By Ronica Shannon
BEREA — Berea’s second-annual LUNAFEST will give people a chance to support women filmmakers, while at the same time, help a local organization continue its environmental education.
The Kentucky Environmental Foundation (KEF), along with the Berea College Women’s Studies program, Eastern Kentucky University’s Women and Gender Studies and the Kentucky Humanities Council, are hosting the event, which begins Saturday at 7 p.m. inside the Berea College Woods-Penniman Commons.
The same event also will be conducted Friday, April 24 at the University of Kentucky Student Center Theater on Limestone Street.
The LUNAFEST began in 2000 with the Clif Bar & Company that produces LUNA bars, which are marketed as “Whole Nutrition for Women.”
The event is sponsored by LUNA and all proceeds made go to different charities.
Fifteen percent goes to the Breast Cancer Fund and the rest goes into sponsoring community organizations and events, according to www.lunafest.org.
Since its inception, LUNAFEST has raised more than $250,000 for women’s organizations, according to the site.
“LUNAFEST films cover such a broad range of issues with tenderness and humor,” said volunteer event coordinator Diana Hayes. “The relationship of a young girl with her mother’s new boyfriend, the experiences of girl and women wrestlers, an Iranian immigrant woman reconnecting with her cultural and religious practices, self-esteem and body image through the ‘little voices in our heads,’ and more.”
A total of 10 films will be shown during the festival.
A special advisory board chooses the films that are shown during the event, and the criteria includes: Exceptional storytelling, creative delivery, powerful messages and “the sometimes intangible quality that gives one film a bit of magic,” the site states.
The festival is “... a good way to bring attention to (the environment) and the films are good,” said Lois Kleffman of the KEF. Free LUNA bars also will be available to the audience, Kleffman said.
“This is really generous on their part,” she said. “The proceeds will enable the KEF to kick-start educational programs on reducing our exposure to dangerous chemicals in our own homes. Cancer and other chronic illnesses are on the rise, and in many cases there is a link between the illnesses and chemicals in common products we use at home, work or in recreation. LUNAFEST sponsors support programs geared at finding solutions to these health problems by preventing exposure to harmful chemicals.”
The KEF dedicates itself to educating the community about ways to keep their environment safe, Kleffman said.
“Right now, we’re working on clean air and clean energy,” she said.
With the money raised during the event, the KEF will use it to help youth and adult organizations realize the importance of being environmentally conscious.
Tickets are $15 or $5 for students and can be purchased at the door.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
