NVFF Board Members in attendance: Patrick Davila, Carrie Markham, Brenda and Marc Lhormer, Michelle Baggett and Carissa Ashman
Photo Credit: Madison Voelkel for Drew Altizer Photography
The Napa Valley Film Festival recently celebrated the upcoming 2015 festival, taking place November 11-15 throughout the Valley, with an exclusive preview for members of the festival’s Patron Circle and VIP guests in the Silicon Valley. The evening was hosted by Carissa Ashman, Michael Uytengsu, Michelle Baggett, and Pete Georgiadis, Chairman of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, in his garden. Estate Events by Meadowood Napa Valley treated guests to haute cuisine pizza and sliders prepared in Georgiadis’ Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet kitchen.
Festival founders and directors Brenda and Marc Lhormer greeted guests with an overview of what’s in store for the festival. Guests were entertained by a series of short films and trailers for some of this year’s most anticipated films, including awards season contenders Carol starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Youth, starring Harvey Keitel, Michael Caine and Jane Fonda, and Spotlight starring Liev Schriber, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo.
Guests learned that this year’s opening night presentation will be the world premiere of Somm: Into the Bottle. The premiere screening and opening night party are exclusively available to members of the Patron Circle. The party with filmmakers and cast will include cuisine prepared by Napa Valley’s finest chefs paired with wine selections from Somm vintners and sommeliers. The Celebrity Tributes honorees will be Bruce Dern, Harvey Keitel and Trailblazer comedian Keegan-Michael Key. Rising Star honorees will be announced shortly. Patron Circle members at the A-Lister and Movie Mogul levels will have a private reception and dinner with Tribute honorees on Friday, November 13 at Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena.
The Napa Valley Film Festival Patron Circle is the festival’s VIP Experience with exclusive access to celebrities, wine and industry dinners and an all-access pass to festival and parties. The Patron Circle has events throughout the year in Napa Valley, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Los Angeles.
Patrons toasted the 2015 festival with wines poured by the proprietors of Alpha Omega, Tusk Estates and Vineyard 511 along with garden-inspired cocktails by Scott Beattie.
For more information about the Napa Valley Film Festival and Patron Circle, please visit www.NapaValleyFilmFest.org. The Napa Valley Film Festival is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
