2010 LUNAFEST film montage image courtesy of Lunafest.org

What has been popular for over 10 years, travels to more than 100 venues internationally and is focused primarily on women? I know what you are thinking, but it’s not George Clooney! It’s a film festival made by, for, and about women called LUNAFEST that takes place from October through June annually.

Founded in 2000 by LUNA, the makers of the whole nutrition bar for women, LUNAFEST aims to take focus on women’s issues, highlight female filmmakers, and donate 100% of all proceeds towards worthy women’s nonprofit organizations in North America. Fifteen percent goes to the Breast Cancer Fund and the additional 85% contributes to the hosting community organizations.

At present day, only six percent of the 250 top-grossing films of all time have been made by women. LUNAFEST believes in the power of female filmmakers and the conviction of their unique material that doesn’t always conform to mainstream media. These projects would not usually have this level of exposure if it weren’t for the platform LUNAFEST provides. No matter the notoriety of the filmmakers, the festival offers a chance for anyone to become involved. As extra incentive, LUNAFEST awards all selected filmmakers a monetary sum of $1,000.

This year’s film list includes the directorial debut of Courtney Cox for The Monday Before Thanksgiving starring Laura Dern. In all, ten short films are showcased in this year’s festival; all of which share various stories about women from the mysteries of childbirth to a woman in her 40s who comes to the realization that she doesn’t need a man to provide her happiness.

LUNAFEST offers the opportunity for communities to host their own LUNAFEST screenings from October to June. In order to qualify, an organization or group that promotes women empowerment and/or awareness can submit an application online. The Web site also gives tips on how to plan a successful event with templates and timelines. What a fantastic way to create exposure, raise funds, and support worthwhile causes all through one event!

The automatic 15% of the proceeds the Breast Cancer Fund receives is used towards eliminating environmental causes of cancer through policy initiatives, education tactics, campaigns and by urging changes be set in motion to impede the now growing epidemic. LUNAFEST has raised over $300,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund to date.

So, do a little research of your own to see if there is a LUNAFEST coming to a region near you or encourage a nonprofit in your area to sign up to host one in the future. And let the magic of women’s creativity come alive!

Breast Cancer Fund, Courtney Cox, film festival, Genevieve Castonguay, george clooney, Laura Dern, LUNA, LUNAFEST, The Monday Before Thanksgiving Hide

What do Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney and Brad Pitt have in common? They are all ecosexuals! A new term has been coined on the West Coast that puts metrosexuality to shame, it’s called ecosexuality and describes people who look for mates that share the same environmental concern.

If you think “environmentally friendly” or “socially conscious” men are limited to the dirty hippie stereotypes, think again. Ecosexuality combines GQ sexiness with a heart for something more than just a big bank account and fancy car.

Personally, I’ve done a lot of dating over the past few years and the men who will always occupy a little part of my heart were those who were, in some way, green. Whether it was the guy who told me he once donated to PETA, who loved An Inconvenient Truth, who refused to buy farmed salmon or who made energy efficiency a bigger priority than affordability when buying a car, they all had an unforgettable effect on me.

To me, nothing is sexier that a man who has a heart for saving the environment. This doesn’t mean he has to be David Suzuki, but that he cares for it enough to make green decisions in his life, like asking for the most sustainable hard wood floor at Home Depot. It just screams compassion – and that he’ll probably be a better lover and father because of it.

Now this is not to say that there is no hope for the man you’re currently dating or interested in if he’s not green. I’ve educated many men over the past who have now become full-fledged greenies.

So what if you decide you want to date an ecosexual but don’t know where to turn? No problem! With green lifestyles becoming so chic in mainstream media lately, it’s no wonder that men’s ecosexual traits would now become dating criteria.

Dating websites are popping up at an alarming rate where one can now choose mates based on their carbon-neutral, fair-trade consumption or vegetarian lifestyles.

And if you’re not sure whether or not you qualify as an ecosexual, you can now take the fun ecosexual quiz.

So whether you prefer to love global and date local or are looking for Zero-carbon love, ecosexuality is where it’s at.

Enjoy green dating!

Hear more from the Urban Green Girl at her blog about green living solutions for urban girls.

photo by roger mateo poquet

an invconvenient truth, brad pitt, dating, david suzuki, ecosexual, environment, environmentally conscious, george clooney, Gone Green, green, leonardo dicaprio, metrosexual, peta, relationship, social responsibility Hide