Originally published in The Times Union, Sunday, April 27, 2008

Lunafest, a touring film festival that showcases short films by, for and about women, is headed to Siena College's Key Auditorium in Loudonville at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9. The films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women's health, motherhood, body image, sexuality, cultural diversity and breaking barriers.

Sponsored by the company that makes Clif and Luna hiking snacks, the screenings raises funds and awareness for local women's nonprofit organizations. The Women's Fund of the Capital Region will receive 85 percent of the proceeds, while the fest's national partner, the Breast Cancer Fund, receives 15 percent from each screening.

Tickets are $35 and include popcorn and movie candy. This year's offerings include:

"My Other Mother" (Diana Keam, Capetown, South Africa): When her baby sister dies, Margo's other mother shows her how to grieve.

"Make a Wish" (Christian Dabis, New York City): A young Palestinian girl will do whatever it takes to buy a birthday cake.

"Dona Ana" (Laura Acevedo and Carolina Escobar, Medellin, Columbia): A seller of medicinal plants shares the joys and hardships of her life along with her love of strawberries.

"Happiness" (Sophie Barthes, France): Iwona buys a box of happiness at a strange discount store and has to decide what to do with it.

"Family Reunion" (Isold Uggadottir, New York City): Katrin leaves New York to visit her native Iceland in this whimsical tale of family secrets.

For more information, call Siena's Info Desk at (518) 783-4242.