Mill Valley Film Festival

History

In October 1977, Mark Fishkin, Rita Cahill, and Lois Cole organized a three-day film festival. It featured film tributes for Francis Ford Coppola's The Rain People and George Lucas' Filmmaker.

About the Festival

The San Francisco Bay Area continues to be a significant market for independent and international films, and MVFF provides a forum for introducing new films to West Coast audiences.

Presented by the California Film Institute, the Mill Valley Film Festival takes place in early October. With a reputation for launching new films and creating awards-season buzz, MVFF has earned a reputation as a "filmmakers' festival" by celebrating the best in American independent and world cinema alongside high-profile and prestigious award contenders.

Notable attendees have included actors Gena Rowlands, Forest Whitaker, Alfre Woodard, and Robin Williams, and directors Sean Baker, Jane Campion, Greta Gerwig, and Denis Villeneuve.

Festival sections include the World Cinema, US Cinema, Valley of the Docs, filmHOOD, 5@5 (shorts programs), and MVFF Music.

Festival initiatives include Mind the Gap: Women | Film | Tech, Viva El Cine! and Active Cinema.

The festival also features tributes and spotlights to acclaimed filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors. Screenings are usually held at the Christopher B Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, the Sequoia Theatre in Mill Valley, the Cinema in Corte Madera, and the Lark Theatre in Larkspur.

Screen International has named Mill Valley Film Festival a top-10 US film festival.

References

References

1. (1978). "Mill Valley Film Festival 1978". .
2. Manos, Gus. (October 10, 2008). "Joe Wright at MVFF Insight Event". CineSource Magazine.
3. Vigil, Delfin. (September 13, 2006). "Mill Valley Film Festival looks to be fit for royalty". [[San Francisco Chronicle]].
4. Johnson, G. Allen. (September 9, 2021). "Mill Valley Film Festival returns with Kenneth Branagh among big names and major emphasis on safety".
5. Cahill, Greg. (October 1–7, 1998). "A Life in Film: Mark Fishkin ushers in Mill Valley Film Fest". Metro Publishing.
6. "Mill Valley Film Festival: The United States' Largest Fall Celebration of Indie and International Films Wraps One of its Most Successful Years".
7. Welte, Jim. (August 5, 2011). "MVFF Unveils Children's FilmFest Lineup". Mill Valley Patch.
8. Manos, Gus. (November 27, 2008). "MVFF Tribute to Eric Roth". CineSource Magazine.
9. (September 13, 2012). "Mill Valley Film Festival announces SHANGHAI CALLING Northern California premiere!".