The Lunafest film festival, a collection of short films for and about women, returns to Fresno for its seventh year. All local proceeds from the fundraising event go to the Breast Cancer Fund and the Women's Resource Center.
The film festival starts at 7 tonight at Fresno State's Satellite Student Union. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Admission is free for Fresno State students.
While the directors focus on women's issues, the short films end up dealing with universal topics presented in a dramatic, funny and occasionally irreverent manner.
The best include Courtney Cox's "Monday Before Thanksgiving," a powerful story of dealing with death and "The Kinda Sutra," from director Jessica Yu, that offers a very different look at how babies are made.
"Plastic," the short film about a full-figured woman who discovers some unusual abilities while preparing for a date, directed by Sandy Widyanata, masterfully uses humor to make some very important points about self-esteem.
It's Maya Anand's "Anjali" that proves a film does not have to run two hours to have a great story, great performances and be beautifully shot. This story of how a young woman deals with her father's infidelity proves great film gifts do come in small packages.
For more information about Lunafest, go to lunafest.org or call the Women's Resource Center at (559) 278-4435.
Other short films in the festival include:
"A Summer Rain": Only letters from friends help a young immigrant girl deal with her new home in America. Directed by Ela Thier.
"Roz (and Joshua)": A woman works toward the day she will be reunited with her son. Directed by Charlene Music.
"DIY: Emancipation 101": Animated look at the bicycle's place in women's history. Directed by Lynn Robinson.
"A Vida Politica": A hairstylist shows how activism can have many looks. Directed by Kat Mansoor.
"Omelette": A mother wages a losing war with inflation. Directed by Nadejda Koseva.
"The McCombie Way": A woman offers some words of wisdom from her home in the desert. Directed by Kristina and Nick Higgins.
TV and movie critic Rick Bentley can be reached at rbentley@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6355. Read his blog at fresnobeehive.com.
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