For the seventh annual Central Illinois Feminist Film Festival, three movies relating to the theme of “Coming of Age Sexuality” will be shown to honor Women’s History and Awareness Month.

The showings will begin Monday and continue through Wednesday.

Robin Murray, an English and women’s studies professor, is in charge of the festival as Eastern’s film studies minor coordinator.

“The film festival promotes the mission of the Eastern’s women’s studies program, which is to promote an understanding of how issues related to gender, age, race, economic status, sexual identity and nationality affects women’s lives and the communities in which they live,” Murray said in an email.

The first movie that will be shown is “Fish Tank,” which is a British drama written and directed by Andrea Arnold.

The movie is about Mia Williams, a 15-year-old who lives with her single mother and the mother’s new boyfriend who becomes attracted to Mia and has a sexual relationship with her. This will be shown from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday in the Coleman Hall Auditorium.

Short films submitted by student filmmakers will be screened during the second showing, and all will be related to the sexuality theme, Murray said.

They will be shown from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Coleman Hall Auditorium.

The winners will be announced for first place, second place and honorable mention in the documentary and fictional film categories.

Murray said the film festival committee invites local organizations or members of the community to host a film screening and discussion.

The last film to be screened will be “Mosquita y Mari,” which is a coming-of-age film written and directed by Aurora Guerrero. The movie is about two young women, Yolanda and Mari, and focuses on a tender friendship between them.

The final film will be shown from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Coleman Hall Auditorium.

All movie screenings are free for everyone to attend.

Stephanie White can be reached at 581-2812 or at sewhite2@eiu.edu.