By ANDREA HARVEY • Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN — Do you like movies? How about fly fishing? Are you interested in women’s rights or local charities?
If you answered yes to one of the above questions, you’ll want to check out these two traveling film festivals that are making their way to Ogden this week for a good cause.
Weber State University’s Women’s Center is hosting the LunaFest traveling film festival Friday, Feb. 23, from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater to raise money for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Half of the proceeds will go to the YCC Family Crisis Center in Ogden, and the other half will go to the Safe@Weber survivor fund.
Created in 2000, the LunaFest was the first all-women traveling film festival. It has since expanded to 175 cities nationwide, and this is the third year it has come to Ogden. In the past two years of hosting it, the WSU Women’s Center has raised more than $6,000.
“This is a great way for anyone to watch some awesome short films and support survivors,” Stephanie McClure, the Women’s Center director, said in a news release. “It’s also a way to become involved in the #metoo movement locally.”
Aimed at supporting female filmmakers and raising awareness of women’s issues, the event features nine short films including comedy, documentary, animation and more.
One notable movie that will be screened is “Waiting for Hassana,” a first-person account of the 2014 kidnapping of 276 teenage girls by the extremist organization Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria. The story is told by one girl who escaped from captivity while her best friend is still missing.
Also on the lineup is “Toys,” which tells the story of a farmer in the 1930s who wanted a son but ended up with a daughter instead. He tries to toughen her up and gives her toys meant for boys, but soon his efforts backfire.
For more information on the festival, including detailed descriptions of the featured films and filmmakers, go to LunaFest.org.
Tickets can be purchased online and are $10 for WSU students or $15 for community members.
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INTERNATIONAL FLY FISHING FILM FESTIVAL
Also on Feb. 23 is the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (also called IF4) hosted by Ogden City Corporation at Peery’s Egyptian Theater.
Dubbed as “the most anticipated event in the fly fishing industry,” the festival aims to support and promote awareness of local conservation groups. According to the festival’s website, screenings will include short and feature-length films from “all corners of the globe, showcasing the passion, lifestyle and culture of fly fishing.”
Proceeds from the Ogden event will benefit preservation of the Ogden River parkway.
Tickets can be purchased online for $15 (plus fees). You can also purchase them at Anglers Den, Smith & Edwards and Roosters Brewing Company. Unless they sell out, tickets will be available to purchase at the door on the night of the event for $17 each. The doors open at 6 p.m. and showtime is at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit FlyFilmFest.org.
Andrea Harvey can be reached at aharvey@standard.net or 801-625-4213. Follow her on Twitter at @andrearharvey or “like” her Facebook page at Facebook.com/AndreaHarveyJourno.
