It’s been quite the journey, but the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) is finally back in full force for its 45th edition. After pivoting to become an almost entirely virtual event in 2020 in response to Covid-19, MVFF welcomed audiences back to the theater in a limited capacity in 2021. Now, with updated public health and safety guidelines in effect, the festival, running Oct. 6–16, will look and feel a lot closer to how it did pre-pandemic.
Each year the festival welcomes more than 200 filmmakers, representing more than 50 countries. Screening sections include World Cinema; US Cinema; Valley of the Docs; Children’s FilmFest; a daily shorts program; and Active Cinema, MVFF’s activist films initiative. Festival guests also enjoy Tributes, Spotlights and Galas throughout. The relaxed and non-competitive atmosphere surrounding MVFF, gives filmmakers and audiences alike the opportunity to share their work and experiences in a collaborative and convivial setting.
For more on the festival check out our coverage below. Looking for a guide to the films? See our full listings here:
Be sure to check out the Marin Magazine sponsored film, the music doc Santos — Skin to Skin. A Mission District legend in his own right, Afro-Latin musician and Grammy winner John Santos as one of the highlights of the festival’s recurring “Viva El Cine” initiative.
See the film October 8, 14th or 16th or watch it virtually.
More on MVFF
Mind the Gap at MVFF Shows How Women in Film Pave the Way Forward
In a fraught year for women everywhere, the platform aims to amplify female filmmakers’ stories to instill hope, elicit empathy and provide support.
George Washington High Schools’ Controversial Mural Gets Examined in ‘Town Destroyer’, Screening at at the Mill Valley Film Festival
The filmmakers behind one of the festival’s most thought-provoking films prepare to meet with local students for thoughtful discussions about art and censorship.
The Strangest Show on Earth: San Francisco-Based Art Collective The Residents at the Mill Valley Film Festival
One of the most enigmatic bands on the planet descends on the Sweetwater Music Hall for a live experience like you’ve never seen before.
Films for Good: The Power of Advocacy Documentaries at the Mill Valley Film Festival’s Active Cinema Program
Call-to-action documentaries GIVE us an opportunity to focus, turn off our phones and learn about issues that affect us all in ways we might not even know.
The Mill Valley Film Festival Lets Attendees Get Up Close and Personal With the Stars
MVFF has history of inspiring even the most famous celebrities in the world to let their guards down at one of the festival’s famous parties and get up close and personal with fans.
The Mill Valley Film Festival Returns to Form, Expanding Across the Bay Area
Larkspur’s Lark Theater and the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive return to the lineup; plus the addition of San Francisco’s Roxie Theater.
