The LUNAFEST® 9th Annual National Touring Film Festival, coming to the Village at Palisades Tahoe on November 14th, will feature award-winning short films by, for, and about women.

Presented by Girls on the Run - Sierras, a local non-profit prevention program, this unique film festival highlights women as leaders in society, illustrated through nine short films by women filmmakers. This year's films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women's health, motherhood, body image, sexuality, cultural diversity and breaking barriers.

"The films raise awareness for women's issues and we felt this would be a perfect fundraising event for Girls on the Run to partner with," explains Jennifer Bossin, the Tahoe-Truckee organization's council director and head coach.

Girls on the Run - Sierras, which was founded in 2007, encourages preteen girls to develop self respect and healthy lifestyles through running.

"We have served over 400 local girls since we started," says Bossin. "The response has been heartwarming and overwhelmingly positive. Fundraising events like LUNAFEST® allow us to offer much-needed scholarships to girls in our region."

Eighty-five percent of the events proceeds will support Girls on the Run - Sierras, while the remaining funds will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund.

Thus far, LUNAFEST®, which was created and funded by LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®, raised over $200,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund and over $470,000 for women's non-profit organizations like Girls on the Run.

Tickets for the film festival are $49 each (Tahoe Forest Women's Wellness participants receive a $5 discount) and include wine tasting from Uncorked, and delicious food samplings from various Village venues. A live auction will include such items as a whitewater rafting trip in Patagonia, a Squaw Lovers package and various season passes, ski tickets and much more.

The LUNAFEST® event kicks off at 6 p.m. with wine tasting. Film viewing begins at 7:30 p.m. followed by an 8 p.m. intermission with dessert and live auction. At 8:30 p.m. film viewing will resume.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, log onto www.girlsontherunsierras.org. Tickets can also be purchased at Uncorked, Village at Squaw.

For more information about this year's LUNAFEST lineup, visit www.lunafest.org

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