What You Need To Know About The Mill Valley Film Festival

Photo Credit: Focus Features

Get ready Marin County! The Mill Valley Film Festival kicks off today (Oct. 8) and runs through Sunday, Oct. 18. For 11 delicious days, there will be films, panel discussions and musical performances. This marks the 38th edition of this festival, presented annually by the California Film Institute and internationally known for showcasing the best in independent and world cinema. You’ll have a chance to catch an early glimpse of potential Academy Award contenders and discover some of the best films from around the world. Here are what are sure to be the hautest happenings for MVFF38:

OPENING NIGHT | Spotlight and The Danish Girl
For Opening Night, the Mill Valley Film Festival presents the Bay Area premieres of Tom McCarthy’s investigative drama Spotlight, starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams, and Academy Award-winning director Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech, MVFF 2010) transgender drama The Danish Girl, which stars Academy Award Winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, MVFF 2014) and Alicia Vikander. Both directors will be present for their respective screenings.

Spotlight screens Thursday, October 8 at 7 & 7:15PM at the Cinéarts Sequoia
The Danish Girl screens Thursday, October 8 at 7 & 7:15PM at the Century Larkspur

Screenings followed by Opening Night Gala at 9PM at Marin Country Mart in Larkspur

Also featured on the first night of MVFF38 is the World Premiere of Heart Like a Hand Grenade, an intimate look at Bay Area-based rock group Green Day recording their album American Idiot.

SPOTLIGHT | Sarah Silverman
Actress/comedian/writer Sarah Silverman will be honored with a Spotlight presentation. The event features a screening of her latest film, Smile Back, and will be followed by a live onstage conversation and presentation of the MVFF Award.
Friday, October 9 at 7PM at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
Spotlight followed by Reception at 9PM at Pizza Antica

TRIBUTE | Catherine Hardwicke
Director Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen, Tank Girl) will be honored with a Tribute, which includes a special screening of her latest film Miss You Already, starring Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette. Following the screening will be a live on-stage conversation with Hardwicke and presentation of the MVFF Award.
Saturday, October 10 at 7:30PM at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
Tribute followed by Reception at 9:30PM at Tiburon Tavern

TRIBUTE | Ian McKellen
A tribute to Sir Ian McKellen, whose lauded career spans decades and genres, garnering countless awards and honors.
Sunday, October 11 at 7PM at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
Tribute followed by Reception at Il Fornaio

CENTERPIECE | Barbet Schroeder
For the Centerpiece Presentation, acclaimed Iranian-born, Swiss based filmmaker Barbet Schroeder will be in attendance for his latest film Amnesia.
Tuesday, October 13 at 7PM at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
Centerpiece followed by Reception at 9PM at Il Davide

SPOTLIGHT | Brie Larson
The Mill Valley Film Festival presents the California Premiere of Room, which will be accompanied by a Spotlight
on star Brie Larson, and a presentation of the MVFF Award.
Wednesday, October 14 at 7PM at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
Spotlight followed by Reception at 9PM at Green Chile Kitchen

TRIBUTE | Marcel Ophuls
Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Marcel Ophuls will receive a special Tribute at the festival in recognition of his 60 plus years in the film industry.
Thursday, October 15 at 7PM at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
Tribute followed by Reception at 9PM at Il Davide

SPOTLIGHT | Carey Mulligan
Academy Award-nominated actress Carey Mulligan will be presented with a Spotlight program which will feature an onstage conversation, a clip reel of her many film roles, clips from her latest film Suffragette, and the presentation of the MVFF Award.
Saturday, October 17 at 6PM at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
Spotlight followed by a reception at 9PM at Frantoio Restaurant

CLOSING NIGHT | Suffragette
For its Closing Night Film, Suffragette, the story of the women who were foot soldiers in the fight for the right to vote in the early 20th century, ordinary women who risked their jobs, homes, children and even their lives, will be shown. The film stars Mulligan, former MVFF Tribute Academy Award-nominated actress Helena Bonham Carter and multiple Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep. Suffragette director Sarah Gavron, producer Faye Ward and Mulligan are all scheduled to appear.

Sunday, October 18 at 5PM at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
Sunday, October 18 at 5PM and 5:15PM at Cinéarts Sequoia
Screenings followed by Closing Night Party at 7PM at Terrapin Crossroads

And there’s plenty more, including an exhibition honoring the centennial of three-time Oscar-winning actress Ingrid
Bergman, the MVFF Children’s FilmFest, and new this year, nine nights of live music exclusively curated for the Mill Valley Film Festival at the landmark Sweetwater Music Hall.

You’ll find all of the details on the 38th Mill Valley Film Festival at www.MVFF.com.

Photo Credit: Steffan Hill/Focus Features