HOT SPOT
A profile of the first woman to operate the San Francisco Cable Car in 1998; the diary of a 19-year-old’s struggle with AIDS; the rise of a table-tennis champion; the story of a victim of Alzheimer’s maintaining her independence. What do these stories have in common? They are the themes of films all made by, for, or about women. And they are all part of the lineup at LUNAFEST, a film festival dedicated to promoting female cinematography and raising awareness of women’s issues.
The nonprofit group Girls on the Run – Sierras will be hosting LUNAFEST for the second year in a row. ‘LUNAFEST is an important community event because not only does it bring much needed funding for our program but it raises the awareness overall of challenges and issues that young women all over the world face,’ said Jennifer Bossin, founder of Girls on the Run – Sierras.
‘And awareness breeds understanding and possibilities.’ Girls on the Run, which aims to boost girls’ self-esteem while helping them train for a 5K run, stands for the same values that LUNAFEST promotes, said Bossin. A majority of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Girls on the Run – Sierras, which will in turn use the funds to give scholarships to 30 percent of the girls who participate in the program. A smaller portion of the event’s proceeds will also be donated to the Breast Cancer Fund, a San Francisco–based nonprofit devoted to preventing the disease.
The 21-and-over event is for men and women alike. The festival will feature 10 short films, each falling within the event’s feminist theme. A board of directors selected the films from over 600 submissions. The selections represented the best in storytelling, cinematic creativity, and ability to convey a powerful message. ~ Julie Brown
LUNAFEST will be held at the Village at Squaw Valley on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $49 and include wine tasting and dinner. (415) 699-2677, lunafest.org, girlsontherunsierras.org
