On September 6 th, the Benicia Film Festival returns for its sixth year to celebrate independent filmmakers and support Arts and Culture in the community. The three-day festival will welcome its audience on Friday evening at Benicia Veteran’s Memorial Hall with a
gala event, and culminate on Sunday, September 8 th. New to the contributors’ lineup is LUNAFEST, presented by Luna Bar, which showcases women in film. LUNAFEST will take place on Saturday morning.
Over the last six years the Benicia Film Festival has brought foreign and domestic independent filmmaking to the people of Benicia. Conceived by the city’s Arts and Culture Commission, its goal has always been to bring the community together for an opportunity to support and celebrate films and their creators, both budding and established. This year, the Veterans Hall will host the event, allowing for visitors and participants to enjoy all that the city’s historic First Street has to offer. Here, lively downtown Benicia provides delightful shops and restaurants, as well as charming hotels and inns along the gem-like Carquinez Strait.
Saturday, the 7th, will see the premiere of LUNAFEST in Benicia. LUNAFEST is an organization that, in partnership with Chicken & Egg Pictures, has become a driving force in the movement toward gender equality in filmmaking. Founded by Clif Bar owner Kit Crawford in 2000, LUNAFEST prides itself on its dedication to “short films for, by and about women.” “Telling stories that have to be told,” as Crawford puts it, helps create a platform from which to promote women in film. The nonprofit seeks to provide mentorship and financial support to female filmmakers. The traveling festival has championed these women in screenings in over 175 cities, and over the years has featured over 150 filmmakers. One hundred percent of their proceeds go to local women’s cause groups. At the Benicia Film Festival this year, LUNAFEST will be donating the proceeds to Soroptimist International of Benicia, whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.
The Benicia Film Festival will be screening a total of 59 films over the weekend. Works include culinary portrait Hiro’s Table, directed by Lynn Hamrick; Down in the Dumps, directed by Evan Owens, a harrowing story based on actual events surrounding a kidnapping; and The Kaleidoscope Guy at the Market, directed by Russell Brown, about Seattle’s beloved stained-glass artist Michael Shaw. LUNAFEST includes a film by Nigerian-American filmmaker Bola Ogun,who was selected for the 2014 AFI Directing Workshop for Women and whose submission Are We Good Parents? premiered at South X Southwest and has since travelled through Outfest and Edmonton International, among others.
Benicia Film Festival runs September 6-8 at Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 1150 First Street.
Opening gala Friday evening at 6pm. LUNAFEST takes place on Saturday, September 7.
For more info contact info@beniciafilmfestival.com or call Helaine Bowles at 707.746.4358
