Lunafest Film Festival

My former coworker, Abby, and I have a strange friendship: most of the time when we hang out, it’s one of us bringing the other as a plus-one to some random event one of us has been invited to.

It works.

Last night’s event: Lunafest–a film festival of films by, for and about women (you know, just in case you couldn’t read the above sign) that benefits Every Mother Counts and the Breast Cancer Fund. Founded in 2000, Lunafest connects “women, their stories and their causes through film.” Since its founding, Lunafest has raised more than $1.1 million dollars and featured 92 filmmakers.

The event was at the very cool Tribeca Cinema.

At the pre-party, former model and founder of Every Mother Counts Christy Turlington spoke about the importance of maternal health. Following the birth of her second baby, Turlington experienced postpartum hemorrhage. Turlington was lucky enough to be in a NYC hospital and get immediate attention, but postpartum hemorrhage is responsible for most maternal deaths in developing countries–but 90 percent of these deaths are preventable. She founded Every Mother Counts as an advocacy organization to increase education for maternal and child health. She also produced No Woman, No Cry, a documentary that shares the stories of at-risk pregnant women in four parts of the world.

Luna CEO, Kit Crawford

We saw nine short films: everything from a sweet film about how to be alone to a film about a young transgender person to Obsteric Fistula, a film part of the Every Mothers Count initiative.

The coolest thing about this whole festival? You don’t have to live in NYC or a major city to see the films and support the Breast Cancer Fund. You can host your own event, and 85 percent of the funds will go to your community nonprofit of choice; 15 percent will go to the Breast Cancer Fund. Lunafest will help you with the planning, and, I’m imagining, will give you Luna bars.

Luna also works with Healthy Child Healthy World, a non-profit that works to protect children from exposure to harmful elements in the environment. I love seeing companies I like giving back to the community like this.

I’m also really excited for all the Luna bars I got tonight.

How does your favorite company give back?