Saturday: LUNAFEST
On Saturday, St. Joseph County Public Library will welcome its first-ever screening of LUNAFEST, a traveling film festival showcasing the work of women directors. The festival is sponsored by LunaBars, the brand of the popular energy bars owned by Clif Bar & Company. This year’s lineup contains nine short films from a diverse and vibrant host of female producers. Included in the lineup are the films “Buttercup,” directed by Megan Brotherson about a female friendship, “Girls Level Up” directed by Anne Edgar about a young Pakistani woman who encourages young girls in Silicon Valley to design video games and “Joy Joy Nails,” directed by Joey Alley about a Korean-owned nail salon, among many other short films.
LUNAFEST’swebsite lays out the mission of the festival: “The future of film is diversity.” The festival also provides disturbing yet unsurprising statistics about the lack of female directors in the current industry, noting that “there are 2.13 male short-film directors for every 1 female director. 2.13 male voices to every 1 female heard. 2.13 male stories to every 1 not yet told.” This festival, which will hold showings in more than 175 locations across the United States, represents a small step along the way to combating this gross gender imbalance.
All proceeds from South Bend’s showing of LUNAFEST will go toward two local nonprofits serving women, St. Margaret’s House and YWCA of North Central Indiana. The showing on Saturday morning will be followed by a discussion. In the era of #MeToo and a renewed and vigorous examination of gender inequity in the media industry, this festival promises to be a signal of hope and an opportunity to experience the stories of women, created by women themselves.
When: Saturday, March 24 from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.
Where: St. Joseph County Public Library Main Branch, 304 South Main St.
Details: Tickets are available for sale at the LUNAFEST website.
Saturday: March For Our Lives South Bend
On Saturday, children and adults across the U.S. will march to protest gun violence and mass shootings, especially mass shootings in schools. Specifically, the March aims to get a comprehensive and effective gun control bill brought before Congress. March for Our Lives has been organized in large part by students from Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. These marches are the latest in a month full of community action to protest gun violence, including student-led walkouts in many local South Bend high schools as well as high schools and elementary schools around the nation.
So far, the March’s website has counted 837 events worldwide that will take place in conjunction with the primary march in Washington, D.C. The South Bend march will begin at the Morris Performing Arts Plaza in downtown South Bend. All are welcome to attend, and more than 800 people have responded that they are attending or are interested in attending the March on its Facebook event page.
When: Saturday, March 25 at 5 p.m.
Where: Jon R. Hunt Plaza at Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 North Michigan St.
Details: This event is free and open to the public.
Sunday: Michiana VegFest
In recent years, veganism has exploded as a healthy, sustainable and ethically responsible way of life. The South Bend area is no exception to this movement, as vegan restaurants and activist groups have become prevalent in the area. If you are curious about this movement, want to learn about vegan eateries in South Bend or simply want to know how to implement a plant-based diet into your life, the first Michiana VegFest 2018 will be held this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Michiana VegFest is a food festival aimed at promoting the health and environmental benefits of eating a plant-based diet. The event will feature cooking demonstrations by local chefs to show how easy it can be to implement a plant-based diet into everyday life as well as free food samples from vendors in the South Bend area. Additionally, a variety of lectures will be given by authors and doctors about the health benefits of veganism, the environmental impact of animal agriculture and the ethical problems associated with the meat and dairy industry.
VegFest is free and open to all and will take place on Sunday, March 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Downes Ballroom in Corbett Family Hall on Notre Dame’s campus. For a full event schedule visit michianavegfest.com.
When: Sunday, March 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: On Notre Dame’s campus in the Downes Ballroom in Corbett Family Hall
Details: This event is free and open to the public.
Scene in South Bend: Weekend Preview
Diane Park
Diane Park
