LUNAFEST: Festival of short films for, by and about women a hit for SISP
March 27, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Although the crowd was predominately women men found plenty to enjoy at the LUNAFEST with short films of hope, renewal, happiness, anger and frustration. And whether animation, drama, comedy or documentary the films all had one thing in common: they were for, by and about women.
LUNAFEST 2015 was a mixed bag of films sponsored for the third year in a row by Soroptimist International of Santa Paula whose members and supporters transformed the Community Center into an old-fashioned movie watching experience, albeit one that featured several controversial and hard-hitting short films among the mix.
SISP President Heidi Juarez said the proceeds from LUNAFEST festival of eight, award-winning films would benefit the Smart Girls program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley as well as The Breast Cancer Fund.
She admitted that last year she had snuck a peek at the films before they were screened publicly — the only such show in Ventura County — but this time she promised to wait.
Established in 2000 by LUNA, the makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, LUNAFEST connects women, their stories and their causes through short film that can be works of fiction, fact or a combination. This traveling film festival spotlights the work of a diverse array of talented women filmmakers with intelligent, funny and thought-provoking themes whose often-prizewinning works are judged to be LUNAFEST worthy.
Juarez promised those attending LUNAFEST “unique films you won’t see anywhere else” with a universal appeal for all whom love film.
And characters, whether fictional, animated or true life: “Flor de Toloache” offers a glimpse into the determination of female mariachi players whose talents are bigger than the outdated traditions meant to silence their instruments; the animated “Miss Todd” centers on a real life figure, who in 1910 became the first female acknowledged to have not only flown but also built an airplane; “Viva” is the still entertaining 82-year-old grandmother of the English punk music scene; “Lady Parts” is a look at how a woman decided to open a car shop with great success.
Fictional stories were just as compelling, several with strong statements on women’s issues, health and at times tenuous place in the world balanced with a delightful work of fiction about a woman who befriends her ex-boyfriend’s mother because she always liked her.
Although the films are diverse they have a common thread of exceptional storytelling and this filmmaking for, by and about women is what has made LUNAFEST highly respected in the world of film.
And perfect for a fundraiser: LUNAFEST is wholly supported by LUNA which provides all materials needed for the event from the DVD of films to promotion materials to handouts including LUNA Nutritional Bars.
LUNAFEST, said Juarez, is “A fundraiser in a box … all you have to do is open it.”
