only about screening an evening of films to a community of women (and their friends, families, partners, husbands, and boyfriends), but about giving women a place to share their ideas and a forum to express their thoughts, providing an intimate venue for receptions and gatherings, and sharing and passing the word along to other communities of women.

LUNAFEST accepts films in a variety of genres and has featured works as diverse as documentaries and animated shorts to dance narratives. Films embody a wide range of topics, and include topics such as women's health, sexuality, spirituality, cultural diversity, body image and the environment.

LUNAFEST has just completed its 4th year and will return to screens nationwide for its 5th anniversary beginning in October 2005. The 2005/2006 program will travel to more than 100 locations nationwide. LUNA partners with college groups and non-profit organizations that host and promote their very own LUNAFEST in their community. These organizations use LUNAFEST to raise funds to support their own non-profit or college group in addition to BCF. This is a very exciting time for LUNAFEST and we are excited to have all of these amazing organizations on board in 2005.

[edit] Our Mission

LUNA created LUNAFEST to support women on a number of levels. Here is our mission:

• To provide women filmmakers the opportunity to be seen and heard
• To empower women by showcasing women’s issues, stories and amazing moments
• To support women’s health and our partnership with the Breast Cancer Fund
• To support local communities by providing non-profit groups and colleges a creative medium to raise funds for their organizations
• To provide women with a forum to communicate, share and inspire social change within their communities

[edit] 2007 Film Winners

The films are chosen from the top festivals across the nation including Tribeca, the Los Angeles Short Film Festival, and London International Film Festival.

MANN KE MANJEERÉ (5 minutes) Singer Shubha Mudgal vocals portray the journey of a courageous domestic violence survivor. The story of the music video was inspired greatly by the life of a young Muslim woman, Shameem Paathan. Born into a well-to-do family and the daughter of 7 sons, Shameem fell in love, and much against the wishes of her family married the man of her choice. That she made the wrong choice soon became apparent. When her son was three and a half years old, Shameem finally decided to fend for herself. She went through a series of businesses and finally she learned how to drive, an unheard of occupation for a women in her society. She now drives her own van in Ahmedabad, ferrying passengers.

PLUM FLOWER (10 minutes) Plum Flower takes place in 1948 China. It was a time when female infanticide was a normal occurrence for poor rural communities. Females could not carry on the family name, so they were less desirable when too many were born to one family. Plum Flower is about a mother and father facing a staggering moral choice when they have a fifth daughter. It is based on the true story of the filmmaker’s family.

SLIP OF THE TONGUE (4 minutes) Be careful what you ask a stranger at a bus stop; a look at perceptions of beauty, ethnicity, and body image define "ethnic makeup.“

BREACHED (18 minutes) A Mexican women is nearing delivery and is determined to have her baby on American soil.

CITY PARADISE (6 minutes) London is a big city, and for those new to it, it can sometimes seem quite scary. But Tomoko, who arrives from Japan to learn English, accidentally discovers a mysterious, secret city underground, inhabited by friendly little aliens and beautiful blossoms. After she finds it, everything changes.

TOP OF THE CIRCLE (5 minutes) Who is at the top of the food chain? This experimental performance piece explores the cycle of life and death--and bacon bits.

DEAR TALULA (34 minutes) Filmmaker Lori Benson is a quintessential downtown New Yorker who was diagnosed with breast cancer just 14 months after the birth of her daughter,Talula. With much grace and humor, Benson brings us along as her friends and husband document an emotionally charged year. We thus become part of Benson's inner circle and are privy to her most intimate thoughts, vulnerabilities, and discoveries. The profound experience makes the filmmaker confront her own mortality and ultimately strengthens her connection to her true self.

KYLIE GOLDSTEIN-ALL AMERICAN (3 minutes) A documentary about a Chinese adopted, All-American 6 year old.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT (2 minutes) A concerned cow discovers the bliss of ignorance.

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