LUNAFEST East Bay 2015: a pictorial

What woman doesn’t love to go to the movies with her girlfriends? Film is such a great way to bring women together, so it made sense for LUNA to create this opportunity to connect women filmmakers and their audiences with causes they care about.
– Kit Crawford, co-owner and co-chief visionary officer of Clif Bar & Company

It’s been a week since our LUNAFEST film festival and before I bid adieu to our LUNAFEST season, I wanted to share my LUNAFEST pictorial – a narrative in the form of photos and captions. As they say, a picture is worth a thousands words. And I have a lot of pictures from that memorable evening.

Our VIP event, hosted by our chair Joann Steck-Bayat, prior to the film festival featured our guest filmmakers Emily Fraser and Katherine Gorringe, posing with their Lady Parts LUNAFEST poster.

Our VIP event, hosted by our chair Joann Steck-Bayat at her lovely home prior to the film festival, featured our guest filmmakers Emily Fraser and Katherine Gorringe, posing with their Lady Parts LUNAFEST poster.

Our piano player for the evening - tickling the ivories.

VIP guest Jeanne Rizzo, RN, president and CEO of the Breast Cancer Fund, and Joann, chatting with guests.

Our VIP event piano player, tickling the ivories.

Our VIP event piano player, tickling the ivories.

A beautiful spread of cheeses and fruits.

A beautiful spread of cheeses and fruits.

VIP event private chef Sirona Skinner Nixon making those heavenly deviled eggs for the guests.

Private chef Sirona Skinner Nixon making those heavenly deviled eggs for the guests.

Sirona's wife and partner of S&S Foods, Sinead O'Rourke, making the crostini.

Sirona’s wife and partner of S&S Foods, Sinead O’Rourke, making the crostini.

Joann trains our superb raffle ticket sellers, from let to right, her cousin Annika, Isabella, Mateo, and Wyatt.

Joann trains our superb raffle ticket sellers, from let to right, her cousin Annika, Isabella, Mateo, and Wyatt, in front of the prize board.

El Cerrito High School's IT Academy students volunteered to serve food at our VIP event. Service with a smile.

El Cerrito High School’s IT Academy students volunteered to serve food at our VIP event: service with a smile and lamb sliders.

Jeanne meets Emily and Katherine.

Jeanne, Emily, and Katherine in a lively conversation.

It may have been March 21st, but we were able to throw open the French doors and spill into the backyard and grab a drink from our friendly bartenders.

It may have been March 21st, but we were able to throw open the French doors and spill into the backyard and grab a drink served by our friendly bartenders.

Which bag shall I put my raffle ticket in? The GoPro camera or the Kindle? We had so many wonderful donated gifts to raffle.

Which bag shall I put my raffle ticket in? The GoPro camera or the Kindle? We had so many wonderful donated gifts to raffle. Committee member Rebecca Boe made our sharp raffle boards.

New this year - Taiko drummers perform as attendees arrived in front of the high school. They were mesmerizing!

New this year – Taiko drummers perform as attendees arrived in front of the high school. They were mesmerizing!

A tribute to Mae De La Calzada, owner of Lady Parts Automotive - a beautiful bouquet and photo of Emily and Katharine and Mae De La Calzada.

A tribute to Mae De La Calzada, owner of Lady Parts Automotive – a beautiful bouquet and photo of Emily, Katharine and Mae.

Committee member Rebecca Boe made this wonderful poster announcing our guests Jeanne Rizzo, Katherine Gorringe, and Emily Fraser in the lobby of ECHS's Performing Arts Theater.

Committee member Rebecca also made this wonderful poster announcing our guests Jeanne, Katherine, and Emily in the lobby of ECHS’s Performing Arts Theater.

As expected, Jeanne Rizzo delivered a rousing, inspired, and educational welcome. Joann rocked as master of ceremonies and Melody Shah, representing the ITA, let us know how much the ITA appreciated being a beneficiary of our LUNAFEST fundraising.

As expected, Jeanne delivered a rousing, inspired, and educational welcome. Joann rocked as master of ceremonies and Melody Shah, representing the ITA, let us know how much the ITA appreciated being a beneficiary of our LUNAFEST fundraising.

I was honored to interview Emily and Katherine on stage and listen to them talk about the making of Lady Parts and the connection they formed with Mae.

I was honored to interview Emily and Katherine on stage and listen to them talk about the making of Lady Parts and the connection they formed with Mae.

We had nearly 300 attendees at this year's LUNAFEST! They enjoyed complimentary coffee by Well Grounded Coffee & Tea Bar during our post-screening Dessert Circle.

We had nearly 300 attendees at this year’s LUNAFEST! They enjoyed complimentary coffee by Well Grounded Coffee & Tea Bar during our post-screening Dessert Circle.

This year we had a very popular photo booth with props, which was the brainchild of committee member Anja Hakoshima. Thanks, Anja!

This year we had a very popular photo booth with props, which was the brainchild of committee member Anja Hakoshima. Thanks, Anja!

Returning with their yummy cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies were Pamela Braxton and her son Zachary of Braxtons' Boxes.

Returning from last year’s inaugural Dessert Circle with their yummy cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies were Pamela Braxton and her son Zachary of Braxtons’ Boxes.

Group photo! Emily and Katherine, flanked by many members of the LUNAFEST East Bay Committee.

Group photo! Emily and Katherine, flanked by many members of the LUNAFEST East Bay Committee. Until next year!