Lunafest was established in 2000 by Luna, the creators of the whole nutrition bar for women. The traveling film festival aims to connect women, their stories and their causes through the power of film. It spotlights the creative work of a diverse collection of talented women filmmakers with intelligent, humorous and stimulating themes.

The festival travels to over 150 cities and screens in front of 25,000 people. Each year, various organizations bring Lunafest to their communities and raise funds for their local non-profits as well as their main beneficiary Breast Cancer Fund.Since its beginning, Lunafest has grown from a single annual event to a coast-to-coast force with more than 175 North American screenings each season. To this day,127 filmmakers have been featured, nearly $2.9 million dollars have been raised and thousands of attendees have come away celebrating a connection with their communities.

The Corvallis screening on Jan. 30 was broken into two segments of three films, with a thirty minute intermission. The total six selected films discussed major issues that woman face. The films made the audience laugh, tugged at their heartstrings and motivated them to make a difference in their community. Incredibly diverse in style and content, the films were united by a common thread of storytelling.

First Film: Finding June

Length: 18 Minutes

Director: Anna Schumacher

Synopsis: A deaf woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer is faced with the internal and external struggle of coming to terms with life’s fragility.

Second Film: Balsa Wood

Length: 9 Minutes

Director: Dominique Lecchi

Synopsis: Two mixed-raced teens explore their identities in a lighthearted visit to their extended Filipino family.

Third Film: Boxedora

Length: 17 Minutes

Director: Meg Smaker

Synopsis: One woman’s personal journey to fulfill her dream of Olympic glory despite Fidel Castro’s ban on female boxing in Cuba.

Fourth Film: Raising Ryland

Length: 14 Minutes

Director: Sarah Feeley

Synopsis: A heartwarming look into a six year old transgender’s life and his two supportive parents whose love has no strings attached.

Fifth Film: First World Problems

Length: 7 Minutes

Director: Hanna Maylett

Synopsis: An exhausted housewife misplaces her car in a parking garage and the result puts life’s priorities in perspective.

Sixth Film: Beach Flags

Length: 14 Minutes

Director: Sarah Saidan

Synopsis: An animated film that follows a young Iranian lifeguard determined to compete in an International competition in Australia. She is faced with an unexpected moral dilemma when a new team member arrives.

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