The Redlands branch of the American Association of University Women will host AAUW FilmFest, a screening of award-winning short films produced and directed by women, April 19 in the auditorium on the Esri campus, 380 New York St., Redlands.
In previous years, the Redlands AAUW branch hosted the LunaFest, a traveling film festival organized by the LUNA Bar company to benefit nonprofits. After LUNA Bar and Clif Bar companies were acquired by an international corporation, their sponsorship of the film festival ended, according to a news release.
This year’s AAUW FilmFest in Redlands is curated by a committee of local women.
“Everyone loved LunaFest, which our Redlands branch offered annually for over a decade. It became our primary public fundraiser to support scholarships, awards and programs for local women and girls,” Kathryn Brown, one of the program co-chairmen, said in the news release.
“We are delighted to offer an amazing collection and variety of film shorts — comedy and drama with live actors as well as an underwater documentary, animated documentary, animated comedy and a stop-motion animated ‘dramady,’ ” Brown said in the news release.
The AAUW FilmFest will feature seven films, including one by Lynn Tomlinson, who will travel from Maryland to attend the event.
Tomlinson creates her animation frame by frame using a clay-on-glass and oil pastel technique. Her film “The Elephant’s Song” is based on the story of one of the first elephants in America and one of the first chapters in the history of the circus in the United States, according to the news release.
The event begins with a 5:45 p.m. reception in the Esri Cafe, with hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and desserts, followed by the 7 p.m. screening in the Esri Auditorium.
Tickets are $50, available at eventbrite.com. Tickets will also be available at the door, space permitting.
Proceeds are used for local programs and scholarships in support of the AAUW mission of advancing equity for women and girls through education, advocacy and empowerment.
Local sponsors of this year’s event include the Contemporary Club and J.D. Myers.
