The California Film Institute announces the following local films that have been officially confirmed to screen at the 47th Mill Valley Film Festival. The complete schedule will be announced and available online at
www.mvff.com on September 12.
Features
Democracy Noir
(US, documentary feature, dir. Connie Field)
Three Hungarian women - a journalist, a nurse and an opposition politician - fight in different ways to expose corruption and lies in Viktor Orbán's Hungary. But they face a lot of resistance from several quarters.
Director Connie Field lives in Berkeley
Lost in Time: Druid Heights
(US, documentary feature, dir. Damian Panetta)
Ed Stiles, 83, lives in a Pacific coast ghost town, who was enthralled by counterculture mayhem and later survived tragic events in this hidden Muir Woods enclave just above Mill Valley. But now the National Parks Service might bulldoze his forest paradise and its astonishing history into oblivion.
World Premiere
Protagonist lives in Marin
The film was shot on location in Mill Valley, Mt. Tamalpais, Sausalito, Muir Woods National Forest
Oceania: Journey to the Center
(US, documentary feature, dir. Natalie Zimmerman)
The story is centered on the island nation of Kiribati--predicted to be uninhabitable by 2030 due to rising sea levels. The film is an elegy, an inquiry, and a call to action, as it asks us to reconsider what connections are most vital to human and ecological survival and why we must reestablish them if we are to survive as a species.
Director Natalie Zimmerman lives in Fairfax
Sound mixer James Hicken lives in Oakland
Online Editor and Color Grader Jesse Spencer lives in San Francisco's Hayes Valley
Shot on location at Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito; Limantour Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore; and Port of Oakland
Standing Above The Clouds
(US, documentary feature, dir. Jalena Keane-Lee)
When a massive Thirty Meter Telescope is proposed to be built on Mauna Kea, an uprising of kiaʻi (protectors) in Hawaiʻi and worldwide dedicate their lives to protecting the sacred mountain from further destruction. Through the lens of mothers and daughters in three Native Hawaiian families, STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS explores intergenerational healing and the impacts of safeguarding cultural traditions. In English & Hawaiian with English subtitles.
Director Jalena Keane-Lee lives in Berkeley
Producer Amber Espinosa-Jones lives in Oakland
The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival
(US, documentary feature, dir. Julie Rubio)
Traces the life of the renowned painter through her powerful paintings – from her rise to international stardom in 1920s Paris to her move to the US fleeing fascism in 1940, to her current revival. Follows this remarkable refugee, examining the bisexual, Jewish artist who embodied talent, resilience, passion, and a pursuit of artistic freedom.
World Premiere
Director Julie Rubio lives in Orinda
MVFF Screening coincides with launch of “Tamara de Lempicka” exhibition at the De Young Museum in San Francisco
Zurawski V Texas
(US, documentary feature, dirs. Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault )
With unique access to the plaintiffs and attorney in the currently unfolding Zurawskiv. Texas lawsuit, this documentary tells the story of the unflinching women who are fighting back after the fall of Roe.
Producer Blye Faust lives in Belvedere
Shorts
Bickering
(Gabrielle Hanson Chong | US 2024, 1 min)
Best friends Harriet and Priscilla argue over a small misunderstanding.
Screening in Shorts: LoveHappy (YOUTH WORKS) program
Fimmaker Gabrielle Hanson Chong lives in Hayward
The Bird Rescue Center
(Derek Knowles | US 2024, 13 min)
A documentary profile of the extraordinary rehabilitation efforts of Santa Rosa’s Bird Rescue Center, a place where dedicated volunteers strive to give injured birds a second flight.
Screening in the Sweet Dreams shorts program
Filmmaker Derek Knowles lives in Santa Rosa
The Callback
(Kara Herold | US 2024, 16 min)
A comedy about following a dream into a waking nightmare.
Director Kara Herold lives in Oakland
Dreamkeeping
(Mimi Muhle, US 2024, 5 min)
A housekeeper at a hotel makes the tough decision to leave her job for a better future.
Screening in Shorts: LoveHappy (YOUTH WORKS) program
Filmmaker Mimi Muhle lives in Noe Valley
like a stone or flower
(Kaiya Ming Jordan | US 2024, 10 min)
Three artists of different generations reflect on the ability of art to transcend rationality and logic.
Screening in Shorts: LoveHappy (YOUTH WORKS) program
Filmmaker Kaiya Ming Jordan lives in Berkeley
Guiding Light
(India Anne Mitchell | US 2024, 5 min)
An inspired young filmmaker weaves together past and present as she looks back on the legacy of the Polly Klaas tragedy that rocked the nation.
Screening in Shorts: LoveHappy (YOUTH WORKS) program
Filmmaker India Anne Mitchell lives in Petaluma
Lil’ Red Is Riding The Wrong Way In The Hood
(Venus Jones | US 2024, 8 min)
An animated Hip Hop and gender twist on a classic cautionary tale originally entitled, Little Red Riding Hood. In this modern version, after Lil’ Red, an adventurous young boy, has his bike stolen by a wolf in sheep’s clothing a battle of wits begins. It’s an entertaining and educational film about trust as we all seek to find our way to stay on the right path, in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world.
Filmmaker Venus Jones resides in Santa Clara.
Sound Engineer Tim Abbott lives in Santa Clara
Music composer Malcolm Lee lives in San Jose
Mother
(Meg Shutzer | US 2024, 23 min)
In San Francisco, a city known for its queer community and bustling gay nightlife, there hasn't been a lesbian bar for almost a decade. Driven by nostalgia for a time when queer women had spaces, Malia Spanyol, a self-identified dyke sets out to build one for the next generation of women and femmes.
Filmmaker Brandon Yadegari lives in San Francisco’s Mission District
Filmmaker Meg Shutzer lives in Oakland.
The bar, Mother, is in San Francisco’s Mission District. And bar owner, Malia Spanyol, lives in San Francisco’s Mission District
Out Of The Dark: Cal Calamia
(Sarah Klein and Tom Mason | US 2024, 8 min)
An intimate look at the journey of professional athlete Cal Calamia, a transgender marathon runner who's advocating for inclusion in the running world.
Protagonist Cal Calamia lives in San Francisco’s Panhandle.
Paramita
(Kirthi Nath | US 2024, 15 min)
A meditative spiritual short that connects with Buddhist practices and nature as gateways for intergenerational healing.
Filmmaker Kirthi Nath, lives in Oakland
Red Boat Crossing
(Jeanne C. Finlay | US 2024, 38 min)
Sixty-five years after the Allied invasion of Southern France, the director's mother, Cecily Barker Finley, tries to recall her involvement as a social worker aboard a WWII Red Cross ship. These memories are recorded in letters and phone calls with her daughter living on the coast of France where the invasion occurred. After her mother dies, she discovers a trunk, unopened since the 1940s in the family garage that is filled with her mother's Red Cross memorabilia. By carefully documenting the trunk's contents, missing pieces of the invasion story begin to come into focus. Yet, despite a mountain of facts and photographs, mysteries persist about family, war, and what it means to be a hero.
Jeanne C. Finlay lives in the Fillmore neighborhood.
The Ship That Turned Back
(Allie Light | US 2024, 34 min)
Based on the memoir of acclaimed filmmaker Irving Saraf, THE SHIP THAT TURNED BACK narrates the poignant tale of a childhood escape from Nazi-occupied Poland, seen through the eyes of the seven-year-old boy who experienced it and the old man who remembers his harrowing voyage. Crafted by the renowned documentary duo Allie Light and the late Irving Saraf, this captivating film merges recollections, historical clips, family dramatizations, and animated children's illustrations to bring Irving's memories to life.
Filmmaker Allie Light lives in San Francisco’s Diamond Heights neighborhood.
Editor Ann Flatté lives in San Francisco’s Diamond Heights neighborhood.
Stay connected:
X (formerly Twitter): @MVFilmFestival
Facebook: @MillValleyFilmFestival
Instagram: @millvalleyfilmfest
YouTube: @CaliforniaFilmInstitute
Letterboxd: @CAFILM
For more information: mvff.com
About Mill Valley Film Festival
Presented by the California Film Institute (CAFILM), the 47th Mill Valley Film Festival runs October 3-13, 2024. MVFF is a significant cultural cinema event in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has gained international recognition for its commitment to showcasing exceptional films, supporting emerging talent, and fostering creative dialogue. Over the years, it has hosted renowned filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals, establishing its reputation as the West Coast launch pad for many Academy Award®-winning films and a hub for cinematic excellence.
About the California Film Institute
The California Film Institute (CAFILM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing film and media arts through its acclaimed programs, including the Mill Valley Film Festival and DocLands Documentary Film Festival. CAFILM Education offers students of all ages the opportunity to explore the world through film and filmmaking, fostering the next generation of film enthusiasts and creators. Our premier independent theater, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, attracts over 275,000 guests annually with compelling cinema and storytelling that addresses pressing social, environmental, and cultural issues. Additionally, CAFILM now owns and operates the Sequoia Cinema, furthering our commitment to preserving cinematic heritage and providing local access to quality films. The organization relies on the generosity of its community; the invaluable support from our sponsors, foundations, donors, and members ensures our ability to continue expanding and sustaining our vital programs. Join us in celebrating, exploring, and championing the art of film. For more information, visit cafilm.org.
Supporters | Mill Valley Film Festival
The California Film Institute is once again proud to acknowledge the leadership support of the Christopher B. Smith Family, Jennifer Coslett MacCready, Nancy P. and Richard K. Robbins Family Foundation, and Vickie Soulier, and the continued major support of Marin Community Foundation, The Bernard Osher Foundation, and The Gruber Family Foundation. We are also fortunate to have the contributions of the following of the Mill Valley Film Festival: Raymond James, Delta Air Lines, Jackson Square Partners, Lucasfilm, Ltd., Wareham Development, and Bellam Self Storage and Boxes.
FOR CALENDAR EDITORS
47th Mill Valley Film Festival
Celebrating the best independent and world cinema alongside high-profile and prestigious award contenders.
Thursday, October 3 to Sunday, October 13, 2024
Ticket On-Sale Dates
Early Bird Tickets and Passes are on sale now
General Public Single Tickets on sale September 18, 2024
CFI members can purchase single tickets in advance of the public beginning Mid-September
MVFF47 Bay Area Screening Venues:
San Rafael: Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center – Thurs, Oct. 3 – Sun, Oct. 13, 2024
Mill Valley: Sequoia Cinema – Thurs, Oct. 3 – Sun, Oct. 13, 2024
Larkspur: Lark Theater – Sat, Oct 5 & Sun, Oct 6 + Fri, Oct 11, Sat, Oct 12 & Sun, Oct 13, 2024
Berkeley: Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive – Sat, Oct 5 & Sun, Oct 6 + Thurs, Oct 10 – Sun, Oct 13, 2024
General Admission:
General $18.50 | CAFILM Members $16.00 | Seniors (65+) $17.00 | Students with ID and Youth (12 & under) $9.00 | Shorts Programs: $11.50
