April 25th | Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center | 6pm Reception & 7pm - Films
Soroptimist International of St. Helena Sunrise, a women’s service organization aiming to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment, is celebrating ten years of hosting LUNAFEST® Napa Valley, the film festival that showcases films by, for and about women. The film festival coincides with the #MeToo movement, which has given voice to the difficulties of women film makers in a male-dominated industry.
“Our first program was small, just 30 people, but we have continued to grow our audience and support. Our sponsors have been incredibly loyal and continue to help make this an event that our audience looks forward to year after year,” said Maggie Friedrich, LUNAFEST® manager.
This year’s festival includes eight films on a wide range of themes—there’s a coming of age story, one about a woman who’s deciding what to take along on her journey to eternity. No topic this year has been as fiercely debated as immigration, and in one film, the director reflects on her own path to American citizenship. These are just a few of the stories these award-winning women filmmakers tell.
St. Helena’s Kit Crawford, the festival’s founder and the Chief Visionary Officer of Clif Bar & Co., continues to champion the festival, helping share important stories that might never find an audience.
Guests will enjoy a special celebratory reception featuring wines by Clif Family Winery and small bites by Tre Posti Events & Catering from 6:00-7:00 pm, followed by this year’s selection of short films until 9:00 pm.
LUNAFEST® Napa Valley serves as a fundraising platform for local organizations; this year’s beneficiaries are Girls on the Run Napa & Solano, NEWS - Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse Services and Soroptimist International of St. Helena Sunrise.
sisthelenasunrise.org
LUNAFEST® launched more than 15 years ago to address gender disparity in filmmaking. For 15 years, LUNAFEST® has supported female filmmakers and given talented directors a platform to share their unique perspectives and stories. LUNAFEST® was the first all-women travelling film festival to amplify the voices of strong women everywhere. The first event was small, but hopeful, screening in California. Today, there are screenings in more than 175 cities across the nation where the work of talented women filmmakers are showcased.
LUNAFEST® remains committed to enhancing the representation of women in the film industry, paving the way for the next generation of female filmmakers. lunafest.org | 707-322-8358