The Lunafest short film festival will return to Tuscaloosa, bringing stories about, by and for women and support for breast cancer awareness with it.

The film festival travels throughout the country and is hosted by more than 150 cities. The Bama Theatre will host Lunafest Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The nine films in the festival are made by women about women with a variety of genres and topics. “Date with Fate,” a short film by Venetia Taylor, showcases the struggles of blind dating, while “Flying Anne,” by Catherine van Campen, profiles a girl with Tourette syndrome.

Mollie Tinney, education and programming coordinator for the Women’s Resource Center, organized the silent auction held before the festival and has coordinated the Tuscaloosa festival for the past six years. Tinney gathers donations for the auction from the community and sells tickets to different departments on campus. She said it’s important to host the festival because of the knowledge obtained and connections developed between people.

(See also “LunaFest to showcase work of women filmmakers“)

“I hope they learn about diversity, about all the different things that are a struggle for women or things that we should celebrate about being a woman,” Tinney said. “Watching the films, I think that you just learn that all women, despite their age, their gender, their race, their sexuality, they all have different experiences. So it’s really nice to be able to watch a series of films about different women and their lives. It’s just an eye-opener in a lot of different ways.”

Colette Peters, a staff therapist on campus, will share her story as a two-time breast cancer survivor before the showing Thursday.

Peters was first diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 33 years old and again at age 36. She said she wants women to understand that breast cancer can happen at a younger age and will address preventative measures and the importance of doctor check-ups.

(See also “WRC to host women in film series“)

“I think probably the most important thing I learned is the importance of people in your life: friends, family, people who are there to support you,” Peters said. “You can’t do everything on your own, and you need people at times, and they need you.”

The event is more than sharing past stories and watching films; it’s an opportunity for people to make connections. Stephanie Perdomo, a freshman majoring in telecommunication and film, is a volunteer with the Women’s Resource Center. Her mother passed away from breast cancer, and she said the opportunity to work with women who have dealt with similar struggles is comforting.

“Getting to know people that have dealt with the same thing that I have kind of makes me feel more connected to campus,” Perdomo said.

This is Perdomo’s first Lunafest festival, and she said she is excited to see the outcome of all the work everyone has put into it. The films will show the struggles women endure and help showcase women and empowerment.

“I feel like you kind of motivate girls to go after a dream,” Perdomo said. “I’m not saying all are going to be film directors, but it shows that they can be noticed.”

Tickets are $12, $18 or $20. The silent auction will be held at 6:30 p.m. with food available. The proceeds help the Breast Cancer fund and The University of Alabama’s Women’s Resource Center.

 (See also “Local businesses join in breast cancer awareness“)