Three films highlighted in this segment:
Roz (and Joshua) / 3 minutes
As Charlene Music prepared to graduate from Stanford's Film Program she was faced with a harsh economic reality: the worst recession since America's Great Depression. Finding inspiration in adversity, Charlene's locally-filmed documentary follows Roz, a homeless mom trying to get custody of her son, while she battles to land a steady job and housing. Since the film's completion, Roz had found steady work and is actively working to regain custody of her son. Like many Americans, Roz has made it through the recession and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
77% of women in U.S. prisons are single mothers
Screenings have included the Angelus Student Film Festival, Silverdocs Documentary Film Festival and True/False Film festival.
Director: Charlene Music, Palo Alto, CA
The Kinda Sutra / 8.5 minutes
After learning that more than 4 million American women give birth each year, local filmmaker Jessica Yu set out to make a light-hearted documentary that explores misconceptions of childbirth. Jessica captures many cringe-worthy, hilarious and heart-warming moments through interviews with adults and children on their thoughts of where babies come from.
Storks can have a wing span up to 10.5 wide.
Screenings have included the Aspen FilmFest, Sundance Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival.
Director: Jessica Yu, Santa Monica, CA
The Monday before Thanksgiving / 19 minutes
Courtney Cox makes a cameo in a film that she directed and produced. The film highlights a single woman in her early 40's as she struggles to find happiness after her mother dies. She learns that she does not need the conventional companionship of a boyfriend or husband to be happy and that she already has everything she wants in life.
Almost half of all US residents, 18 and older, were unmarried in 2008.
Screenings have included the Nashville Film Festival, Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, Los Angeles United Film Festival.
Director: Courteney Cox, West Hollywood, CA
About LUNAFEST:
LUNAFEST Film Festival, the fundraising film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women's issues, highlighting women filmmakers and bringing women together in their communities, is holding its 9th annual event at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco on October 1st, expecting more than 900 attendees.
This unique film festival highlights women as leaders in society, illustrated through 10short films by women filmmakers. The films range in genre, and cover topics such as women's health, motherhood, sexuality, cultural diversity and the effects of the recession on American women.
Actress and philanthropist, Jennifer Siebel, will be an honorary host for the 2009 LUNAFEST Premiere, which will also feature a film produced by Courteney Cox.
All proceeds from the LUNAFEST premiere will go to the Breast Cancer Fund. Thus far, LUNAFEST, which is sponsored by LUNA, the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, has raised over $288,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund and over $478,000 for other women's community nonprofit organizations.
WHEN: Thursday, October 1, 2009
6:00-7:15 p.m. LUNA Reception at San Francisco's City Hall
7:30 p.m. Showing of LUNAFEST Films and Q&A with filmmakers
WHERE: The LUNAFEST Reception at San Francisco's City Hall with the premiere screening immediately following at the Herbst Theater.
TICKETS: $50.00 - VIP Reception and Films ($75 at the door)
$20.00 - General admission
$10.00 - Student
Website: http://www.lunafest.org
About Paula Connelly, LUNA Marketing Director:
As the LUNA Marketing Director, Paula oversees all aspects of LUNA Bar's product and brand programs including LUNAFEST, LUNA's travelling film festival for women. Prior to coming to LUNA, Paula was the General Manager of Hospitality at Diageo Chateau and Estates Wines.
