Women in Film Chicago director of programs Oriana Oppice said she’s often asked what it’s like to be a female filmmaker.
“I guess it just feels like any other filmmaker,” she said. “I feel like we’re past the point of asking that to women in other professions. You don’t ask a lawyer what’s it like to be a woman lawyer, but for filmmaking it’s the question of the day.”
Oppice hopes to change that. She’ll be discussing the state of women in Chicago’s film scene, contrasting it with New York and Los Angeles, and sharing some of the programs her organization offers at Lunafest, a showcase of short films directed or produced by women that runs at the Wilmette Theatre on April 15.
“The films that we have are really diverse including some internationally made films,” said Lunafest program coordinator Casey Sasser. “They tell stories of women across the world, but the themes are so universal that all women can connect with them on some level.”
Nutrition bar brand Luna launched Lunafest in 2000 to promote women filmmakers while raising money for organizations around the country that host the annual program. The nonprofit Wilmette Theatre will receive 85 percent of the proceeds from the screening, with the other 15 percent going to the San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Fund’s efforts to identify and eliminate environmental causes of breast cancer.
More Top Picks Epson Expression Premium Xp 640
The program has screened at events for hundreds of people and for groups of just 30. The festival’s website offers resources for hosts including advice on fundraising, planning checklists and easy ways to promote the event, sell tickets and order banners, posters and programs.
“We really act as a complete resource for them so they can focus on drawing an audience and putting on a successful event,” Sasser said. “A host of an event in South Dakota was just so thrilled to be able to bring Lunafest to her community because it’s usually so male-centric. Their tiny little town in South Dakota would never get a film festival there, but because Lunafest is a fundraiser in a box they were able to put on the event and get an audience.”
Lunafest received 1,200 film submissions during their open call this year and had to narrow the options down to the six films shown in the 90-minute program through screenings with a panel of female experts.
This year’s lineup includes “Boxeadora,” a short documentary about a Cuban woman training in secret as boxer in defiance of the country’s ban on female fighters, and “Finding June,” a narrative short exploring the nature of communication through the tale of a young deaf woman diagnosed with breast cancer.
“My favorite film this season is called ‘Raising Ryland,'” Sasser said. “It’s about a 6-year-old transgender boy. It’s a documentary short and it details what their lives are like and the power of love amid all these changes the family is going through. His joy just comes through in the film.”
Lunafest
When: 7 p.m. April 15
Where: Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave.
Tickets: $25
Information: 847-251-7424; wilmettetheatre.com