LUNAFEST: Films by and about women

Soroptimist International of Davis is the local host for LUNAFEST, a lineup of eight short films by female filmmakers. The films will premiere on Sept. 25 at Davis Odd Fellows Hall, or online that weekend.

This year’s stories are told from perspectives that champion women and gender-nonconforming individuals, highlighting their aspirations, accomplishments, resilience, strength and connection. Though the films are unrated, they are most appropriate for ages 13 and up.

The in-person event will be Sunday, Sept. 25 at Davis Odd Fellows Hall, 415 Second St. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the screening begins at 3:30. Food and drink will be available for purchase, including alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

Those unable to join in person can still support Soroptimist programs by watching the films virtually from their smart TV or device. Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, those purchasing virtual tickets will have 48 hours to begin watching the films, and 48 hours to finish viewing once they’ve started. The total running time for the eight short films is 80 minutes. Before the films, there’s a brief video from Soroptimist International of Davis, outlining how its programs improve the lives of women and girls in Yolo County.

All proceeds will benefit Soroptimist International of Davis, and its programs to educate and empower women and girls, as well as Chicken & Egg Pictures, a nonprofit organization that supports female nonfiction filmmakers. One of Soroptimist’s signature programs, Live Your Dream, provides grants to female heads of household seeking undergraduate degrees or technical training. In addition, members mentor students at King High School, offer scholarships to graduating seniors, provide hygiene kits to women fleeing domestic violence, and fund hotel stays for those escaping sex trafficking.

For more than 20 years, The LUNA Bar brand has inspired women, championed change, and demanded that equality is a right. These values fueled LUNA to create LUNAFEST, the first all-female traveling film festival, now in its 21st season. This year’s films are:

• “How to Be at Home” by Andrea Dorfman of Halifax, Nova Scotia: An animated poem about coping with isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• “Close Ties to Home Country” by Akanksha Cruczynski of Chicago: An immigrant dog walker finds connection in the hearts of the wealthy pets she cares for.
• “Generation Impact: The Coder” by Samantha Knowles of Brooklyn, N.Y.: A 13-year-old girl designs and builds a mobile app to help kids stay connected to their incarcerated parents.
• “Proof of Loss” by Katherine Fisher: When a fire takes their home, a father and daughter must find a way to salvage what remains: each other.
• “When You Clean a Stranger’s Home” by Sharon Arteaga of of Austin, Texas: A first-generation high school student describes what she and her mom learn about people when cleaning their homes.
• “Between the Lines: Liz at Large” by Abi Cole of Weaverville, N.C.: Frustrated with the lack of character diversity in The New Yorker’s cartoons, an artist submits her own illustrations, becoming the first Black female cartoonist in the magazine’s near-century run.
• “Wearable Tracy” by Emily McAllister, Carnelian Bay: A Bronx woman’s accidental social experiment connects her with fellow New Yorkers who might otherwise forever remain strangers.
• “To the Future, with Love” by Shaleece Haas and Hunter “Pixel” Jimenez, Los Angeles: An animated self-portrait of a nonbinary trans teen caught between the expectations of his Guatemalan immigrant family and his dreams of living happily ever after with his long-distance boyfriend.

Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Its core values are gender equality, empowerment, education, diversity and fellowship. For LUNAFEST tickets, more information about Soroptimist International of Davis or to make a donation, visit https://sidavis.org.

What: Soroptimist International of Davis presents LUNAFEST: Films by and about women

In-person event: 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25 at Davis Odd Fellows Hall

Online event: Available to stream for 48 hours, starting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 23.

Cost: $25 general, $15 student; $40 household (online)

Tickets: https://sidavis.org

[Photo Caption: When a fire takes their home, a father and daughter must find a way to salvage what remains: each other. (Drinkwater Studios/courtesy photo)]