Hollywood’s Leading Ladies Show Films at Napa Valley Festival

Photo Credit: Natalie Schrik for Drew Altizer

Over the weekend, the Super Moon wasn’t the only thing shining brightly in the Napa Valley. The streets of Calistoga, Yountville, Napa, and St. Helena were filled with Hollywood’s hottest stars. On Thursday, Matthew McConaughey, Kurt Russell, Dev Patel, and Viggo Mortensen were honored with special tribute awards, but Saturday was all about the leading ladies. Actress Katie Holmes made her directorial debut with All We Had, a movie about a young mother and her teenage daughter who live out of their car and face a series of hardships. Holmes plays the mother, Rita, and young actress, Stefania Owen, plays the daughter, Ruthie. After the screening both actors took to the stage and participated in a conversation with producers Berry Welsh and Katie Mustard.

Photo Credit: Vincent Piombo

Vera Farmiga also appeared at a screening on Saturday at the festival. She was in town to promote Burn Your Maps, a family adventure where she stars as The Room’s Jacob Tremblay’s mother. Tremblay’s character believes that he is a Mongolian goat herder and he sets out on a journey to Mongolia. The movie was directed by Jordan Roberts; he and Farmiga discussed the filming process in front of the small crowd after the screening.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Napa Valley Film Festival

Saturday afternoon, the awards ceremony took place. Ten documentary films and ten narrative films competed for cash prizes. Big Sonia and Heaven’s Floor took the top honors. Love is All You Need? was awarded best screenplay, Folk Here & Funny Guy won best ensemble cast, and All We Had won best lounge feature. On Saturday night, Napa’s top winemakers and chefs joined the filmmakers at a crazy fun gala at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville. The space was filled with multiple stages and different bands, plus a disco-themed room with sunglasses made from neon lights. Rosé flowed freely in the VIP tent where Jake models danced with the festival’s hard-working team. A blue-haired fortunetelling poet with a vintage typewriter handed out free haikus while Rye on the Road stirred and served stiff scotch cocktails.