LUNAFEST, a showcase of short films directed by women, takes place at the Loft Cinema today.

LUNA, maker of a nutrition bar for women, created the film event in 2000 in order to raise awareness about women’s issues, highlight female filmmakers and bring women together as a community. Proceeds from the event go to benefit the Breast Cancer Fund.

The festival travels all over North America, hosting over 150 screenings each year. LUNAFEST has featured 110 filmmakers and has raised nearly $1.9 million since its first event. The series of films is meant to inspire and entertain all audiences, even though it’s based on women’s issues and the role women play in the film industry.

“The purpose of the film festival is to highlight women filmmakers, which really isn’t done,” said Leigh Spencer, the program coordinator for the Women’s Studies Advisory Council. “It provides a well-rounded, different view of the world and covers every facet of life.”

Spencer has been hosting LUNAFEST since she first started working with WOSAC almost eight years ago.

WOSAC has hosted the showcase for the past nine years, and its LUNAFEST is one of the top 10 largest in the country.

The film shorts being showcased this year include international pieces such as “Date With Fate” by Venetia Taylor, a filmmaker from Australia, “Flying Anne” by Catherine van Campen of the Netherlands and “Running Dry” by Dimitra Nikolopoulou from Greece.

Covering a variety of genres and topics, nine films in total will be presented at the festival. For example, the film “Granny’s Got Game” promotes doing what you love at any age, while the prominent theme in “Sidewalk” is learning to accept and love yourself and “Tiny Miny Magic” is about finding love in unlikely places.

The film festival last year had a turnout of more than 300 people. This year, Spencer hopes that LUNAFEST will attract at least 500 guests this year.

The festival is from 7-9:30 p.m. and will include free LUNA Bars. Tickets cost $5 for students and $10 for general admission.