[September 18, 2014]

14th Annual LUNAFEST® Kicks Off Season with Award-winning Filmmaker, Jen McGowan

LUNAFEST®, a national fundraising film festival that showcases short films by, for, and about women, announces eight unique films for this year's program, which premieres in San Francisco on September 18th at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. Jen McGowan, an award-winning and former LUNAFEST filmmaker, will commence the festival season. McGowan received international praise for her short films, "Confessions of a Late Bloomer," and "Touch," and most recently released her feature film directorial debut, "Kelly & Cal." The film, starring Juliette Lewis and Cybill Shepherd, received rave reviews, and helped her earn the Gamechanger Emergent Woman Director Award. McGowan will be joined by nine other inspiring female filmmakers from around the world, including Bay Area residents and Stanford University MFA (News - Alert) graduates, Emily Fraser and Katherine Gorringe.

"LUNAFEST is an incredibly unique platform - these filmmakers embody what it means to be a game changer; their works tell stories that challenge stereotypes and break through barriers," said McGowan. "I am thrilled to come back to one of the very places where I launched my career, and share this evening with these rising talents. Being involved with LUNAFEST and raising money and awareness for the Breast Cancer Fund is a true honor."

From September to June, LUNAFEST will travel to more than 170 venues throughout the country, in cities such as New York, San Francisco Seattle, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Each screening raises funds and awareness for LUNA's primary cause partner, the Breast Cancer Fund and local women's nonprofit organizations. Eighty-five percent of the net profits go to the local nonprofit organizations, while the remaining 15 percent goes to the Breast Cancer Fund, an organization dedicated to identifying and advocating for the elimination of environmental causes of the disease.

Since its inception in 2000, LUNAFEST has raised more than $757,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund and over $1.7 million for women's community non-profit organizations across the country. LUNAFEST is created and funded by LUNA®, the maker of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®.

Following are the titles in this year's program:

A Good Match directed by Lyn Elliot (Kansas City, MO) - Ann and Alex have split up, but does that mean it's over with Alex's mom, too? Ann wants to give the relationship another try.

Chicas Day by Susan Béjar (Madrid, Spain) - Today is a girls' day out, everything is allowed... But don't forget that this is just a game...

Flor de Toloache by Jenny Schweitzer (New York, NY) - A group of women daringly challenge gender social norms as an all-female mariachi band.

Lady Parts by Emily Fraser and Katherine Gorringe (Palo Alto, CA (News - Alert)) - In an industry dominated by men, Lady Parts Automotive brings a woman's touch.

Miss Todd by Kristina Yee (Buckinghamshire, UK) - In 1910 New York, Miss Todd works to understand the principles of flight, but she has more than gravity holding her down.

Tits by Louisa Bertman (Cambridge, MA) - A story about feminine exploration.

Tryouts by Susana Casares (Los Angeles, CA) - Being a teenager isn't easy, especially for Nayla, a Muslim American girl who wants to join her new high school's cheerleading squad.

Viva by Amanda Bluglass (Devon, UK) - A documentary portrait of Cornwall's grandmother of punk, or, how to be a rebel at 82.

For more information on LUNAFEST and upcoming screening locations, please visit, www.lunafest.org.

About LUNA®

LUNA® nourishes women with delicious snacks made with 70% organic ingredients and with essential vitamins and minerals women need. LUNA connects, supports and celebrates women with programs such as LUNAFEST®, a national traveling fundraising festival of short films by, for, and about women, and Team LUNA Chix, an all-women's sport group inspiring women to learn new sports and be active. LUNA proudly donates one percent of its sales to a variety of women's nonprofits and the Breast Cancer Fund through the Clif Bar Family Foundation. (www.lunabar.com)

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