Letter: "Lunafest" is Coming – Films by, for and about Women

To the Editor:

As LUNAFEST® East Bay nears, it seems appropriate to reach out to the community and share some thoughts about this delightful gem of a movie festival, taking place March 31, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the El Cerrito High School Performing Arts Theater. 

Lunafest presents juried, award-winning short films by, for, and about women: offering up tidbits of wisdom, emotion and thought-provoking moments. Having attended nearly every Lunafest since it began – the traveling film festival was created by Luna Bar and is currently in its 11th year – I have always left the theater fueled with fresh ideas, insights and inspiration. 

This year’s films span a wide variety of themes from an arranged marriage to life as a young transgender girl. The lineup also includes a film about obstetric fistula by supermodel turned filmmaker, Christy Turlington Burns, as well as a documentary about the Lady Razorbacks, a San Jose women’s rugby team by young director Laura Green.

In addition to being a film festival, Lunafest East Bay is also a fundraiser for The Breast Cancer Fund (whose mission is dedicated to eliminating the environmental causes of breast cancer), World Neighbors (striving to provide lasting solutions for people suffering from hunger, poverty and disease around the world through education and training) and El Cerrito High’s Media Academy. 

For more info about Lunafest East Bay and this year’s VIP pre-reception, hosted by Joann Steck-Bayat (just minutes from the theater), please visit http://www.lunafest.org/eastbay2012.

On behalf of our committee, I invite the El Cerrito community to come join us for an evening of world-class cinema, right in our own backyard.

Sincerely,
Anja Hakoshima
LUNAFEST East Bay Committee 2012