MVFF44 Program by MVFF

OCT. 7-17 2021 | MVFF.COM IN-THEATER + ONLINE

Experience MVFF the way it’s meant to be!

THANK YOU, MEMBERS! Members receive early access to discounted tickets, behind the scenes content with stars and filmmakers, and invitations to exclusive member events all year long. Visit cafilm.org/membership to learn more and become a member today.

For continuing to support this community of film lovers and make all we do possible.

A Safe Festival........................................................................... 2

Strands...................................................................................... 22

Welcome Letter: Mark Fishkin............................................... 2

Initiatives................................................................................... 24

Sponsors..................................................................................... 6

Sections..................................................................................... 26

Donor Circle............................................................................... 8

Behind the Screens................................................................ 28

Tickets....................................................................................... 10

Mind the Gap.......................................................................... 30

Navigating.................................................................................11

Active Cinema......................................................................... 32

Opening Night........................................................................ 12

¡Viva el cine!............................................................................. 33

Tribute: Jane Campion.......................................................... 13

MVFF Education...................................................................... 34

Spotlight: Simon Rex............................................................. 14

Family Films.............................................................................. 35

Centerpiece: C’mon C’mon................................................. 15

MVFF Music............................................................................. 36

Spotlight: Denis Villeneuve.................................................. 16

Schedule Grid.......................................................................... 37

Special Screening: Passing................................................... 17

Film Notes................................................................................ 42

Tribute: Kenneth Branagh.................................................... 18

MVFF Staff................................................................................ 79

Spotlight: Paolo Sorrentino.................................................. 19

Writers....................................................................................... 80

Spotlight: The Lost Daughter.............................................. 20

CFI Board of Directors........................................................... 81

Closing Night: The French Dispatch.................................. 21

Sponsors................................................................................... 82

The Mill Valley Film Festival is presented by the California Film Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that also owns and operates the Smith Rafael Film Center, presents DocLands Documentary Film Festival each May, and offers CFI Education programs throughout the year. © Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. No portion of the Mill Valley Film Festival schedule may be duplicated in any form without written consent from the Mill Valley Film Festival and/or the California Film Institute.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS All MVFF staff, volunteers, and attendees must show proof of vaccination and / or proof of negative Covid test (within 72 hours of attending) at all California Film Institute controlled venues. All patrons must present a vaccination card, a photo of your card, or a digital vaccine record (e.g., my vaccine record. cdph.ca.gov) with matching photo ID. We strongly urge all festival-goers to exercise caution from now until the festival date. The success of the festival is determined by our collective actions and attention.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

A SAFE FESTIVAL

Your safety is our top priority. Please visit mvff.com/covid for all up to date Covid-19 policies and procedures.

To borrow a phrase from one of the Bay Area’s better known bands, what a long, strange trip it’s been. Who would have guessed when COVID-19 lockdowns started in March 2020 that we would still be dealing with it over a year later? Yet here we are. The world has opened again and so have theaters. Even though we live in a place that is as well-vaccinated as anywhere in the world, and our community is aligned in its view that safety is of the utmost importance, we know there is still anxiety. Our goal for MVFF is to create a safe experience, and a vibrant festival that entertains, excites, and addresses our universal need to gather together and share stories about our common humanity. We are overjoyed to welcome festival-goers back to the Rafael, the Sequoia, and our other venues. Rest assured, we will follow all CDC and local guidelines to ensure a safe, fun visit to the theater. And for those who can’t join us in person or want to supplement their theater-going experience, we are offering a highly curated virtual selection of films. Streaming became so popular during the pandemic when everyone was stuck at home that some have questioned the viability of theaters. I would argue that, in our deeply polarized world, theaters are more important than ever before, for theaters are where we come together as a community. Maybe especially in a polarized world, the act of going to movies and seeing the type of films that MVFF supports is more important than ever. Film has the power to make us see other viewpoints, to encourage our empathy. It may be the antidote to the polarization of our post-pandemic world. One other fear we had going into our 44th annual festival was

that with the 2020 lockdowns, pickings might be slim this year, but we were happily surprised. Even in the midst of disaster, enthralling films of high quality got made, and some wonderful films that could not be released in 2020 are stepping back into the spotlight. Awards® season is once more upon us, and MVFF is in the thick of it, starting on Opening Night with Cyrano, Joe Wright’s highly-anticipated adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s classic, with Peter Dinklage in the title role. Our other special events are a stellar array. Wes Anderson’s droll, literary ensemble piece The French Dispatch will be the featured film for Closing Night. Bay Area native Mike Mills occupies the centerpiece slot with his drama C’mon C’mon, starring Joaquin Phoenix as a radio journalist on a road trip. We have tributes this year to outstanding auteurs Jane Campion, who brings her latest, The Power of the Dog, to the Festival; and Kenneth Branagh, who will appear alongside his new semi-autobiographical drama, Belfast. We’re also pleased to offer our audience several Spotlights this year, as we salute Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, MVFF 2016) and his latest towering achievement, Dune; Paolo Sorrentino (Youth, MVFF 2015), who revisits his native Naples with The Hand of God; and the ensemble of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directing debut The Lost Daughter, starring Peter Sarsgaard and Olivia Colman. Passing, Rebecca Hall’s powerful filmmaking debut exploring Black identity, is a Special Screening and our final special event. But it is not the end of big movies at MVFF. Among the others are Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s (Free Solo, MVFF 2018) new documentary, The Rescue, about the race to save a soccer team trapped in a Thai cave; and Pablo Larraín’s

(Jackie, MVFF 2017) Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as an unhappily married Princess Diana enduring Christmas with her husband’s family. We also have an abundance of international films, many available as part of our virtual program. Pedro Aldomovar’s Parallel Mothers, Céline Sciamma’s (Portrait of a Lady on Fire, MVFF 2019) Petite Maman, and the Bangladeshi family drama Rickshaw Girl are only a few of our foreign-language titles. The Festival would not be complete without films with a strong local element, and this year we have an abundance. A legendary San Francisco music journalist famous for his profiles becomes the subject of one in the documentary Like a Rolling Stone: The Life and Times of Ben Fong-Torres. Another doc, Chris J. Russo’s Lady Buds, focuses on the role of women in pioneering the Northern California cannabis industry, relating a little-known history of the Emerald Triangle. On the narrative side of things, longtime MVFF favorite Rob Nilsson brings us his latest, Center Divide, the second film in his Nomad Trilogy, as a couple traverses the country in search of connection, while Lissette Feliciano’s Women Is Losers tells the story of a young woman in San Francisco’s Mission District determined to make an independent life for herself despite the sexism that surrounds her in the 1960s and ‘70s. This is far from all. We continue to foster youthful fascination with the moving image with our Family Film programs, celebrate short films of many flavors with our shorts slates, recognize women filmmakers with our Mind the Gap programming and panel discussion, and honor Latinx filmmakers with our ¡Viva el cine! initiative. You’ll be able to peer into the future of filmmaking

with our Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch panel, and take the pulse of where we are today with my State of Cinema panel. We are ecstatic to add Mill Valley’s Sweetwater back into the mix as we celebrate music and film. Among the treats to look forward to this year are Abel Sanchez, Malo cofounder Jorge Santana, and others performing music from Song for Cesar, a documentary about the 1960s labor movement and the music that inspired it, and one-time Dylan associate Barry Goldberg, Jimmy Vivino, blues harmonica player Rob Stone, and more bringing the blues from the documentary Born in Chicago. It is an exciting program that I am pleased to share with festival-goers. And I would be remiss if I did not thank our talented dedicated staff, board of directors, and filmmakers (without whom there would be no MVFF), as well as the thousands of members of our community who have sustained us through this pandemic: our audience, comprised of avid movie lovers, CFI members, sponsors, and major donors. I look forward to seeing all of you as we come together once again for the love of cinema.

MARK FISHKIN MVFF Founder + Director CFI Executive Director + Founder

SIGNATURE CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH FAMILY

MAJOR

PREMIER MEDIA

SILVER CIRCLE

FESTIVAL CIRCLE

T. WOLF

MAJOR FOUNDATION SUPPORT GRUBER FAMILY FOUNDATION

RESONANCE PHILANTHROPIES

HELLMAN FOUNDATION

NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT COUNTY OF MARIN NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

DONOR CIRCLE

LEADERSHIP Christopher B. Smith Family Project No. 9 Jennifer Coslett MacCready Nancy P. and Richard K. Robbins Family Foundation Vickie Soulier

INVESTOR Jim Boyce Trust and Kris Otis Ken and Jackie Broad Family Fund Gruber Family Foundation Daniel Kenyon and Michelle Marchetta Kenyon

Gordon Radley Resonance Philanthropies Christine A. Schantz Michael and Susan Schwartz Fund

PLATINUM Anonymous Kamala Geroux-Berry and David Berry Genuine Article Pictures Vivian Kaufman Fund

Mobley Family Fund Maggie O’Donnell and Josh Floum Jonathan and Deborah Parker

SILVER Kenneth Birdwell Joy Chik Alice Corning Stephanie DiMarco Michael Dyett and Heidi Richardson Egide Family Foundation Dennis P. Fisco and Pamela Polite Fisco Lorrie and Mark Fishkin Nick Forlenza Griswold Family Fund, Bob and Alex Griswold Tom and Barbara Harrison

Andree and John Jansheski Willa Jefferson-Stokes Pat Kendall K.C. and Steve Lauck Catherine McKown Kenneth and Vera Meislin Harrison Miller and Clare McCamy Stephen and Mary Mizroch James Mochizuki of Friends Productions Linda Morgan Cathy and Robert Nourafshan The Jay Pritzker Foundation

Robert Schroedl Eric Schwartz and Magda Wesslund Jack and Judy Sherman Jann Stanley and Soren Dalsager Mona Steinberg Biz and Livia Stone Patricia Tanoury Henry O. Timnick Sue and Steve Weinswig Kate Wilson

BRONZE Nancy Abodeely Jane Bay Dave and Ann Peckenpaugh Becker Susan and William Beech Inez Brooks-Myers Marc and Robin Bussin Kerry Campbell Joe and Sue Carlomagno Leslie Chatham Tom Cohen and Kristi Denton Cohen Gayle Donsky and Morton J. Stein Catherine and Peter Flaxman

Gerald L. and Sheree A. Friedman Michelle Griffin and Tom Parker Richard J. Idell and Susan Kornblatt Idell Elisabeth and Howard Jaffe Ray and Carla Kaliski Amy Keroes and Jeff Fisher Sandra Kurtzig Caroline Labe Letty Ledbetter Janice Link Ellen Loring Cynthia Maram Cindy and John McCauley Rosemary and Kevin McNeely

Monahan Parker, Inc. Tucky Pogue John Miller Suki and Russell Munsell Andra Munteanu Constance Oclassen Roberta O’Neale Lorne and Ilona Parker Steve Riffkin Carolyn Cavalier Rosenberg, Dr. Sanford Rosenberg and Media Research Associates Karen and Harry Rosenbluth Susan and Joel Sklar Lucinda Watson Zach and Marlies Zeisler

TICKETS

BOX OFFICES

SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER 1118 Fourth St, San Rafael 11 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley Oct 7 4:00—6:00pm Oct 8—17 One hour before the first screening each day to 15 min after the last show starts. CFI MEMBERSHIP TICKET SALES: Premier Patron + above Sept 12 4:00—8:00pm Director’s Circle + above Sept 13 4:00—8:00pm All CFI members Sept 14 4:00—8:00pm (At mvff.com and Smith Rafael Film Center only) General public Sept 16—Oct 6 4:00—8:00pm Oct 7—17 One hour before the first screening each day to 15 min after the last show starts. TICKET PRICES General admission CFI members Seniors (65+) Students Shorts programs Youth (12 & under)

$16.50 $14.00 $15.00 $8.00 student ID required $10.50 $8.00

MVFF ONLINE PASSES The MVFF Online Pass gives you access to online films, programs, conversations, and special events streaming October 7-17. Quantities are limited. Some films may only be streamed to passholders within California, and some films may only be streamed during specific, 48-hour windows of time during the Festival. CA RESIDENT ONLINE PASS $139 General | $119 CFI Members NON-CA RESIDENT ONLINE PASS $129 General | $109 CFI Members INDIVIDUAL FILM STREAM $8 General | $6 CFI Members

BADGE PICKUP If you have arranged for a Festival badge, we encourage you to pick up that badge before the Festival starts. No badges will be mailed this year due to covid safety protocols. Thu, Sep 30 – Wed, Oct 6 | 2:00 – 8:00 pm Mark Fishkin Room | 1112 Fourth St, San Rafael Please bring a valid photo ID and either proof of full vaccination or negative covid test. If you cannot pick-up your badge pre-festival, you must pick it at the Smith Rafael Film Center box office during the Festival. You will need to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative covid test within 72 hours before being admitted into a venue. Badges will not be available for pick-up at any other Festival venues during the Festival. WILL CALL You must bring a valid photo ID that corresponds with the name on the credit card used to purchase tickets. RUSH TICKETS Rush tickets (day-of-show) tickets) often become available 15 minutes prior to showtime for shows that no longer have advance tickets for sale. The Rush line forms outside each venue one hour before showtime. Rush tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis approximately 15 minutes prior to showtime. No discounts. REFUND POLICY All ticket orders are final. No refunds, echanges, substitutions, or reprints. MVFF is not responsible for lost, stolen, forgotten, or damaged tickets, or tickets misdirected by the post office. We will refund your ticket(s) if you are unable to attend a screening due to your (or someone in your household) COVID-19 exposure, or due to community conditions that require a screening or event cancellation. CONSENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED/FILMED California Film Institute and its representatives may photograph, film, and/or otherwise record attendees at all festival activities. By attending, you consent to such photography, filming and/or recording and to any use in any and all media throughout the universe in perpetuity and without compensation for the use of your appearance, voice, and name for promotional and/or advertising, or any other purpose by California Film Institute and its affiliates and representatives.

MVFF.COM | 877.874.MVFF (6833) | BOXOFFICE@CAFILM.ORG

NAVIGATING

COVID-19 HEALTH + SAFETY REQUIREMENTS We strongly urge all festival-goers to exercise caution from now until the festival date. The success of the festival is determined by our collective actions and attention. mvff.com/covid

ONLINE

ACCESSIBILITY Please contact us here if you require any assistance with early seating and/or assisted-listening devices and check in with on-site staff once you arrive. If you require effective communication in the form of an ASL Interpreter, please contact us at least 10 days prior to the screening you will be attending. If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please reach out to info@cafilm.org.

MARK FISHKIN ROOM 1112 Fourth St, San Rafael, CA 94901 Oct 8 - 17 Mon - Thurs 4:00—8:00 pm Fri / Sat / Sun 1:00—8:00 pm

Stream our online program on your computer, iPad, tablet, or mobile at watch.cafilm.org or via the CAFILM app on Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Firestick.

FILMMAKER LOUNGE

ACCESS: All badges with an L

VENUES

CINÉARTS SEQUOIA 25 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER 1118 Fourth St, San Rafael BAMPFA 2155 Center St, Berkeley SWEETWATER MUSIC HALL 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley GUIDELINES + RULES ARRIVE EARLY To guarantee admittance, ticket and pass holders must be in the appropriate line 30 minutes prior to published showtime. Doors typically open 30 minutes before showtime. Except programs at the BAMPFA & the Sweetwater Music Hall, entry to theaters occurs in the following order:

BAG + PACKAGE POLICY To enhance the safety and security of the festival, any bags or packages measuring larger than 12” x 12” x 6” will not be permitted into the theatre. Exception: Medical equipment bags and diaper bags. RESERVED SEATS Please DO NOT sit in a reserved seat unless it has been arranged for you. Please DO NOT stand near the reserved seats in hopes that they will be released. MVFF staff and volunteers will release reserved seats whenever possible, but it is not guaranteed, and the aisles need to remain clear while the theater is being seated.

Seat saving is not allowed. Outside food and beverages are not permitted. Cell phones and devices must be turned off prior to program start. The use of cameras and other recording equipment is strictly prohibited during all screenings and programs.

OPENING NIGHT

CYRANO UK/ITALY/CANADA/US 2021, 120 min Director Joe Wright This new musical adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac shares the original’s 17th-century setting but offers a few tricks of its own. Cyrano (Peter Dinklage) is a gifted poet and skilled duelist who secretly loves the beautiful Roxanne (Haley Bennett) but believes himself unlovable. After she confides in him her passion for the handsome cadet Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), Cyrano ghostwrites love letters to Roxanne on behalf of the tongue-tied suitor. Filming during the pandemic, director Joe Wright says he was determined to make something “really beautiful.” With songs and score by members of The National, as well as colorful costumes and choreography, this sumptuous production fits that bill, but the show’s secret weapon is Dinklage, who perfectly embodies Cyrano’s pride, wit, and romantic yearning. Wright adds, “It feels like it’s the kind of movie that I need to be making, especially now.” –Richard Peterson

In Person: JOE WRIGHT

SPONSORED BY

Thursday, October 7, 6:00pm, Sequoia + Rafael $55 CFI Member / $60 General | Simulcast $40 / $45 12

Gala sponsored by

TRIBUTE JANE CAMPION | MIND THE GAP AWARD Throughout her career, Jane Campion has been a groundbreaker. Not just because in 1993 she was the first director who’s a woman to win the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for The Piano. And not just because, also for The Piano, she was the second female director to receive a Best Director Academy Award® nomination (we are now up to 7 nominations and two wins, after 93 years), winning for Best Original Screenplay that same year. She’s also a groundbreaker because she is truly an artist, whose career has been uncompromisingly on her own terms. From the estimable talent that revealed itself in her early shorts (Peel, Passionless Moments, A Girl’s Own Story), Campion has distinguished herself with singular commitment to her own distinct sensibility. Her work embraces people who may be a little oddball, outsider, eccentric (An Angel At My Table, Sweetie, The Piano), whose lives may reveal some kind of subversiveness (In the Cut) or spiritual quandary (Holy Smoke!). She upped the ante in her foray into episodic storytelling (Top of the Lake), and now returns with a new feature, The Power of the Dog, retaining a beautiful signature sense of cinema craft, and proving again she’s among most original and compelling filmmakers today. It’s no wonder she is held in such esteem; no wonder she continues to be a role model for so many. She’s one of the greats. —Zoë Elton

THE POWER OF THE DOG UK/Australia/US/Canada/New Zealand 2021, 125 min Director Jane Campion Set on a ranch in mid-1920s Montana, Campion’s first Western is a rich story of longing, love and betrayal. Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a powerful performance as well-heeled, consummate bully Phil, whose world is thrown out of kilter when brother George (Jesse Plemons) brings a wife (Kirsten Dunst) home to the family ranch. —Zoë Elton In Person: JANE CAMPION, TANYA SEGHATCHIAN SPONSORED BY

NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION

Friday, October 8, 6:00pm, Rafael $40 CFI Member / $45 General 13

SPOTLIGHT SIMON REX | MVFF AWARD Mill Valley Film Festival is delighted to honor San Francisco native Simon Rex with the MVFF Award for his breakthrough, career-defining moment as an actor. His work can be seen at MVFF both in Red Rocket and in a supporting role in Fabio Frey’s My Dead Dad, confirming that Simon Rex continues to captivate audiences through dynamic and unconventional roles across the multimedia landscape. Rex’s performance in filmmaker Sean Baker’s Red Rocket is breathtaking. His high energy, audacious, tour de force rendition of a unique American hustler leaves an indelible impression, bringing the part a charisma that is nigh-on irresistible. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year to a rapturous response, followed by the US Premiere at theTelluride Film Festival.

RED ROCKET US 2021, 128 min Director Sean Baker The Florida Project auteur Sean Baker returns with an engrossing tragicomedy about a washed-up former porn star who returns to his Texas hometown. Simon Rex gives a revelatory performance, and he’s matched by electric newcomer Suzanna Son as a flirtatious local teen. Red Rocket is a brilliantly unflinching portrait of a hustler you’ll never forget.. –Tim Grierson

In Person: SIMON REX SPONSORED BY GRUBER FAMILY FOUNDATION Party sponsored by

Saturday, October 9, 6:30pm, Rafael $20 CFI Member / $25 General Film + Reception $30 / $35 14

CENTERPIECE

C’MON C’MON US 2021, 108 min Director Mike Mills One of the most tender and beautiful familial love stories we’ve seen in years, Mike Mills’s new drama is as aesthetically stunning as it is emotionally resonant. Joaquin Phoenix plays a radio journalist who interviews kids across the country about the future of the world, and supervises his 8-year-old nephew (Woody Norman, an astonishing discovery) while the boy’s mom (Gaby Hoffmann) helps his dad (Scoot McNairy) through a mental-health crisis. With its singular balance of scruffy humanity and sharp composition—DP Robbie Ryan’s gorgeous black-and-white imagery seems to embrace all that it beholds—C’Mon C’Mon has all of Mills’s hallmarks: intelligence, compassion, deep attunement to family dynamics, and outstanding style. Led by Phoenix at his most endearing and Hoffmann as radiantly intuitive as ever, the fine ensemble, also including Jaboukie Young-White and a lovely bunch of young non-actor interviewees, achieves a whole new standard of relatability. –Jonathan Kiefer

SPONSORED BY

VICKIE SOULIER

Reception sponsored by

Tuesday, October 12, 6:00pm, Rafael $40 CFI Member / $45 General 15

SPOTLIGHT DENIS VILLENEUVE | MVFF AWARD Director Denis Villeneuve shot to international acclaim with 2010’s Incendies, his star rising ever since. He received his first Oscar® nomination for Arrival (MVFF 2016). With Dune, his hotly anticipated adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel, Villeneuve seems destined for another. Join us as we screen it and pay tribute to its brilliant maker, one of the most exciting directors working today.

DUNE US 2021, 155 min Director Denis Villeneuve This dazzling adaptation is the realization of a longtime dream for Villeneuve. Set thousands of years in the future, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young man propelled by fate into an intergalactic power struggle. Paul’s father, Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), assumes stewardship of Arrakis, a forbidding desert planet populated by the indigenous Fremen, made hazardous by colossal sandworms, and the sole source of a priceless element called Spice. With a competing family intent on undermining their efforts, the stage is set for war and Paul’s journey to fulfill an ancient prophecy. This monumental tale features an equally spectacular cast, including—among others—Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, Dave Bautista, Chang Chen, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. With superb design in all its sights and sounds, Dune is, in Denis Villeneuve’s own words, “a love letter to the big screen.” –Richard Peterson In Person: DENIS VILLENEUVE SPONSORED BY

DANIEL KENYON and MICHELLE MARCHETTA KENYON Reception sponsored by

Wednesday, October 13, 6:00pm, Rafael $40 CFI Member / $45 General 16

SPECIAL SCREENING

NINA YANG BONGIOVI MIND THE GAP AWARD Nina Yang Bongiovi‘s stellar reputation as a visionary producer is well-founded. With a consistent commitment to projects by innovative, visionary filmmakers and to works that give voice to those who have been underrepresented in mainstream media, her work also suggests a commitment to the true practice of inclusivity. It’s evident in all she does, both in films she and producing partner Forest Whitaker have championed through their company, Significant Productions, and in the multicultural film fund she launched in 2020, the AUM Group. Yang Bongiovi is known as a discoverer of talent and opener of doors, as she did for then-newcomer Ryan Coogler by producing his striking debut, Fruitvale Station, which led Coogler to the iconic Marvel film Black Panther. Her other films include Chloé Zhao’s Songs My Brothers Taught Me and Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You. She is that producer who puts her estimable talents behind what she believes in, supporting works that help change the world. The Mind the Gap team is honored to celebrate her great work! —Zoë Elton Our Special Screening program features the presentation of the Mind the Gap Award as Independent Producer of the Year to Nina Yang Bongiovi, a screening of Passing, and post-screening conversation with director Rebecca Hall and actor Ruth Negga, conducted by Faridah Gbadamosi.

PASSING

MIND THE GAP / US / US CINEMA Photo: Monica Orozco

US 2021, 98 min Director Rebecca Hall

SPONSORED BY

DOLBY LABORATORIES

Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga deliver their most powerful performances to date in Rebecca Hall’s exquisitely nuanced drama centered on one form of Black resistance to the Jim Crow one-drop rule (“passing as white”), and the complexities of identity, privilege and sacrifice that follow. Fine supporting performances from André Holland and Alexander Skarsgård round out the all star cast. In Person: REBECCA HALL, RUTH NEGGA, NINA YANG BONGIOVI

Reception sponsored by

Thursday, October 14, 6:30, Rafael $20 CFI Member / $25 General Film + Reception $40 / $45 17

TRIBUTE

KENNETH BRANAGH MVFF AWARD Kenneth Branagh was an acclaimed theater actor with a rising star in film when he made his Oscar®-nominated writing-directing debut and took the starring role in his adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Over 30 years, he has built a singular director’s resume that encompasses The Bard and the rock-’em-sock-’em action of Marvel’s Thor. In 2012, Branagh was knighted for his services to drama and the community of Northern Ireland. It is fitting then that MVFF pays tribute to this storied writer-director-actor and his art in tandem with Branagh’s cinematic return to the country of his birth. Join us for a screening of Belfast and a lively conversation with this cinema giant. -–Pam Grady

BELFAST UK 2021, 97 min Director Kenneth Branagh Belfast is beautiful work: From the outset, Branagh draws us right into the heart and soul of a city and its people with an immediacy that captures the moment. A young boy grows up amidst the 1960s’ Troubles in a working-class family in a place where conflict and whimsy, wisdom and passion daily inform their lives. Charming newcomer Jude Hill delights in the central role of Buddy, with warmly winning turns from Caitríona Balfe and Jamie Dornan as his parents, and Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds as his grandparents, their performances perfectly complemented by the film’s soulful Van Morrison-infused soundtrack and stylish black-and-white cinematography. Viewing a time of conflict with such love and humanity is something rare: Perhaps it takes a native sensibility to do that. As Branagh once said of himself, “I don’t think you can take Belfast out of the boy,” and here you have it: That compassionate eye on his hometown, coupled with his extraordinary artistry, makes for compelling cinema. –Lily Buchanan In Person: KENNETH BRANAGH

SPONSORED BY

JENNIFER COSLETT MacCREADY

Friday, October 15, 6:30pm, Rafael $40 CFI Member / $45 General Film + Reception $75 / $85 18

Reception sponsored by +

SPOTLIGHT

PAOLO SORRENTINO MVFF AWARD Paolo Sorrentino has established himself as an international presence with films like Youth (MVFF 2015) while forging a singular career exposing the foibles and corruption of Italy’s ruling class and the Catholic Church. His latest masterpiece, The Hand of God, is a departure, an ’80s-era autobiographical drama set in Sorrentino’s native Naples. Join us as MVFF throws a Spotlight on this fascinating auteur. —Pam Grady

THE HAND OF GOD (È stata la mano di Dio) ITALY 2021, 130 min Director Paolo Sorrentino Sorrentino returns with his most personal movie to date, about an awkward young man (Filippo Scotti) growing up in ’80s Naples, for whom life isn’t easy: There’s trouble brewing between his parents, his favorite aunt may be suffering from mental illness, he has the teenage hormonal-free-fall blues, and his postschool future is a giant question mark. When news spreads that Argentine soccer godhead Diego Maradona will soon be playing for Napoli, our hero and his equally football-obsessed dad (Sorrentino regular Toni Servillo) consider it an equivalent of the second coming. Then tragedy, and a legendary film director arriving in their quaint coastal city for a shoot, changes everything. Filmed in Sorrentino’s hometown, this cinematic roman à clef brims with humor, tenderness, beauty, and the modern-day auteur’s own signature brand of Fellinesque surrealism. It’s an absolute masterpiece. In Italian with English subtitles. –David Fear In Person: PAOLO SORRENTINO

WITH SUPPORT FROM

PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Saturday, October 16, 2:00pm, Rafael $20 CFI Member / $25 General 19

SPOTLIGHT THE LOST DAUGHTER | MVFF ENSEMBLE AWARD US/UK/GREECE/ISRAEL 2021, 121 min Director Maggie Gyllenhaal For her indelible feature directing debut, Maggie Gyllenhaal (MVFF Mind the Gap Award, 2018) adapts Elena Ferrante’s 2006 novel, in which a vacationing professor’s concern for a young mother triggers an uneasy reckoning with her own volatile introduction to parenthood. Oscar®-winner Olivia Colman commands in the prickly lead role, effortlessly navigating a tempestuous sea of subtext. Psychological undertones imbue a rich register of suspense that transcends genre. Gyllenhaal’s provocative, emotionally intelligent sensibility is as finely developed in writing and directing as it has been in her acting, and what’s so bold about The Lost Daughter is its refreshingly frank assessment of the tension between fulfillment in erotic adult life and responsibility for the nurturance of children. It’s also to Gyllenhaal’s great credit that Colman’s shrewdly cast co-stars, including Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, Dagmara Dominczyk, and Peter Sarsgaard, seem like kindred spirits. This is an exemplary ensemble. –Jonathan Kiefer

SPONSORED BY

Reception sponsored by

Saturday, October 16, 6:00pm, Rafael $40 CFI Member / $45 General 20

CLOSING NIGHT

THE FRENCH DISPATCH GERMANY/US 2021, 103 min Director Wes Anderson Wes Anderson’s films are intricate little universes, each a playground of impeccable production design and delightfully droll characters. With The French Dispatch, he pays homage to the literary world of The New Yorker, imagining the rich history of a long-running fictional American publication in France by way of vignettes about different writers at work on their most enduring pieces. Fans of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel will relish the director’s attention to detail, while enjoying keenly idiosyncratic performances from the likes of Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, and Jeffrey Wright. Visually, this may be Anderson’s most dazzlingly dense creation, with one viewing hardly sufficient to absorb all the jokes, cultural references, and stylistic tricks on display. Journalism may be under attack in the modern age, but The French Dispatch makes the case for that venerable institution’s artistry and importance—finding poignancy and humor along the way. –Tim Grierson

SPONSORED BY

CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH FAMILY +

Party sponsored by

Sunday, October 17, 5:00pm, Sequoia + Rafael $50 CFI Member / $55 General Simulcast $40 / $45 21

STRANDS

Introducing Strands, a new way to explore the MVFF program and discover the stories that speak to you. CREATE Art. Dance. Music. Theater. Creative minds.

BSSP

DEBATE Investigations. Controversies. Advocacy around issues and ideas. Discuss!

SPONSORED BY

MARIN HOTELS

GROW Ecology. Geography. Environment. The human relationship with the natural world. HEART Love. Like. Lust. Passion. Romance. LAUGH Humor. Wit. Satire. Irony. Comedy. From LOL to WTF. PASSAGES Life passages. Journeys. Coming of age. Transcending obstacles. SPIRIT Body. Soul. The wholeness of being human. SURPRISE Expect the unexpected. Eye-openers and risk takers. US Us = US = United States. As viewed from inside and outside its borders.

SPONSORED BY

MARIN CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU SPONSORED BY

THE GRATEFUL DOG SPONSORED BY

NICE GUYS DELIVERY

SPONSORED BY

KQED

SPONSORED BY

STRAWBERRY VILLAGE SPONSORED BY

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE SPONSORED BY

MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

CREATE BERNSTEIN’S WALL BOILING POINT BORN IN CHICAGO THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN HAUTE COUTURE LIKE A ROLLING STONE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BEN FONG-TORRES PAPER & GLUE RICKSHAW GIRL SHORTS: SOME KINDA LOVE SONG FOR CESAR THE VELVET UNDERGROUND DEBATE COURTROOM 3H A HERO WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA GROW ANIMA THE BEARS’ FAMOUS INVASION BECOMING COUSTEAU COEXTINCTION COW LADY BUDS REFLECTION: A WALK WITH WATER SHORTS: THE NEW ENVIRONMENTALISTS HEART BELFAST CELTS C’MON C’MON CYRANO DRIVE MY CAR THE DROVER’S WIFE: THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON THE LAST BUS LAST FILM SHOW MOTHERING SUNDAY PETITE MAMAN

LAUGH BAD ATTITUDE: THE ART OF SPAIN RODRIGUEZ THE FRENCH DISPATCH INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE THE PRINCESS DIARIES QUEEN OF GLORY RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK REHAB CABIN PASSAGES FOUND THE HAND OF GOD LINGUI, THE SACRED BONDS MY DEAD DAD NINJABABY SAMI, JOE AND I SHORTS: FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG SHORTS: SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY SPIRIT BULADÓ CLARA SOLA DUNE JULIA THE LOST DAUGHTER MISSION: JOY - FINDING HAPPINESS IN TROUBLED TIMES THE NOVICE SHORTS: PALE BLUE EYES SHORTS: THERE SHE GOES AGAIN SUBJECTS OF DESIRE

THE RESCUE SHORTS: FROM FAERIES TO FATALITIES SHORTS: THE OCEAN SPENCER US AMERICAN GADFLY CENTER DIVIDE JOCKEY PASSING THE POWER OF THE DOG RED ROCKET WOMEN IS LOSERS

PAPER & GLUE: CREATE

SURPRISE 7 PRISONERS BERGMAN ISLAND LA CIVIL MEMORIA PARALLEL MOTHERS CELTS: HEART

INITIATIVES

We believe that film has the power to inspire and activate.MVFF Initiatives are a call to action through screenings, panels, partnerships, masterclasses, and mentorship opportunities. ACTIVE CINEMA A forum for films united in their commitment to explore the world and its issues, engage audiences, and transform ideas into action MIND THE GAP A platform for inclusion and equity, committed to helping marginalized filmmakers break through the gatekeeping that has long made the industry exclusionary and help undo a harmful history of defaults ¡VIVA EL CINE! A showcase of Latin American, Latinx, and Spanish-language stories, connecting audiences with a diversity of cultures, identities, and histories explored through the magic of cinema

MIND THE GAP ANIMA BAD ATTITUDE: THE ART OF SPAIN RODRIGUEZ BECOMING COUSTEAU BERGMAN ISLAND CELTS LA CIVIL CLARA SOLA COEXTINCTION COW THE DROVER’S WIFE: THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON FOUND HAUTE COUTURE INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES JULIA LADY BUDS LIKE A ROLLING STONE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BEN FONG-TORRES THE LOST DAUGHTER LUNAFEST MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE MISSION: JOY - FINDING HAPPINESS IN TROUBLED TIMES MOTHERING SUNDAY NINJABABY THE NOVICE PASSING PETITE MAMAN THE POWER OF THE DOG QUEEN OF GLORY REHAB CABIN THE RESCUE SAMI, JOE AND I SHORTS: THERE SHE GOES AGAIN SUBJECTS OF DESIRE WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA WOMEN IS LOSERS

¡VIVA EL CINE! 7 PRISONERS BAD ATTITUDE: THE ART OF SPAIN RODRIGUEZ LA CIVIL CLARA SOLA MEMORIA MY DEAD DAD PARALLEL MOTHERS SONG FOR CESAR WOMEN IS LOSERS

BERGMAN ISLAND: MIND THE GAP

ACTIVE CINEMA COEXTINCTION LADY BUDS MISSION: JOY - FINDING HAPPINESS IN TROUBLED TIMES REFLECTION: A WALK WITH WATER PETITE MAMAN: MIND THE GAP

LA CIVIL: ¡VIVA EL CINE!

REFLECTION A WALK...: ACTIVE CINEMA

SECTIONS

WORLD CINEMA Stories from six continents that foster a new understanding of our global neighbors and ourselves US CINEMA A showcase of new films by master and emerging American filmmakers who share a talent for independent storytelling DOCS The latest in non-fiction filmmaking, from heartfelt stories of activism to historical profiles, current events, and more FAMILY FILMS A sampling of stories, cultures, and adventures for new generations and old that inspire and nurture a love of film SHORTS Collections of short cinematic gems from every genre including narratives, documentaries, animation, family films, and youth works

SPONSORED BY

JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS

SPONSORED BY

WAREHAM DEVELOPMENT

SPONSORED BY

WAREHAM DEVELOPMENT

SPONSORED BY

BELLAM SELF STORAGE & BOXES

WORLD CINEMA 7 PRISONERS ANIMA BELFAST BERGMAN ISLAND BOILING POINT CELTS LA CIVIL CLARA SOLA COW CYRANO DRIVE MY CAR THE DROVER’S WIFE: THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN THE FRENCH DISPATCH THE HAND OF GOD HAUTE COUTURE A HERO THE LAST BUS THE LAST FILM SHOW LINGUI, THE SACRED BONDS MEMORIA MOTHERING SUNDAY NINJABABY PARALLEL MOTHERS PETITE MAMAN THE POWER OF THE DOG SAMI, JOE AND I SPENCER US CINEMA CENTER DIVIDE C’MON C’MON DUNE INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES JOCKEY THE LOST DAUGHTER MY DEAD DAD THE NOVICE PASSING QUEEN OF GLORY RED ROCKET REHAB CABIN WOMEN IS LOSERS

DOCS AMERICAN GADFLY BAD ATTITUDE: THE ART OF SPAIN RODRIGUEZ COW BECOMING COUSTEAU BERNSTEIN’S WALL BORN IN CHICAGO COEXTINCTION COURTROOM 3H FOUND JULIA LADY BUDS LIKE A ROLLING STONE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BEN FONG-TORRES MISSION: JOY - FINDING HAPPINESS IN TROUBLED TIMES PAPER & GLUE REFLECTION: A WALK WITH WATER THE RESCUE SONG FOR CESAR SUBJECTS OF DESIRE VELVET UNDERGROUND WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA FAMILY FILMS THE BEARS’ FAMOUS INVASION BULADÓ MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE THE PRINCESS DIARIES RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK RICKSHAW GIRL SHORTS: FROM FAERIES TO FATALITIES SHORTS: FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG SHORTS: SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY

CLARA SOLA: WORLD CINEMA

REHAB CABIN: US CINEMA

BORN IN CHICAGO: DOCS

SHORTS SHORTS: SOME KINDA LOVE SHORTS: THE OCEAN SHORTS: THERE SHE GOES AGAIN SHORTS: PALE BLUE EYES SHORTS: THE NEW ENVIRONMENTALISTS LUNAFEST THE BEARS FAMOUS INVASION: FAMILY

BEHIND THE SCREENS

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY | PANEL

LIVE EVENT: Saturday, October 9, 10:30am | Elks Lodge Terrace, San Rafael | FREE The film industry is always changing, but since Eadweard Muybridge ushered in the age of motion pictures with chronophotographic images of horses galloping at Leland Stanford’s Palo Alto farm, there has never been upheaval like we have experienced in the COVID era. On the bright side, theaters are open again and films are back in production. But moviegoers are still fearful in the face of pandemic surges. And with COVID came a move to erase or shorten theatrical windows in favor of streaming. What does that mean for veteran filmmakers and artists just beginning their careers? What does that portend for the future of theatrical exhibition and film festivals? At this critical juncture when the whole world seems to be in flux, we will discuss these and coming changes. Moderator Mark Fishkin hosts several industry veterans in conversation. Moderator: MARK FISHKIN | Invited guests: ARIANNA BOCCO, president, IFC Films | SID GANIS, producer, former president, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences | TED HOPE, producer, former head of production, Amazon Original Movies | J ULIE HUNTSINGER, co-director, Telluride Film Festival | J AN KLINGELHOFER, Pacific Film Resources, U.S. Art House consultant and programmer

VARIETY’S 10 SCREENWRITERS TO WATCH | PANEL

LIVE EVENT: Sunday, October 17, 11:00am PDT | Outdoor Art Club | FREE

Variety has honored “10 Screenwriters to Watch” for more than a decade, and once again MVFF will showcase the honorees. Whether reinventing big franchise action films or ensuring the inclusion of otherwise unheard voices, screenwriters lay the foundation for storytelling through film. With Variety spotlighting the brightest and most promising writers of the year, we’re thrilled for the occasion to discuss their work in an intimate setting—a great opportunity as much for aspiring filmmakers as for casual fans. PARTICIPANTS: ZACH BAYLIN, King Richard | CAMILLA BLACKETT, Queen | AKELA COOPER, Malignant | JULIA COX, Nyad MIKEY DAY + STREETER SEIDELL, Home Alone | JEREMY O. HARRIS, Zola | JESSICA KNOLL, Luckiest Girl Alive STEVEN LEVINSON, Tick, Tick...Boom! | RON MAEL + RUSSELL MAEL, Annette | RANDY MCKINNON, Safety PANEL SPONSOR:

CFI EDUCATION PRESENTS: PAINT AND SIP—ANIMATION! | WORKSHOP

LIVE EVENT: Sunday, October 17, 4:00pm PDT | Outdoor Art Club | $50/easel (Up to 3 people/easel) LIMITED CAPACITY. Children under 10 must be accomapnied by an adult. Brian Scott, animator at Disney Studios, and his six-year-old daughter Lucy (an international spy-in-training) will lead kids, parents, and grandparents in a “paint and sip style” artmaking workshop. Join us for this family-friendly outdoor activity for safe, creative, and socially-distanced fun!

Behind the Screens Program Manager: SHAKIRA REFOS 28

Get full details and updated panelist information for all Behind the Screens events at mvff.com

RADICAL ACTS OF FILMMAKING: CHANGING THE WAY MOVIES GET MADE | PANEL

90 min | PRE-RECORDED

Meet the filmmakers who are challenging industry standards by building new practices that change the moviemaking experience from what has historically been an extractive, exploitative process into a transformative one. This conversation highlights the innovative ways of opening up the creative process to welcome a multitude of perspectives during script development, casting, and production. Not only are the resulting films richer for it, but hiring, training, and mentoring folk from the communities these films are about allows a new cohort to access careers in the industry. Listen and learn as they share what they did to create ethical models and equitable sets, so that you can too. Three case studies will be featured, with two guest speakers from each film. Guest Curators: CHARLIE HIDALGO, LUCY MUKERJEE

CFI EDUCATION PRESENTS: BLACK GIRLS FILM CAMP | SHOWCASE + PANEL

104 min | PRE-RECORDED

In the summer of 2021, The Urban Education Collaborative at UNC Charlotte, UNC Charlotte’s Film Studies Department, Women + Girls Research Alliance, and I AM not the MEdia, Inc. collaborated to host a four-week interactive virtual learning experience, the inaugural Keepin It REEL: Black Girls Film Camp, where a group of teens learned about the film industry and how to tell their own stories on film. Working with individual professional production teams, these talented young (all first-time) filmmakers produced a powerful—and empowering—collection of 10 short films that we are thrilled to share with MVFF audiences. In the one-hour panel discussion following the screening, Black Girls Film Camp participants and award-winning filmmakers will engage in a rich dialogue centering the experiences of Black girl voices in film. With a new and old school lens—from future Black girl filmmakers and industry veterans—the panel discusses topics ranging from Black girl invisibility to counter-storytelling and finding one’s voice in the field. Teen filmmakers will also share stories and inspiration behind their films created at this year’s Black Girls Film Camp. Guest Curator: JIMMEKA ANDERSON, Executive Director, I AM not the MEdia, Inc.

YOU POP ‘EM ‘CAUSE WE POP ‘EM LIKE ORVILLE REDENBACHER | ONE-MAN SHOW

15 min | PRE-RECORDED

Join comedian and film enthusiast Reginald Desjardins on a journey through his love for popcorn. Learn nearly everything there is to know about everyone’s favorite movie snack in this quick and clever history—from ancient times to Orville Redenbacher. Guest Curators: REGINALD DESJARDINS | HUGO FONSECA SUARE, Director of Photography & Producer ERIK RODRIGUEZ, Director, Producer

MIND THE GAP

RECONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY As our world continues to evolve, Mind the Gap this year embraces the topical theme of re-connecting with community. Both a celebration and call to action, Mind the Gap is MVFF’s platform for inclusion and equity, amplifying and championing filmmaking by women, non-binary people, and other marginalized groups through a vibrant collection of films, Q&As, Panels, and Conversations. Join us: Full details at mvff.com.

2021 MIND THE GAP AWARD WINNERS Innovative Artist: JANE CAMPION, The Power of the Dog Independent Producer: NINA YANG BONGIOVI, Passing

PANELS MIND THE GAP DIRECTORS FORUM A strikingly multi-talented group of first-time feature directors in conversation about their experiences in filmmaking at this transitional time in the industry, their creative approaches to their work, and their insights into the importance of creating their own projects in this annual investigation of the state of the art for directors. HALLE BERRY, Bruised | MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, The Lost Daughter | REBECCA HALL, Passing | NANA MENSAH, Queen of Glory | Moderator: ZOË ELTON, MVFF + Mind the Gap Director of Programming

BAY AREA RESOURCE NETWORKING EVENT The pandemic didn’t just lay bare the gap between filmmakers and resources available to make their films; it also widened the gap. This event will reintroduce local filmmakers who fall within the Mind the Gap paradigm, and attending festival filmmaker guests, to many Bay Area resources. Representatives from film organizations including the California Film Institute, SFFILM, Frameline, CAAM, and many others will be available for discussion as well as an informal happy hour combined with light speed networking.

EVOLUTION OF LATINA ROLES ONSCREEN Our ongoing annual virtual roundtable series, Evolution of Roles On Screen for Historically Excluded Communities, began in 2020 with Evolution of Black Women’s Roles Onscreen. This year’s conversation will be with film creatives, actors, and curators, and will chart the changing nature of the portrayal of Latinas on screen. By revisiting the simplistic type-casting of Latinas in film since its inception, the speakers will discuss how representation in Hollywood and beyond has moved toward a variety of depictions and voices, while also addressing the current limitations. This conversation is a joint Mind the Gap ¡Viva el cine! event.

MASTERCLASS: SCREENWRITING AND BEYOND WRITING, DEVELOPING, AND CREATING RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON

The collaborative processes that it takes to bring together a major film are addressed by key creatives from Raya and the Last Dragon. They’ll unpack how screenwriting and storyboard artists work together; what cultural inspirations and research informed the film; and the work done with Disney’s in-house South East Asian artists and cultural trust. Bringing an insider’s look into what it takes to bring a film to life, their insights inform filmmaking of all kinds. OSNAT SHURER, producer, Raya and the Last Dragon, Moana | QUI NGUYEN, co-writer, Raya and the Last Dragon FAWN VEERASUNTHORN, head of story, Raya and the Last Dragon

MIND THE GAP SPONSORED BY

RESONANCE PHILANTHROPIES | EGIDE FAMILY FOUNDATION | CHRISTINE A. SCHANTZ

ACTIVE CINEMA

A forum for films united in their commitment to explore the world and its issues (both local and global), engage audiences, and transform ideas into action for positive change. Join us for screenings throughout the Festival, support the grassroots activism of the filmmakers, and engage with the admirable work of special guests, co-presenters, and partners. COEXTINCTION LADY BUDS MISSION: JOY—FINDING HAPPINESS IN TROUBLED TIMES REFLECTION: A WALK WITH WATER

COEXTINCTION

LADY BUDS

MISSION: JOY

REFLECTION: A WALK WITH WATER

VIVA EL CINE!

MVFF’s ¡Viva el cine! Initiative is a showcase of Latin American, Latinx, and Spanish-language stories, connecting audiences with a diversity of cultures, identities, and histories explored through the magic of cinema. This year will include films from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Spain, and we will celebrate the opening night of ¡Viva el cine! with the North American Premiere of La Civil, by Teodora Ana Mihai. 7 PRISONERS (Brazil) BAD ATTITUDE: THE ART OF SPAIN RODRIGUEZ (US) LA CIVIL (Mexico/Romania/Belgium) CLARA SOLA (Costa Rica/Sweden) MEMORIA (Colombia/Mexico/Thailand) MY DEAD DAD (US) PARALLEL MOTHERS (Spain) SONG FOR CESAR (US) WOMEN IS LOSERS (US/Puerto Rico/Ecuador)

CLARA SOLA

MY DEAD DAD

PARALLEL MOTHERS

WOMEN IS LOSERS

MVFF EDUCATION

CFI Education has been offering free education programs to Bay Area schools for more than 30 years, welcoming thousands of students to the Festival to view new films and meet filmmakers from around the world. We continue this tradition with two free online programs available exclusively to K-12 schools across the country: SCHOOL SCREENINGS A series of free online screenings of narrative features, documentaries, and shorts programs curated from the general Festival program. All screenings include pre-recorded Q&As with filmmakers and subject experts as well as free curriculum resources including film analysis toolkits, lesson plans, and discussion guides. FILMMAKERS GO TO SCHOOL For a more interactive festival experience, our Filmmakers Go to School program connects Festival filmmakers with students for virtual classroom visits and live online discussions about their films and the art and craft of filmmaking.

THE FAIRY TALE: FROM FAERIES TO FATALITIES

THE NEW ENVIRONMENTALISTS

For more information about CFI Education programs or how to get your school involved, visit cfieducation.org

SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION RESONANCE PHILANTHROPIES

LOUIS’S SHOES: FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG

RICKSHAW GIRL

FAMILY FILMS

For the best—and safest!—way to travel the world with your family, join us for some inspiring cinematic journeys through the mountains of Italy, the streets of Dhaka, the island of Curaçao (in our first MVFF film ever from that Caribbean nation), and more—along with dozens of short films from Los Angeles to Lithuania, and the latest ambitious work by youth filmmakers. ONLINE + IN-THEATER SCREENINGS THE BEARS’ FAMOUS INVASION BULADÓ MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE RICKSHAW GIRL SHORTS: FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG SHORTS: FROM FAERIES TO FATALITIES SHORTS: SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY IN-THEATER SCREENING RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 40th Anniversary Sunday, October 10, 8:00pm, Sequoia Sponsored by Lucasfilm FREE OUTDOOR SCREENING THE PRINCESS DIARIES 20th Anniversary Friday, October 8, 7:00pm, Old Mill Park, Mill Valley

FURTHEST FROM: SPREAD YOUR WINGS & FLY

CINEMA REX: FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG

ADDITIONAL EVENTS PAINT AND SIP—ANIMATION! | WORKSHOP Sunday, October 17, 4:00pm, Outdoor Art Club see page 28 for details BLACK GIRLS FILM CAMP | SHOWCASE + PANEL see page 29 for details

MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE

YOU POP ‘EM ‘CAUSE WE POP ‘EM LIKE ORVILLE REDENBACHER | ONE-MAN SHOW see page 29 for details

FAMILY FILMS SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

TULIP: FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG

MVFF MUSIC

MVFF’s proud partnership with the Sweetwater Music Hall continues, this year featuring four nights of live music celebrating festival films. SPONSORED BY

MONOPHONICS Saturday October 9 Film 3:00 / Doors 8:00 / Show 9:00

SONOMA HILS FARM

Film only: $14 MEM / $16.50 GEN Music only: $25 / $30 Film + Music: $35 / $40

To salute the anticipated California Premiere of Chris J. Russo’s Lady Buds, Monophonics supplies their special brand of psychedelic soul: heartfelt music with old-school vibes. 21 & OVER LIKE A ROLLING STONE: BEN FONG-TORRES Sunday October 10 Film 5:00 / Doors 7:00 / Show 8:00

Film only: $14 MEM / $16.50 GEN Music only: $40 / $45 Film + Music: $50 / $55

After Like a Rolling Stone: The Life and Times of Ben Fong-Torres, this post-screening bash will feature an all-star house band, surprise guests, and the man himself — who’s known to do a mean Dylan, Elvis, and Dean Martin. JIMMY VIVINO & FRIENDS, CHICAGO BLUES CELEBRATION Featuring ROB STONE, NICK GRAVENITAS, MARIA MULDAR + MORE Monday October 11 Film 6:30 / Doors 8:00 / Show 9:00

Film only: $14 MEM / $16.50 GEN Music only: $40 / $45 Film + Music: $50 / $55

For the North American premiere of Bob Sarles and John Anderson’s Born in Chicago, it’s a night of straight-up Chicago Blues, with Barry Goldberg (organ) Jimmy Vivino (lead guitar), and famed blues harmonica player Rob Stone. 21 & OVER BENEFIT: CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION, CALIFORNIA FILM INSTITUTE, + SWEETWATER MUSIC HALL ARTS FUND Friday October 15 Film 6:30 / Doors 8:00 / Show 9:00

Film only: $14 MEM / $16.50 GEN Film + Music: $65 Music Only: $55

As tribute to the legacy of Cesar Chavez, the farmworker movement, and the world premiere of Song for Cesar, proceeds from this Latin-fueled rock show will benefit Cesar Chavez Foundation, Sweetwater Music Hall Arts Fund, and the California Film Institute. ALL AGES All above films screening at the

All music shows at the

CINÉARTS SEQUOIA

SWEETWATER MUSIC HALL

25 Throckmorton Ave. Mill Valley

19 Corte Madera Ave. Mill Valley

The Sweetwater requires proof of vaccination for entry.

FRIDAY OCT 8 RAFAEL

RAFAEL

SEQUOIA

BAMPFA

11:00am 12:00 1:00 2:00

12:00: The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00

3:00: Jockey 4:00 Courtroom 3H 6:00: Tribute JANE CAMPION The Power of the Dog

7:00 Clara Sola

10:00

5:00: Shorts: There She Goes Again

4:30: Ninjababy 6:00: Anima

8:00: Women is Losers

7:00: The Last Bus

7:00: Memoria

SATURDAY OCT 9 11:00am 12:00 1:00

11:00: Jockey

12:00: The Bears’ Famous Invasion

2:00 3:00 4:00

2:30: Julia

5:00

1:00: Clara Sola 3:00: The Novice

6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00

6:30: Spotlight: SIMON REX Red Rocket

6:00: My Dead Dad

4:00: Shorts: The New Environmentalists

7:00: Subjects of Desire

3:30: Rickshaw Girl

6:30: Mission: Joy

4:30: Lady Buds

5:00: Petite Maman 7:00: A Hero

7:30: The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

SUNDAY OCT 10 RAFAEL

RAFAEL

SEQUOIA

BAMPFA

11:00am

11:00

12:00 11:00: The Power 1:00

of the Dog

2:00 3:00 4:00

2:30: A Hero

12: 12:00: Buladó

3:00: Petite Maman

1:0

2:0

2:00: Shorts: Spread Your Wings & Fly

5:00 5:00: Like a Rolling Stone

6:00 7:00 8:00

6:00: Bergman Island

5:30: La Civil

9:00

6:30: Center Divide

10:00

3:0

2:00: Drive My Car

4:0 4:00: Courtroom 3H

6:00: Bernstein’s Wall

8:00: Raiders of the Lost Ark

5:0

6:0

7:0 7:00: Lingui, the Sacred Bonds

8:0

9:0

10:

MONDAY OCT 11 11:00am

11:00

12:00

12:

1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00

2:00: Like a Rolling Stone 4:00: Sami, Joe and I

5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00

1:0

12:00: Anima

6:00: The Rescue

3:0

4:0

3:00: My Dead Dad

5:0 5:30: Member Screening Paper & Glue

7:00: Coextinction

2:0

1:00: Rickshaw Girl

8:00: Shorts: The Ocean

8:15: American Gadfly

6:0 6:30: Born in Chicago

7:0

8:0

9:0

10:

TUESDAY OCT 12 RAFAEL

RAFAEL

SEQUOIA

BAMPFA

0am

11:00am

:00

12:00

2:00: Bernstein’s Wall

1:00

12:00: The Rescue

6:00: Centerpiece C’mon C’mon

4:30: The Drover’s Wife

7:30: Boiling Point

2:00 3:00: Shorts: Pale Blue Eyes

6:30: Lingui, the Scared Bonds

3:00

2:30: The Power of the Dog

4:00 4:00: Born in Chicago

5:00 6:00 7:00

6:00: Cow 7:30: American Gadfly

:00

8:00 9:00 10:00

WEDNESDAY OCT 13

0am

11:00am

:00 12:00: Lady Buds

2:00: Spencer

3:00: The Novice

:00

6:00: Spotlight: DENIS VILLENEUVE Dune

6:30: Celts

12:00

11:00: Center Divide

1:00 2:00 2:00: C’mon C’mon

4:00: Shorts: Some Kinda Love

7:30: Paper & Glue

4:00: Julia

7:00: Haute Couture

3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00

6:00: Dune

7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00

THURSDAY OCT 14 RAFAEL

RAFAEL

SEQUOIA

BAMPFA

11:00am

11:00

12:00

12: 12:00: Boiling Point

1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00

2:00: Parallel Mothers 4:00: Cow

5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00

6:30: Passing

9:00

7:00: Reflection: A Walk with Water

1:0

2:0 3:00: Coextinction

3:0

2:00: Dune

4:0

5:0

4:30: C’mon C’mon 6:00: Rehab Cabin

6:30: Mothering Sunday

6:0

7:0

8:0

7:30: Bad Attitude

9:0

10:00

10:

FRIDAY OCT 15 11:00am

11:00

12:00

12: 12:00: Mothering Sunday

1:00 2:00

5:00

3:00: Haute Couture

6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00

6:30: Tribute: KENNETH BRANAGH Belfast

2:0 2:00: Passing

3:00 4:00

1:0

4:00: Reflection: A Walk with Water

4:00: Mission: Joy 6:00: Memoria

7:30: 7 Prisoners

3:0

7:30: Becoming Cousteau

3:00: Passing

4:0

5:0

6:0 6:30: Song for Cesar

7:0 7:00: Bergman Island

8:0

9:0

10:

SATURDAY OCT 16 RAFAEL

RAFAEL

SEQUOIA

BAMPFA

0am

:00

11:00am 11:00: Becoming Cousteau

2:00: Spotlight: PAOLO SORRENTINO The Hand of God

6:00: Spotlight: ENSEMBLE The Lost Daughter

12:00: Who We Are

3:00: Marvelous & the Black Hole

6:30: Found

11:00: Shorts: The New Environmentalists 1:00: Shorts: Finding Where You Belong

2:00: Belfast

4:00: Last Film Show 6:00: Spencer 7:30: Queen of Glory

12:00 1:00

12:30: Rehab Cabin

2:00 3:00

3:30: The Drover’s Wife

4:00 4:30: Song for Cesar

5:00 6:00 7:00

7:00: Parallel Mothers

7:00: Bad Attitude

:00

8:00 9:00 10:00

SUNDAY OCT 17

0am

:00

12:00: The Velvet Underground

11:00am

11:00: Shorts: From Faeries to Fatalities 1:00: India Sweets & Spices

2:00: Ninjababy

1:00: Last Film Show

2:00 3:00: Drive My Car

1:00 3:00

12:00

12:00: The Lost Daughter

5:00: The French Dispatch

4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00

8:00

9:00

:00

10:00

7 PRISONERS (7 Prisioneiros) ¡VIVA EL CINE! / SURPRISE / WORLD

BRAZIL 2021, 93 min Director Alexandre Moratto From a distance, this lush green landscape is paradise, but up close, life within it is unsustainable. So, Mateus (Christian Malheiros, a compelling talent) and his friends venture to São Paulo, a sprawling gray megalopolis, seeking to improve their fortunes. But the promise of room, board, and a salary in change for their toil quickly evaporates as they find themselves trapped cogs in the modern-day slavery machine. Brazilian leading man Rodrigo Santoro delivers a startling but subtle turn as a kind of dissipated Simon Legree who sees promise in canny Mateus. With world-cinema powerhouses Fernando Meirelles (City of God) and Ramin Bahrani (The White Tiger) among its producers, Alexandre Moratto’s (Socrates) slow-burning sophomore outing makes confident use of quick cuts and a constantly moving camera to build dread in this powerful morality tale. There is a way out for Mateus, but the price of freedom may be too steep. In Portuguese with English subtitles –Shari Kizirian

Friday, Oct 15, 7:30pm, Rafael

MVFF44 Program

Articles inside

Film Notes

CFI Board of Directors

Writers

MVFF Music

Mind the Gap

Sections

Behind the Screens

Strands

Closing Night: The French Dispatch

Initiatives

Spotlight: The Lost Daughter

Spotlight: Paolo Sorrentino

Tribute: Kenneth Branagh

Spotlight: Simon Rex

Navigating

Opening Night

Tickets

Tribute: Jane Campion

Spotlight: Denis Villeneuve

Centerpiece: C’mon C’mon

Special Screening: Passing