Coming Soon

Opening Night Film and Gala

Thursday, October 6

Opening night offers a double feature. Writer/director Damien Chazelle’s film La La Land, which stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is showing at the Sequoia in Mill Valley. Over at the Century Cinema in Corte Madera, Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi mystery picture starring Amy Adams, Arrival, is screening. Be on the lookout for celebrity guests. Wrap up your evening at Marin Country Mart, where the opening night gala will be held.

MVFF Music: Live at the Sweetwater Music Hall

Starting Friday, October 7

Enjoy nine evenings of live music selected specifically for the Mill Valley Film Festival. Come see performances by Thao (of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down), Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, Erika Wennerstrom, the Great Mill Valley Gospel Show featuring Narada Michael Walden, and more.

Star Wars Trilogy Event

Saturday, October 8

Experience the original Star Wars trilogy the way George Lucas wanted you to experience it — at the theater where he installed the famed THX sound system. Films aside, the event at the Century Cinema in Corte Madera features a costume parade (moviegoers are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters), prizes and giveaways, as well as some special surprise guests.

Monday Nights At Seven (World Premiere)

Saturday, October 8

Director Marty Sader’s picture is having its world premiere at the Sequoia in Mill Valley. The film is filled with dreamy images, honest conversations, vibrant settings and moving performances.

Spotlights Abound

This year’s festival will feature three spotlight events. Ewan McGregor is on hand for the screening of American Pastoral, his directorial debut, on Sunday, October 9. On Monday, October 10, Gael García Bernal is set to be honored, and his recent film Neruda will be shown. Actor Aaron Eckhart will also be acknowledged and his film Bleed for This will be screened. All actors will come up for an onstage conversation and receive an MVFF Award as well. All three events are held at the Rafael.

Tribute: Julie Dash

Friday, October 14

The Mill Valley Film Festival Tribute program is holding an onstage conversation with filmmaker and author Julie Dash, featuring a clip reel of her work, a screening of Daughters in the Dust and the presentation of the MVFF Award. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Rafael.

Local Films and Panels

Times and Locations Vary

Even if you can’t make it to Marin for the festival, there are still viewing options available. Come see movies made by local filmmakers in their own neighborhoods. Pictures will be screening throughout the Bay Area and San Francisco, as well the North, South and East Bay. Check mvff.com for details.

Closing Night Film and Party

Sunday, October 16

Writer/director Jeff Nichols and stars Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga are scheduled to attend both closing night screenings (the movie will be shown at both the Sequoia and the Rafael) of Loving. The film is based on Nancy Buirski’s Emmy Award–winning documentary The Loving Story, about Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple, who are sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for getting married. End your festival on a light note at the closing night party, at Cavallo Point in Sausalito.


Kasia Pawlowska

Kasia Pawlowska loves words. A native of Poland, Kasia moved to the States when she was seven. The San Francisco State University creative writing graduate went on to write for publications like the San Francisco Bay Guardian and KQED Arts among others prior to joining the Marin Magazine staff. Topics Kasia has covered include travel, trends, mushroom hunting, an award-winning series on social media addiction and loads of other random things. When she’s not busy blogging or researching and writing articles, she’s either at home writing postcards and reading or going to shows. Recently, Kasia has been trying to branch out and diversify, ie: use different emojis. Her quest for the perfect chip is never-ending.