NOV 7 - 11, 2018
On The Red Carpet Laurence Fishburne, Geena Davis The Groundlings and more p. 25 At The Festival Gala Biggest film, food & wine party of the year p. 37 On The Big Screen The Front Runner, Green Book Vox Lux, A Private War p. 46
NAPA | YOUNTVILLE | ST HELENA | CALISTOGA
Bald Mountain Development and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts congratulates the Napa Valley Film Festival on 8 magical years of film, food and wine. We look forward to hosting the festival in 2019 and beyond.
CHEERS TO NVFF We want to thank and congratulate Marc and Brenda Lhormer on 8 years of cinematic arts and community enrichment
Helping companies visualize their full potential through storytelling & brand communications. SEATTLE | COGNITIONSTUDIO.COM
Proud Founders & Hosts of the Annual Filmmakers Artists in Residence Program
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900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena, California 94574 Tel (888) 974-1312 www.meadowood.com
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Napa Valley…Through the Meadowood Lens Proud Hosts of the Annual Filmmakers Artists in Residence Program
MAJOR SPONSOR
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LEADING SPONSORS
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSORS 5
VINTNER CIRCLE The Vintner Circle is an exclusive set of wineries contributing some of the most distinctive elements that make the Napa Valley Film Festival such a special experience. Vintner Circle members share their finest wines at the A-List Dinner Party on Thursday celebrating our Celebrity Tribute honorees, present large-format bottles of collectible wine to award winners during the ceremony on Saturday and provide VIP tasting opportunities at the evening’s Festival Gala.
Interested in joining the Vintner Circle for 2019? Contact: vintners@nvff.org
Vintner Circle members also host one of the highlights of the festival: the famed Vintner Circle Dinner Series. Friday night boasts more than 20 simultaneously unfolding intimate evenings of food, wine and animated conversations about cinematic storytelling. Salud!
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NVFF.ORG
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2018 VINTNER CIRCLE ROSTER
N A PA V A L L E Y
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PATRON CIRCLE Elevate your festival experience by joining our Patron Circle, a group of old and new friends who are the festival’s most loyal supporters. Patron Circle members enjoy intimate access to filmmakers and celebrities; invitations to all events; and the best food, wine and hospitality. Most importantly, membership provides invaluable support to our filmmaker development, student education and community outreach programs. Beyond the Velvet Rope Enjoy VIP access, concierge service, reserved seats and private lounges. Never wait in line, with guaranteed access to everything.
Discover New Talent Mingle with up-and-coming writers, directors, actors and producers at the Rising Star Showcase and other exclusive Patron Circle events.
Up Close and Personal Party with celebrities and industry power players at the Friday Night Bash, Festival Gala and more.
Choose from one of three levels of access and indulgence:
PATRON | $2,500 The Essential VIP Experience Receive a $1,500 Tax-Deduction
A-LISTER | $5,000 The Elevated VIP Experience Receive a $3,750 Tax-Deduction
MOVIE MOGUL | $25,000 The Ultimate VIP Experience Receive a $20,000 Tax-Deduction
Want to become part of our inner circle? Upgrade your pass or join today by calling 707.226 .7500.
Best Food, Wine and Hospitality From the Vintner Circle Dinners to screenings and events, you are paired with Napa Valley’s finest wine and cuisine.
Stay in the Know Be the first to hear what’s happening. Use your customized itinerary to assure you don’t miss any of the action throughout the festival. Support and engage with our mission year-round. 8
NVFF.ORG
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2018 PATRON CIRCLE ROSTER
ROSTER AS OF SEPTEMBER 30
MOVIE MOGULS Leslie & Keith Blodgett Carla Buffington Jennifer King & Timothy Fredel The Gardner Grout Foundation Irene & Ed Ojdana Commissioner Mae C. Woo and Chris Woo A-LISTERS Lily & David Allen-Hughes Beth & John Allen Nick Allen Carissa Ashman Ulla & John Brown Jeff Buffington Theresa Carlisle Debra Crow Naomi & Patrick Davila
Sonya & Richard Garber Carolina & Barry Gustin John Heflebower Pepper & Michael Jackson Ryan Knowles Karen Ballou & Jay Lucas Maureen & Marlin McKeever Lisa & Jim Parrish Tracy & F. Ron Smith
Shelley & Marvin Smith Jane & Larry Solomon Kathy & Charlie Toppino Leigh Anne & Tony Torres Janice Turner Hilary & Chris Wendel Paul Zaentz
PATRONS Mary Cunningham Agee Myrna & Jim Andrews Deanna & Radomir Antovich Bella Babot & Richard Baer Michelle Baggett Elizabeth Wright & David Beier Diana Breister & David Bialis Daiva Sirvidaite & William Bigley Jennifer Purcell & Brenda Boone Pookie Sangobsamai & Mark Borde Karen Cameron Linda & Paul Cantey Thom Dance Diana Zaragoza & Patricio Davila Terry DeBacco Cindi & Dan Dwyer
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Dana & Andy Eckert Hillary Homzie & Matt Eisenberg Pamela & Michael Feigin Alan Galbraith Laura & Tawhid Gazi Lorraine & Richard Gingery Kay & Bill Gurtin Nicky Hakimi Sarah & Chris Hansen J. Todd Harris Laurie & Michael Higuera Patricia Decker & John Holton Dotty Hopkins Jean Huddleson Christina Varotsis & Mark Jarzemsky Christina & Robert Jennings Shandi & Michael Johnson Kim & Dan Johnson
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Lynette Larsen Jill Levy Judy Lewis Sandi Tibbles & Matthew Lhormer Henry Loubet Dayna Manning Andy Mathieson Randy McBride Loann Nguyen & Scott McDonald Jennifer Middleton Susann & Richard Mirabella Jan Lhormer & John Moore Erika & Michael Mountanos Dory Culver & Walter Nirenberg Nancy Garton & Kent Palmerton Helen & Blair Pascoe Willow Peak
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Angela Rafner Heather & John Roebuck Dave & Roberta Rude Dace Rutland Suzanne & Chris Shepanek Peta & Don Shindle Brigit & Barry Shotts Sasha Match & Randy Sloan Jimena & Sam Sweeley Kristi Synek Rhonda & Bill Tannenbaum Sharon & Alan Tracey Carol Treadway Anne & Mel Veach Stephanie & Michael Woods Krys & Randy Wulff Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky Wotkyns LLP
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FOUNDERS NOTE
unfamiliar. Regardless of whether we are frightened to death, or moved to tears, or tickled pink, one thing is a constant: we all want to be the best possible version of ourselves, the hero of our own personal story.
8TH ANNUAL NAPA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
Welcome
If ever there was a year for a healthy serving of inspiration and comic relief, this is it. A year ago we weren’t even sure we could mount the festival, with our scheduled dates falling just three weeks after the devastating wine country fires were contained. But the show did go on and wow, what a cathartic show it was! We’ve been riding a euphoric wave of momentum ever since, ready to crash magnificently over the local landscape for another unforgettable week of the best in cinematic storytelling combined with Napa Valley’s world-class food, wine and hospitality. With natural disasters still raging, with disquieting headlines from both near to home and around the world, with divisiveness greater than at any time in modern human history…it’s the movies we turn to: for distraction from our troubles, for a good laugh (or a good cry), and to provide opportunities to feel empowered to make a difference where just two hours before one might only have felt powerless. We’ve often thought about films as waking dreams. We may recognize aspects of ourselves or people we know in the characters on-screen, even though places or situations may be entirely
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This year’s festival is dedicated to the actors, writers, directors and producers who share their beguiling art with us in the dark; to Napa Valley’s wizards of food, wine and hospitality who help us deliver an unparalleled experience; and to everyone who has helped us get to where we are today, most especially and always to those who’ve been with us from the beginning.
It’s the movies we turn to: for distraction from our troubles, for a good laugh (or a good cry), and for opportunities to feel empowered to make a difference On behalf of our year-round team, seasonal production crew, volunteers, sponsors and partners, we thank you and we salute you—artists and audience—for helping us create a caring connected community that appreciates how inspired storytelling can not only change your day, but can truly change the world. See you at the movies.
Marc Lhormer, Co-founder & Director
Brenda Lhormer, Co-founder & Director
57 DAVE MINER
Miner Family Winery
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GARRET MURPHY Kitchen Collective
93 PAUL JACKMAN FunFlicks
13 FESTIVAL OVERVIEW
Venues & Daily Highlights
25 CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
Honoring established players
29 RISING STAR SHOWCASE
Saluting a new generation of talent
30 VINTNER CIRCLE DINNERS Mouth-watering epicurean adventures
36 AWARDS CEREMONY
Presentation of Juried and Audience Awards
37 FESTIVAL GALA
The ultimate film, food and wine party of the year
42 ART INSPIRING ACTION
New initiative where the audience takes charge
44 FESTIVAL JURY
Industry experts choose the best of the best
46 AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS
Sneak peeks and big stars
58 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Stand-alone visual media marvels
68 NARRATIVE FEATURES Nine indie films in competition
82 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES Nine real stories in competition
96 VERGE
Nine eclectic boundarypushing films
110 DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE Real-world stories from established directors
120 FOOD & BEVERAGE SPOTLIGHT
Six delectable cinematic morsels
126 NARRATIVE SHORTS
Three shorts programs in competition
130 DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Three shorts programs in competition
136 EDUCATION & OUTREACH Filmmakers-in-theSchools, Teen Press, Inspire
142 ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE
Documentary & Narrative Competition Filmmakers
144 FESTIVAL FACULTY
Industry veterans sharing their wisdom
146 PANELS & CONVERSATIONS
Learn what’s happening with the art and business of storytelling
148 CULINARY DEMONSTRATIONS Filmmakers and Chefs team up at the Demo Kitchen
150 INTERMISSIONS
Wine-Tasting, Artisan Crafts, Live Music Up and Down Valley
155 ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS Board, staff, volunteers, partners
169 SURVIVAL GUIDE
How to Fest, Passes & Tickets
178 DAILY SCHEDULE GRIDS
Day by day, venue by venue
191 FILM INDEX
Photo: Bob Mcclenahan | Front cover photo: XSIGHT
FESTIVAL OVERVIEW
FESTIVAL OVERVIEW Tue
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5:45 PM | 8:45 PM
7:45 PM - 10:00 PM
SNEAK PREVIEW NIGHT SCREENINGS
MEET THE ARTISTS RECEPTION
The Front Runner Cameo Cinema | St. Helena The first screening is for Patron Circle Members. The encore screening is for all other passholders. p. 47
Patron Circle Members meet this year's Artists-in-Residence. Caldwell Snyder Gallery | St. Helena
MEET THE ARTISTS
Caldwell Snyder Gallery | 7:45 PM - 10:00 PM
Wed
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9:30 AM - 11:00 PM
5:30 PM
SCREENINGS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY
OPENING NIGHT SCREENING
pp. 180 - 181
Green Book Uptown Theatre | Napa p. 49
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
FESTIVAL KICKOFF PARTY
PATRON CIRLE OPENING NIGHT PARTY
Celebrate NVFF Day 1 with filmmakers. The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa p. 23
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Patron Circle Members and VIP guests celebrate another season of film, food and wine. Italics Winegrowers | Napa p. 23
Thu
9:30 AM - 11:00 PM
10:30 AM | 12:15 PM | 2:00 PM
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SCREENINGS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY
CULINARY DEMONSTRATIONS
pp. 182 - 183
Uptown Theatre | 5:30 PM | p. 49
Filmmakers and chefs cook up something new. The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa pp. 148 - 149
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
VARIETY'S 10 TO TASTE
INTERMISSIONS
Presented by Food Network and Cooking Channel. Charles Krug Winery | St. Helena p. 24
Wine tasting, live music and more. The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch | St. Helena pp. 150 - 153
6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
A-LIST DINNER PARTY
Legends, Mavericks,Trailblazers, Spotlights. Lincoln Theater | Yountville pp. 25 - 27
A-Listers and Movie Moguls dine with our honorees. Black Stallion Winery | Napa p. 28
NVFF.ORG
OPENING NIGHT SCREENING
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CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
Lincoln Theater | 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM | p. 25
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FESTIVAL OVERVIEW
Fri
9:30 AM - 11:00 PM
10:00 AM | 12:00 PM
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SCREENINGS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY
PANELS & CONVERSATIONS
pp. 184 - 185
Westin Verasa Napa | Napa pp. 146 - 147
10:30 AM | 12:15 PM | 2:00 PM
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
CULINARY DEMONSTRATIONS
LEGACY ENSEMBLE TRIBUTE
Filmmakers and chefs cook up something new. The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa pp. 148 - 149
Celebrating 40+ years of The Groundlings Theatre & School. Lincoln Theater | Yountville p. 27
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
INTERMISSIONS
GEENA DAVIS TRIBUTE
Wine tasting, live music and more. The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch | St. Helena pp. 150 - 153
Screening of This Changes Everything plus a Tribute to a true Visionary. Lincoln Theater | Yountville pp. 26, 115
9:30 AM - 11:00 PM
10:00 AM | 12:00 PM
SCREENINGS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY
PANELS & CONVERSATIONS
Sat
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7:30 PM - 10:30 PM | pp. 30 - 33
pp. 186 - 187
Westin Verasa Napa | Napa pp. 146 - 147
10:30 AM | 12:15 PM | 2:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CULINARY DEMONSTRATIONS
INTERMISSIONS
Filmmakers and chefs cook up something new. The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa pp. 148 - 149
Wine tasting, live music and more. The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch | St. Helena pp. 150 - 153
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
5:00 PM
RISING STAR SHOWCASE
VALLEY OF THE BOOM PREVIEW
Honoring a new generation of talent. Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards | Napa p. 29
Catch the first two episodes of a bold new TV series about the rise of the Internet. p. 61
6:30 PM - 7:45 PM
8:00 PM - 1:00 AM
AWARDS CEREMONY
FESTIVAL GALA
Presentation of Juried & Audience Awards. Uptown Theatre | Napa p. 36
The CIA at Copia | Napa p. 37
Sun
9:30 AM - 11:00 PM
10:30 AM | 12:15 PM | 2:00 PM
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SCREENINGS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY
CULINARY DEMONSTRATIONS
pp. 188 - 189
FRIDAY NIGHT BASH Vonsaal Design Build | Napa p. 35
FESTIVAL GALA
Filmmakers and chefs cook up something new. The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa pp. 148 - 149
5:30 PM
INTERMISSIONS
CLOSING NIGHT SCREENING
Wine tasting, live music and more. The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch | St. Helena pp. 150 - 153
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind Uptown Theatre | Napa p. 54
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10:00 PM - 2:00 AM
The CIA at Copia | 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM | p. 37
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
NAPAFILMFEST
VINTNER CIRCLE DINNERS
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WRAP PARTY
Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards | 7:30 PM | p. 38
NVFF.ORG
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VENUES
A unique collection of theaters showcase our films and provide the forum for post-screening Q&As with attending filmmakers. Several theaters have concessions and/or a winery partner offering wines for sampling and purchase. Screening Venue
Food
Wine
Special Event
NAPA
CAPACITY: 850 SEATS
CAPACITY: 280 SEATS
Uptown Theatre 1350 Third St
CAPACITY: 180 SEATS
JaM Cellars Ballroom at the Margrit Mondavi Theatre 1030 Main St
Built in 1937 and refurbished in 2010, the Uptown Theatre is Napa’s art deco crown jewel and home to some of our biggest red carpet screenings. Multiple options for wining and dining are within steps of the Uptown in Napa’s historic downtown. Full bar and concessions available.
Located upstairs at the historic Napa Valley Opera House above Blue Note Napa, the JaM Cellars Ballroom serves as a comfortable venue for primarily watching narrative feature films. Grab a bite at Blue Note’s new American eatery before or after watching a film. Full bar and concessions available.
YOUNTVILLE
ST. HELENA
CAPACITY: 1200 SEATS
CAPACITY: 80 SEATS
Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater 100 California Dr The Lincoln Theater is our largest venue, on the hill in Yountville. The Lincoln is home to the NVFF Celebrity Tributes, Veterans Day program and a variety of screenings. This venue offers the greatest chance of securing a seat via the Rush Line. Concessions and wine from Gibbs Vineyards will be available at this screening venue.
Archer Hotel Napa 1230 First St The Archer Hotel, a luxury boutique design, will host its first screening venue this year. The five-story hotel is located in a wonderfully walkable downtown complete with world-class dining, tasting rooms and live music venues. Wine from The Hess Collection will be available at this pop-up theater.
CAPACITY: 140 SEATS
Farmstead Theater 738 Main St
Cameo Cinema 1340 Main St
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch is your St. Helena destination for estate-grown wine and food during the festival. Pick up passes at the Box Office, stop into the Café for coffee and pastries or grab a bite at the restaurant before or after seeing a film in this intimate screening venue.
Founded in 1913, the Cameo is 105 years old. This prized theater is equipped with the latest in digital projection, plus the state of the art Dolby Atmos sound system which elevates the entire moviewatching experience. Concessions available.
CALISTOGA
CAPACITY: 160 SEATS
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CAPACITY: 180 SEATS
CAPACITY: 160 SEATS
CAPACITY: 300 "SEATS"
Acacia Barn at Las Alcobas 1915 Main St
Native Sons Hall 1313 Spring St
Charles Krug Winery 2800 Main St
The Acacia Barn serves as the premier event space at Las Alcobas Napa Valley, a luxurious St. Helena retreat. Within walking distance of downtown, passholders can expect a great day trip or fun night out after any film. Wine from Mersenne Wines will be available at this pop-up theater.
This characterful meeting hall in St. Helena is just steps off Main Street. The screening room showcases a full assortment of films from all sections of the festival’s lineup. Wine from Ladera Vineyards will be available at this pop-up theater.
The Carriage House at Charles Krug Winery boasts a soaring cathedral ceiling, a floor finished in old-growth redwood, and stunning hand-forged chandeliers. Be sure to grab a glass of your favorite Charles Krug wine before heading upstairs to watch your next movie.
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The Drive-In at the Calistoga Fairgrounds 1435 N Oak St The first of its kind to come to Napa Valley, our new Drive-In experience at the Speedway Pavilion at Calistoga's County Fairgrounds includes space for 50 cars and another 100 guests sitting in low-lying bleachers right up front. Featuring FunFlicks, movie snacks and wine from The GRADE Cellars.
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CALISTOGA
Drive-In at the Calistoga Fairgrounds 1435 N Oak St
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Charles Krug Winery 2800 Main St
Las Alcobas 1915 Main St
Meadowood Napa Valley 900 Meadowood Ln
ST. HELENA
Cameo Cinema 1340 Main St
Native Sons Hall 1313 Spring St
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch 738 Main St
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Raymond Vineyards 849 Zinfandel Ln
YOUNTVILLE Lincoln Theater 100 California Dr
Black Stallion Winery 4089 Silverado Tr
Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards 4326 Big Ranch Rd
Archer Hotel Napa 1230 First St
Italics Winegrowers 70 Rapp Ln
Kitchen Collective 1650 Soscol Ave The CIA at Copia 500 First St
NAPA
Westin Verasa Napa 1314 McKinstry St
Uptown Theatre The Studio by 1350 Third St Feast it Forward Andaz Hotel 1031 McKinstry St 1450 First St
KEY JaM Cellars Ballroom 1030 Main St
Screening Venue Food
Vonsaal Design Build 101 S Coombs St
Wine Special Event
29 *Venue locations are not exact, please download our mobile app for accurate locations
SAN FRANCISCO (47 MILES)
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Come visit us and see festival films in our Acacia Barn!
Las Alcobas is proud to sponsor NVFF18.
TOO MUCH FOR ONE TAKE The Napa Valley Film Festival is a whirlwind of entertainment and excitement, but were you able to take in all that Downtown Napa has to offer? Downtown Napa is a world-class destination with unique stories around every corner. Enjoy everything from premier shopping, dining and wine tasting to invigorating hiking and biking. Whether you prefer quaint or luxurious — Downtown Napa is the perfect destination to star in your next sequel.
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N A P A
VAL L EY
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POINTS
t he d r e ss c od e is velvet
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2015 GE NE R AT IO NS CA BERNET S AUVIGNON
2015 O AK V ILLE CA BERNET S AUVIGNON
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POINTS
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2015 S T . HE LE NA CA BERNET S AUVIGNON
2015 YO U NT V ILLE CA BERNET S AUVIGNON
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Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Raymond Vineyards passionately sponsors the 2018 Trailblazer Award Napa’s most diverse and dynamic destination, dedicated to inspiring passion, creativity, and discovery. R AY M O N D V I N E Y A R D S .C O M
SPECIAL EVENTS Patron Circle Opening Night Party Festival Kickoff Party Variety’s 10 To Taste Celebrity Tributes A-List Dinner Party Rising Star Showcase Vintner Circle Dinners Friday Night Bash Awards Ceremony Festival Gala Wrap Party
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SPECIAL EVENTS
OPENING NIGHT PATRON CIRCLE OPENING NIGHT PARTY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Italics Winegrowers | Napa
Passholder Access Patrons, A-Listers, Movie Moguls After the red carpet presentation of our opening night film, Patron Circle members and festival VIPs take a shuttle through the vineyards to nearby Coombsville. Our friends at Italics Winegrowers open up their wine caves for a high-energy Opening Night Party to officially launch this year’s film festival. Guests will enjoy cuisine by wine country chef Elaine Bell, Italics wines and JCB Collection. Lively conversation will be accompanied by a killer Silent Disco for dancing late into the night. FESTIVAL KICKOFF PARTY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa Passholder Access Pass Plus Filmmakers and Pass Plus holders celebrate the opening night of this year’s festival at The Studio by Feast it Forward, an exciting new downtown Napa location. Guests will be the first to see and sample from the custom designed Monogram Appliances Demonstration Kitchen, Hangar 1 Lounge and several other bespoke installations. The Studio offers a stylish interactive space featuring boutique wine brands and live music from Ivy Hill Entertainment.
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BUB_H1_NB_WHITE_1C WHITE
SPECIAL EVENTS
VARIETY'S 10 TO TASTE Presented by Food Network and Cooking Channel
Ten uniquely talented chefs will showcase their fresh spin on dishes inspired by iconic film scenes. Invited participants include a showcase of sought-after Bay Area food truck chefs. A distinguished panel of celebrity judges including Tyler Florence, Melissa King and food-loving filmmakers and actors will sample these dishes with the audience, and then discuss personal favorites and the role of food in film.
EVENT DETAILS 
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Charles Krug Winery | St. Helena PASSHOLDER ACCESS Patrons, A-Listers, Movie Moguls INDIVIDUAL TICKETS $25 exclusively available for Pass Plus holders
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SPECIAL EVENTS
CELEBRITY TRIBUTES Join us as we salute the highest levels of cinematic achievement. Our magical Tribute programs include video clips of each honoree’s work and live on-stage interviews. Access' Natalie Morales hosts. This year, we proudly honor Charles Krug Legendary Actor Laurence J. Fishburne III, Davis Estates Visionary Geena Davis and Miner Family Winery Legacy Ensemble The Groundlings Theatre & School. We’ll also tip our hats to a Caldwell Vineyard Maverick Billy Bob Thorton, and salute a Raymond Vineyards Trailblazer, Alice Eve. Please note that our tributes to both The Groundlings and to Geena Davis take place on Friday. See pages 26 - 27 for details. On Saturday afternoon, our Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards Rising Star Showcase introduces us to a slew of young talent: Tye Sheridan, Camila Mendes, Rosa Salazar, Billy Magnussen, Taissa Farmiga and Alexandra Shipp. See page 29. For details on all Celebrity Tributes and Rising Stars, please visit nvff.org or download the NVFF mobile app.
EVENT DETAILS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8
6:00 PM - 7:45 PM Lincoln Theater | Yountville Doors open at 5:00pm. Red Carpet Arrivals at 5:30pm. Tributes at 6:00pm. PASSHOLDER ACCESS Patrons, A-Listers, Movie Moguls, Pass Plus INDIVIDUAL TICKETS $75 for one $60 each for two
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Access' Natalie Morales will host this entertaining program.
LEGENDARY ACTOR
Laurence J. Fishburne III LAURENCE J. FISHBURNE III has achieved an impressive body of work as an actor, producer and director. His many film credits include The Matrix Trilogy, Apocalypse Now, Boyz n the Hood, A Rumor of War, The Color Purple, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Higher Learning, Mystic River, Deep Cover and King of New York. Laurence won his first Emmy Award for “The Box” episode of Tribeca, and his second for his one-man show, Thurgood. Laurence received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for What’s Love Got to Do with It. He was an Emmy Award nominee and an NAACP Image Award winner for his starring role in Miss Evers’ Boys, which he also executive-produced. Laurence has been nominated eighteen times for NAACP Image awards, with five wins.
MAVERICK TRIBUTE
Billy Bob Thorton BILLY BOB THORNTON, an Academy Award-winning writer, actor, director and musician, has an extensive and impressive career in motion pictures, television and theater. Charismatic and uniquely talented, Thornton has established himself as one of the most sought after actor/filmmakers of his generation. Currently celebrating a high water mark in his career, Thornton was most recently seen starring in the Amazon series Goliath from producer David Kelley, for which his performance received rave reviews and garnered him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Drama. He also reprised his iconic and Golden Globe nominated performance in the 2003 box-office hit Bad Santa, in Bad Santa 2. He will also be seen in A Million Little Pieces, the screen adaptation of James Frey’s best-selling book.
TRAILBLAZER TRIBUTE
Alice Eve ALICE EVE is a versatile and dynamic talent in the entertainment industry. Her numerous film credits include Star Trek Into Darkness, Men In Black 3, The Stolen, Criminal, Misconduct, Dirty Weekend and many others. She will next be seen in the sci-fi thriller, Replicas, set to open in theatres this December. Alice most recently starred in the second season of Netflix’s Iron Fist for which she garnered rave reviews for her portrayal of the iconic Marvel character, ‘Mary Walker’. She also starred in the BBC One/Amazon series, Ordeal By Innocence, based on the Agatha Christie best-seller. This year, Alice starred and produced the noir comedy, Bees Make Honey, directed by her brother, and also starred in Please Stand By, and the film comedy, The Con Is On.
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LEGACY ENSEMBLE TRIBUTE
THE GROUNDLINGS THEATRE & SCHOOL EVENT DETAILS
Taran Killam
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9
Julia Sweeney
Stephanie Courtney
TARAN KILLAM can currently be seen in Single Parents and recently starred in the film Night School. His acting credits include 12 Years a Slave, The Heat, All Nighter, Big Fat Liar, My Best Friend’s Girl, Grown Ups 2, Brother Nature, Saturday Night Live, How I Met Your Mother, Community, Drunk History, New Girl, AP Bio and Scrubs.
Laraine Newman
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM JULIA SWEENEY was educated at The Groundlings and in 1990 was cast on Saturday Night Live. She is well known for portraying the androgynous Pat, a character she developed at The Groundlings.
STEPHANIE COURTNEY's credits include Blades of Glory, The Brothers Solomon, The Heart Break Kid and For Your Consideration. Her television credits include Mad Men, The Comeback, Nobodies, The Goldbergs and 2 Broke Girls. She also plays Flo for Progressive Insurance.
Cheri Oteri
Lincoln Theater | Yountville PASSHOLDER ACCESS All Passholders INDIVIDUAL TICKETS $50 per person $40 each for two
CHERI OTERI joined The Groundlings, and in 1995 the producers of Saturday Night Live saw one of her monologues, which led to her being hired as a cast member for five seasons. She has appeared in several films, including Scary Movie, Inspector Gadget, Liar Liar, Dumb and Dumberer, Shrek the Third, Southland Tales and Grown Ups 2.
Jordan Black
LARAINE NEWMAN is an Emmy and Annie nominated performer and a founding member of The Groundlings. After seeing her in The Groundlings, Lorne Michaels cast her in a Lily Tomlin Special and later as an original cast member of Saturday Night Live.
JORDAN BLACK has been a series regular on such shows as Punk’d, MTV’s The Lyricist Lounge Show, the WB’s On the Spot and E!’s Star Dates. His voice has been heard on South Park and he’s been seen and heard on How I Met Your Mother, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, among others.
VISIONARY TRIBUTE TO GEENA DAVIS EVENT DETAILS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Lincoln Theater | Yountville PASSHOLDER ACCESS All Passholders INDIVIDUAL TICKETS $50 per person $40 each for two
GEENA DAVIS is an Academy Award and Golden Globe winning actress known for her work in such films as The Accidental Tourist, Thelma & Louise, and A League of Their Own. Geena is also recognized for her tireless advocacy of women and girls. She is the Founder and Chair of the non-profit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which engages film and television creators to dramatically increase the percentages of female characters, and reduce gender stereotyping in media made for children 11 and under. Geena was appointed Special Envoy for Women and Girls in ICT for the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Geena is also an official partner of UN Women, working toward their goal of promoting gender equality and empowering women worldwide. Geena co-founded the Bentonville Film Festival in 2015 to champion women and minorities in media. 27
SPECIAL EVENTS
A-LIST DINNER PARTY EVENT DETAILS
Immediately following the Celebrity Tributes, A-Listers and Movie Moguls enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes access, breaking bread with this year’s honorees at a glamorous sit-down dinner. Step inside the Barrel Room at Black Stallion Winery for a night of pure entertainment. Each table is hosted by one of our Vintner Circle members, personally sharing prized wines paired with exquisite cuisine from Estate Events by Meadowood. This year’s A-List Dinner Party is co-sponsored by MovieCoin.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Black Stallion Winery | Napa PASSHOLDER ACCESS A-Listers, Movie Moguls
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CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
RISING STAR SHOWCASE Over the years, we’ve introduced our audiences to some amazing new talent via our Rising Star Showcase. The Rising Star Showcase on Saturday afternoon is set at beautiful Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards, truly one of the bright new stars in the Napa Valley. Sip lovely wine and nibble on light bites while you get to know an array of up-and-coming stars. The Showcase will include an extended interactive conversation with this year’s Rising Stars. For the most up-to-date event details, please visit nvff.org or download the NVFF mobile app.
EVENT DETAILS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards | Napa PASSHOLDER ACCESS Patrons, A-Listers, Movie Moguls INDIVIDUAL TICKETS $25 exclusively available for Pass Plus holders
RISING STAR
RISING STAR
Taissa Farmiga
Billy Magnussen
TAISSA FARMIGA can currently be seen in the films The Nun and What They Had, and on the small screen reprising her characters of “Violet” and “Zoe” in American Horror Story: Apocalypse. Her previous credits include Rules Don’t Apply, In A Valley of Violence, The Final Girls, Friday the 13th, 6 Years, Jamesy Boy, The Bling Ring, At Middleton and Anna. Taissa has recently wrapped production on the film, The Mule.
RISING STAR
RISING STAR
Camila Mendes
Rosa Salazar
CAMILA MENDES stars as Veronica Lodge, in The CW’s hit breakout drama Riverdale, which is currently in its third season. Camila booked her role on Riverdale while still a student at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Camila stars in the upcoming film The New Romantic and recently completed production on the films The Stand In and Falcon Lake.
ROSA SALAZAR can be seen in the upcoming films Alita: Battle Angel, The Kindergarten Teacher and Bird Box. She has previously appeared in the films Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Night Owls and Insurgent. Her television credits include American Horror Story, Parenthood and Man Seeking Woman. Rosa is currently in production on the series Undone.
RISING STAR
RISING STAR
Tye Sheridan
Alexandra Shipp
TYE SHERIDAN made his film debut at the age of 14 in Terrence Malick’s Oscar-nominated drama Tree of Life. Tye recently starred in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. He can also be seen in the films Friday’s Child and The Yellow Birds. This fall, Sheridan stars in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, reprising his role as Scott Summers / Cyclops.
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BILLY MAGNUSSEN can currently be seen in the film Game Night and the Netflix series Maniac. His upcoming films include The Oath, Aladdin and Velvet Buzzsaw. Billy is currently in production on the series Tell Me a Story. His previous film and television credits include Into the Woods, Bridge of Spies, Black Mirror, Get Shorty and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
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ALEXANDRA SHIPP is known for her role as Storm in X-Men: Apocalypse. Alexandra will be reprising the role of Storm in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, set to release February 14, 2019. Alexandra can be seen in Love, Simon and recently completed work on Son of Shaft and A Dog’s Way Home. Alexandra also appeared in the Oscar-nominated feature Straight Outta Compton.
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SPECIAL EVENTS
VINTNER CIRCLE DINNERS
Members of our Patron Circle and invited guests enjoy one of the highlights of the festival: our famed Vintner Circle Dinners, over 20 sumptuous and intimate dinner parties which showcase the elements that make the Napa Valley a premier food and wine destination— with a special cinematic twist. Vintner Circle members pair their world-class wines with the talents of award-winning chefs to present unforgettable dining adventures, each of which celebrates one or more of our competition films. Guests will enjoy lively conversation with the filmmakers as they share in the ultimate film, food and wine experience.
EVENT DETAILS 
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM 20+ Delicious Locations PASSHOLDER ACCESS Patrons, A-Listers, Movie Moguls Interested in hosting a Vintner Circle Dinner in 2019? Please contact vintners@nvff.org
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VINTNER CIRCLE DINNERS
Acumen Wines
Barnett Vineyards
Beringer Vineyards by Las Alcobas
Join Acumen Wines for a delectable dinner with winemaker Henrik Poulson and Chef Yancy Windsperger of Compline at the stunning Acumen Wine Gallery in downtown Napa. The evening will begin with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception in the tasting lounge, followed by a dinner featuring Acumen’s estate-grown PEAK wines paired alongside locally procured farm-to-table fare from Compline, recently named one of America’s Best Wine Restaurants in 2018 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The warm, modern aesthetic of the space, coupled with a beautiful collection of contemporary art provides the perfect backdrop for this intimate dining event.
Join Barnett Vineyards for a spectacular evening atop Spring Mountain hosted by proprietors Fiona and Hal Barnett and Winemaker David Tate at the winery’s private estate overlooking the beautiful Napa Valley floor 2,000 feet below. Enjoy a 4-course seasonally inspired meal prepared by Chef Natalie Niksa, owner of La Saison, perfectly paired with Barnett Vineyards wines including select vintages from Barnett’s celebrated Rattlesnake Cabernet Sauvignon.
Beringer Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley, with a winemaking tradition dating back more than 140 years. Guests will dine in the historic Hudson House, the original Beringer property built in 1852. With high ceilings, French doors and a wrap-around porch, this charming home is the perfect setting for an elegant evening. Guests will be treated to a private dinner prepared by Las Alcobas Executive Chef Sean Collins of Acacia House by Chris Cosentino, carefully paired with Beringer’s Private Reserve wines.
Caldwell Vineyard
Castellucci Napa Valley
Charles Krug Winery
In legendary Napa Valley, John Caldwell is a legend all his own. The maverick responsible for introducing the most prized Bordeaux rootstock and grapevine clones to California, he helped revolutionize the foundation of modern winemaking in North America. As the original licensee for the French government’s certified ENTAV-INRA clones, he helped establish a new industry standard for Bordeaux varietals in the United States. Join John and Joy Caldwell for dinner, wine and epic tales of their maverick adventures. Dinner curated by Chef Gary Penir.
Ever since Maria and Marco Castellucci were young, their father would tell them how he grew up in Italy where their grandfather, Luigi Castellucci, made wine in his basement. Some of the values their parents instilled in them from an early age were that family, cooking and sharing was important – and wine was always on the table. Join them for an evening of exquisite food from The Charter Oak, paired with their family-made wine. You’ll dine at the Castellucci’s luxury inn: The Ink House, where Elvis filmed his iconic movie Wild in the Country.
Raise a glass in celebration of 75 years of Mondavi Family stewardship of Charles Krug, Napa Valley’s oldest wine estate. This National Historic Landmark features “clear heart” Redwood salvaged from the original wine tanks, stone and open beam construction and floor-to-ceiling windows offering dramatic views of the family’s impressive reserve barrel chamber below. Back by popular demand, Tony Spleen of Dry Creek Kitchen returns to fashion the evening’s culinary delights with an eye to artfully pairing them with wines from the limited release portfolio. A grand evening awaits. Bon appétit!
Chef Yancy Windsperger
Chef Natalie Niksa
Chef Gary Penir
Chef Chris Cosentino
Chef Christopher Kostow
Chef Tony Spleen
DAVIS ESTATES Chef Mark Caldwell Join Davis Estates for an unforgettable wine dinner with owners Mike and Sandy Davis. Walk the red carpet as they welcome you to their renovated 100 year old Historic Barn for a wine reception and vineyard views. Follow Mike and Sandy on a tour of their 11,000 square feet of caves, state of the art production facility and get a sneak peek into the Davis Estates Library and exclusive Founder Member’s Cellarium. Conclude with a fabulous wine paired dinner created by executive Chef Mark Caldwell while overlooking the breathtaking views of the Napa Valley.
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VINTNER CIRCLE DINNERS
Cuvaison by Auberge du Soleil
Duckhorn Portfolio
Grgich Hills Estate
Inspired by the relaxed sophistication of the South of France, and infused with California soul, Auberge du Soleil provides the quintessential Napa Valley getaway. Take in spectacular valley views from the Maison d’Arbre, a private dining venue perched at the highest point of the property. Delight in canapés and a delectable three-course Michelin Star dining experience, expertly prepared by Executive Chef Robert Curry, and paired with estate-grown wines from Cuvaison, an independent winery that has shaped Napa Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir since 1969. The menu also includes dessert created by Executive Pastry Chef, Paul Lemieux.
Paraduxx winemaker, Don LaBorde, gained an international winemaking perspective studying in Australia. Today, he creates expressive Napa Valley wines inspired by the iconic blends of the world. The Paraduxx portfolio includes blends inspired by Australian Grange, Italian Super-Tuscans, Spanish Vega-Sicilia and Argentinian Malbec. Join Duckhorn for an unforgettable evening at Paraduxx in the modern vineyard house. Enjoy a four-course seasonally inspired dinner prepared by Chef Natalie Niksa, owner of La Saison, to complement these acclaimed Napa Valley wines.
Vintners Hall of Fame inductee Miljenko “Mike” Grgich drew worldwide attention when he won the famous 1976 blind-tasting in the Judgement of Paris. Grgich Hills Estate continues to produce and share exquisite Chardonnays that are sought after by connoisseurs, sommeliers and celebrities. Violet Grgich, president and daughter of Mike Grgich, will host this dinner and welcome guests into the winery to experience the legacy of Grgich Hills Estate. The Grgich family’s Croatian heritage will be reflected in a beautiful meal crafted to highlight their foodfriendly wines paired perfectly with local ingredients and artisan food.
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards
Miner Family Winery
Join 2nd generation co-owner Cynthia Lohr and local favorite Chef Elaine Bell for a delicious evening featuring wines from J. Lohr’s sustainably farmed, estate vineyards in Monterey, Paso Robles and Napa Valley. Chef Bell’s seasonal menu is thoughtfully crafted to complement the wines, highlighting the vibrant Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, named for founder Jerry Lohr’s late wife and harvested from estate vineyards in nearby St. Helena. The dramatic Napa Private Estate of 7 Roots Ranch will be the setting for a night of sparkling conversation, cutting-edge cuisine and superb wines.
Celebrate Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards’ eleventh year producing award-winning wines from an estate nestled along the Napa River in the Oak Knoll District. Enjoy the culinary delicacies from renowned Chef Eric Magnani, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Winemakers Mike Trujillo and Bruce Regalia have gone all out in selecting wines for this event. With the Cunat Family as hosts, enjoy everything the new winery and tasting room has to offer. Come share in the dream of what Mother Earth “Materra” is all about- wines fit for the stars.
A sensational portfolio of wines, authentic people and stunning Napa Valley views are what make Miner Family Winery an unforgettable destination. Join owner Dave Miner for an exciting evening that begins with a reception overlooking Oakville, where guests will enjoy two wines and a selection of delicious bites. The group will then have an opportunity to take a guided tour of the winery and caves. An expertly paired four-course dinner prepared by Chef Todd Humphries of Napa’s Kitchen Door will be served in the Miner Family cave barrel room, accompanied by a delectable selection of exclusive wines.
Chef Natalie Niksa
Executive Chef Robert Curry
Chef Elaine Bell
Chef Eric Magnani
Chef Todd Humphries
RAYMOND VINEYARDS
Chef Michel Cornu
Begin the evening sipping bubbles and relaxing in the velvet-clad opulence of the famous Red Room before embarking on a gastronomic journey conceived by Raymond Vineyards Culinary Director, Michel Cornu. Seated in the glittering hall of the Crystal Cellar and incorporating herbs and fresh produce from the estate’s biodynamic and organic garden, guests will savor a multi-course dinner paired with limited production Raymond Vineyards wines. The evening will take guests through an exquisite journey of texture and emotion bringing them into the world and legacy of the Raymond family. The Dress Code: Velvet.
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VINTNER CIRCLE DINNERS
Provenance Vineyards
Reynolds Family Winery
RiverHouse by Bespoke Collection
Join Provenance Vineyards for an evening of polish without pretense. Start with a glass of Estate Sauvignon Blanc and a true Instagram opportunity in front of the winery’s highly anticipated Heather Day mural. Guests will then make their way inside for passed canapes, wine, music and an opportunity to lounge in the winery’s chic and stylish tasting room. A four-course dinner will then take place in the Barrel Chai at a king’s table, paired with highly acclaimed Cabernets, including Fortitude and Hewitt. This will be a night to remember!
Winemaker Steve Reynolds and his wife Suzie invite you to join them for an evening of culinary creations and hand crafted wines at their winery located on the acclaimed Silverado Trail just at the base of the Stags Leap District. The evening promises great storytelling with friends, neighbors and filmmakers while sipping the most coveted intensely flavored wines - paired with locally grown and farm raised ingredients. Vintner Circle dinner guests will enjoy a magnificent reception followed by a candle lit barrel room dining experience that won’t soon be forgotten!
RiverHouse by Bespoke Collection is the destination to experience all things Bespoke. Centrally located in downtown Napa, guests will enjoy Blackbird Vineyards wines paired with an exquisite dinner by Morimoto Napa, while being surrounded by a curated selection of fine art, antiquities and objets d’art by ÆRENA Galleries & Gardens. This delectable evening will be one to remember.
Rombauer Vineyards
VGS Chateau Potelle
Vintner’s Collective by Kitchen Collective
Join Rombauer Vineyards at the hilltop winery for an elegant, yet relaxed, evening of great food, wine and company. Begin with a reception in the caves enjoying hors d’oeuvres and wine surrounded by the small oak barrels where wine gracefully ages. An intimate candlelit dinner prepared by Executive Chef Nicolas Montanez of Calistoga Inn will follow in the fermentation cellar at the heart of the winery. The seasonal menu will be paired with a special selection of Rombauer’s classic Napa Valley wines and small-production limited releases.
Let VGS Chateau Potelle and Chef Ken Frank of the Michelin starred La Toque Restaurant transport you for an evening of cinema inspired dishes. From the irreverent satirical French comedy La Grande Bouffe to the Danish classic Babette’s Feast and who could forget Pixar’s loveable Remy from Ratatouille among others. Each film inspired course will be thoughtfully paired with the wines from VGS Chateau Potelle. An evening of great fun, impeccable cuisine, delicious wines, new friends and lasting memories is in store for you. VGS: Good things speak for themselves!
Welcome to Kitchen Collective, a private cooking club in the heart of downtown Napa. Enjoy an evening where chefs welcome you into a setting inspired to capture your imagination. With passed hors d’œuvres followed by a delicious three-course menu paired with Napa Valley boutique wines, experience what Kitchen Collective is all about: elevated epicurean culture.
Chef Jesse McQuarrie
Chef Terry Letson
Executive Chef Nicolas Montanez
Chef Ken Frank
Chef Sean Massey
MOVIE MOGUL DINNER
MEADOWOOD NAPA VALLEY
Estate Chef Alejandro Ayala prepares the ultimate dinner party for our Movie Moguls and Celebrity Guests The pièce de résistance of our combined film, food and wine experience is the Movie Mogul Dinner at the incomparable Meadowood Napa Valley. Our most generous and passionate supporters break bread with the year’s biggest stars. Meadowood’s team of Sommeliers will present some of Napa Valley’s most sought-after wines to accompany the night’s exquisite menu prepared by James Beard Honoree Chef Alejandro Ayala.
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SPECIAL PERFORMANCES BY: DJ UPCUT, JACKSON WHALAN, THE STOAKLEYS, IVY HILL ENTERTAINMENT FOOD & TEQUILA: PICO MODERN TAQUERIA, REVEL SPIRITS, MEZCALES DE LEYENDA, FEVER TREE WINES: BEHRENS FAMILY, GIBBS, LANG AND REED BEER: STELLA ARTOIS SAKE: SAKE DRINKER PRODUCTION DESIGN: VONSAAL, NOISY KITCHEN, RAMMADE PRODUCTIONS PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED
10:00PM - 2:00AM
NUDITY SUGGESTED THEMES SEXUAL CONTENT AND SOME DRUG USE ADULT LANGUAGE GRAPHIC IMAGES
#VONSAALISMS
11.9.18
VONSAAL DESIGN STUDIO
BE THERE, OR IT DIDN’T HAPPEN
THIS PARTY IS INTENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES
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SPECIAL EVENTS
FRIDAY NIGHT BASH EVENT DETAILS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9
10:00 PM - 2:00 AM Vonsaal Design Build | Napa PASSHOLDER ACCESS Weekend Plus, Pass Plus, Patrons, A-Listers, Movie Moguls After the Vintner Circle Dinners, let the good times roll. New this year, and jumping into the film festival party scene full force, prolific artist-designer Richard Von Saal hosts the decadent Friday Night Bash at his eponymous studio headquarters. This party is over the top and outrageous – in all the best ways. Enjoy wine, Stella Artois, craft cocktails, latenight nibbles and a host of live entertainment and surprises.
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SPECIAL EVENTS
AWARDS CEREMONY
Our high-energy Awards Ceremony takes place Saturday evening, immediately prior to the biggest party of the year: the Festival Gala. Join in the excitement and anticipation as we reveal the winners of our Juried and Audience Awards. Each winner is presented with a large format collectible bottle of wine from one of our generous Vintner Circle members. The winners of the Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature (as selected by our juries of industry experts) each receive a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of Meadowood Napa Valley. AUDIENCE AWARDS
JURIED AWARDS
• Favorite Documentary Short
• Best Narrative Short
• Favorite Narrative Short
• Best Documentary Short
• Favorite Food & Beverage Spotlight Film
• Best Verge Film
• Favorite Documentary Showcase Film
• Best Ensemble Cast
• Favorite Verge Film • Favorite Documentary Feature • Favorite Narrative Feature
• Best Screenplay • Best Narrative Feature • Best Documentary Feature • Special Jury Prizes
• Favorite Actress • Favorite Actor EVENT DETAILS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM Uptown Theatre | Napa
PASSHOLDER ACCESS Weekend Plus, Pass Plus, Patrons, A-Listers, Movie Moguls
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SPECIAL EVENTS
FESTIVAL GALA NAPA VALLEY’S ULTIMATE FILM, FOOD AND WINE PARTY OF THE YEAR
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM The CIA at Copia | Napa
PASSHOLDER ACCESS Weekend Plus, Pass Plus, Patrons, A-Listers, Movie Moguls INDIVIDUAL TICKETS $200 for one $175 each for two NVFF celebrates eight fabulous seasons by throwing the most glamorous party of the year! Start the festival evening at the Awards Ceremony as we announce the winners of this year’s Juried and Audience Awards. Then, expect the unexpected at the Festival Gala. Grace the red carpet in chic attire; meet filmmakers, celebrities and new friends; sample the finest food and wine from famous chefs and vintners; indulge in creative cocktails, spirits and Stella Artois; groove to live musical acts and surprise entertainment. Then, dance the night away for an unforgettable evening of glitz! Patron Circle members enjoy an elevated experience in the elegant and private Patron Circle Lounge.
FEATURED WINERIES
FEATURED CULINARY PARTNERS
Acumen Wines
Rombauer Vineyards
Caldwell Vineyard
VGS Chateau Potelle
Castellucci Napa Valley Charles Krug Winery Cuvaison Barnett Vineyards Davis Estates Duckhorn Portfolio Grgich Hills Estate J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Provenance Vineyards Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards
Vintner’s Collective JCB Collection Ladera Vineyards Cornerstone Cellars
Cochon Volant BBQ Smokehouse
Diageo
Angele Restaurant & Bar
French Corner Napa
Glenfiddich
Annie the Baker
Kara’s Cupcakes
Atelier Fine Foods Azzurro Pizzeria e Enoteca
Stags Leap Winery
Basalt
Knights Bridge Winery
Clover
JCB Collection
Gran Eléctrica Mariposa Ice Creamery Norman Rose Tavern
Hangar 1 Vodka Stella Artois Revel Spirits Sake Drinker
Tarla Mediterranean Bar + Grill Urbani Truffles
Conn Creek Winery Ca’Momi Winery Gibbs Napa Valley Peju Province Winery Rippey Family Vineyards
Raymond Vineyards
Hoopes Vineyard
RiverHouse by Bespoke Collection
Anette’s Chocolate & Ice Cream
Patz & Hall Winery
Miner Family Winery Reynolds Family Winery
FEATURED SPIRITS/BEVERAGE
Ceja Vineyards
FEATURED ENTERTAINMENT Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters and Ethan Tucker Denon & Doyle Entertainment
FEATURED EVENT PARTNERS
Ivy Hill Entertainment
Lexus
The CIA at Copia
Hueman
DoNapa
The Luxe Productions
Melody Raye Flowers
Bright Event Rentals
Stölzle Lausitz
SF Magazine
DJ UpCut
SommSelect
= Featured in the Patron Circle Lounge
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SPECIAL EVENTS
WRAP PARTY This year’s Wrap Party celebrates the closing of another epic Napa Valley Film Festival. Join filmmakers and fellow festival-goers on the crush pad at Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards. Festival stories will be shared, secrets will be revealed and final festival memories will be made…until next year when we do it all over again. Enjoy incredible wine, an array of small bites and live music from dance band Carte Blanche. Members of our Patron Circle close out the week in style, relaxing in the Materra Lounge while sipping on a stash of hidden reserve wines. See you in 2019!
EVENT DETAILS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11
7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards | Napa PASSHOLDER ACCESS Weekend Plus, Pass Plus, Patrons, A-Listers, Movie Moguls
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SPECIAL PROFILE
Jennifer King & Tim Fredel
The Power Couple who h.a.s. Magic!
Early in 2017, Jennifer King and Tim Fredel joined the Napa Valley Film Festival Patron Circle as Movie Moguls and introduced Festival Founders Brenda and Marc Lhormer to their powerful mission to inspire healthy, adventuresome, soulful and philanthropic giving. They call their unique work as creative connectors "h.a.s. magic." After their first full NVFF immersion last year, they are back for more. The Napa Valley Film Festival has quickly become one of their newest and most favorite partnerships because of the shared philosophy of making the world a better place. However, the roots of Jennifer and Tim’s philanthropic work started very early on in their lives. Having been both a stylish and entrepreneurial child, Jennifer’s uncle once suggested that she should start a company called Rugged Elegance. Several years later, after meeting Tim at a Luau and falling in love, the two built BioSpace, one of the first Internet companies to serve the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. The two were then inspired to create their first "soulful network of social entrepreneurs and philanthropists," making Jennifer’s dream of Rugged Elegance a reality. Today, Rugged Elegance is a global network and foundation run by Jennifer that carries out philanthropic work throughout the U.S. and Africa. Jennifer and Tim, with the help of their two children, have also created two beautiful homes in San Francisco and Kennebunkport, Maine that they share with their network to host artistic and charitable retreats. Casa al Mare in San Francisco is called The Retreat: SF, and their African-inspired home in Maine is called Asante Sana, which means "thank you very much." Twenty-one years after Tim proposed to Jennifer at Domaine Chandon, the couple returned to Yountville to support their two children who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes by participating in the Tour de Cure for Diabetes Napa Century Ride. They have since done seven Napa centuries with a Rugged Elegance team to raise awareness and funds for the American Diabetes Association. As avid cyclists with a passion for Africa, Jennifer and Tim were invited to Napa during NVFF12 to participate in a 35-mile bike ride with the Rwandan Cycling team, who were the subjects of the festival’s film Rising From Ashes. Little did they know that their experience in 2012 would plant a seed of support for the Napa Valley Film Festival five years later.
NVFF Festival Co-Founders and Directors Brenda and Marc Lhormer instantly connected with Jennifer and Tim’s philosophy and life’s work when they met in 2017. As Artistic Director, Marc embraced Jennifer and Tim’s idea to curate a set of films in the festival’s program that fit right into the Rugged Elegance mantra of “h.a.s. magic,” aptly named #ArtInspiringAction. Tim had come up with the name when he and Jennifer saw Served Like A Girl at NVFF17. Jennifer and Tim’s transgender son, Nik, is a student at NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Nik is studying "how
human beings form empathic connections via different art forms." Be it film, photography, paintings or theatre, the King-Fredel family under the auspices of the Rugged Elegance Foundation give generously every year toward initiatives like #ArtInspiringAction. This year, there are over a dozen films that will be part of the new #ArtInspiringAction initiative that they hope will inspire NVFF's audiences into some form of greater-purpose philanthropic action.
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A TRUSTED PARTNER
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Founded in 1999, AVMS has grown into a national leader in hotel audio visual services through our dedication to customer satisfaction and commitment to improving GSS scores, revenues and profits for hotel partners. With on-site support, we will work with your sales and catering teams to drive business with our proactive approach, innovative designs, creative packages and flexible pricing. Contact us today to discover how partnering with us can benefit your hotel(s) and guests.
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ON SCREEN Art Inspiring Action Programmers' Note Festival Jury Awards Season Screenings Special Presentations Narrative Features Documentary Features Verge Documentary Showcase Food & Beverage Spotlight Narrative Shorts Documentary Shorts Education & Outreach
ART INSPIRING ACTION WITH THE SUPPORT of passionate movie-lovers and philanthropists, Jennifer King and Tim Fredel, and their Rugged Elegance Foundation, your Napa Valley Film Festival programming team has curated a special collection of issues-based films under the banner of #ArtInspiringAction. THE NEW INITIATIVE identifies filmmakers who have collaborated with partner organizations to create action campaigns that enable audiences to engage more deeply with the issues raised in the films and empower them to enact change themselves. For our very first year with this exciting initiative and partnership, we have over a dozen feature-length documentaries, and four documentary shorts. We also have arranged for several of the feature-length filmmakers to participate in a lively panel conversation scheduled for Friday, November 9 on activist filmmaking. THROUGHOUT our mobile app, website, and program guide, look for the #ArtInspiringAction “stamp� indicating films with action campaigns. To learn more about our #ArtInspiringAction initiative and the films and organizations involved, please visit our website at nvff.org/art-inspiring-action
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2018 NAPA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
Programmers' Note
We are so enchanted by this year’s program and hope you will be as well. The multitude of stories, paired with the phenomenal voices telling them, have absolutely blown us away. This year’s selection highlights 90 or so independent films thoughtfully blended with an assortment of awards season screenings to create a program that offers diverse and inspiring cinematic storytelling. Each year, we include films singing untold tales, proposing relevant arguments, and exploring the lives and relationships of bold characters. We provide opportunities and exposure to films and filmmakers who are new to the game, under-represented, or simply shifting their position within the film industry from actor or writer or producer to a first-time director. And building on our tradition of showcasing eye-opening documentaries tackling a wide range of important social and environmental issues, we’re introducing a new initiative, giving audiences ways to engage more deeply with the issues right after seeing the films. You can read more about our #ArtInspiringAction initiative here in the program book or on our website and mobile app. One of the most distinctive attributes of our festival is the opportunity to screen films at 10 unique venues that encapsulate the Napa Valley experience and span the length of the valley. We have three new screening venues: two at fabulous new hotels, the Archer in Napa and Las Alcobas in St. Helena; and The Drive-In at the Calistoga Fairgrounds which promises a creative update on a uniquely classic movie-going adventure. At the Lincoln Theater in Yountville, home to our big Tributes, check out our “Dogumentary Double” on Thursday, a full-day Technology and Innovation series on Saturday, and on Sunday, a powerful lineup of films commemorating Veterans Day and the importance of service to others. Offscreen, discover more about the inner workings of the entertainment industry by attending one of our Panels & Conversations. Filmmakers and local culinary talent join forces for a series of distinctive culinary offerings at the new Monogram Appliances Demonstration Kitchen. And each afternoon, artists and audiences mingle at our Intermissions up and down-valley with live music and dozens of wineries pouring from top Napa Valley vintners. And finally, our Juries and you - our audience - will have “spoken” when we announce the Juried and Audience Awards at our Saturday evening Awards Ceremony, immediately followed by our biggest and most spectacular bash: the Festival Gala. We’re thrilled to share all of this with you, and we look forward to seeing you this November in the beautiful Napa Valley.
Marc Lhormer EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Whitney Haskin
Amy Brown
SR. PROGRAM MANAGER
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
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View the AWARDS CEREMONY on PAGE 36.
FESTIVAL JURY
NARRATIVE FEATURES Richard Keith is a writer, producer, and director currently developing the show The Family Practice for Fox. Richard executive produced and created the CW series Life Sentence and Significant Mother. His short Grow Up Already screened at NVFF11.
IN SEARCH FOR THE NEXT VISIONARIES
Each year, a set of experienced filmmakers, cultural tastemakers, writers and industry executives serve as jurors deciding award-winners in a variety of categories. A wide array of both Juried and Audience Awards are presented at Saturday evening’s festival Awards Ceremony, followed immediately by the Festival Gala, celebrating both the award winners and all of this year’s filmmakers.
Nancy Collet’s experience spans over twenty years. With her extensive knowledge of working with studios and film festivals, she founded Cinema Collet which offers strategic consulting services to conferences, festivals, educators, distributors and independent filmmakers around the world. Jill Green moved to Napa in 2017, after a 30-year career in film marketing in Los Angeles. She co-founded and ran one of LA’s premier creative agencies, specializing in movie trailers and posters.
A PEEK INTO THE PROCESS Judges deliberate on Saturday morning and winners are announced at the Awards Ceremony Saturday evening. (SEE P. 36)
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FESTIVAL JURY
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
VERGE
Alexandre O. Philippe is creative director of Cinema Vertige and Exhibit A Pictures. He has written, directed, and produced numerous award-winning films and documentaries, including 78/52 which played at NVFF17.
Jeff Grace has produced and starred in several award-winning feature films including It’s A Disaster, Mothers & Daughters, and The Scenesters. His directorial debut Folk Hero & Funny Guy played at NVFF16.
Amy Shatsky is an Emmy Award-Winning producer. She is the Series Producer of Independent Lens, PBS’s primetime documentary series. She supervises the editorial, contracting, packaging and delivery of films for broadcast.
Gren Wells, as a writer, has sold more than 20 film and TV projects. Based off of her directorial debut, The Road Within, which played at NVFF14, Variety chose her as one of its 10 Directors to Watch for 2014.
Lissa Gibbs has worked with independent film artists, film organizations, and museums for over 25 years, including Sundance, SXSW, the Pacific Film Archive, MOCA Tucson, and SF’s Film Arts Foundation.
Alece Oxendine has held various positions at New York Film Festival, BAMcinématek, Rooftop Films, Fandor, and Distribber. She is currently the Director of Digital Sales at Good Deed Entertainment.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
NARRATIVE SHORTS
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Emily Ting recently wrote and directed her second feature Go Back to China. Her first feature Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong played at NVFF15 and was distributed theatrically. Emily also produced the films The Kitchen, A Year and Change, Land Ho!, Pit Stop, and Man From Reno.
Jonathan Robinson is a producer-writerdirector who creates documentaries and branded content for television, the web, and signature events. Jonathan’s company, Build Pictures, is based in Napa.
Felicity Wren is the Development Director at the International Screenwriters' Association. Felicity’s focus is to support the development of writers and to provide guidance, notes and access to industry professionals.
Miguel Martinez is an Emmynominated film director and an international photographer. His feature directorial debut Farewell Ferris Wheel played at the NVFF16.
Brent Emery has worked as an independent film finance, sales, and production specialist. During his seven years at Maverick Films, Brent oversaw development of a slate of over fifty studio and independent film and television projects. He is also a founder of Resonate Entertainment.
Sophie Constantinou is co-founder of Citizen Film, creating films for over 25 years. Her cinematography credits include documentaries for PBS and HBO, including Maquilopolis, Unchained Memories, The Royal Road, and Regarding Susan Sontag.
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AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS The Front Runner A Private War Green Book The Biggest Little Farm Vox Lux Capernaum Never Look Away At Eternity's Gate Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
AWARDS SEASON
The Front Runner
Courtesy of Sony Pictures
The Front Runner follows the rise and fall of Senator Hart, who captured the imagination of young voters and was considered the overwhelming front runner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination when his campaign was sidelined by the story of an extramarital relationship with Donna Rice. As tabloid journalism and political journalism merged for the first time, Senator Hart was forced to drop out of the race—events that left a profound and lasting impact on American politics and the world stage.
RUN TIME 113 min DIRECTOR Jason Reitman PRODUCERS Jason Reitman, Helen Estabrook, Aaron L. Gilbert SCREENWRITERS Matt Bai, Jay Carson, Jason Reitman JASON REITMAN made his feature film debut with Thank You For Smoking. He notably earned Academy Award nominations for directing Juno and Up In The Air, the latter of which earned him a Golden Globe Award, WGA Award and BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay. His other films include Young Adult, Labor Day, Men, Women and Children, and Tully.
KEY CAST Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina
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TUE, NOV 6 5:45 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA TUE, NOV 6 8:45 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS
This program generously supported by Jennifer King & Timothy Fredel
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AWARDS SEASON
A Private War
Courtesy of Aviron Pictures
AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS
Marie Colvin is one of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time. In a world where journalism is under attack, Marie is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontlines of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless, while constantly testing the limits between bravery and bravado. Over time, Marie's personal life starts to unravel as the trauma she’s witnessed takes its inevitable toll. Her mission to show the true cost of war leads her to embark on the most dangerous assignment of her life in the besieged Syrian city of Homs. Filmmaker Matthew Heineman's searingly impactful film is based on the extraordinary life of Marie Colvin.
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RUN TIME 106 min DIRECTOR Matthew Heineman PRODUCERS Basil Iwanyk, Marissa McMahon, Matthew George, Matthew Heineman, Charlize Theron SCREENWRITER Arash Amel, Marie Brenner MATTHEW HEINEMAN is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Awardwinning filmmaker who has twice won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Award from the Directors Guild of America, one of only three directors to win the prestigious honor twice.
KEY CAST Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dornan, Stanley Tucci, Tom Hollander
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FRI, NOV 9 5:15 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA SUN, NOV 11 8:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA
This program generously supported by Pepper & Michael Jackson
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AWARDS SEASON
Green Book Courtesy of Universal Pictures
When Tony Lip, a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley, a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on “The Green Book” to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans. Confronted with racism, danger—as well as unexpected humanity and humor—they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime.
RUN TIME 130 min DIRECTOR Peter Farrelly PRODUCERS Jim Burke, Charles B. Wessler, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga SCREENWRITERS Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly PETER FARRELLY is a director, producer, executive producer, screenwriter and published novelist, widely known for the star-driven comedy blockbuster movies he made with his brother Bob such as There’s Something About Mary, Kingpin, Shallow Hall, Stuck on You, Fever Pitch and the modern-day classic Dumb and Dumber.
KEY CAST Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco, Dimiter D. Marinov, P.J. Byrne
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WED, NOV 7 5:30 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA SAT, NOV 10 5:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS
This program generously supported by Leslie & Keith Blodgett
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AWARDS SEASON
The Biggest Little Farm
Courtesy of Neon
AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS
When the barking of their beloved dog Todd leads to an eviction notice from their tiny Los Angeles apartment, John and Molly Chester make a choice that takes them out of the city and onto 200 acres in the foothills of Ventura County, naively endeavoring to build one of the most diverse farms of its kind in complete coexistence with nature. The land they’ve chosen, however, is utterly depleted of nutrients, and suffering from a brutal drought. This beautiful and deeply personal film chronicles eight years of daunting work and outsized idealism as John and Molly attempt to create the utopia they seek.
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RUN TIME 90 min DIRECTOR John Chester PRODUCERS John Chester, Sandra Keats
JOHN CHESTER is an Emmy-winning director and producer best known for Rock Prophecies, Lost in Woonsocket, and Super Soul Sunday Shorts. John first reached a wide audience with his groundbreaking primetime series on A&E, Random 1, which he directed and starred in from 2005 to 2006.
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THU, NOV 8 1:00 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 1:00 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA
This program generously supported by Carla & Jeff Buffington
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AWARDS SEASON
Vox Lux
Courtesy of Neon
Vox Lux begins in 1999 when teenage sisters Celeste and Eleanor survive a seismic, violent tragedy. The sisters compose and perform a song about their experience, making something lovely and cathartic out of catastrophe—while also catapulting Celeste to stardom. By 2017, the now 31-year-old Celeste is mother to a teenage daughter of her own, and struggling to navigate a career fraught with scandals, when another act of terrifying violence demands her attention.
RUN TIME 110 min DIRECTOR Brady Corbet PRODUCERS D.J. Gugenheim, David Hinojosa, Andrew Lauren, David Litvak, Michel Litvak, Robert Salerno, Christine Vachon, Gary Michael Walters, Brian Young BRADY CORBET made his acting debut in Thirteen and later had roles in Mysterious Skin and Thunderbirds. Brady has guest starred on the television shows Greetings From Tucson, Oliver Beene, and The King Of Queens, but he is most known for his role as Derek Huxley on the fifth season of 24. Brady went on to direct, produce, and write the feature film The Childhood of a Leader.
SCREENWRITER Brady Corbet KEY CAST Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin
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WED, NOV 7 1:00 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA SUN, NOV 11 5:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS
This program generously supported by The Gardner Grout Foundation
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AWARDS SEASON
AWARDS SEASON
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Capernaum tells the story of Zain, a Lebanese boy who sues his parents for the “crime” of giving him life. Capernaum follows Zain as he journeys from gutsy, streetwise child to hardened 12-year-old “adult”: fleeing his negligent parents, surviving through his wits on the streets, taking care of Ethiopian refugee Rahil and her baby son Yonas, being jailed for a violent crime, and finally, seeking justice in a courtroom. Nadine Labaki's unforgettable film was made with a cast of non-professionals playing characters whose lives closely parallel their own.
Inspired by real events and spanning three eras of German history, Never Look Away tells the story of a young art student, Kurt, who falls in love with fellow student, Ellie. Ellie’s father, Professor Seeband, a famous doctor, is dismayed at his daughter’s choice of boyfriend, and vows to destroy the relationship. What neither of them knows is that their lives are already connected through a terrible crime Seeband committed decades ago.
Capernaum
Never Look Away
NADINE LABAKI participated in the Cannes Film Festival Residence to write her first feature film Caramel. Nadine’s second feature, Where Do We Go Now?, was nominated for Best Foreign Film by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards and is Lebanon’s highest-grossing Arabic film to date.
PRODUCERS Quirin Berg, Jacek Gaczkowski, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Filip Hering, Jan Mojto, Max Wiedemann, Christiane Henckel von Donnersmarck
DIRECTOR Nadine Labaki PRODUCERS Michel Merkt, Khaled Mouzanar SCREENWRITERS Jihad Hojeily, Michelle Keserwany, Nadine Labaki, Khaled Mouzanar KEY CAST Kawthar Al Haddad, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole, Nadine Labaki, Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Fadi Yousef AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS
RUN TIME 189 min DIRECTOR Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
RUN TIME 121 min
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FLORIAN HENCKEL VON DONNERSMARCK is a winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, three European Film Awards (including Best Film and Best Screenwriter), and seven German Film Awards (including Best Feature Film, Best Direction, and Best Screenplay) for his debut film The Lives of Others.
S H OW T I M ES
SCREENWRITERS Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck KEY CAST Tom Schilling, Sebastian Koch, Paula Beer, Saskia Rosendahl, Oliver Masucci
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WED, NOV 7 10:00 AM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 10:00 AM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA NVFF.ORG
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AWARDS SEASON
At Eternity's Gate
Courtesy of CBS Films
Julian Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gate is a journey inside the world and mind of a person who, despite skepticism, ridicule and illness, created some of the world’s most beloved and stunning works of art. This is not a forensic biography, but rather scenes based on Vincent van Gogh’s letters, common agreement about events in his life that present as facts, hearsay and moments that are just plain invented.
RUN TIME 110 min DIRECTOR Julian Schnabel PRODUCER Jon Kilik SCREENWRITERS Jean-Claude Carrière, Julian Schnabel, Louise Kugelberg
JULIAN SCHNABEl wrote and directed Basquiat, which was in the official selection of the 1996 Venice Film Festival. Julian’s second film, Before Night Falls, won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Venice Film Festival. Julian’s third film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, earned him Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival and Best Director at the Golden Globe Awards.
KEY CAST Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, Mads Mikkelsen, Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Amira Casar, Niels Arestrup, Oscar Isaac
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WED, NOV 7 5:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA
AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS
This program generously supported by Commissioner Mae C. Woo
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AWARDS SEASON
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
Courtesy of HBO Films
AWARDS SEASON SCREENINGS
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind explores Robin's extraordinary life and career, revealing what drove him to give voice to the countless characters in his mind. With previously unheard and unseen glimpses into his creative process through interviews with Robin, as well as home movies and onstage footage, this insightful tribute features in-depth interviews with those who knew and loved him, including Billy Crystal, Eric Idle, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Pam Dawber and his son, Zak Williams.
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RUN TIME 116 min DIRECTOR Marina Zenovich PRODUCERS Alex Gibney, Shirel Kozak
MARINA ZENOVICH is an Emmy-winning filmmaker whose films have been awarded for their powerful storytelling and thoughtful, sensitive approach to complex subjects and controversial people. Marina is an active member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Directors Guild and the International Documentary Association.
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SUN, NOV 11 5:30 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA
This program generously supported by Irene & Ed Ojdana
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TA STING RO O M O PEN BY APPO I N TME N T 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM 4326 BIG RA N CH RO A D , N A PA , CA 9 4 5 5 8 707. 224.4900
Proud supporter of the
NAPA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL OAKVILLE, CA | MINERWINES.COM | 800.366.WINE
SPECIAL PROFILE
Dave Miner Crafting a Life of Art Walking into Dave Miner’s office feels like you are walking into the ultimate jazz club green room. His Benedetto guitars are artfully displayed alongside his award-winning bottles of Miner Family Wine, while the walls are adorned with pictures that tell the story of a life filled with wine, music and family. Even though Dave is most recognizable as the founder and owner of Miner Family Wines, he has been able to lead a life equally devoted to all three of these passions by simply saying “yes.” Dave first began collecting wine in his early 20s, but never expected to go into the wine business. “I spent my weekends in Napa because my uncle bought a vineyard, and he and I played tennis 2-3 times a week and drank wine together. His wife was an amazing chef, so we would have weekend parties with really great wine and food after playing a set or two and walking in the vineyards.” However, once his uncle became ill, Dave left his successful job in the software industry to take over as president of his uncle’s winery, Oakville Ranch Vineyards. Dave says that saying yes to this opportunity only took him two seconds and he quit his job.
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A few years later, Dave continued to develop his passion for wine by opening his own label, Miner Family Winery. Today, he has carefully created and produced 18 different varietals that have been enjoyed throughout the country, from his tasting room in Oakville to the White House. Like wine, Dave has also been able to expand his love for music, and even more specifically, guitars. “I play my guitar every day. I don’t practice hard every day; I doodle. When I’m in the office, I keep them handy. When I go home, I just sit around and play, or I’ll watch tennis or hockey on TV and play.” With a collection of over 50 guitars, Dave appreciates a variety of different models, but he is particularly attached to the Benedetto jazz guitar. “Benedettos are the premier jazz guitars made in the world. The company just turned 50 years old and Bob Benedetto started the company in his garage. He even cut up his mom’s dining room table to make his first guitar.” Through a wedding gift from his father-inlaw and a connection through a mutual friend, Dave was serendipitously connected with
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Bob himself and they quickly became friends, naturally bonding over their passion for quality crafted art. When Bob retired, Dave once again followed his passion for music by taking over some of Bob’s shares in the company, becoming 50% owner of Benedetto Guitars. “I love wine and music equally, and in combination with each other, they are even more fun. As a business, guitars and wine are very similar as artisanal crafts. The current trend in both industries is towards more massproduced products because they are more cost efficient, instead of producing handmade products that are cared for by an artisan. You can’t replace the human intervention in making a guitar or making wine.” When asked if he would rather play a rare guitar for 10 minutes or drink the finest wine in the world, he simply responded, “Can’t I do both at once?”
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SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Uncrushable Do You Trust This Computer? Valley of the Boom Wheelman Sharkwater Extinction The Whinnies! Pick of the Litter Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Uncrushable On Sunday, October 8, 2017, a series of wildfires ignited Northern California’s beloved wine country. Together, the fires became the deadliest and one of the most destructive in California’s history. Uncrushable tells the story of the Northern California fires through the eyes of those most affected in the area. Victims who lost homes or businesses, first responders, chefs and winemakers all share their harrowing accounts throughout the film. Filmmaker Tyler Florence captures never before seen footage and chronicles the resilience of a fallen community as it begins to rebuild through the amazing help of its neighbors, strangers and friends.
RUN TIME 70 min
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ACTION
For more than 20 years as a Food Network culinary star, TYLER FLORENCE has captivated millions of viewers on numerous hit shows. His reach and influence extend well beyond his cooking shows, as he has built a multimillion dollar business with restaurants (Wayfare Tavern, Tyler Florence Fresh), cookware lines, a wine label, and an olive oil blend. Uncrushable is Tyler's directorial debut.
DIRECTOR Tyler Florence PRODUCERS Natalie Cain Bayes, Amanda Gold
For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the Thursday screening of Uncrushable. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
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THU, NOV 8 10:00 AM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA SUN, NOV 11 12:30 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Do You Trust This Computer? CHRIS PAINE is a writer and director best known for his award-winning documentaries Who Killed the Electric Car? and its sequel Revenge of the Electric Car. His films as Executive Producer include Bikes vs Cars, Charge, Faster and No Maps for These Territories. Paine serves on the board of directors for Friends of the Earth and is an alumni of Impro Theatre.
RUN TIME 78 min DIRECTOR Chris Paine PRODUCERS Tiffany Asakawa, Jessie Deeter SCREENWRITER Mark Monroe For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the screening of Do You Trust This Computer? Please visit: nvff.org/boxoffice/tickets/
SHOWTIM ES
SAT, NOV 10 1:00 PM LINCOLN THEATER, YOUNTVILLE
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Science fiction has long anticipated the rise of machine intelligence. Today, a new generation of selflearning computers has begun to reshape every aspect of our lives. Incomprehensible amounts of data are being created, interpreted, and fed back to us in a tsunami of apps, personal assistants, smart devices, and targeted advertisements. Virtually every industry on earth is experiencing rapid and radical transformation, from job automation, to medical diagnostics, even military operations. Do You Trust This Computer? explores the promises and perils of our new era. Will artificial intelligence usher in an age of unprecedented potential, or prove to be our complete undoing, literally our final invention?
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Valley of the Boom
Courtesy of National Geographic
Valley of the Boom takes an adrenalinefueled ride through the culture of speculation, innovation and disruption during Silicon Valley’s unprecedented tech boom and subsequent bust in the 1990s. It’s a timely and captivating story, starring two-time Emmy awardwinning actor Bradley Whitford, Steve Zahn and Lamorne Morris, told through an irreverent blend of drama, comedy and pathos. While most of the show is scripted, show creator Matthew Carnahan ingeniously weaves in select documentary elements that help tell the true inside story of the Internet’s fascinating formative years. Napa Valley Film Festival is proud to partner with National Geographic to present a sneak peek at the first two episodes of this outrageous new series.
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DIRECTOR Matthew Carnahan PRODUCERS Arianna Huffington, Arielle Boisvert, Joel Ehninger, Meghan Geier, Brant Pinvidic, Shawn Williamson, Gary Goldman, Matthew Carnahan After 10 years in New York working as a playwright and director, MATTHEW CARNAHAN received the Chesterfield Fellowship from Steven Spielberg. He went on to write Driveaway for Tom Hanks at Disney and to adapt his own play, The Knees of a Cellist, for MGM. Matthew also previously created the television series Trinity, Dirt and House of Lies, and directed the features Black Circle Boys and Rudyland.
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SCREENWRITER Matthew Carnahan KEY CAST Bradley Whitford, Steve Zahn, Lamorne Morris, John Karna, Oliver Cooper, Dakota Shapiro
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SAT, NOV 10 5:00 PM LINCOLN THEATER, YOUNTVILLE For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the screening of Valley of the Boom. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
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RUN TIME 100 min
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Wheelman
Courtesy of Netflix
RUN TIME 82 min DIRECTOR Jeremy Rush PRODUCERS Joe Carnahan, Craig Chapman, Frank Grillo, Myles Nestel SCREENWRITER Jeremy Rush JEREMY RUSH worked freelance in commercial production for more than ten years, practicing screenwriting after hours and directing self-produced short films and then music videos. The hands-on experience of indie filmmaking forced Jeremy to wear many hats across every filmmaking discipline, but always with the dream of a career in writing and directing. Wheelman is Jeremy’s first feature film.
KEY CAST Frank Grillo, Caitlin Carmichael, Garret Dillahunt, Shea Whigham, Wendy Moniz
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SAT, NOV 10 8:30 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA
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After three years in prison, the driver known as Wheelman has to work for vicious mobsters to pay off a debt. When he is assigned to drive a getaway car for a dangerous bank heist, things go off the rails and he is unable to contact his liaison. Instead, he receives a call from a stranger giving orders to deliver the stolen money to him. Wheelman discovers that he has been betrayed by his contact and spends the rest of a white-knuckle night racing through the dark streets trying to save his thirteen year-old daughter Katie and his ex-wife Jessica from a gang that wants the stolen money. Filmmaker Jeremy Rush brilliantly teases out the action with two essential props: a cell phone and a very fast car. Catch this ingenious thriller playing on the big screen for the very first time, courtesy of Netflix and War Party, the production shingle of Joe Carnahan and Frank Grillo.
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Sharkwater Extinction
Courtesy of Entertainment Studios
Sharkwater Extinction is a thrilling, action adventure journey that follows filmmaker Rob Stewart as he exposes the billion dollar illegal shark fin industry and the political corruption behind it. From West Africa, Spain, Panama, Costa Rica and France, to California, Rob's third film dives into the often violent underworld of the pirate fishing trade. Sharkwater Extinction is a follow up to the critically acclaimed Sharkwater. Shark finning is still rampant, shark fin soup is still being consumed and endangered sharks are now also being used to make products for human consumption. Rob’s mission is to save the sharks and oceans before it’s too late.
RUN TIME 88 min
#ARTINSPIRING
ACTION ROB STEWART is an acclaimed filmmaker and internationally renowned activist. In his third film Sharkwater Extinction, Rob continues his heroic fight to save our oceans battling the billion-dollar pirate fishing trade and illegal shark fin industry. Rob’s previous films, Sharkwater and Revolution, won multiple international awards and have been viewed by more than 125 million people.
DIRECTOR Rob Stewart PRODUCERS Sandra Campbell, Brian Stewart, Rob Stewart
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FRI, NOV 9 8:30 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA
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SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
THE WHINNIES! BEST OF EQUINE FILM Total Run Time: 77 min Partnering with guest curator Kimberly Carlisle, THE WHINNIES! BEST OF EQUINE FILM presents films that inspire, inform, celebrate and advocate for the horse/human partnership. This year, the program includes two beautiful documentaries shown together, one short and one feature. For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the Sunday screening of The Whinnies! For full details and to purchase tickets, please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
T h e Wh i n n i e s The Best of Equine Film!
Devil's Garden Devil’s Garden is a national forest treasure in the far northeast corner of California, and home to the last sustainable herd of wild horses in the state. The horses are in danger of becoming completely wiped away because of profit-taking entities encroaching on our public lands. RUN TIME 7 min DIRECTORS Victoria Bergqvist, Scott Powers PRODUCERS Victoria Bergqvist, Scott Powers
High-Sensitive Youth in the Horse-Heart-Space What happens when adopted and foster children and rescued horses, cast off by their owners, meet? This beautiful new documentary explores the friendship between two beings so different and yet so alike. A friendship where both sides long to connect their heart-space. JOLANDA ELLENBERGER’s debut short film Sea Level Rising introduced her public voice to what is continued in her drama Displacement and upcoming thriller, Driftwood. In script development is Jolanda's feature Inner Voices and in post-production is her documentary The Freedom of the Heart—A Part of the Whole Story. RUN TIME 70 min
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DIRECTOR Jolanda Ellenberger PRODUCER Jolanda Ellenberger
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WED, NOV 7 1:45 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 5:00 PM THE DRIVE-IN, CALISTOGA SUN, NOV 11 10:00 AM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA NVFF.ORG
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Pick of the Litter
Courtesy of IFC
Pick of the Litter follows a litter of five puppies from the moment they are born through their quest to become guide dogs for the blind. The filmmakers' cameras follow these pups through an intense two-year odyssey as they train to become trusted dogs whose ultimate responsibility is to protect their blind human partners from harm. Along the way, these remarkable animals rely on a community of dedicated individuals who train them to do amazing, life-changing things in the service of their human. The stakes are high and not every dog can make the cut. Only the best of the best. The pick of the litter.
RUN TIME 81 min
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DIRECTORS Don Hardy Jr., Dana Nachman PRODUCER KTF Films SCREENWRITER Dana Nachman
DON HARDY JR. is an Emmy awardwinning documentary filmmaker, journalist and storyteller. He is also the co-founder of KTF Films, a full-service production house in Northern California. DANA NACHMAN has won a number of awards throughout the course of her career, including three regional Emmy Awards, The Edward R. Murrow Award, and dozens of Jury and Audience Awards at film festivals.
For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the Thursday screening of Pick of the Litter. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
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THU, NOV 8 1:00 PM LINCOLN THEATER, YOUNTVILLE SAT, NOV 10 1:00 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero With World War I looming, a young Army Pvt. Robert Conroy finds himself “adopted” by a stray, stump-tailed terrier. Conroy names his new friend Stubby and gives him a home, a family, and a chance to embark on the adventure that would define a century. The two quickly find themselves in the trenches of France and on the path to history. French soldier Gaston Baptiste befriends the duo and accompanies them on their epic journey through harsh conditions and incredible acts of courage. Napa Valley Film Festival is proud to present this educational, inspiring and family-friendly film to honor Veterans Day.
RUN TIME 84 min DIRECTOR Richard Lanni PRODUCERS Laurent Rodan, Emily Cantrill, Jordan Beck SCREENWRITERS Richard Lanni, Mike Stokey RICHARD LANNI is a historical filmmaker who has produced, written, and directed for cinema, television, and home media. He is also an accomplished battlefield tour guide as well as a media production partner with the National Infantry Museum Foundation at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was during research for a WWI series that Lanni discovered Sgt. Stubby.
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SUN, NOV 11 9:30 AM LINCOLN THEATER, YOUNTVILLE For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the screening of Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/
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KEY CAST Logan Lerman, Helena Bonham Carter, Gerard Depardieu
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NARRATIVE FEATURES Are You Glad I’m Here Ask for Jane Cold Brook Grace Only Humans Spare Room Tomorrow When We Grow Up You Can Choose Your Family
NARRATIVE FEATURES
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
Are You Glad I’m Here Nadine is a resilient Lebanese housewife, although years of taking care of her alcoholic husband have nearly crushed her vivacious spirit. She meets Kirsten, a quirky, self-assured post-grad from America who has moved to Beirut to teach English. As their friendship deepens, Nadine reclaims some of her independence and challenges Kirsten’s understanding of the world. While Kirsten becomes increasingly involved in Nadine’s personal life, tensions begin to rise between Nadine and her husband. One fateful night, Nadine and Kirsten become accidental partners-in-crime and must embark on a perilous journey of loyalty and self-discovery.
RUN TIME 84 min DIRECTOR Noor Gharzeddine PRODUCER Noor Gharzeddine SCREENWRITER Samuel Cyrenius Anderson KEY CAST Marwa Khalil, Tess Harrison
NOOR GHARZEDDINE is a LebaneseAmerican filmmaker born and raised in New York City. She has a BA in Film and Electronic Arts from Bard College, where she had the privilege of studying under influential filmmakers such as Kelly Reichardt, Ben Coonley and Peter Hutton. Are You Glad I’m Here is Noor’s feature directorial debut. She is currently developing a scripted comedy and writing her next film.
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WED, NOV 7 8:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 9:30 AM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 5:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA NARRATIVE FEATURES
This program generously supported by Leigh Anne & Tony Torres
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NARRATIVE FEATURES
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Ask For Jane
NARRATIVE FEATURES
Based on real events, Ask For Jane tells the story of a group of young women who developed an underground abortion resource network that helped more than 11,000 women get illegal abortions in Chicago between 1969 and 1973. What started as a single college student using her dorm room phone to put women in touch with a reliable abortion doctor, eventually expanded into a team of women who risked their futures to help people find safe abortions in the years before Roe v. Wade. Rachel Carey’s Ask For Jane is a period piece that could not be more timely.
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RUN TIME 109 min DIRECTOR Rachel Carey PRODUCERS Cait Cortelyou, Josh Folan, Caroline Hirsch SCREENWRITERS Rachel Carey, Cait Cortelyou KEY CAST Cody Horn, Alison Wright, Sarah Steele, Sarah Ramos RACHEL CAREY is a writer and filmmaker based in New York. Her recent projects include the TV pilot Takers which won an award for Best Actress at Seriesfest in 2016 and was nominated for Best Pilot at the 2017 Hoboken International Film Festival. Rachel has directed several award-winning short films and music videos, and her novel Debt was optioned to be turned into a TV series for ABC Family.
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WED, NOV 7 5:00 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 10:00 AM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA SAT, NOV 10 10:00 AM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA
This program generously supported by Carissa Ashman and Janice Turner
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NARRATIVE FEATURES
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
Cold Brook
Best friends Ted Markham and George “Hilde” Hildebrandt are two ordinary, small town maintenance workers at a college in Upstate New York. Their simple daily routines are quickly upended when one night they spot an intruder at a Museum Exhibition on the college campus. While investigating, Ted and Hilde discover that this mysterious visitor is more than what he appears to be, and is in need of their help. At the risk of losing their jobs, Ted and and Hilde find themselves torn between helping a stranger find his home, and taking care of their own.
RUN TIME 103 min DIRECTOR William Fichtner PRODUCERS William Fichtner, Kim Coates, Shayne Putzlocher, Sara Shaak SCREENWRITERS William Fichtner, Cain DeVore
Twelve years in the making brought WILLIAM FICHTNER to his beloved hometown of Buffalo, NY to direct his first feature Cold Brook. Producing and co-writing with close friend Cain DeVore (Executive Producer), as well as acting in the film alongside great friend Kim Coates (Producer) was a career highlight second to none.
KEY CAST William Fichtner, Kim Coates, Harold Perrineau, Robin Weigert, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Brad Hanke
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THU, NOV 8 8:30 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 5:15 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 9:30 AM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA NARRATIVE FEATURES
This program generously supported by Maureen & Marlin McKeever
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NARRATIVE FEATURES
Grace
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
NARRATIVE FEATURES
Charlie is a once famous author suffering from writer’s block. With his book advance spent, Charlie’s best friend and agent Bernie sends him Dawn, an aspiring young writer, to be his assistant with the hope that she will inspire him to start writing. The two are initially at odds, with Dawn seeing Charlie as privileged and spoiled, and Charlie veiwing Dawn as belligerent and invasive. As they begin to learn more about each other, Charlie and Dawn help one another discover essential truths in their lives that they have both been trying to avoid.
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RUN TIME 101 min DIRECTOR Devin Adair PRODUCERS Gabe Cowan, Laure Sudreau, Devin Adair SCREENWRITER Devin Adair KEY CAST Tate Donovan, Katie Cassidy, Matthew Lillard, Debby Ryan, Missi Pyle DEVIN ADAIR, Founder of Adair Entertainment, was previously Creative Director at Footprint Worldwide and Executive Producer at Boxer Films, Inc. She produced the award-winning documentary Betting on Zero, and the narrative comedy Break Point which premiered at SXSW. Grace is Devin’s directorial debut.
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WED, NOV 7 8:30 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 10:00 AM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 8:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA
This program generously supported by Paul Zaentz and John Heflebower
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NARRATIVE FEATURES
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
Only Humans Handsome 30-something Vince moves in to his recently deceased mother’s home to organize things and ready the property for sale. Next door, single mother Nancy and her teenage daughter and aspiring artist Sarah both take notice. After Nancy volunteers Sarah to help Vince in exchange for him giving Sarah driving lessons, Vince quickly becomes entangled in both of their lives. Fiercely independent and naive, Sarah begins to romantically pursue Vince, despite his objections due to their age difference. In her attempts to ignite a romance, Sarah ultimately learns to appreciate not only her youth, but also her overbearing mother.
RUN TIME 72 min DIRECTOR Vanessa Knutsen PRODUCERS Chris Abernathy, Vanessa Knutsen SCREENWRITERS Megan Green, Vanessa Knutsen KEY CAST Peri Gilpin, Ivy Matheson, Micah Hauptman, Brendan Meyer VANESSA KNUTSEN is an awardwinning filmmaker originally from Israel. Her thesis film The Promised Land premiered at the Palm Springs International ShortsFest where it won Best Student Short Film and Cinema Without Borders. The film went on to earn a student BAFTA and gain distribution with Film Movement. Only Humans is Vanessa’s feature directorial debut.
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WED, NOV 7 8:15 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 5:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA SAT, NOV 10 12:30 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA NARRATIVE FEATURES
This program generously supported by Chris Woo
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NARRATIVE FEATURES
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
Spare Room
NARRATIVE FEATURES
David is a war-ravaged veteran who has just returned home after a tough tour in Afghanistan. Lil is a young widow struggling to make ends meet while she cares for her 15-year-old brother Arrow, who has mild Down Syndrome. A chance meeting eventually leads Lil to rent her spare room to David. The two become intertwined in each others’ lives, leading them to uncover some dark truths about their pasts. Ultimately, David and Lil discover they must forgive themselves before they are capable of making “room” for others in their hearts.
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RUN TIME 97 min DIRECTOR Jenica Bergere PRODUCERS James Portolese, Laura Heine, Mary Vernieu, Jenica Bergere SCREENWRITER Laura Heine JENICA BERGERE has spent more than 25 years as a comedic actress, appearing as a series regular on numerous network shows and feature films. Her debut film Come Simi received worldwide distribution and boasts several festival awards, including Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Feature.
KEY CAST Skyler Samuels, Martin Sensmeier, Cole Sibus, Thomas Cocquerrel, Virginia Madsen, Genevieve Angelson, Chris Mulkey, Alicia Witt, Ian Gomez, Lance Kinsey
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THU, NOV 8 5:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 5:30 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 12:45 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA
This program generously supported by Sonya & Richard Garber
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NARRATIVE FEATURES
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Tomorrow
After being dumped by his fiance, war veteran Tesla is in a deep depression and struggling with PTSD when he meets Sky, a man who lives every day as though it’s his last. Sky introduces Tesla to artist Lee-Ann and business student Katie. When Tesla learns that Katie has dreams of opening her own restaurant, the two decide to team up and make the restaurant a reality. Sky offers to find them an investor, but the road to success has many obstacles. The investor is unsure of Tesla’s ability to run a kitchen, partially due to the fact that Tesla uses a wheelchair as a result of his war-time injuries. Meanwhile, Sky is not the carefree individual that he appears to be.
RUN TIME 90 min DIRECTOR Martha Pinson PRODUCERS Stuart Brennan, Sebastian Street, Dean Woodford, Martin Scorsese, Emma Tillinger Koskoff SCREENWRITERS Stuart Brennan, Sebastian Street MARTHA PINSON is an experienced Script Supervisor, having worked with major directors including Martin Scorsese, Sidney Lumet, Milos Forman, Oliver Stone, Iain Softley, Andrew Niccol, and Brian De Palma. Tomorrow is Martha’s directorial debut.
KEY CAST Sebastian Street, Stuart Brennan, Stephen Fry, Joss Stone, Paul Kaye, Stephanie Leonidas, Sophie Kennedy Clarke, James Cosmo
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THU, NOV 8 8:00 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 1:00 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA SUN, NOV 11 8:15 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA NARRATIVE FEATURES
This program generously supported by Shelley & Marvin Smith
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NARRATIVE FEATURES
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
When We Grow Up
NARRATIVE FEATURES
The death of her dog sends the matriarch of the Barnes family into a tailspin of grief causing her to call on her three adult children for comfort. When Elijah, Maris, and Louise arrive home for the dog’s memorial weekend, they find themselves slipping back into the dysfunctional childhood roles they filled growing up, while also struggling to keep up with the reality of their individual adult circumstances. When We Grow Up explores social challenges of racial adoption, the redefining of the American family unit, sexual intimacy among a mature generation, and the process of growing up at different stages of adulthood.
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RUN TIME 96 min DIRECTOR Zorinah Juan PRODUCERS Grace Hannoy, Simone Stadler SCREENWRITER Grace Hannoy
ZORINAH JUAN has more than a decade of experience working as a script supervisor and producer on many award-winning independent films, including You Were Never Really Here and A Kid Like Jake. Zorinah’s short film The Second Province is currently on the festival circuit, and her documentary series Don’t Be A Tourist is available on Amazon Prime through Dreaming In Red Films.
KEY CAST Catherine Curtin, Mitch Poulos, Grace Hannoy, Jennifer Tsay, Clyde Voce, Lauren Lim Jackson, Daniel Ison, Doug Durlacher, Simone Stadler, Mason Hutchinson
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WED, NOV 7 8:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 10:00 AM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 5:00 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA
This program generously supported by Naomi & Patrick Davila
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NARRATIVE FEATURES
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You Can Choose Your Family Spring 1992. High school student Phillip longs to escape his small town for music school in New York City. But his overbearing father, Frank, forbids him from pursuing music as a career. In retaliation, Phillip sneaks away for a wild spring break with friends at a charming lakeside community. One day he spots his father there with another woman. As it turns out Frank lives half the time with a secret second family. Philip realizes he can either stay silent and be complicit in his father’s deceit or blackmail his father into letting him attend his dream college. As he struggles with doing the right thing, Phillip becomes more entangled in Frank’s second family.
RUN TIME 113 min DIRECTOR Miranda Bailey PRODUCERS Miranda Bailey, Karen Kehela Sherwood, Amanda Marshall SCREENWRITER Glen Lakin Prolific producer, actor and director MIRANDA BAILEY is known for producing high-quality independent films. Her passion for bringing strong, well-crafted stories to the screen is evident in the diversity of her movies. Miranda has directed two documentaries: Greenlit, which premiered at SXSW, and The Pathological Optimist, which opened in September 2017.
KEY CAST Jim Gaffigan, Logan Miller, Alex Karpovsky, Anna Gunn, Samantha Mathis
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THU, NOV 8 8:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST HELENA FRI, NOV 9 12:30 PM CHARLE KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 5:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA NARRATIVE FEATURES
This program generously supported by Jane & Larry Solomon
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Photo: Josh Telles
SPECIAL PROFILE
Garret Murphy
Building a Community Around the Love of Food A magical thing happens when people prepare and share a meal together. Friendships are made, strengthened and cherished. For centuries, communities have been forged through the tradition of planting together, harvesting together and cooking together; but in today’s fast paced society it can be difficult to find time to really enjoy food—let alone cook a meal with family and friends. Fortunately, Kitchen Collective founder and owner Garret Murphy has found a way to put that piece of magic back into our hearts and our mouths. After visiting San Sebastian in the Basque country of Spain with his family for 10 years, Garret was exposed to the exclusive and delicious world of Spanish cooking clubs. Similar to social clubs, these cooking clubs offer members an opportunity to expand their culinary abilities, and to build a community around cooking and sharing meals regularly— not rarely.
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Inspired by these traditional cooking clubs, Garret created the first urban cooking club in his own community of Napa. Kitchen Collective offers members access to a state of the art professional kitchen, skilled chefs and culinary experts, and introduces like-minded people who share a passion for one thing: food. “Obviously when I started this business, a lot of people were looking at me in a very strange way, like why would anyone want to cook their own food, but I believe a real foodie likes to get involved in the process. They like to grow, cook and enjoy their food and the food of their neighbors. They like to share and talk food. That’s what I am trying to promote in this concept.” In addition to access to top of the line amenities, Kitchen Collective offers an unparalleled opportunity for members to expand their culinary knowledge. Highly trained chefs work directly with members to curate a menu, prep the food and share tricks of the trade.
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“Members might know very well how to make a certain dish, but they have only created it a handful of times in their life, while one of our professional chefs has created that dish a thousand times. Here, members learn to finetune the craft of cooking, and really hone in on special tricks that make a meal even better.” After a meal is prepared, members sit down in the dining area and break bread together. Additionally, culinary experts are brought in to teach classes focused on specialty items such as cheese, chocolate, honey, wine or olive oil. “That’s art…it moves us, right? Everything else is just work. The only time you are able to really enjoy life with your friends or with your family, or whoever you are with, is the moment you are going to sit at a dining table because you cooked, or perhaps you cooked together.”
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES Afghan Cycles Cancer Rebellion A Fatherless Generation Father’s Kingdom General Magic The Interpreters TransMilitary The Trouble With Wolves Up to Snuff
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
Afghan Cycles Afghan Cycles follows members of the National Cycling Team in Kabul and a group of young women in the Bamiyan region of Afghanistan who use mountain bikes to commute to school and run errands. For all of them, the bicycle is a symbol of freedom; but that freedom comes at a dangerously high cost. Afghan Cycles uses the bicycle to tell a story of women’s rights—human rights—and the struggles faced by Afghan women on a daily basis, from discrimination to abuse, to the oppressive silencing of their voices in all aspects of contemporary society. These women ride despite cultural barriers, despite lack of infrastructure, and despite repeated death threats, embracing the power and freedom that comes with the sport.
RUN TIME 89 min
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ACTION SARAH MENZIES is a freelance videographer and filmmaker, and founder of the production company Let Media. Seeking personal character-driven stories, her films showcase the good that exists in the world, illustrating to audiences that everyone is capable of creating positive change. Afghan Cycles is Sarah’s featurelength directorial debut.
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PRODUCERS Caryn Capotosto, Sarah Menzies, Anna Brones, Jenny Nichols, Shannon Galpin
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WED, NOV 7 8:15 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 9:45 AM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 10:00 AM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the Saturday screening of Afghan Cycles. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
This program generously supported by Tracy & F. Ron Smith
DIRECTOR Sarah Menzies
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
Cancer Rebellion
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Cancer Rebellion brings to light the hidden life of the modern day teenager and young adult who has been diagnosed with cancer. It explores their dreams, struggles and fears with a familiarity that only a fellow cancer survivor can bring. In an effort to come to terms with his own cancer diagnosis, director Hernan Barangan takes to the road to find other people who have also been diagnosed with cancer in their youth. On this road trip across America, Cancer Rebellion maps out the path that all young cancer patients travel from diagnosis to aftermath. In a country where one teen or young adult is diagnosed with cancer every 8 minutes, these teenagers aren’t going down without a fight.
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RUN TIME 101 min
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ACTION When HERNAN BARANGAN was 15 years old he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia—and he beat it. Hernan’s professional path emerged during the long months undergoing cancer treatment when he fell in love with movies and cinematography. He went on to pursue filmmaking as a career, working on numerous music videos and commercials, as well as producing various multi-media films.
DIRECTOR Hernan Barangan PRODUCER Simon Davies
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THU, NOV 8 5:15 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 9:45 AM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA SUN, NOV 11 5:00 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA
This program generously supported by Kathy & Charlie Toppino
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
A Fatherless Generation A Fatherless Generation takes a deep and personal look at the social, psychological, and emotional trauma caused by growing up fatherless. Director Nathan Cheney turns the camera on himself to capture his emotional journey as he seeks to build a relationship with his own father. Nathan embarks on the journey of his lifetime— unmasking the truth about one of America’s most significant social issues: fatherless children. The film’s mission is to ignite a universal conversation about the importance of fatherhood, to show youth and adult fatherless men and women that they aren’t alone in their struggles, and to empower them to break the cycle of past fatherless generations.
RUN TIME 96 min DIRECTOR Nathan Cheney PRODUCERS Nathan Cheney, Steven Mangurten
NATHAN CHENEY is an awardwinning filmmaker who has worked in development, production, and post-production on multiple scripted and non-scripted projects. He also has experience as a photographer for National Geographic and assistant to TV personality Billy Bush. Nathan is currently in development writing his next film, a scripted comedy about the challenges of growing up mixed-race in the midwest.
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WED, NOV 7 5:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 12:45 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 10:00 AM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
This program generously supported by Karen Ballou & Jay Lucas and Ryan Knowles
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
Father’s Kingdom
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Father Divine was born in poverty, the son of emancipated slaves. At his peak, he was one of America’s most controversial religious leaders. Through his radical program of empowerment, his movement—dedicated to integration and communal living—was an innovator in desegregating neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and the ballot box in the 1930s and 40s. Though he was decades ahead of his time fighting for civil rights, he has largely been written out of history because of the audacity of his religious claims, and doubt about his motives. Father’s Kingdom explores the line between faith and fanaticism, between a religion and a cult.
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RUN TIME 94 min DIRECTOR Lenny Feinberg PRODUCERS Claire Chandler, Nancy Cutler, Lenny Feinberg, Chris Foster, Kevin Koltz
LENNY FEINBERG began his filmmaking career by producing the acclaimed documentary The Art of the Steal which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival. Lenny’s next film was Black and White and Dead All Over, directed by Chris Foster, which follows investigative reporters from Philadelphia newspapers as their jobs hang in the balance. Father’s Kingdom is Lenny’s directorial debut.
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WED, NOV 7 5:15 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 12:45 PM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA SAT, NOV 10 9:30 AM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA
This program generously supported by Beth & John Allen and Nick Allen
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Sponsored by Meadowood Napa Valley
General Magic Revealing a side of Silicon Valley you never see, General Magic is a tale of how great vision and epic failure can change the world. Spun out from Apple in 1990 to create the “next big thing,” tech company General Magic created the first handheld wireless personal communicator in 1994. From the first smartphones to social media, e-commerce and even emoji, the ideas that now dominate the tech industry and our day-to-day lives were born at General Magic. And though the company died, those concepts and the people who pioneered them went on to change everything we know about smartphone technology today.
RUN TIME 90 min DIRECTORS Matthew Maude, Sarah Kerruish PRODUCERS Matthew Maude, Sarah Kerruish
MATTHEW MAUDE is a filmmaker whose work has won the Kirin First Press Award for direction and the Epic Award for Best Screenplay, and was nominated for the Virgin Media Shorts Award. SARAH KERRUISH’s films have won many awards, including a Peabody and an Emmy nomination. Sarah is currently Chief Strategy officer at Kheiron Medical, working to improve the detection and treatment of breast cancer.
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THU, NOV 8 5:15 PM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 9:45 AM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 8:30 PM LINCOLN THEATER, YOUNTVILLE DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
This program generously supported by Lily & David Allen-Hughes
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
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The Interpreters
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The Interpreters follows the lives of Iraqi and Afghan interpreters who worked hand in hand with the U.S. military. Local interpreters were key to the war effort, but now many face danger in their countries because of their affiliation. This is the starkly true story of how they are rebuilding their lives, told through three main subjects: a chain-smoking Iraqi codenamed “Phillip Morris” who was able to make it to the US with the help of an American soldier he befriended during his deployment; an Afghan called Malik who is still working as an active interpreter at the U.S. base in Kabul despite threats to his life; and an Afghan named Mujtaba who fled with his family as refugees to Turkey.
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RUN TIME 78 min
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DIRECTORS Sofian Khan, Andres Caballero PRODUCERS Simon Taufique, Mark Steele
ANDRES CABALLERO is a public radio producer, journalist and documentary filmmaker. He’s currently a producer at NPR’s Latino USA and produced The Military Voices series for StoryCorps. SOFIAN KHAN is the founder of Capital K Pictures, director of the feature film The Dickumentary, and co-director of Gaucho Del Norte with producing partner Andres Caballero.
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WED, NOV 7 5:15 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 5:15 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 5:00 PM LINCOLN THEATER, YOUNTVILLE
This program generously supported by Ulla & John Brown NVFF.ORG
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
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TransMilitary Around 15,500 transgender people serve in the U.S. military (notably the largest transgender employer in the U.S.), where they must conceal their gender identity because military policies ban their service. TransMilitary chronicles the lives of four individuals: Senior Airman Logan Ireland, Corporal Laila Villanueva, Captain Jennifer Peace and First Lieutenant El Cook, who are bravely defending their country’s freedom while fighting for their own. They put their careers and their families’ livelihoods on the line by coming out as transgender to top brass in the Pentagon in hopes of attaining the equal right to serve for themselves and so many others.
RUN TIME 92 min
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PRODUCER Jamie Coughlin
FIONA DAWSON, Principal of Free Lion Productions, is an Emmy-nominated director and producer. Fiona was honored by The White House for her work as an LGBTQ Artist Champion of Change, and she has served on the Board of Directors for HRC and NLGJA. GABRIEL SILVERMAN, co-founder of SideXSide Studios, is a journalist whose work has been awarded an Edward R. Murrow Award and two News & Documentary Emmy nominations.
SCREENWRITERS Jamie Coughlin, Gabriel Silverman
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THU, NOV 8 5:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 6:00 PM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA SUN, NOV 11 12:30 PM LINCOLN THEATER, YOUNTVILLE DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
This program generously supported by Jennifer King & Timothy Fredel #NVFF18
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DIRECTORS Gabriel Silverman, Fiona Dawson
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
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The Trouble With Wolves
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Once exterminated from the lower 48 states, the Gray Wolf’s triumphant return to Yellowstone and the surrounding states has been characterized as the greatest animal conservation success in human history. However, to many living in the areas affected, the story is drastically different. There is a reason wolves have been, and continue to be, the world’s most controversial predator. But do they deserve a place on the landscape? From hunters and ranchers to biologists and wildlife specialists, The Trouble With Wolves is a rich character study that reveals what’s really going on in today’s wild west.
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RUN TIME 57 min DIRECTOR Collin Monda PRODUCER Collin Monda
COLLIN MONDA is a native Northwest filmmaker working in documentary, narrative, and animated formats, often pulling from all of them within the same film. His recent work has focused on our relationship with nature, and finding truth in the complex realities that sit between destructive political divides. He is currently exploring the other coast, living in Brooklyn.
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THU, NOV 8 8:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 12:45 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 5:30 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA
This program generously supported by Lisa & Jim Parrish NVFF.ORG
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
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Up to Snuff
Millions of people have been touched by his music, yet few know the journey, hardships and triumphs of American musician and composer W.G. Snuffy Walden. Friends and collaborators share personal stories, laughs and insights about this generous soul who overcame the excesses of rock and roll success to become one of the most beloved composers in television history. Infused with Snuffy’s music throughout, Up to Snuff includes scenes from The West Wing, The Wonder Years, Sports Night, and Thirtysomething, and features Aaron Sorkin, Martin Sheen, Tom Arnold, Timothy Busfield, Fred Savage, Marshall Herskovitz, Steve Lukather, Eric Burdon, and of course Snuffy Walden.
RUN TIME 80 min DIRECTOR Mark Maxey PRODUCERS Mark Maxey, Gino Scofidio KEY CAST Aaron Sorkin, Martin Sheen, Tom Arnold, Timothy Busfield, Lawrence O’Donnell, Steve Lukather, Eric Burdon, Snuffy Walden MARK MAXEY is an Emmy awardwinning producer and director based in Washington, DC. Mark is chairman of the Washington West Film Festival, is a member of the Producers Guild of America, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, National Association of Television Program Executives, and the American Film Institute.
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WED, NOV 7 8:00 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 1:00 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 1:00 PM UPTOWN THEATRE, NAPA For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the Saturday screening of Up to Snuff. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
This program generously supported by Carolina & Barry Gustin
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Two outstanding Napa Valley wineries - one unforgettable experience.
Tastings offered daily 10am - 4pm appointments recommended
(888) 354-8885 Reservations@Duckhorn.com 1000 Lodi Lane St. Helena, CA Duckhorn.com
Tastings offered daily 10am - 4pm appointments required
(866) 367-9943 Reservations@Paraduxx.com 7257 Silverado Trail Napa, CA Paraduxx.com
SPECIAL PROFILE
FunFlicks
Projecting Movie Magic Under the Stars FunFlicks, a company that provides outdoor entertainment in over 100 cities across the country, knows that nothing else can truly capture the feeling of being completely immersed in a movie screening outdoors. FunFlicks began delivering exceptional exhibitions in 2001, and Paul Jackman has been bringing the outdoor screening experience to homes, company parties and events in Northern California for over 10 years. A partner of the Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) since its inaugural festival in 2011, Paul is now working with the festival team to do something extraordinary: create a pop-up Drive-In movie theater in Calistoga for NVFF. Paul’s passion for film and the opportunity to create movie magic outdoors started early on in his career. “I saw my first outdoor screening in the 1990s and really enjoyed the way the format created a lasting impact on the audience, especially when the films screened weren’t well known,” Paul explains as he talks about how he got involved with FunFlicks.
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“After doing extensive research on outdoor movie companies, I knew I’d have to use the best equipment possible if I wanted to provide exceptional experiences.” Paul’s excitement for creating experiencedriven events is apparent as he recalls the screenings he’s most enjoyed creating. Producing multimedia spectacles involving talent from films, live music, on-location exhibitions and other interesting ways of engaging audience members are among the most wonderful and memorable. But he definitely has a soft spot for smaller independent films as well, and loves to witness the joys of the audience discovering something new and meeting filmmakers in gorgeous outdoor settings. Paul knows he’s making this magical connection possible. “When we started working with NVFF, the majority of our business was setting up at birthday and privately hosted parties. Since then, we’ve been hired mainly for corporate
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screenings. The festival was helpful in getting our name out there as the preferred outdoor movie provider, and we were able to develop several lasting relationships with wineries.” This year, The Drive-In at the Calistoga Fairgrounds will certainly be the most buzzedabout venue during NVFF18. The giant screen will be set under the Speedway Pavilion where a FM transmitter will be available for all parked cars so that people can sit inside and enjoy the films shown at 5:00 PM and 8:30 PM each night. “It sounds like the Drive-In set up is a complicated process, but thankfully it’s been done before—for a long time.There will also be sound coming through a PA system so that people can sit in front in the bleachers. I’m excited to create the most unique venue this festival has ever seen!”
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ESTATE-GROWN WINES, CONTEMPORARY ART & WARM HOSPITALITY IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN NAPA.
Discover Acumen Wine Gallery. OPEN DAILY FROM 10AM TO 7PM 1315 FIRST STREET, NAPA, CA 94558 ACUMENWINE.COM | 707.492.8336
CREATING SINCE 1980
FOR THREE GENERATIONS and nearly 40 years, our family has worked to ensure that every time a bottle of our wine is uncorked, delightful memories are created. With each vintage and varietal, we raise the bar, working tirelessly to deliver the best possible wines and customer service. Tours & tastings available daily by appointment. ROMBAUER.COM
E sta bl ish e d 1980 Family Owned & Operated
VERGE The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova The Long Dumb Road Madness, Farewell Ordinary Days Ride Summer '03 Thunder Road We Are Boats White Tide: The Legend of Culebra
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The Dancing Dogs Of Dombrova On a cold winter’s night, estranged siblings Sarah and Aaron arrive at an empty train station in Dombrova, Poland. With a silent driver as their only means of transportation, they embark on a quest to fulfill their dying grandmother’s wish—find, dig up and bring home the bones of her favorite childhood dog, Peter. While navigating the many obstacles and colorful characters they encounter on their journey, Sarah and Aaron must come to terms with their own demons and the issues they have with each other.
RUN TIME 102 min DIRECTOR Zack Bernbaum PRODUCERS Zack Bernbaum, Stephen Chandler Whitehead, Adrian Moldovan SCREENWRITER Michael Whatling ZACK BERNBAUM made his debut feature with And Now A Word From Our Sponsor. His second feature film Cold Deck is currently available in the U.S. after a theatrical run in LA and Toronto. In addition to his narrative work, Zack has directed and produced a number of commercials and music videos. Zack heads Ezeqial Productions and is in development on a number of exciting projects.
KEY CAST Katherine Fogler, Douglas Nyback
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WED, NOV 7 5:00 PM THE DRIVE-IN, CALISTOGA THU, NOV 8 10:00 AM JAM CELLARS BALLROOOM, NAPA SAT, NOV 10 8:30 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA
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The Long Dumb Road RUN TIME 90 min DIRECTOR Hannah Fidell PRODUCERS Hannah Fidell, JJ Ingram, Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams SCREENWRITERS Hannah Fidell, Carson Mell HANNAH FIDELL wrote, produced and directed the feature film A Teacher, which premiered at Sundance 2013 to critical acclaim. Her follow up film 6 Years was released by Netflix in 2015. In 2016, she was inducted into the directors’ branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, making her, at age 32, one of the youngest members of the organization.
KEY CAST Tony Revolori, Jason Mantzoukas, Taissa Farmiga, Grace Gummer, Casey Wilson, Ron Livingston
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THU, NOV 8 12:30 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 5:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 10:00 AM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA
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When college-bound teenager Nat offers itinerant mechanic Richard a ride during a stop-over in small-town Texas, neither one realizes the indelible impact each traveler will have on the other's journey. Nat, an aspiring photographer heading towards a bright future in art school in Los Angeles, wants to find the real America en route to new beginnings out West. Richard, a lovably unkempt motormouth, is simply looking for connection in the moment—and maybe a beer or ten— while he grapples with indecision, past mistakes and dead-ends. As they travel through the American Southwest, both passengers come alive through the myriad possibilities of the open road.
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Madness, Farewell The holiday season has arrived in Los Angeles. Fledgling comedian Liza Ocampo is determined to commit suicide, but can’t quite figure out the right way to do it. Unable to pull the literal trigger herself, she hires a newly legalized "hitman firm" called Club Noir, which offers to do the dirty work for its clients. But when Liza arrives for her date with death, she finds the appointment has been double booked with fellow suicide hopeful Gus Francis. In this darkly entertaining comedy, Liza and Gus bond over their shared desire to end their lives and choose to spend their last day on earth exploring the city together.
RUN TIME 88 min DIRECTOR Benjamin Font PRODUCERS Ian Bell, Noah Applebaum, Benjamin Font SCREENWRITER Benjamin Font
BENJAMIN FONT is a writer from Lincoln, NE who, in 2014, published his fictitious autobiography made up of eight books in a single vast collection entitled I Am No One. His screenplay credits include Sex/ Absurd, The Sympathist and Robert Schwartzman's Dreamland. Benjamin currently lives and works in Los Angeles and Madness, Farewell marks his feature directorial debut.
KEY CAST Charlene deGuzman, Benjamin Font, Brandon Keener, Noah Applebaum, Nick Smoke
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WED, NOV 7 8:30 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA THU, NOV 8 5:00 PM THE DRIVE-IN, CALISTOGA SAT, NOV 10 8:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA
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Ordinary Days JORDAN CANNING was awarded the Women In the Director's Chair Feature Film Award for her second feature film Suck It Up.
Ordinary Days follows Cara Cook, an athletic, emotionally distant college student who suddenly goes missing. Her mother Marie becomes immediately worried while her father Rich is convinced there has just been a miscommunication. As the weekend progresses, reality sets in and Marie decides to reach out to the police for help. They are offered assistance in the form of Detective Jonathan Brightbill, who has personal issues of his own. As Brightbill starts to put the pieces of Cara’s disappearance together, the young woman's strength and resourcefulness are tested with every passing moment.
KRIS BOOTH has directed many short films and the award winning feature At Home By Myself... With You.
DIRECTORS Jordan Canning, Kris Booth, Renuka Jeyapalan PRODUCERS Glenn Cockburn, Brian P. Robertson, Ramona Barckert, Bryce Mitchell SCREENWRITER Ramona Barckert KEY CAST Jacqueline Byers, Michael Xavier, Torri Higginson, Richard Clarkin, Joris Jarsky, Mena Massoud
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THU, NOV 8 1:00 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 8:30 PM THE DRIVE-IN, CALISTOGA SUN, NOV 11 5:15 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA
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RENUKA JEYAPALAN’s short film Big Girl premiered at TIFF where it was awarded the ShortCuts Canada Best Short Film Award.
RUN TIME 82 min
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Ride John McCord is a troubled teen who has spent most of his childhood in a juvenile detention center. A persistent social worker finally finds John foster parents, Eldridge and Marianna Buultjens. However, John’s white supremacist leanings causes tensions when he meets the Buultjens and discovers that Eldridge is black. Eldridge is determined to get through to John and change his narrow world view. When Eldridge discovers John’s fascination with BMX, he teaches him how to ride a bicycle, presaging the potential for developing a positive bond. On his path to BMX glory, John must learn to put his racist past behind him and look towards a brighter future. Based on a true story.
RUN TIME 98 min DIRECTOR Alex Ranarivelo PRODUCERS Hadeel Reda, Ali Afshar SCREENWRITERS J.R. Reher, Jean-Marie Sobeck, Hadeel Reda, Alex Ranarivelo ALEX RANARIVELO made his feature debut with the award-winning Alpha Males Experiment. Alex landed his first directing job with Born To Race, which kicked off a long standing relationship with production company ESX Entertainment. ESX hired Alex to direct 8 more films, including NVFF16 favorite American Wrestler: The Wizard.
KEY CAST Shane Graham, Chris Bridges, Sasha Alexander
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WED, NOV 7 8:30 PM THE DRIVE-IN, CALISTOGA FRI, NOV 9 1:00 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 1:00 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA
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Summer '03 RUN TIME 95 min DIRECTOR Becca Gleason PRODUCERS Alexandre Dauman, Eyal Rimmon SCREENWRITER Becca Gleason KEY CAST Joey King, Jack Kilmer, Andrea Savage, Paul Scheer, June Squibb BECCA GLEASON started her career as an assistant on the critically acclaimed NBC sitcom Community. She's written and directed three short films, which made the rounds on the festival circuit, including NVFF. She's spent the last few years directing series and shorts for digital companies like AwesomenessTV and New Form Digital.
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THU, NOV 8 5:30 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 5:00 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 10:00 AM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA
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Inspired by true events, Summer '03 centers on 16-year-old Jamie and her extended family who are reeling after her calculating grandmother Dotty unveils an array of family secrets on her deathbed. Jamie is left to navigate her nascent love life and maintain her closest friendships in the midst of this family crisis. Following her late grandmother’s wishes, Jamie searches for her faith while also trying to master the one thing in life that Dotty told her she must learn how to do. While visiting a Catholic church, Jamie falls for Luke, a young seminary student. Dotty’s advice gets Jamie into more trouble than she expected.
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Thunder Road After the death of his beloved mother, decorated police officer Jim Arnaud struggles to keep mind, body and spirit together as he delivers a heartfelt and unconventional eulogy at her funeral. Jim shares custody of his young daughter Crystal with his ex, Rosalind. Though contentious, the two have an arrangement to share time with Crystal, until suddenly Rosalind files for divorce and sole custody. Now Jim must do everything in his power not to lose his daughter, immediately on the heels of dealing with the loss of his mother.
RUN TIME 91 min DIRECTOR Jim Cummings PRODUCERS Zack Parker, Natalie Metzger, Benjamin Wiessner, Matt Miller SCREENWRITER Jim Cummings JIM CUMMINGS is a writer, director and actor who won Sundance with his 2016 short film Thunder Road. Jim founded The Short to Feature Lab, a pre-production platform for short filmmakers to prepare their feature film. He spent his formative years in the North Bay of San Francisco and now lives in Los Angeles.
KEY CAST Jim Cummings, Kendal Farr, Nican Robinson, Jocelyn DeBoer, Chelsea Edmundson
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THU, NOV 8 5:15 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 5:00 PM THE DRIVE-IN, CALISTOGA SUN, NOV 11 1:00 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA
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We Are Boats RUN TIME 107 min DIRECTOR James Bird PRODUCERS James Bird, Adriana Mather, Anya Remizova SCREENWRITER James Bird
JAMES BIRD made his directorial debut with the award-winning feature Eat Spirit Eat. In 2013, he formed a production company Zombot Pictures with actress and novelist Adriana Mather and composer Anya Remizova. His film Honeyglue, which played at NVFF15, won many awards and was released theatrically in 2016.
KEY CAST Angela Sarafyan, Uzo Aduba, Luke Hemsworth, Justin Cornwell, Adriana Mather, Jack Falahee, Amanda Plummer, Booboo Stewart, Gaia Weiss
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THU, NOV 8 8:15 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 8:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA SUN, NOV 11 10:00 AM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA
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We Are Boats weaves a surreal tale of human connection and fate. After her death, Francesca takes an otherworldly job in the hopes that it will allow her to visit her daughter back on earth. Lives intertwine and connect as Francesca navigates through the living world by encountering strangers at the exact moment they need her, sending their lives on either a better course towards happiness or setting the wheels in motion towards a tragic end. Director James Bird shares with audiences another serving of his singular cinematic vision.
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White Tide:
The Legend of Culebra Rodney Hyden is an American dreamer: a small business owner and family man from Central Florida. After he’s wiped out by the Great Recession, Rodney hears a story that could be his ticket out of his mounting debt: a tale of a map, an island and buried treasure. Fueled by a combination of economic desperation and blissful ignorance, Rodney hatches a plan to retrieve a possibly mythical $2 million stash of cocaine from its purported Caribbean hiding place. With the help of a colorful group of misfits—and without prior drug-running experience—Rodney sets out in pursuit of his very own American dream, with surprising results.
RUN TIME 85 min DIRECTOR Theo Love PRODUCERS Bryan Storkel, Theo Love KEY CAST Rodney Hyden
THEO LOVE is an accomplished director, best known for his work in documentary filmmaking. His critically-acclaimed directorial debut Little Hope Was Arson was curated by PBS’ Independent Lens. Theo takes documentaries to new cinematic heights with his outrageous sophomore feature, White Tide: The Legend of Culebra.
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THU, NOV 8 8:30 PM THE DRIVE-IN, CALSTOGA FRI, NOV 9 8:30 PM CAMEO CINEMA, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 8:15 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA
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OUR 8TH YEAR AS A PROUD LEADING SPONSOR OF THE NAPA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
ColorZone has served the Napa Valley for over 15 years and has recently added a state of the art label press. Short Runs Digital UV Cured / Uses Less Energy No Plate or Die Charges From 100 to 1 Million Fast Turn Around 15 Minutes From Napa
Welcome to LabelZone
CALL FOR QUOTES OR TO VISIT OUR FACILITY | 707 746 5050 | COLORZONE.COM
SPECIAL PROFILE
The Westin Verasa Napa A Leadership Team Who Defines Family A longtime supporter of the Napa Valley Film Festival, the Westin exemplifies how corporate philanthropy can truly affect change. While the Westin sits on a stunning piece of waterfront property and continues to operate at a high capacity all year-round, the team who helms the ship never forgets that caring for and contributing to the community is always the priority. The leadership team at the Westin consists of: Sara Southam, Property and Owner Relations Manager; Kimberley Porter, Director of Sales and Marketing; Kate Bock, Executive Director of HR; Katarina Mezeiova, Director of Finance; and Nathan Baslaw, Rooms Division Manager. Together, they’ve managed teams through consistently busy years, and through years affected by a variety of natural disasters; but, through it all, the team has met adversity with a steadfast and positive attitude. “In 2014, almost half of the rooms were unusable for the better part of a year,” Sara explains. The property was under construction for over two years after the earthquake, but kept its entire staff throughout the entire rebuilding process. “We had employees, who would normally be assisting with rooms that were destroyed, do
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different things to make sure no one suffered personally. This year, we are adopting the financially. There were no layoffs,” Kate adds. Irene M. Snow Elementary School,” Sara Kate and the team are proud of the company’s shares, adding that children of all ages have commitment at the corporate level to keep benefited from the team’s outreach. “We’ve teams together and working in full force. also gone out and provided interview coaching When thousands of people lost their homes for older kids who are thinking of entering the in the devastating wildfires last fall, the job market.” Westin team opened their hearts and doors “Don Shindle, the General Manager, has and became a place of refuge for firefighters, spearheaded and supported volunteer individuals and entire families who stayed at initiatives at all levels of the organization. If the hotel for months while they looked for new anyone has ideas on how we can become homes or started to rebuild. The Westin team more involved in Napa, he’s always open,” brought the fire victims together, and a new Katarina emphasizes, and each member of community was built at the hotel. The staff the leadership team agrees. created a “homey” atmosphere by creating “We love supporting the Napa Valley opportunities to celebrate holidays, produce Film Festival,” Kimberley says with a smile. parties and welcome any and all pets. And “Education is incredibly valuable to us as a Michelin star Chef Ken Frank curated a company, and the impact they make with their selection of meals to stay within public servant student education programs is a big part of per diems, as well as families’ tight budgets. why we’re a partner. We are also excited to Everyone was taken care of by the Westin host so many of the filmmakers, some of leadership team and their staff. whom will participate on the panels that will “At this point, actually all of the families have be set up on property in our ballroom. We left, but a few only checked-out within the cannot wait for November!” past few weeks,” Kate recalls (in August). “Plans for future giving are always being made among the leadership team. A lot of us have participated in different endeavors
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With passion and patience, Fiona and Hal Barnett created this vineyard and winery with the intent of producing small production Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate founded in 1983. Located at the very top of Spring Mountain, our vineyard ensures incredibly distinctive terroir along with unparalleled views of the Napa Valley floor 2,000 feet below. Winemaking and viticulture practices at Barnett Vineyards are influenced by the artisan craft of creating wines by hand.
WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR VINEYARD AND WINERY - TASTINGS AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT
BARNETTVINEYARDS.COM
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
ST. HELENA, CA
707-963-7075
rooted in rutherford. distinctively napa valley.
Specializing in small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Sauvignon Blanc, Provenance produces food-friendly wines with depth and unique character, reflective of their source. Join us for our Reserve Tasting and explore a lineup of our best Cabs. Experience the difference vineyard locale can make on this Napa staple. Reservations recommended.
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DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE Accidental Climber Bias Hesburgh Hurley Life in the Doghouse The Price of Free Science Fair The Things We Keep This Changes Everything Turning Point Unlikely On My Way Out: The Secret Life of Nani and Popi My Indiana Muse
Accidental Climber
Bias
Accidental Climber tells the story of Jim Geiger, a retired forestranger and amateur mountaineer from Sacramento, who at 68 years old, attempts to become the oldest American and first great-grandfather to summit Mt. Everest. We follow Jim as he embarks on a journey to transform from a weekend hiker to attempting one of the most extreme and physically demanding feats known to man. Driven by a desire to prove that age is just a number, Jim pushes his body and mind to the limits in the quest to summit the world's tallest mountain.
The toxic effects of bias make headlines every day: sexual harassment, racial profiling, the pay gap. As humans, we are biased. Yet few of us are willing to admit it. We confidently make snap judgments, but we are shockingly unaware of the impact our assumptions have on those around us. Bias follows filmmaker Robin Hauser on a journey to uncover her hidden biases and explore how unconscious bias defines relationships, workplaces, our justice system and technology. Bias contemplates the most pressing question: can we de-bias our brains?
STEVEN ORITT’s directing career began in the music video industry. From there, he moved into the documentary world with his feature-length debut American Native. The film appeared at thirteen festivals, including NVFF, taking home best documentary/ director awards.
ROBIN HAUSER is the director and producer of cause-based documentary films at Finish Line Features and President of Unleashed Productions. Robin’s award-winning film, CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and played at NVFF15.
RUN TIME 65 min
RUN TIME 88 min
DIRECTOR Steven Oritt PRODUCER Corey Bobker
DIRECTOR Robin Hauser
KEY CAST James Geiger
PRODUCERS Robin Hauser, Christie Herring
This program generously supported by Theresa Carlisle
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THU, NOV 8 1:00 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 12:45 PM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA SUN, NOV 11 5:00 PM THE DRIVE-IN, CALISTOGA #NVFF18
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Hesburgh
Hurley
Hesburgh offers a unique glimpse at more than fifty years of American history as seen through the eyes of the longtime president of the University of Notre Dame and highly influential civil rights leader, who also happened to be America's most well-known Catholic priest. Educator, civil rights champion, advisor to presidents, envoy to popes, theologian and activist, Father Theodore Hesburgh was called on by countless world leaders in critical moments in modern history to tackle the most challenging issues of the day.
Hurley is the story of American racing legend Hurley Haywood. Hurley speaks for the first time about being gay in the 1970s macho world of motorsports, and sets the record straight about his relationship with co-driver Peter Gregg. This is not your typical racing movie. Hurley’s story has the power to impact the middle of America. It's a human story with a powerful message that all audiences can relate to.
PATRICK CREADON began his career in Chicago as one of the youngest staff cameramen in the history of PBS. His directorial debut Wordplay premiered at Sundance and was sold to IFC Films. His other films include I.O.U.S.A. and If You Build It.
DEREK DODGE is a writer, director, producer and cinematographer. Recent credits include The Ring Thing and That’s Not Us. Derek is a former CNN producer and Travel Channel video journalist, and has worked for journalist Katie Couric and the Discovery Channel. RUN TIME 83 min
RUN TIME 100 min
DIRECTOR Derek Dodge
DIRECTOR Patrick Creadon
PRODUCERS Justin Franklin, William C. Sullivan, Derek Dodge, Patrick Dempsey
PRODUCERS Christine O'Malley, p.g.a, Jerry Barca For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the Friday screening of Hesburgh. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
KEY CAST Hurley Haywood, Patrick Dempsey, Patrick Long, Sam Posey, Frank Stella For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the Thursday screening of Hurley. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE
This program generously supported by Irene & Ed Ojdana
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Life in the Doghouse
The Price of Free
When Hurricane Katrina’s surge broke through the levees in New Orleans and thousands of dogs were left stranded, Danny Robertshaw and his partner of nearly 30 years, Ron Danta, stepped up to save the lives of the abandoned dogs. Dedicating all of their own resources to the effort, including their own home, they eventually rescued and found homes for more than 600 dogs. Danny & Ron’s Rescue was founded. Life in the Doghouse tells the inspiring life stories of these two men and the selfless work they continue to do.
The Price of Free is a suspenseful yet intimate look at Kailash Satyarthi’s groundbreaking crusade to liberate every child from slave labor. This kinetic journey through secret raids and quests for missing kids shows how refusing to accept an unacceptable status quo can create sweeping change. The film is also the story of spirited children who, released from a nightmare, latch onto a second chance for joy with all they’ve got. It is the kids Kailash rescues who prove the absolute necessity of what he does: giving hope to the world one child at a time.
RON DAVIS, founder of Docutainment Films, directed and produced NVFF alumni film Harry & Snowman, as well as the HBO feature documentary Miss You Can Do It. His feature documentary Pageant premiered on The Sundance Channel.
DEREK DONEEN directed the documentary short Spent: Looking for Change, produced the documentaries The Dream is Now and Shot in the Dark, and edited Kobe Bryant’s Muse for Showtime. The Price of Free marks Derek’s feature documentary debut.
RUN TIME 83 min
#ARTINSPIRING
ACTION
RUN TIME 92 min
DIRECTOR Ron Davis PRODUCERS Clay Westervelt, Nancy Stanton Knox Talcott
#ARTINSPIRING
For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the Thursday screening of Life in the Doghouse. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
ACTION
DIRECTOR Derek Doneen PRODUCERS Sarah Anthony, Davis Guggenheim KEY CAST Kailash Satyarthi, Sumedha Satyarthi
This program generously supported by Debra Crow
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THU, NOV 8 10:00 AM LINCOLN THEATER, YOUNTVILLE SAT, NOV 10 8:30 PM THE DRIVE-IN, CALISTOGA SUN, NOV 11 12:45 PM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA #NVFF18
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Science Fair
The Things We Keep
Science Fair follows nine high school students from around the globe as they navigate rivalries, setbacks and, of course, hormones, on their journey to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair. As 1,700 of the smartest, quirkiest teens from 78 different countries face off, only one will be named Best in Fair. The film offers a front seat to the victories, defeats and motivations of an incredible group of young men and women who are on a path to change their lives—and the world—through science.
The Things We Keep is a kaleidoscope of stories drawn from 15 years of tapes and hard drives containing personal and journalistic footage. We are plunged into the back of smuggler trucks crossing the Sahara and into all-night parties in Berlin. The path leads us from a carefree student life in Rome, to the sniper alleys of Aleppo, and into a homeless shelter in Detroit. What begins as casual filmmaking by two friends quickly evolves into a broader meditation on what it means to go out into the world, and eventually come home.
Science Fair is CRISTINA COSTANTINI and DARREN FOSTER's first feature and second collaboration together. The pair previously partnered on Death by Fentanyl, a 2017 duPont Award-winning investigation about an opiate that’s making the worst drug epidemic in U.S. history even deadlier.
CASEY KAUFFMAN received Concentra's video journalism Breaking News Award and a CINE Golden Eagle Award.
RUN TIME 75 min
RUN TIME 90 min
DIRECTORS Alessandro Cassigoli, Casey Kauffman
DIRECTORS Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster
PRODUCER Christian Popp
PRODUCERS Jeffrey Plunkett, Darren Foster, Cristina Costantini
SCREENWRITERS Fred Parnes, Andrew Wagner KEY CAST Alessandro Cassigoli, Casey Kauffman
DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE
SCREENWRITERS Jeffrey Plunkett, Darren Foster, Cristina Costantini
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ALESSANDRO CASSIGOLI was honored at several international film festivals. His film La Deutsche Vita was theatrically released to critical acclaim.
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THU, NOV 8 9:30 AM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 10:00 AM LINCOLN THEATER, YOUNTVILLE NVFF.ORG
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This Changes Everything
Turning Point
This Changes Everything takes an incisive look into the male-dominated film industry to examine the forces that continue to foster the systemic under-representation and misrepresentation of women. What is behind the film industry’s blatant gender bias? What has been tried in the past and what initiatives are being tried today to confront gender discrimination? What does this discrimination look like on a more personal level? And, most importantly, what must be done to create real and lasting change? TOM DONAHUE is a director and producer of narrative and documentary features and co-founder of CreativeChaos vmg. Tom's Emmy-nominated HBO feature documentary Casting By played NVFF12 and was hailed as one of the top five docs of the year by the National Board of Review.
More than a century after Dr. Alois Alzheimer first described the brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and cognitive skills, Turning Point takes us inside the quest for the first medication that could treat the underlying process of Alzheimer’s disease. Along the way, we meet the people behind these grand experiments, scientists driven as much by personal conviction as professional innovation. JAMES KEACH is an actor, director, writer, and producer. His most recent success was the award-winning documentary Glen Campbell...I’ll Be Me which played NVFF14, was nominated for an Academy Award and won three Grammy Awards. RUN TIME 80 min
#ARTINSPIRING
ACTION
RUN TIME 97 min
#ARTINSPIRING
ACTION
DIRECTOR James Keach PRODUCER James Keach KEY CAST Neil deGrasse Tyson, Meg Tirrell, Dr. Eric Siemers, Dr. Rudy Tanzi, Dr. Reisa Sperling, Dr. Stephen Salloway
DIRECTOR Tom Donahue PRODUCERS Ilan Arboleda, Tom Donahue, Kerianne Flynn, Geena Davis, Regina K. Scully The Friday screening will be followed immediately by our Visionary Tribute to Geena Davis. See page 26.
This program generously supported by Jennifer King & Timothy Fredel SHOWTIM ES
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CALLING CARDS Total Run Time: 83 min
CALLING CARD 1
My Indiana Muse
Unlikely Set in the cities of Akron, Atlanta, Boston and Los Angeles, five individuals challenged by America’s higher education system fight for a second chance at opportunity. Featuring interviews with LeBron James, Howard Schultz, and our nation's leading voices in education, this penetrating and personal new film investigates America’s college dropout crisis and highlights the innovators reimagining higher education for the 21st century. JAYE FENDERSON and ADAM FENDERSON are the founders of Three Frame Media and the directors and producers of the award-winning documentary film First Generation, which played at NVFF11. RUN TIME 106 min
#ARTINSPIRING
DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE
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DIRECTORS Jaye Fenderson, Adam Fenderson PRODUCERS Christopher Gebhardt, Jaye Fenderson, Adam Fenderson
Artist Robert Townsend discovers a new muse when he purchases a collection of vintage photo slides featuring a woman named Helen. Robert tracks down Helen's family in hopes of learning more about the woman he has been painting.
RUN TIME 43 min DIRECTORS Ric Serena, Jennifer Serena PRODUCERS Ric Serena, Jennifer Serena, Serena Creative KEY CAST Robert Townsend, Charles Phoenix
CALLING CARD 2
On My Way Out:
The Secret Life of Nani and Popi
Having survived the horrors of the Holocaust, Nani and Popi raised a family in America, endeared themselves to a wide circle of friends, and built a successful business. Now at age 95, a deeplyheld secret is revealed: Popi is gay.
RUN TIME 40 min DIRECTORS Brandon Gross, Skyler Gross PRODUCERS Howie Mandel, Lili Blank Gross, Brandon Gross, Barry Avrich
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FOOD & BEVERAGE SPOTLIGHT Agave: Spirit of a Nation Brewmaster Hiro's Table Soufra The Txoko Experience. The Secret Culinary Space of the Basques ULAM: Main Dish
Agave: The Spirit of a Nation
Brewmaster
Agave: The Spirit of a Nation explores the phenomenon of the fastest trending alcohol spirits in the world: tequila and mezcal. This gorgeously-shot film takes us to Mexico, the world’s most bio-diverse landscape of the agave plant, where families have been passing down the tradition of distilling agave for generations. From the alluring red highlands of Jalisco to the rugged mountains of Oaxaca, we walk step by step with three producers in this burgeoning renaissance.
In 1998 there were less than 1,500 breweries in the United States. Now there are over 7,000. Brewmaster tells the story of the rise of craft beer through two young men pursuing their dreams in the world of beer. Drew is a New York lawyer who wants to start his own brewery. Brian, an ex-telemarketer, is studying to become a Master Cicerone—the beer equivalent of a sommelier—which requires taking a test only 13 people have ever passed. This is the definitive documentary on the growing community of craft beer. DOUGLAS TIROLA is an award-winning director and producer. Douglas’ directorial debut An Omar Broadway Film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film was followed up by the award-winning All In: The Poker Movie and the James Beard nominated Hey Bartender.
NICK KOVACIC is a founding partner of Digital Cave and director of Brewmore and Decanted. Nick is currently adjunct faculty teaching at MICA’s BA and MFA Film program.
RUN TIME 89 min MATTHEW RIGGIERI is a founding partner of Digital Cave, and a member of ICG.
DIRECTOR Douglas Tirola PRODUCERS Susan Bedusa, Danielle Rosen
For non-passholders, tickets are available for advance purchase for the Sunday screening of Brewmaster. Please visit: nvff.org/box-office/tickets/
RUN TIME 78 min DIRECTORS Nick Kovacic, Matthew Riggieri PRODUCERS Paola Villanueva Bidault, Gabriel Goodenough, Helena Medina-Lomeli
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WED, NOV 7 5:30 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 5:15 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA #NVFF18
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Hiro's Table
Soufra
Hiro’s Table follows master sushi chef Hiroji Obayashi and his wife Yasuyo over seventeen years as they managed day-to-day operation of their restaurant Hirozen Gourmet. The intimate establishment is nestled in the unlikely corner of a West Hollywood strip mall and has a clientele of loyal followers. Lynn Hamrick's poignant film is a tribute to the subtleties of Hiro's unique culinary vision and the perseverance it took for his family to transition from immigrant business owners to established restaurateurs with all the joys and sorrows that entailed.
South of Beirut, Lebanon is a 68-year-old refugee camp housing refugees from Palestine, Syria and Iraq. Many have lived in this camp their entire lives. Mariam AlShaar is one of them. Now, Mariam has pulled the women of this camp together to do what has never been done before. They started with a small kitchen from a micro-loan. With nearly insurmountable political odds against them, they look to start the first ever refugee food truck and catering business. THOMAS MORGAN’s films have been labeled “Filmanthropy,” as he has leveraged them to create movements and a call to action. In his film Storied Streets, Thomas pushed for laws making the violence against the homeless a hate crime.
DGA Best Director Award recipient LYNN HAMRICK has built her career directing, writing and producing. Lynn is currently in pre-production on a feature comedy, I’m Your Man, produced in tandem with Viola Davis and Julius Tennon.
RUN TIME 73 min
RUN TIME 55 min DIRECTOR Lynn Hamrick
#ARTINSPIRING
ACTION
PRODUCERS Lynn Hamrick, Gail Yasunaga SCREENWRITERS Lynn Hamrick
DIRECTOR Thomas Morgan RODUCERS Kathleen Glynn, Trevor Hall, P Craig Piligian
KEY CAST Hiroji Obayashi, Yasuyo Obayashi, Candice Obayashi, Philip Chiang, Paul Prudhomme
FOOD AND BEVERAGE SPOTLIGHT
This program is generously supported by Hilary & Chris Wendel
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The Txoko Experience. ULAM: Main Dish The Secret Culinary Space of the Basques
The Txoko Experience. The Secret Culinary Space of the Basques focuses on the unique spaces of txokos, or gastronomic societies, where artisanal cuisine from the Basque Country is the main protagonist. In addition, the film highlights regional products such as Rioja wine and Idiazabal cheese, among others. By emphasizing the products and the chefs who work with them, this energetic new documentary film underlines the value, essence and environment in which delicious, innovative meals are designed. Born and raised in the Basque Country in Northern Spain, YURI MOREJON is a political scientist who founded his own communications firm. The Txoko Experience. The Secret Culinary Space of the Basques is his first foray into the fascinating world of gastronomy.
ULAM: Main Dish follows the rise of Filipino food via the award-winning chefs crossing over to the center of the American table. Director Alexandra Cuerdo posits this new culinary movement as not only a remarkable achievement for American restaurateurs, but also as a validation of Filipino culture. Her film confronts issues inherent in representing both Filipino and American identity, and challenges from both the Filipino community and the world at large. ALEXANDRA CUERDO is a director, producer and editor, recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women In the World by the Filipina Women's Network. MSN ranks her feature directorial debut ULAM: Main Dish as one of the Top 5 Food Documentaries to watch now. RUN TIME 80 min DIRECTOR Alexandra Cuerdo PRODUCERS Alexandra Cuerdo, John Floresca, Rey Cuerdo
RUN TIME 54 min DIRECTOR Yuri Morejon PRODUCER Yescom Consulting, LLC. SCREENWRITERS Marcela Garces KEY CAST Elena Arzak, Victor Arguinzoniz, Josean Alija, Aitor Arregi
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NARRATIVE SHORTS NARRATIVE ONE Have It All Are We Good Parents? Multiverse Dating for Beginners Deep Dish Apocalypse The Brownlist Last Meal The Liberty
NARRATIVE TWO The Human Project Duke No Returns The Lightkeeper Generations
NARRATIVE THREE A Foreman The View From Up Here The Lost Tzeva Adom: Color Red
NARRATIVE SHORTS Total Run Time: 78 min
Narrative One
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THU, NOV 8 9:45 AM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 8:00 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 5:15 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA
A series of films that outline the absurdities of life, ranging from satirical to heartfelt.
Have It All
A true story about one baby, one meeting and one big myth.
Are We Good Parents? Multiverse Dating When Lauren and Bill’s For Beginners teenage daughter says she’s going to a dance with her classmate Ryan, they question their preconceived notions of her sexuality and their openness as parents.
Ivy and Dave are totally hitting it off. However, a glitch in the Matrix allows Ivy to see how things will turn out if she plays the dating game differently.
RUN TIME 9 min DIR Bola Ogun PROD Tatiana Olsak, Bola Ogun SW Hailey Chavez, Bola Ogun CAST Tracie Thoms, Sean Maguire, Gabrielle Skye Goodman
RUN TIME 13 min DIR/SW Kelly Tatham PROD Sasha Duncan CAST Sara Canning, William Vaughan
The Brownlist
Last Meal
The Liberty
RUN TIME 6 min DIR Kelly Walker, Ryan Garcia PROD/SW Ursula Taherian CAST Ursula Taherian, Camille Guaty, David Sullivan, Kerry O'Malley, Christine Garver, Jeff Witzke
RUN TIME 15 min DIR Austin Simmons SW Michael Boyle PROD Alex Bratsos, Nimisha Patil CAST Nate Ward, Kate McIntyre, Sam Ingraffia, Steve Sobel, Renzo Rios
RUN TIME 22 min DIR/ SW Jill Sachs PROD Jason Don CAST Michael Chieffo, Amelia Morck
RUN TIME 5 min DIR/SW Katie Locke O'Brien PROD Barret Bowman, Katie Locke O'Brien CAST Katie Locke O'Brien
The Brownlist tells the story of a biracial actress who just can’t seem to fit Hollywood’s perception of what it means to be “diverse.”
Roger cooks "last meals" for prisoners on death row but not so secretly dreams of being a celebrity chef.
Deep Dish Apocalypse Two co-workers bump into each other beneath the city on an abandoned subway platform as a zombie-riddled Los Angeles erupts in chaos. RUN TIME 8 min DIR David Codeglia PROD Emily Bell, Ron Morehouse SW Trey Nichols CAST Emily Bell, Ron Morehouse
On the eve of the grand reopening of the family's shuttered movie palace, Lily struggles to uphold the dreams of her idealist father.
NARRATIVE SHORTS
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NARRATIVE SHORTS Total Run Time: 83 min
Narrative Two
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Our relationship with our family is often what helps us discover our true selves.
The Human Project
In the wake of their father’s death, two estranged siblings begin a journey of selfdiscovery as they are forced to reconnect. RUN TIME 13 min DIR K. Spencer Jones PROD Chelsea Alden, Nicole Pase SW David Beatty CAST Chelsea Alden, David Beatty
Duke
When a nonverbal autistic teen’s family is irreparably falling apart, he somehow must find his voice to keep them together. Based on a true story. RUN TIME 16 min DIR/SW/PROD Thiago Dadalt SW Dru Miller PROD Dru Miller, Ekin Ergen, Andre Chesini, Bruna Nogueira CAST Robert Solomon, Piercey Dalton, Jeff Marchelletta, Martin Dorsla, Tammy Kaitz, Zack Kozlow, Sofia Guijarro
THU, NOV 8 12:45 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 8:30 PM NATIVE SONS HALL, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 9:45 AM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA
No Returns
The Lightkeeper
RUN TIME 14 min DIR Youwen Ma PROD Joyce Liu-Countryman, Jason Don SW Youwen Ma, Joyce Liu-Countryman CAST Kim Reed, Zoë Kim, Debbie Fan, Meilee Condron, Victoria Nea, Isabella Abiera
RUN TIME 16 min DIR/SW Zach Bandler PROD Meg Steedle, Victor Mazzone CAST Meg Steedle, Bruce Davison
The summer before she starts college, Katie travels from America to Fujian, China in the hopes of meeting her birth mother.
Along a remote stretch of stormy coastline, a seemingly bitter young woman agrees to dinner at the home of an aging recluse.
Generations
When a tragedy at work provokes him to uncover family secrets at home, Dr. Bill O’Connell discovers the truth about himself and his lineage.
NARRATIVE SHORTS
RUN TIME 24 min DIR Kourosh Ahari SW Candice Holdorf PROD Alex Bretow CAST George Maguire, Nancy Madden, Dyan McBride, Cascius La Fleur
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NARRATIVE SHORTS Total Run Time: 75 min
Narrative Three
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Our differences may divide us, but if we take the time to understand one another then there is hope for change.
A Foreman
When an inspector from the Department of Labor shows up at her doorstep, a foreman at a machine shop must keep the business running while protecting her workers' interests. RUN TIME 16 min DIR/SW Daniel Drummond PROD Esteban Zuluaga CAST Piercey Dalton, Bradley Miller, Michael Maino, Josh Olkowski, Ivan Borodin
The View From Up Here
Claire and Lila live in the same building, but hardly know each other's name. One day Claire decides to pay a visit to Lila to make an unconventional request. RUN TIME 17 min DIR/SW Marco Calvani PROD Dean Matthew Ronalds, Emanuela Galliussi, Bruno Levy CAST Melissa Leo, Leïla Bekhti
WED, NOV 7 1:45 PM JAM CELLARS BALLROOM, NAPA THU, NOV 8 5:00 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 8:15 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA
The Lost
The Lost plays out a highly publicized protest altercation from three differing points of view. RUN TIME 22 min DIR/SW Neil M. Paik PROD Roberta Marie Munroe, Rick Famuyiwa CAST Suraj Sharma, Chiké Okonkwo, Brent Antonello, Karen Fukuhara, Jessica Sula, Kim Shaw, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Marcus Jean Pirae
Tzeva Adom: Color Red
Ronit is a female soldier serving in the Israeli Defense Forces who forms an unlikely connection through social media with Omar, a Palestinian boy living in Gaza. RUN TIME 20 min DIR Michael Horwitz PROD Todd Felderstein, C. Ashleigh Caldwell SW C. Ashleigh Caldwell CAST Shani Atias, Danny Boushebel, Kenzie Caplan, Wiley Jawhary, Jack 'Jaco' Pitchon, Jonathan Arkin, Sima Galanti
NARRATIVE SHORTS
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DOCUMENTARY SHORTS DOCUMENTARY ONE A Perfect Note Angela Wilson: A Butcher's Story Dashi Journey Esfuerzo Empire on Main Street
DOCUMENTARY TWO I Love Your Fucking Name My Paintbrush Bites Sole Doctor Hula Girl Take The Hill Messi & Me
DOCUMENTARY THREE Fear Us Women The Kodiak Queen Sharing Our Stories: The Eliza Project Documentary Day Zero Connection In Crisis
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS Total Run Time: 74 min
Documentary One
SHOWTIM ES
WED, NOV 7 5:15 PM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA FRI, NOV 9 8:15 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 8:00 PM CHARLES KRUG WINERY, ST. HELENA
A collection of culinary films that explore cuisine from California to around the globe.
A Perfect Note
Cafe Jacqueline is the only strictly soufflé restaurant in the United States. Chef Jacqueline Margulis opened her San Francisco restaurant in 1979. RUN TIME 13 min DIR/PROD Phoebe Rubin CAST Jacqueline Margulis
Angela Wilson: A Butcher's Story
An intimate portrayal of Angela Wilson, a butcher and owner of Avedano's Holly Park Market located in San Francisco. RUN TIME 7 min DIR/PROD/SW Gaby Scott
Dashi Journey
Esfuerzo
RUN TIME 17 min DIR Eric Wolfinger PROD Pete Lee, Satoshi Ishida
RUN TIME 13 min DIR Alana Maiello SW Zack Eritz, Bob Wenrich PROD Zack Eritz, Bob Wenrich CAST Fidencio Flores, Armando Zepeda, Mariana Flores
A world renowned chef travels to the ends of Japan to uncover the origins of Dashi, the original source of umami and the invisible foundation of Japanese cuisine.
An immigrant grape master has cared for his vineyards for 35 years. As his grandson prepares to take the reins, he's trapped between tradition and innovation.
Empire on Main Street A tireless entrepreneur jumpstarts the transformation of a neglected vacation town, her ambition pushing her to the brink of physical and psychological exhaustion. RUN TIME 24 min DIR Jessica Congdon PROD Eric Holland CAST Crista Luedtke
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
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DOCUMENTARY SHORTS Total Run Time: 90 min
Documentary Two Learn about these unique individuals as their stories entertain, delight and inspire.
I Love Your Fucking Name
Starring Liz Taylor, Brigitte Bardot, Peter Pan and Ronald McDonald, I Love Your Fucking Name is about the complex relationships people have with their given names. RUN TIME 8 min DIR Finn O'Hara PROD Finn O'Hara, Emily Goldberg SW Caitlin Keeley
WED, NOV 7 10:45 AM ARCHER HOTEL, NAPA THU, NOV 8 12:45 PM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA SAT, NOV 10 9:45 AM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA
My Paintbrush Bites
Sole Doctor
Hula Girl
RUN TIME 5 min DIR Joel Pincosy, Joe Egender PROD Joel Pincosy, Joe Egender
RUN TIME 5 min DIR/PROD Paula Bernstein
RUN TIME 10 min DIR/PROD Amy Hill, Chris Riess CAST Joan Anderson
When Ron decided to adopt injured racehorse Metro, he had no idea that Metro had a hidden talent for painting, a skill that would change both of their lives forever.
Take the Hill
Messi & Me
RUN TIME 24 min DIR/PROD David Holbrooke SW Vincent Deluca CAST Dick Grace, Ann Grace
RUN TIME 17 min DIR/PROD Karin Argoud
Sole Doctor presents a multi-generational portrait of George's Shoe Repair, a family-owned business in Portland, Oregon that has served the community for over 50 years.
Hula Girl is the untold story behind one of the biggest fads in modern American history. At 94 years of age, Joan Anderson has waited 60 years to set her record straight.
After giving up on his dream of playing professional soccer, Matt Eliason’s spectacular bicycle kick stole the spotlight from the great Lionel Messi and offered Matt a second chance.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Take the Hill tells the story of Dick Grace, a legendary winery owner and philanthropist who has forged a singular life here in Napa Valley.
SHOWTIM ES
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DOCUMENTARY SHORTS Total Run Time: 89 min
Documentary Three
SHOWTIM ES
These films shine a light on how people are coming together to make a change for the better in their community and around the world.
Fear Us Women
Canadian Hanna Bohman has spent the last three years as a volunteer soldier for the YPJ, an all-female Kurdish army battling ISIS and fighting for liberation. RUN TIME 27 min DIR David Darg PROD Diego Traverso CAST Hanna Bohman
The Kodiak Queen
The Kodiak Queen is about an arts and ecological initiative by Sir Richard Branson to transform a battered warship that survived Pearl Harbor into an artificial reef and dive site in the British Virgin Islands. #ARTINSPIRING
ACTION
RUN TIME 17 min DIR/PROD Rob Sorrenti
THU, NOV 8 9:45 AM FARMSTEAD THEATER, ST. HELENA FRI, NOV 9 8:15 PM ACACIA BARN, ST. HELENA SUN, NOV 11 5:15 PM ARCEHR HOTEL, NAPA
SHARING OUR Day Zero You don't get a new liver STORIES: The Eliza until you, and the people you Project Documentary love, go through hell. Who's The Eliza Project is a philanthropic endeavor led by Hamilton cast members to hold artistic workshops with the students at Graham Windham, the orphanage created by Eliza Hamilton. RUN TIME 10 min DIR Morgan Marcell PROD Graham Windham, Morgan Marcell CAST Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Jonathan Groff, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lexi Lawson, Morgan Marcell #ARTINSPIRING
ACTION
going to win: Patrick or his dying liver? #ARTINSPIRING
ACTION
RUN TIME 9 min DIR Rod Blackhurst PROD Edward Adams, Abbey Brau, Christian Corser, Jennifer Hovelsrud, Mindy Lubert, Teddy Lynn, Benjamin Meents, Lauri Niedermaier, Scotty Schuckies, Mathew Wurman CAST Patrick Waddle, Ron Canfield, Audrey Doshi
Connection in Crisis
Born in the aftermath of a school shooting, a remarkable team of psychological first aid trauma dogs—the K9 First Responders—are called upon after America's worst tragedies. #ARTINSPIRING
ACTION
RUN TIME 26 min DIR Dennis Zaidi PROD Kristi Discola
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
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NAPA SQUARE IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL now leasing bo.harkins@cushwake.com
SPECIAL PROFILE
Barbara Nemko
Napa County’s Education Advocate As the County Superintendent of Schools of the film industry as a career choice for for the past 21 years, Barbara Nemko has young people. She was first introduced to been inspired to work in education since NVFF when Co-Founders/Directors Brenda she was teaching second grade in New York and Marc Lhormer approached her in 2011 City. She’s taught all levels of grade school for advice on how the film festival could and moved to California where she tackled bring filmmakers into the schools and reach literacy curriculum within the Berkeley students year-round with film education Unified School District. She worked briefly in and outreach programs. The chance to get the Richmond Unified School District, and for involved excited Barbara, as she has always 11 years with UC Davis, evaluating programs believed film opens up the eyes of young for the California Department of Education. people, broadens their horizons and helps In 1991, Barbara was invited by the Deputy “make life more worthwhile,” particularly Superintendent of the Napa County Office for children who find the visual arts and of Education to apply for the position of storytelling to be an escape from the stresses Curriculum Director. After 6 years on the job, of everyday life. the Superintendent, Ed Henderson, retired to “I’ve known children in arts programs who become Mayor. The Board appointed Barbara said that it helped them find a way to cope as the Interim Superintendent, and when with troubled home lives, bullying, poor that term expired, she ran for the job in the performance in other areas of school—all election, and won. Barbara was reelected 5 kinds of situations. It’s important that they more times, and is looking forward to starting know they’re appreciated and, especially in her sixth term in January. the case of learning how to make films, that A longtime advocate of the Napa Valley Film there’s potential to use those skills in the real Festival (NVFF) mission to further the place of world as either a vocation or avocation.” film in the classroom at local schools, Barbara Barbara had the opportunity to generously has tremendous support for the advancement devote her time (and her own talents as a
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stage actress) at NVFF’s first screenwriting camp for high school students this past June. She described her participation as fabulous and fascinating. “The student filmmakers got together on a weekend and wrote their stories to be workshopped and filmed at Pacific Union College in the following week long production camp. When kids are creating something that seems important for the real world— that they know people will see— they’re usually a lot better about applying themselves to the work.” The students showed their finished films to friends and family at the Cameo Cinema in July. Barbara was there to cheer them on saying, “the pride they all showed during the screenings at the Cameo was just spectacular.” For those of us who know another side of Barbara, we try to find out what she’s doing next on stage in a play or musical. Barbara dazzles and amazes (and makes you laugh), and if she weren’t so busy supporting education and kids in Napa County, the NVFF team thinks she’d be busy winning Tony Awards on Broadway. Barbara’s talent, commitment to education and her generous heart inspires us all.
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SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Our Education & Outreach Programs are dedicated to creating specially curated opportunities for Napa County youth. We bring socially conscious films to local students and schools, and also offer in-classroom instruction and hands-on internship opportunities year-round. We want the eye-opening art and inspirational power of cinematic storytelling and the stories themselves to be an integral part of the student learning experience.
Support for education & outreach
FILMMAKERS-IN-THE-SCHOOLS Each year, a special selection of festival films are offered to teachers to screen in the classroom. During the week of the festival, we invite the filmmakers and film subjects of these films to visit students to engage in interactive discussions. Students are prepared for the opportunity to meet these artists and dive into conversations that help bring classroom cirriculums to life.
Valedictorian
• Afghan Cycles (pg. 83) • Bias (pg. 111) • Hesburgh (pg. 112) • The Kodiak Queen (pg. 133) • The Price of Free (pg. 113)
Salutatorian
• Unlikely (pg. 116) TEEN PRESS
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Teen Press develops young students’ research, listening and interviewing skills. Two teams of student journalists will step outside of their comfort zone to interview celebrities on the Red Carpets, filmmakers and other festival guests.
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• BLUE OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL directed by 7th & 8th grade Math advisor Kristina Webster
Grace Family Foundation
LEF Foundation
Thank you
• HARVEST MIDDLE SCHOOL directed by Journalism teacher Joe Paniagua
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SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
INSPIRE is a multi-school field trip for Napa and Solano County middle and high school students during the festival week. Students gather to watch documentary films and participate in extended discussions with filmmakers and their inspirational subjects. Each year, INSPIRE reaches more students than ever before. Young minds will open, horizons will expand, and lives will change. INSPIRE is a core component of our Education & Outreach Programs.
EVENT DETAILS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Lincoln Theater | Yountville
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6
American Canyon High School
FEATURED FILMS FOR INSPIRE 2018 The Kodiak Queen (pg. 133) Science Fair (pg. 114) The Trouble With Wolves (pg. 90)
STUDENT FILMMAKING CAMPS & SHORT FILM SHOWCASE A collection of student film submissions showcase the Napa Valley as a launching place for the next generation of filmmakers. In June 2018, NVFF and Friends of the Cameo (FOC) collaborated to bring filmmaking opportunities to Napa, Sonoma, and Lake County students. Together, NVFF and FOC produced two five-day intensive film camps focused on creating narrative and documentary films. Students were provided with tools and instruction to express their vision and stories on film. Films were then selected from these Filmmaking Camps and the Cameo Cinema Family Film Festival (FFF) to screen for a live audience. NVFF Narrative Camp Short Films
Cameo Cinema Doc Camp Short Films
FREE COMMUNITY SCREENING DAY As a thank you to the local community, and in continued recognition of the official Veterans Day holiday, we are offering free public screenings at the Napa District Auditorium on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12. The day will begin with a selection of student-produced films, followed by a showcase of NVFF18 feature films. These film screenings will not include filmmaker Q&A’s. 9:00 AM Student Short Film Showcase
A Power
Documentary Profile:
The Campaign
Chef Christopher Kostow
Cameo Cinema FFF Winners
Documentary Profile:
Grand Prize: The Table
Zamarripa Twins
1:00 PM Ride (pg. 101)
Documentary Profile:
3:00 PM Life in the Doghouse (pg. 113)
11:00 AM Cancer Rebellion (pg. 84)
DIR Micah Eisenberg Grayson Broyles
DIR Michael Alcanter
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SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
High School: Sincerely
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Artists-In-Residence Festival Faculty Panels & Conversations Culinary Demonstrations Down-Valley Hub & Intermissions Up-Valley Hub & Intermissions
ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE
PROVIDING SPACE AND TIME FOR REFLECTION, RESEARCH AND NETWORKING
Made possible by
For the eighth consecutive year, the directors of the eighteen films in our Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature Competitions will stay at Meadowood Napa Valley while participating in our innovative Artists-inResidence Program. These talented storytellers will network with each other, discuss new projects and explore career development and industry trends with our esteemed Festival Faculty. Meadowood also sponsors the $10,000 cash prizes presented at Saturday evening’s Awards Ceremony to the filmmakers whose films are chosen by our Jury as Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature.
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NARRATIVE FEATURES DEVIN ADAIR
JENICA BERGERE
MARTHA PINSON
MIRANDA BAILEY
NOOR GHARZEDDINE
Grace
Spare Room
Tomorrow
You Can Choose Your Family
Are You Glad I'm Here
RACHEL CAREY
VANESSA KNUTSEN
WILLIAM FICHTNER
ZORINAH JUAN
Ask For Jane
Only Humans
Cold Brook
When We Grow Up
ANDRES CABALLERO
SOFIAN KHAN
COLLIN MONDA
FIONA DAWSON
GABE SILVERMAN
The Interpreters
The Interpreters
The Trouble With Wolves
TransMilitary
TransMilitary
LENNY FEINBERG
MARK MAXEY
Up to Snuff
MATTHEW MAUDE SARAH KERRUISH
NATHAN CHENEY
Father's Kingdom
SARAH MENZIES
HERNAN BARANGAN
Afghan Cycles
Cancer Rebellion
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
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General Magic
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A Fatherless Generation
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FESTIVAL FACULTY MENTORS & MODERATORS A talented and experienced set of industry professionals share their insights and expertise with our core competition filmmakers at the Artists-in-Residence Program at Meadowood Napa Valley. They also host special screenings and presentations, and mingle with all of our filmmakers and audience members throughout the week of the festival. Several of our esteemed Jurors also participate; they are listed separately on pages 44–45.
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Darrien Michele Gipson is the National Director of SAGindie, an educational resource for independent producers looking to hire professional actors. Darrien was formerly the VP of Production for DEF Pictures.
Cobie Smulders has starred in film and television hits such as Jack Reacher 2, The Avengers franchise, Why We’re Killing Gunther, Literally, Right Before Aaron, Songbird, Friends from College, and How I Met Your Mother.
Felicity Wren is the Development Director at the International Screenwriters Association. Felicity’s focus is to support the development of writers and to provide guidance, notes and access to industry professionals.
Casting Director Mary Vernieu has cast over 300 features during her career. In 2013 Mary won an Artios Award for the casting of Silver Linings Playbook.
Alece Oxendine has held various positions at New York Film Festival, BAMcinématek, Rooftop Films, Fandor, and Distribber. She is currently the Director of Digital Sales at Good Deed Entertainment.
Joe Amodei became President of USA Home Entertainment in 2000. Joe went on to create Virgil Films and Entertainment, where he released such award-winning films as Super Size Me, I Am Chris Farley, Restrepo, Glen Campbell I’ll Be Me, Forks Over Knives, and Just Around the Corner.
Madeline Di Nonno is the Chief Executive Officer of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. Madeline leads the Institute's strategic direction, management, financial and operational activities.
Mark Borde is President of Theatrical Distribution at Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures. Mark started Freestyle Releasing in 2004 and broke new ground with the creation of “service deals,” Freestyle Digital Media, and a rare indie output partnership with Netflix.
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Matthew Chandler is the founder of the distribution strategy firm Indie Visible. With a background in nonprofit management, film festivals, and independent media, Matthew supports filmmakers in making their work impactful and sustainable.
Max Timm is the Director of Education & Outreach with the International Screenwriters’ Association, and the President of The Story Farm Development and Coaching service, with over a decade of experience in developing written material and writers’ careers.
Noland Walker manages a portfolio of ITVS-funded programs and co-curates the Emmy Award-winning Independent Lens series. He has been a writer, producer, and director on numerous award-winning documentaries.
Yvonne Huff Lee is co-CEO of Lagralane Group. Some of her personal credits include executive producing Served Like a Girl and associate producing Unrest which was shortlisted for the Academy Awards. This year, Yvonne has associate produced Night Comes On.
Adam Fenderson is the co-founder of Three Frame Media and the codirector/producer of the award-winning documentary film First Generation, which played at NVFF11.
Christine Holder is a producer, manager, and a founding partner of Zero Gravity Management. She currently produces both feature and television content. Prior to founding ZGM, she was a manager and producer at Holder Management.
Christopher Woodrow is Chairman and CEO at MovieCoin. He has financed and produced numerous notable feature films including Black Mass, Hacksaw Ridge, and Birdman.
Gren Wells, as a writer, has sold more than 20 film and TV projects. Based off of her directorial debut, The Road Within, which played at NVFF14, Variety chose her as one of its 10 Directors to Watch for 2014.
Jaye Fenderson is the co-founder of Three Frame Media and the co-director/producer of the award-winning documentary film First Generation, which played at NVFF11.
Laura Lewis is running a production, financing and advisory company focused on putting more inclusive and impactful images of women and people of color on screen. A former agent in the film finance and sales group at CAA, she previously packaged and structured the financing for films.
Mark Holder is a producer, manager, and a founding partner of Zero Gravity Management. He currently produces both feature and television content. Prior to founding ZGM, Mark was a manager and producer at Holder Management where he represented writers, directors, and actors
Morrie Warshawski works with nonprofits and filmmakers to help them create roadmaps to a better future through strategic planning. Warshawski is the author of "Shaking the Money Tree," and "The Fundraising Houseparty."
Robin Hauser is the director and producer of cause-based documentary films at Finish Line Features, and President of Unleashed Productions. Robin’s awardwinning film CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and played at NVFF15.
The Hollywood Reporter named Susan Cartsonis one of the top five grossing producers of the year for What Women Want. Susan was an executive at 20th Century Fox for nearly a decade. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and serves on the Independent Committee of the Producers Guild.
Longtime collaborator of Nancy Meyers, Suzanne Farwell has produced some of the most commercially successful comedies in recent history and has worked with many of the industry’s most recognized and sought after talent.
Brent Emery has worked as an independent film finance, sales, and production specialist. During his seven years at Maverick Films, Brent oversaw development of a slate of over fifty studio and independent film and television projects. He is also a founder of Resonate Entertainment.
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FILM INDUSTRY PANELS 146
EVENT DETAILS
NOVEMBER 9 - 10
10:00 AM | 12:00 PM The Westin Verasa Napa | Napa All passholders $20 Rush Tickets available after passholders are admitted.
Join us Friday and Saturday at The Westin Verasa Napa for one or more of our lively panel discussions on a variety of topics curated for both our filmmakers and movie-loving audiences.
FRIDAY, NOV 9 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
From Page to Screen
Activist Filmmaking
Max Timm and Felicity Wren from the International Screenwriting Association (ISA) host a lively interactive conversation with some of the screenwriters attending with films playing at this year’s festival. Topics may include expanding a short script into a full-length feature; key do’s and don’ts for getting your new script produced; crossing over from movies into TV series and limited series; and how to take control of your career so you can make a serious living out of telling stories that you love and want to share with audiences.
The directors of some of our most hard-hitting, eye-opening and entertaining documentaries engage in a thoughtful conversation about the changes in the world they are trying to effect through filmmaking. The Napa Valley Film Festival is proud to present this special panel discussion in conjunction with our new #ArtInspiringAction initiative where audience members are presented with the tools to engage more deeply and immediately with the issues addressed in the films.
SATURDAY, NOV 10 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Women in Film: Shattering the Glass Lens
Evolution/Revolution in the Storytelling Industry
This year, the Napa Valley Film Festival boasts the most diverse selection of filmmakers than ever before in its history. NVFF is proud to display an abundant selection of excellent films directed, written and produced by women. While change is clearly afoot, there is so much more to be done. Madeline di Nonno, CEO of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, anchors a panel of women working to make a difference every day in all aspects of the industry.
For decades, the film industry functioned in much the same way. The stories and styles might evolve from decade to decade, but patterns of creative development, financing, production and distribution hardly varied. Now it seems like there’s more change happening each year than in the first 100 years of the movie business. Industry executives who’ve both witnessed the accelerating pace of change, and who are now actively playing changemakers and disruptors, will help us look ahead and make sense of what to expect for the future of cinematic storytelling.
#ARTINSPIRING
ACTION #NVFF18
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OFF SCREEN
CULINARY DEMOS
EVENT DETAILS
NOVEMBER 8 – 11
10:30 AM | 12:15 PM | 2:00 PM The Studio by Feast it Forward | Napa All passholders
Sip, Savor & Celebrate Join us at the Monogram Appliances Demonstration Kitchen where film, food and wine come together to share a cornucopia of creativity and mouth-watering insights. Attending filmmakers are paired with masters of food, wine and craft beverage creating one-of-a-kind live experiences. The Demo Kitchen is located at the Down-Valley Hub at the Studio by Feast it Forward. All members of our seated audience enjoy food & beverage samples with all demos! Featuring exclusive wines showcased by Miner Family Wines, state of the art Monogram appliances, Cuisinart fine cookware and chef products, and a fully stocked pantry courtesy of Whole Foods Market. PASSHOLDER ACCESS All Passholders
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OFF SCREEN
THURSDAY, NOV 8 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Soufra: A Food Truck Journey – What Goes on Behind the Wheel
The Butcher and the Chef
Along with being a television personality and Whole Foods ambassador, Chef Melissa King actively supports women’s empowerment. Paired with the filmmakers of Soufra, which tells the true story of refugee women rising against all odds to run a food truck, King cooks up an inspired dish infused with Lebanese cuisine.
The relationship between a butcher and a chef is age old, and we are bringing them together again in this demo. As former French Laundry Chef de Cuisine and owner/chef of the acclaimed Otium Restaurant, Chef Tim Hollingsworth teams up with the filmmakers of Angela Wilson: A Butcher’s Story to create a meal inspired by artistry, sophisticated flavors and eclectic cuts of meat.
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Southern Charm with Nina Compton
Let’s Txoko ‘bout It
Pour Some Agave on Me: Food & Spirits from Mexico
Award-winning Chef Nina Compton, born and raised in St. Lucia, has island flair in her New Orleans restaurants. Wine Spectator joins Compton on the stage to pair Miner Family Wines to match the spicy balance of a delicious Southern meal. Come partake in all the South has to offer.
Txoko: an exclusive Basque culinary society where people come together to cook, eat and socialize. Learn more about Basque’s slow food movement while tasting excellent food and wine pairings from the Sommeliers of SommSelect.
Chef Brian Malarkey prepares some vibrantly flavored dishes with inspiration drawn from Agave: Spirit of a Nation, a documentary revealing how one plant can carry the weight of a culture. Experience a harmonious balance of authentic flavors that will truly transport you to another land.
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Ulam: Main Dish – A Filipino Food Map
Dashi Journey: Building Flavor with Michelin Star Chef Kyle Connaughton
Bottled Poetry: Blind Tasting with SommSelect
Two trailblazing chefs from Likha, Bobby Punla and Jan Dela Paz, bring Michelin pedigrees to lead a fascinating demonstration. Dropping everything to start a Filipino pop-up, these chefs work together like a well-oiled machine. Watch the magic unfold and taste a piece of the Western Pacific.
Chef Kyle Connaughton teaches the intricacies of creating dashi broth, a culinary cornerstone of Japanese cuisine; while master distiller Caley Shoemaker of Hangar 1 Vodka, creates innovative cocktails, shaking up an experience that is bound to be extraordinary.
If you’ve ever wondered how professionals train for the Master Sommelier exam, join Ian Cauble and David Lynch, master sommeliers from SommSelect, for a blind tasting of four classic wines. Can you identify them without seeing the bottles?
A Rise in the Market: Upscale Market Cuisine Chef Crista Luedtke, subject of Empire on Main Street, is a force in and out of the kitchen. She transformed Guerneville into a vivacious town, while also pursuing her passion for the culinary arts. Learn to wow dinner guests as Luedtke walks you through how to shop, cook and think like a chef.
FRIDAY, NOV 9
SATURDAY, NOV 10
SUNDAY, NOV 11 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Perfect Note, Perfect Taste: A Flawless Soufflé
A Hiro’s Journey
The Art of Brewing from a True Brewmaster
The film Perfect Note follows the inner workings of San Francisco’s Cafe Jacqueline, where 82 year old Jacqueline Margulis still prepares each soufflé that leaves her kitchen. Making a soufflé for the audience is Chef Daniel Capra from the prestigious Paula LeDuc Fine Catering & Events.
Chef Rick Moonen graces the demo kitchen with his expertise in responsibly sourced seafood. Joining the filmmakers of Hiro’s Table, a documentary about master sushi Chef Hiroji Obayashi, Moonen teaches us about sustainability, creativity and fun.
Learn how to make elevated bar food to match the refinement of small batch, craft beer and how to properly pair local ingredients with the subtle undertones of finely crafted brews. That’s right, pairing isn’t just for wine anymore. Drink beer like a grown up. Drink beer like a master.
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DOWN-VALLEY HUB The Studio by Feast it Forward We are thrilled to partner with The Studio by Feast it Forward to create a oneof-a-kind film food, and wine experience spanning over 10,000 square feet of interactive space where guests will be part of a unique and energetic vibe every day of the festival. Major components of the Down-Valley Hub include: • • • • • •
Down-Valley Box Office Festival Store for branded gifts and apparel Monogram Appliances Demonstration Kitchen Intermission: Afternoon wine tasting and live music Interactive exhibits from our top sponsors Ivy Hill Music Lounge
The Studio by Feast it Forward opens at 10am each day, offering an array of product sampling. Shop, sip and explore with interactive lounges from Cuisinart, Glenfiddich, Boochcraft, Whole Foods, Hangar 1 Vodka, Stella Artois, Miner Family Winery and First Street Napa.
Wanderluxxe Filmmaker Lounge NOVEMBER 8 – 11 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Members of our Patron Circle, Pass Plus and Weekend Plus holders are invited to mingle with our visiting filmmakers at the luxurious yet relaxed Wanderluxxe Filmmaker Lounge inside The Studio. Enjoy surprise performances, wine tasting, meet and greets, and so much more. Visit nvff.org or download the app for a daily schedule of experiences.
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DOWN-VALLEY INTERMISSIONS PASSHOLDER ACCESS All Passholders
Don't miss out on the Napa Intermissions at The Studio by Feast it Forward from Thursday through Sunday. Each afternoon offers a new experience with live music performances and a fresh showcase of wine, food, beer and craft cocktails.
THURSDAY, NOV 8
FRIDAY, NOV 9
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Napa General Store Wineries
Mexican-American Vintner's Association (MAVA)
The heart of Napa is made up of artisans. The Napa General Store features a rotating selection of small wineries from the Napa Valley that produce as low as thirty cases of wine a year. Come sip and savor boutique wine brands that you may not be able to taste anywhere else in the world.
Experience a dizzying array of exciting wines produced by Mexican American Vintners known for high quality standards and for promoting and supporting their many talented members. Wine varietals that will be showcased come from vineyards ranging from Carneros in the south to Calistoga in the north.
SATURDAY, NOV 10
SUNDAY, NOV 11
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Rutherford Dust Society
Napa Valley Brewery Showcase
The Rutherford Dust Society was founded in 1994 by growers and vintners in tribute to the legacy of their grape growing and winemaking forebears from this very special selection in the heart of Napa Valley. Since the late 19th century, the growers and vintners of Rutherford have played a significant role in the development of Napa Valley as a world-class winegrowing region.
Head to the final Down-Valley Intermission where beer is the main event. This mini beer festival gives a full tour of Napa Valley Breweries featuring Napa Brews and brewmasters: Napa Smith Brewery, Trade Brewery, Tannery Bend Beer Works, Palisades Brewing, Stone Brewing, Mad Fritz Brewing.
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Special Guest: Elysian Brewing from Seattle WA. Sip beer, taste innovative food bites and listen to live music while learning more about the history of craft beer.
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UP-VALLEY HUB Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch As they do each year, our friends at the rustic chic Farmstead Restaurant and Long Meadow Ranch Winery serve as the Up-Valley Hub of the festival. Here you will find our Up-Valley Box Office, an intimate screening room in Farmstead’s private dining area and afternoon Intermissions with artisans, winemakers and live music. As always, Farmstead Restaurant also provides the opportunity for a fabulous sit-down meal before or after a screening.
LIVE MUSIC The Farmstead Summer Music Series has held the standard for great live music in the town of St. Helena. NVFF is honored to keep the record spinning into the fall, putting on four days of live music, wine and food. Ivy Hill Entertainment and NVFF create a mini music fest within the film festival, featuring incredible local talent and a wide range of musical performances.
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UP-VALLEY INTERMISSIONS PASSHOLDER ACCESS All Passholders
Don't miss out on the Intermissions at Farmstead from Thursday through Sunday. Each afternoon offers a new experience with live music performances and a fresh showcase of wine, artisanal goods and art.
THURSDAY, NOV 8
FRIDAY, NOV 9
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Appellation St. Helena
Rutherford Dust Society
Approximately 20 miles north of the San Pablo Bay, nestled between the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountain ranges, lies Appellation St. Helena (ASH), Napa Valley’s reigning epicenter of wine. As the birthplace of Napa Valley’s commercial wine industry, ASH buzzes with innovation, collaboration and distinction. A gathering place for world-class talent of all kinds, some of the most historic, recognizable and collectible wineries are found here.
The Rutherford Dust Society was founded in 1994 by growers and vintners in tribute to the legacy of their grape growing and winemaking forebears from this very special selection in the heart of Napa Valley. Since the late 19th century, the growers and vintners of Rutherford have played a significant role in the development of Napa Valley as a world-class winegrowing region.
SATURDAY, NOV 10
SUNDAY, NOV 11
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Local Boutique Winery Collection
NG: Next Generation in Wine
Integrated within the Intermission experience, local artisans will be displaying and selling their items of craft. Sip wine featured by Long Meadow Ranch, Behrens Family Winery, Lang and Reed Wine Company, Stanton Vineyards and Ehlers Estate. Browse through the artisans’ selections while listening to live music. You can groove to the tunes while you sip and shop!
Come and enjoy the final day of Farmstead’s Artisan and Wine Intermission. The creative talents of local artists and NextGen wines round out the festival’s final day of this artisan experience. NG: Next Generation in Wine offers an alternative way to access the wines of younger representatives taking the reins of their established wine-making families.
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS Mission & Board Festival Team Seasonal Staff & Partners Volunteer Leadership Winery Partners Culinary & Beverage Partners Media & Marketing Partners Lodging & Hospitality Partners Venue & Event Partners Preferred Providers Thank You!
ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
CINEMA NAPA VALLEY MISSION The Napa Valley Film Festival is produced by Cinema Napa Valley, a 501c3 non-profit organization that celebrates the cinematic arts and enriches the community by presenting an annual world-class festival and year-round education and outreach programs
BOARD Patrick Davila, President Meadowood Napa Valley
Carissa Ashman C-StarPR, Inc.
Ron Hofmann
Debra Crow, Treasurer Volta Industries, Inc.
Richard Garber Morgan Stanley
Don Shindle
Teresa Cunningham, Secretary Gaw Van Male, General Counsel
David Glasser
Chris Wendel
101 Studios
Volta Industries, Inc.
J. Todd Harris Branded Pictures Entertainment
Michael Woods Mount View Hotel & Spa
Marc Lhormer, Co-Founder Executive & Artistic Director
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BWR Public Relations The Westin Verasa Napa
Brenda Lhormer, Co-Founder Co-Director
501c3 Tax ID# 27-1064967
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
FESTIVAL TEAM Marc Lhormer
Brenda Lhormer
Ben Mahoney
Fearon DeWeese
EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
CO-DIRECTOR
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR
Whitney Haskin
Blair Hunt
Debbie Young Aldine
Manon Dargis
PROGRAM MANAGER
EDUCATION PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
Logan Wroolie
Emma Steele
Heather Teague
Katie Carpenter
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER
TICKETING & SALES SYSTEMS
VINTNER CIRCLE MANAGER
Amy Brown
Kendall Howell
Michael Fox
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
MARKETING ASSOCIATE
PATRON CIRCLE DIRECTOR
Russell Emerson
Katelyn Young
Bob McClenahan
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
ASSISTANT VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHER
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Christi Metzner OFFICE MANAGER
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
SEASONAL STAFF & PARTNERS Down Valley Operations Operations Crew Rodrigo Martinez Dave Gunn Richard Looney Norm Barajas Patrick Sexton Ohadd Matibag
Up Valley Operations Joe Chisholm Justin Brownell Gene Lee Logan Hershfeld Alec Brassington
Signage Team
Ana Field Patrick Balduchi Gabriel Allen-Jones Louis Sterback John Franco
Box Office & Credentials
Heather Teague Phoebe Joecks
Winery Operations Jessica Thornton
Culinary Operations Stephanie Graham
Technical Directors Kent Long Vanessa O’Neill
Social Media Marketing Erin Dutch Haley Robinson Kelsey Frazier Meaghan Bixby Grace Bartlett
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Russell Emerson Jeff Ernst Bernard Thomas Sam Townes Mike Tomada Jack Bush Ravin Bush Zach Calhoun
Special Events Brittany Anderson Juliana Folk Rhan Jackson Kevin Lang Cory MacInnes Cari Wieland Brittany Wienerth Tina Wright
Maureen French Carolyn Rovner Lori With Lorena Contreras Lauren Fahrer Tyler Kyle Brittany Bornhofen Lorena Contreras Lauren Fahrer Tyler Kyle
Mecaela Miller Ryan Smith Lisa Pond
Sponsor Activation Kristi Amoroso
Filmmaker Hospitality Donnell Corelle Lauren Auxier Ian Stewart Megan Goedewaagen
Volunteer Coordination Katelyn Young Alicia Young Janet Brown Mary Madden
Cognition Studio Kristine Johnson Britt Barran-Stanley
Alyssa Balzotti Rosanne Bonanno Crystal Collins Gregory Haas Stephanie James Merrick McKeig Nichole Miller Kelsey Todd Chris Vasquez Doug White Paige White
Gaw Van Male Teresa Cunningham Marcato David MacVicar NobleRot Chris McCard
Red Carpet Team
Stone Management Cat Stone Adam Stone
Sunni Barraza Lindsey Carlock Renee Chang Melissa Clapper Carol Eckerson Bryan Gallyot Kasey Groth Justin Harp Jessica Hume Louis Lopez Melanie Manter Crystal Vartkessian Csilla Veress
Ruler Branded Entertainment Amanda Levine Lori Brooke
Stefan Lerch + Woodblock Studios XSIGHT Photography & Video Bob McClenahan Patrice Ward
Chuck Neidhoefer
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Public Policy, Inc. Cory Black Kim Lancashire Elevent Jeremy Wine Christian Cole
Photo & Video
Education
Professional Partners BWR Public Relations Ron Hofmann Ashley Patterson Brittany Mathieu Erica Markle
Patron Circle Hospitality
Special Event Operations
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Sponsor Hospitality
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Napa Valley Film Festival is proud to call 1400 Clay Street in Napa our year-round home. We extend tremendous gratitude and a heartfelt thank you to the Honorable Mae C. Woo. Mae is a former San Francisco Film & Video Arts Commissioner and currently the San Francisco City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission Vice Chair.
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP Thank you to our 500 volunteers who devote time, energy and expertise to help make the festival a success. As trusted ambassadors, they are happy to assist you with all things festival.
Theater Managers Shanan Anthony Teri Cirillo Sharon Darling Susan Duprey Peter Galea Lisa Garber Janice Humphrey Deanna Kalny Cyndy Lesawyer Maria Myers Amy Rice Mike Richards Cary Robnett T Santora Brad Shurmantine Neva Smith Richard Uschyk Pack Warfield Susan Warfield Antonio Wong Gretchen Young
Village Coordinators Gus Guillen Mark Gustafson Vincent Lowe Alethea Candia
Filmmaker Check-in
Bud Towns Chris Towns
Laural Levin Elizabeth Moore
Ringmasters Dania Denise, Lead Jim Jones, Lead Allison Boyer Bridget Codoni John Demakas Molly Detwiler Michael Duca David Jacobson Elaine Jennings Lyndsy Kail Jennifer King Dawn Kohn Kellie Kute Dena Navarroli Joseph O'Malley Geoff Rice John Tunney
Panels & Conversations Jimmie Collins-Ware
Festival Events Sedrick Ware Norm Buller Jimmie Collins-Ware Kay Wilson Allan Fredrick Cindy Fredrick Patricia Liu
Interns
Daphne Steele Maria Comstock
Marketing Bob Gligorea
Volunteer Hub Janet Betz Linda Herrera
Festival Hubs Crystal-Rose Britto Carla Gyetvan Molly Gyetvan
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Ballot Leads
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Box Office Managers Greg Ciapponi Tara Jantzen
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
WINERY PARTNERS 12cWines
Frank Family Winery
Peju Province Winery
Acumen Wines
Freemark Abbey Winery
Pestoni Family Winery
Aesop Wines
Gibbs Vineyards
Prager Winery and Port Works
Alpha Omega Winery
Grgich Hills Estate
Provenance Vineyards
Aiken Wines
Herencia Del Valle
Raymond Vineyards
Baldacci Family Vineyards
Honig Vineyard and Winery
Renteria Family Wines
Barnett Vineyards
Honrama Cellars
Reynolds Family Winery
Behrens Family Winery
Hoopes Vineyard
Rippey Family Vineyards
Beringer Vineyards
JCB Collection
RiverHouse by Bespoke Collection
Bodega de Edgar
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Robert Biale Vineyards
Broman Cellars
Jose Wine Caves
Rombauer Vineyards
Caldwell Vineyard
Knights Bridge Winery
Romeo Vineyards & Cellars
Ca'Momi Winery
Ladera Vineyards
Rutherford Dust Society
Casa Nuestra Winery
Lang and Reed Wine Company
Rutherford Hill Winery
Castellucci Napa Valley
Llamas Family Wines
Rutherford Ranch Winery
Ceja Vineyards
Lobo Wines
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Charles Krug Winery
Long Meadow Ranch
S.R. Tonnella Cellars
Conn Creek Winery
Mario Bazan Cellars
Stanton Vineyards
Cornerstone Cellars
Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards
Crocker and Starr Wines
Mathew Bruno Wines
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
Cuvaison
Mersenne Wines
Davis Estates
Mexican American Vintners Association
Delgadillo Cellars Dos Lagos Vineyards Duckhorn Portfolio Ehlers Estate Encanto Vineyards
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Sullivan Vineyards The GRADE Cellars The Hess Collection
Miner Family Winery
Tres Sabores
Monticello Vineyards
VGS Chateau Potelle
Napa General Store
Vintner's Collective
Patz and Hall Winery
William Harrison Vineyards & Winery
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
CULINARY & BEVERAGE PARTNERS GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE Anette's Chocolate & Ice Cream • Annie the Baker • Charlie Palmer Steakhouse • French Corner Napa • Kara's Cupcakes • Mariposa Ice Creamery • Re:Think Ice Cream • Revel Spirits • Urbani Truffles
CONTRIBUTING Cal Mart • Compadres Rio Grille • Model Bakery • Molinari Caffe • Prohibition Spirits • Gott's Roadside Small World Restaurant • Sweetie Pies Bakery • Sunshine Foods • Velo Deli & Pizzeria Yountville
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
MEDIA & MARKETING PARTNERS GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE Valley of the Moon Magazine • Very Napa Valley • Wine Country This Week
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
LODGING & HOSPITALITY PARTNERS GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE Dr.Wilkinson's Hot Springs Resort • El Bonita Motel • River Terrace Inn
CONTRIBUTING Andaz Napa • Aurora Park Cottages • Calistoga Motor Lodge • Calistoga Spa Hot Springs • Cottage Grove Inn • Hilton Garden Inn • Napa River Inn • Napa Valley Lodge • Roman Hot Springs
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
PREFERRED PROVIDERS GOLD
SILVER
Talos Secure Group, Inc. Protecting Your Success
BRONZE CPA Valet • Extreme Productions • Neumann Enterprises • SAGindie • True REST Float Spa
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ORGANIZATION & PARTNERS
VENUE & EVENT PARTNERS GOLD
NPACLT Stacked Logo Color
Spot Colors
PMS 4515
SILVER
PMS 202
PMS warm gray 9
Black
Process Colors Light Tan C 0 M 8.5 Y 47 K 23.5
Deep Wine C 0 M 100 Y 65 K 47
Warm Gray C 0 M 15 Y 18.5 K 47
Black C 0 M0 Y 0 K 100
BRONZE Caldwell Snyder Gallery
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THANK YOU! Peter E. Abboud, Vintage High School Catherine Adams, River Charter School Tama Adelman Rick Aldine Sarah Anderson, American Canyon Middle School Martha Andrews Sally Archambault Jennifer & Martin Ash Renee Austin Joan Bailey James Bailey, Justin Siena Michael Barker Britt Barran-Stanley Iris Barrie Carliza Bataller, American Canyon Middle School Tony Beardsley Marcia Beauchamp Bob & Linda Beckstrom Sara Bernstein, HBO Films Janet Betz Cory Black Carol Boeddiker Elaine Boloyan, American Canyon High School Brian Boone Mark Borde, Entertainment Studios Paula Borge Ericka Bothof Tracy Brennan, CAA Karen Brocker, Canyon Oaks Elementary School Lori Brooke Sara Brooks Janet Brown Cathy Buck, Cameo Cinema Tammy Campbell Chris Canning, Mayor of Calistoga Nanci Caron Fran Carpenter Stephen Carpenter Sean Casady Maria Cisneros, Valley Oak High School Brittnie Clark Sigamoney Anne Collins, CBS Films Ann Marie Conover, Meadowood Karin Cox, Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School JudyCuenca Bonnie "The Real Deal" Cullen Christina Daly, ADAPT Steve Davino Myles Davis Tim de la Torre Kathryn de Maigret Heather de Michele, The Groundlings Theatre and School
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Carole DeBell Jean DeLuca Matthew Demchuk Keely Dervin Chris & Ellamay DeWeese Patti & Glenn DeWeese Whitney Diver McEvoy, Yountville Chamber of Commerce Olivia Dodd, Arts Council John Dunbar, Mayor of Yountville Dan Eason Kathleen Edson Patrick Egan Brent Emery Lorraine Fazzolare Bean Finneran, LEF Foundation Christy Fitzpatrick Juliana Folk Paul Franson Rick & Joanne Frazier Parmis Pourarian & Kevin Freels Greg Fuller Tom Fuller Alan Galbraith, Mayor of St. Helena Sande & Larry Garcia Julie Gasparich, Aviron Pictures Daniel George Lissa Gibbs Carol Glaser Bob Gligorea Lisa Gottfried, New Tech High School Jane Gould, Harvest Middle School Ann & Dick Grace Judith Graziani Adam Green Sophie Gullung Simon Halls Nick Halstead Heidi M. Harrison, JustinSiena High School Peter Hartnack, River Charter School Rene and Maria Haug Leigh & Rick Hayes Summer Heartt, ACHS Emily Hegarty, Visit Napa Valley Jay Heidenreich, Auberge Resorts Amy Herold Lenore Hirsch Jim Holleran, Stella Artois Sharon Hughes Pamela Hunt Francis Hunt Bob Hurley Michele Ikemire Charlie Jennings
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Rafael Jimenez Riley Johnson, New Tech High School Kristine Johnson Mark Joseph Betsy & John Kane-Hartnett Nancy Kaplan Matt Kelly, Silverado Middle School Kathryn Kennedy, National Georgraphic Tom & Susan Kennelly Shirley Knight Rebecca Kotch Pamela Krell Kim Lancashire Dan Lancashire Sylvia & Bill Landt Lynette Larsen Sarah Lawrence Stefan Lerch, Woodblock Studios Charles & Grania Lindberg Paulette Litz Rivka Livni Andrew Lloren Crystal Lopez, ACHS Linda Lucas Diana & Tom Lyons Michael Madden Mary Madden Peg Maddocks Lana Manglallan Jennifer Marinace, RLS Middle School Erica Markle Scott Marsden, American Canyon High School Paige Mazzoni Chris McCard Bob McClenahan, Napa's Photographer Ellen Mehrens Sandra Mehrens Lance & Darlene Meltzer Kelley Miller, Silverado Middle School Sonya & Hal Milton Naseem Moeel Lindsay Moore, Augustine Ideas, DoNapa Vera Morales Art Morgan Kathleen Morgan April Mucci Rosanna Mucetti, NVUSD Aisha Nasir Sherri Neefe Chuck Neidhoefer, NVUSD VAPA Coordinator Richard Neill Barbara Nemko, NCOE Margaret Niland Sarah O'Connor, Vintage High School Valerie O'Pry
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Melanie Oberting, St. John the Baptist Catholic School Sara Pahlke Joe Paniagua, Harvest Middle School Karen Paris Cata Parkhurst Philippa Perry, Napa Chamber of Commerce Colin Petheram Lisa Poppen, Visit Napa Valley Tom Prassis, Sony Pictures Classics Craig Priess Lee Puente Carol Pyner Laura Rafaty Monica Ready, Harvest Middle School Gerry Reiland Sonja Reinhardt Solage Resort Bonnie Richardson Haley Robinson Scott Rodier Steve Rogers Madeline & Michael Rogers Dal Ross Michele Rourk Elan Ruspoli Michelle Scaduto, St. John the Baptist Catholic School Jeff Schechtman, Napa Broadcasting Nancy Schlegel Barbara Schwartz Lisa Schwartz, IFC Films Benjamin Scinto, St. Helena High School Andrew Seagrave John Sensenbaugh Lisa Seran Tom Serene, New Tech High Rajeev Sigamoney, M.S. Pam Simpson Colby Smith, CANVAS Craig Smith, Downtown Napa Nancy Snowden Kelly Snyder, Auberge Resorts Travis Stanley, Napa Chamber of Commerce Tenae Stewart, Calistoga Chamber of Commerce Cat & Adam Stone Jim & Tracy Sweeney Patrick Sweeney, NVUSD Maureen Taylor Jill Techel, Mayor of Napa Betty Teller Sholly Terry Jim Toth Nancy Tracy Suzanne Tyler Mateo Villanueva
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Polly Webber Kristina Webster, Blue Oak School Jesse Weinraub, HBO Films Ernie Weir Gren Wells Tim Wetzel Jack Whigham Ian White Marilyn White Dave & Loie Whitmer MaryLou Wilson, SHUSD Damon Wright, NVUSD Chris Wright, Vacaville High School Fern Yaffa Katelyn Young Krista Young Nicholas Young Alicia Young Reynaldo Zertuche 42 West Advantage PR Anonymous Content Arts Council Napa Valley BWR CAA Calistoga Chamber of Commerce Calistoga TID Cari Wieland Fahntoosh Enterprises Grandview LA ID-PR ICM Imprint PR Ketchum PR Lede Company Mosaic LA Napa Chamber of Commerce Napa County Board of Supervisors Napa TID Narrative PR Participant Productions PMK-BNC Relevant PR Rhan Jackson Rogers & Cowan The Ross Preschool Shelter PR Slate PR St. Helena Chamber of Commerce Universal Pictures UTA Viewpoint WME Wolf Kasteler Yountville Chamber of Commerce Younvtille TID
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Chairs to China
Linens to Lighting
Tables to Tents
San Francisco / Bay Area
415.570.0470 Sonoma / Napa
bright.com
707.940.6060
Los Angeles • Santa Barbara • Santa Ynez Valley • Orange County • San Diego Palm Springs • San Francisco • Sonoma • Saint Helena • Healdsburg • Phoenix
SURVIVAL GUIDE
How To Fest Passholder Levels & Benefits Patron Circle Levels & Benefits Box Office Daily Schedule Film Index
SHOW YOUR NVFF PASS OR TICKET AT FIRST STREET NAPA FROM NOV 7 - 11 TO ENJOY 20% OFF YOUR PURCHASE FROM MOST SHOPS & RESTAURANTS.*
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OVERLAND SHEEPSKIN CO. STATE & FIRST
MECOX
NAPA VALLEY JEWELERS
SKY & VINE ROOFTOP BAR TOMMY BAHAMA
COMING SOON: MAKERS MARKET & NAPASTÄK
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FIRSTSTREETNAPA.COM
*SEE STORE FOR INDIVIDUAL OFFER OR VISIT FIRSTSTREETNAPA.COM FOR DETAILS. OFFERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SOME EXCLUSIONS MAY APPLY. VALID ONLY AT FIRST STREET NAPA NOVEMBER 7 - 11, 2018.
SURVIVAL GUIDE
How To Fest FILMMAKER Q&AS What truly makes a film festival a “festival” is the live participation by the writers, directors, actors and producers. Question and answer sessions with the filmmakers follow practically every screening.
GET YOUR PASS Enjoy the festival with a pass that works for you! Choose from: Festival Pass, Pass Plus and our VIP Patron Circle. For those with limited time, we also offer a Weekend Pass, Weekend Plus, Flex Pass and Rush Tickets. As well as individual tickets to Special Events and Programs. See pages 172–174.
AUDIENCE AWARD VOTING At most screenings, viewers will receive a ballot to rate the film and its performances. Voting ends Friday night, with award winners announced on Saturday night at the Awards Ceremony. The Awards Ceremony is followed immediately by the Festival Gala.
DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP | PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE Download our mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. • Fully Interactive Guide to the Festival • Most Up-to-Date Film Descriptions & Screening Times • Personalized List of Favorite Films & Schedule Builder • Most Up-to-Date Info on Special Guests Attending • Interactive Venue & Valley Maps
RUSH LINE: BEST BETS Non-passholders can enjoy the festival by purchasing $20 Rush Tickets at the door once all passholders have been admitted. Best bets for getting into films from the Rush Line are at the larger venues: the Uptown Theatre in Napa and the Lincoln Theater in Yountville.
SINGLE SHOW TICKETS While our festival works primarily via Passes and the Rush Line, we do make a limited number of tickets available for advance purchase to select shows. See page 174.
WATCH FILMS
ATTEND EVENTS
From over 1,000 films submitted from around the world, we select around 100 for the quality of their filmmaking and compelling nature of their storylines. These films are grouped in competitive sections that are eligible for either juried or audience awards, or both. Our film program also includes a selection of sneak preview screenings of important Awards Season films, frequently presented by the directors who attend along with writers, actors and producers.
The festival continues off-screen. Festival passholders can enjoy culinary demos and wine-tasting at The Studio by Feast it Forward in Napa, and artisan crafts and wine-tasting at Farmstead in St. Helena. Pass Plus and Patron Circle members salute outstanding cinematic achievements at the Celebrity Tributes. Then, over the weekend, they party with filmmakers and Weekend Plus at the Friday Night Bash, Festival Gala and Wrap Party. Members of our Patron Circle enjoy even more exclusive access to our filmmakers and celebrities with more parties and our A-List, Movie Mogul and Vintner Circle Dinners.
THE DRIVE-IN New this year, NVFF is partnering with the City of Calistoga and FunFlicks to create a unique experience: an updated take on the classic drive-in movie theater. Five nights in a row, Wednesday through Sunday, we present a pair of screenings at the Speedway Pavilion at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga. Seating will be in cars and on low-lying bleachers in front of a giant screen. Concessions and wine from The GRADE Cellars are available.
FOOD & WINE We’ve integrated Napa Valley’s incomparable food and wine into the festival experience. Enjoy wine at nearly every theater. Snacks and concessions are also available at or near most theaters, with full gourmet meals never far away. Our Intermissions are the place to be each afternoon. Being able to taste so many wines all at once and interact with winemakers is a priceless experience. Food and wine are also cleverly paired at all of our special events, most notably the spectacular Festival Gala. Finally, members of our Vintner Circle open their private estates to host our unique Vintner Circle Dinners and provide our winning filmmakers with large format collectible bottles.
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Levels & Benefits Audience members are admitted in the following order: Patron Circle first; then Pass Plus and Weekend Plus; then Festival Pass and Weekend Pass; then Flex Pass; then Rush Tickets. All passholders must arrive 30 minutes prior to showtime to queue up in the appropriate line. If you arrive and your pass level line has already been admitted and closed, you will need to queue up at the back of the line currently being admitted into the theater. A pass RUSH TICKET
FLEX PASS
4
3
2
1
RUSH TICKETS
FLEX PASS
FESTIVAL PASS
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE
PASS PLUS
ELEVATED EXPERIENCE
PATRON CIRCLE
WEEKEND PASS
WEEKEND PLUS
NO LINES
LIMITED STAY
LIMITED STAY
VIP EXPERIENCE
does not guarantee a seat; so please be aware of venue capacities and arrive extra early for the most popular films and at the tiniest venues. Seating inside is on a first come, first serve basis; all individuals must be present in the theater to claim to a seat. WEEKEND PASS
FESTIVAL PASS
WEEKEND PLUS
PASS PLUS
PATRON CIRCLE
FILM SCREENINGS PANELS & CONVERSATIONS CULINARY DEMONSTRATIONS WINE INTERMISSIONS WANDERLUXXE FILMMAKER LOUNGE FRIDAY NIGHT BASH AWARDS CEREMONY FESTIVAL GALA WRAP PARTY CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
FRI
KICKOFF PARTY RISING STAR SHOWCASE*
$25
VARIETY’S 10 TO TASTE*
$25 $25
RED CARPETS RESERVED SEATING MEET THE ARTISTS RECEPTION OPENING NIGHT PARTY VINTNER CIRCLE DINNERS PATRON RECEPTIONS CONCIERGE SERVICE (AT HIGHER LEVELS) CHARITABLE DEDUCTION *To purchase, call 707-226-7500 172
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Patron Circle
To customize your experience, choose from one of three levels of inspiration, indulgence and support. To upgrade your pass or learn more, visit nvff.org/vip or call us at 707.226.7500.
The Patron Circle is comprised of individuals who provide invaluable support for our mission and programs while enjoying the most intimate access to our films, filmmakers and celebrities.
MOVIE MOGUL
The Ultimate VIP experience All A-lister benefits plus more! $25,000 PER PERSON
($20,000 tax deductible)
PATRON
The Essential VIP experience Membership has its privileges!
A-LISTER
The Elevated VIP experience All patron benefits plus more!
$2,500 PER PERSON
$5,000 PER PERSON
($1,500 tax deductible)
($3,750 tax deductible)
PATRON
A-LISTER
MOVIE MOGUL
VIP TREATMENT No waiting in lines | Reserved Seating | Complimentary Sparkling Wine Year-Round Inside Scoop | Acknowledgement of Support | Thank You Gift
VIP ACCESS First Look | Sneak Preview Screening | Meet the Artists | Opening Night Premiere & Party | Variety’s 10 to Taste | Celebrity Tributes | Vintner Circle Dinners | Rising Star Showcase | Awards Ceremony | Festival Gala | Wrap Party | Wanderluxxe Filmmaker Lounge EXCLUSIVE A-LIST DINNER PARTY WITH CELEBRITY HONOREES & VINTNER CIRCLE WINEMAKERS PERSONALIZED SPONSORSHIP OF A COMPETITION FILM WITH FILMMAKER MEET & GREET PRIORITY FULFILLMENT OF VINTNER CIRCLE DINNER SELECTION INVITATION TO EXCLUSIVE FILM INDUSTRY MIXER CONCIERGE SERVICE AND VIP GIFT BAG WITH NVFF AND NAPA VALLEY SWAG DEDICATED CAR & DRIVER FOR ENTIRE FESTIVAL UPGRADED CONCIERGE SERVICE AND CUSTOMIZED ITINERARY FILM SPONSORSHIP OF AN AWARDS SEASON FILM WITH FILMMAKER MEET & GREET MEET & GREET WITH CELEBRITY TRIBUTE HONOREES RESERVED SEATING AT A-LIST DINNER PARTY WITH CELEBRITY TRIBUTE HONOREES EXCLUSIVE MOVIE MOGUL DINNER AT MEADOWOOD WITH VIP FILM INDUSTRY GUESTS
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SURVIVAL GUIDE
Box Office We offer a variety of experiences via a selection of passes and tickets. Visit our website at nvff.org to see full descriptions and to purchase online, or call our office and a festival team member will be happy to assist you. The week before the festival, an Advance Box Office is open at our Festival Office in downtown Napa. Once the festival is underway, passes may be picked up or purchased at our DownValley or Up-Valley Box Offices (Napa and St. Helena).
FULL EXPERIENCE
ADVANCE TICKETS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
FESTIVAL PASS
If you don’t have a pass that includes these events, tickets may be available.
For those who want to see a lot of films and drink a lot of wine $295 (Buy 4 or more for $265 per pass)
PASS PLUS
For those who want priority access to films and special events $695 (Buy 4 or more for $665 per pass)
Celebrity Tributes honoring outstanding achievements in cinematic storytelling, see pages 25 - 27 $75 ($60 each for 2) Tribute to The Groundlings Theatre & School honoring the legacy of this comedic acting ensemble, see page 27
PATRON CIRCLE For those who want a genuine “beyond the velvet rope” experience, become a member of our Patron Circle. Three levels of access and indulgence. See page 173 for more details, or visit nvff.org/vip
$50 ($40 each for 2)
Tribute to Geena Davis honoring a talented actress and visionary leader, see page 26 $50 ($40 each for 2) Festival Gala our blowout party with food and drink and dancing into the wee hours, see page 37
LIMITED BUDGET, LIMITED TIME
$200 ($175 each for 2)
WEEKEND PASS Same access/benefits as the Festival Pass for Friday/Saturday/Sunday
ADVANCE TICKETS FOR INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL PROGRAMS
$225
For select screenings in our largest venues, a limited number of tickets may be available for advance purchase by nonpassholders. Visit nvff.org or download our mobile app to get all the latest details.
WEEKEND PLUS Same access/benefits as the Pass Plus for Friday/Saturday/Sunday
$575
FLEX PASS
BOX OFFICE LOCATIONS
RUSH TICKETS
The Up-Valley and Down-Valley Box Offices serve as festival hubs. Purchase passes and tickets, or pick up passes that you ordered online; get updated program information or find answers to any questions you may have. Patron Circle members, sponsors, media and filmmakers have separate designated pass pickup lounges at our Headquarters Hotel: The Westin Verasa Napa.
Enjoy five individual screenings, panels or demos any day or night $125 Non-passholders may enjoy the festival with last minute tickets at the door.
BOX OFFICE DAYS AND HOURS Napa Location Box Office Entrance at: 728 First St Street parking only St. Helena Location Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch 738 Main St 174
TUES, NOV 6 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM WED, NOV 7 – SAT, NOV 10 | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM SUN, NOV 11 | 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
BE PREPARED Advance Box Office 1400 Clay Street, Suite 100, Napa 707.226.7500 | www.nvff.org 10/29–11/5 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
BE SOCIAL We encourage you to share your festival experience on social media. Follow, tag, and talk to us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Our official hashtag is #NVFF18. Keep your eyes on our channels (listed below) for exclusive content, festival tips and more.
@NapaFilmFest
NapaFilmFest
@NapaFilmFest
New to the Napa Valley Film Festival
Calistoga Drive-In Theater
Plan your stay on
visitCalistoga.com
WINERY | RESTAURANT | CAFÉ | GENERAL STORE | WINE TASTING | EVENTS | FARMERS MARKET
Owned by Ted, Laddie, and Chris Hall, LMR employs an integrated, organic farming system, using sustainable methods. Each part of the Ranch contributes to the health of the whole. Vineyards and wine making, olive orchards and olive oil making, cattle and horse breeding all work together in complementary fashion, as do the egg-laying poultry flock and the organic vegetable gardens.
EXPERIENCE LONG MEADOW RANCH • • • • • •
Mayacamas Estate Experience Chef’s Table Bluegrass-fed Live Music Series Live Fire Guest Chef Series Farmstead Restaurant Wine Tasting at the General Store
738 MAIN ST | ST HELENA CA 94574 | 707.963.4555 | LONGMEADOWRANCH.COM | @LMRWINE | #LONGMEADOWRANCH
Live Musicians • DJs • Lighting & Sound • Photographers • Videographers
Book us today for your wedding, winery or corporate event. ivyhillentertainment.com • booking@ivyhillentertainment.com • 510.210.3979
DAILY SCHEDULE
DAILY SCHEDULE
Tuesday, November 6
Schedule of film screenings and major events as of September 30. Please check the NVFF mobile ap for the most up-to-date information.
SPECIAL EVENTS
NAPA
ST. HELENA
EVENTS ARE VALLEY-WIDE
COPIA
CAMEO
5:45 PM
THE FRONT RUNNER 113 min › p. 47
7:45 PM - 10:00 PM
Patron Circle Only
MEET THE ARTISTS Caldwell Snyder Gallery p. 14
8:45 PM
THE FRONT RUNNER 113 min › p. 47 All Passholders
#NVFF18
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179
DAILY SCHEDULE
Wednesday, November 7
Schedule of film screenings and major events as of September 30. Please check the NVFF mobile app for the most up-to-date information.
SPECIAL EVENTS
NAPA
EVENTS ARE VALLEY-WIDE
ARCHER HOTEL
YOUNTVILLE
UPTOWN THEATRE
JaM CELLARS BALLROOM
LINCOLN THEATER
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
ARTISTS-INRESIDENCE MASTER CLASSES Meadowood Napa Valley pp. 142 - 143
10:45 AM
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 2 90 min › p. 132
1:00 PM
VOX LUX 110 min › p. 51
1:45 PM
THE PRICE OF FREE
1:45 PM
NARRATIVE SHORTS 3
92 min › p. 113
75 min › p. 129
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
PATRON CIRCLE RECEPTION Archer's Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar
5:15 PM
5:15 PM
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 1
5:30 PM
GREEN BOOK
A FATHERLESS GENERATION
74 min › p. 131
130 min › p. 49
96 min › p. 85
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
FESTIVAL KICKOFF PARTY 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Feast it Forward
PATRON CIRCLE OPENING NIGHT PARTY
p. 23
8:15 PM
Italics Winegrowers
8:30 PM
WHEN WE GROW UP
GRACE
96 min › p. 76
101 min › p. 72
p. 23
180
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OFF SCREEN
Full listing of events at nvff.org and on the NVFF mobile app
SPECIAL EVENTS pp. 23 - 38 INDUSTRY PANELS pp. 146 - 147 CULINARY DEMOS pp. 148 - 149 INTERMISSIONS pp. 150 - 153
AWARDS SEASON NARRATIVE FEATURES NARRATIVE SHORTS DOCUMENTARY FEATURES DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @NapaFilmFest for live updates. Sign up for our newsletter to receive the most current NVFF news.
ST. ST.HELENA HELENA CAMEO CINEMA
CALISTOGA
NATIVE NATIVE SONS SONS
FARMSTEAD FARMSTEAD
VERGE DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS FOOD & BEV SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL EVENT
ACACIA ACACIA BARN BARN
CHARLES CHARLES KRUG KRUG
DRIVE-IN DRIVE-IN
10:00 AM
CAPERNAUM 121 min › p. 52
1:00 PM
NEVER LOOK AWAY 189 min › p. 52
1:45 PM
THE WHINNIES!
2:00 PM
THE TXOKO EXPERIENCE. THE SECRET CULINARY SPACE OF THE BASQUES
77 min › p. 64
54 min › p. 123
5:15 PM 5:30 PM
AT ETERNITY'S GATE
FATHER'S KINGDOM 94 min › p. 86
110 min › p. 53
5:15 PM
5:30 PM
AGAVE: THE SPIRIT OF A NATION
THE INTERPRETERS
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
ASK FOR JANE
THE DANCING DOGS OF DOMBROVA
109 min › p. 70
102 min › p. 97
78 min › p. 88
78 min › p. 121
8:15 PM 8:30 PM
ARE YOU GLAD I'M HERE
AFGHAN CYCLES 89 min › p. 83
8:30 PM
MADNESS, FAREWELL
ONLY HUMANS
8:00 PM
UP TO SNUFF 80 min › p. 91
72 min › p. 73
88 min › p. 99
84 min › p. 69
#NVFF18
8:15 PM
NAPAFILMFEST
@NAPAFILMFEST
@NAPAFILMFEST
8:30 PM
RIDE 98 min › p. 101
NAPAFILMFEST
NVFF.ORG
181
DAILY SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 8
Schedule of film screenings and major events as of September 30. Please check the NVFF mobile app for the most up-to-date information.
SPECIAL EVENTS
NAPA
EVENTS ARE VALLEY-WIDE
ARCHER HOTEL
YOUNTVILLE
UPTOWN THEATRE
JaM CELLARS BALLROOM
LINCOLN THEATER
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
ARTISTS-INRESIDENCE MASTER CLASSES 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
9:45 AM
Meadowood Napa Valley
NARRATIVE SHORTS 1
pp. 142 - 143
78 min › p. 127
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
UNCRUSHABLE
THE DANCING DOGS OF DOMBROVA
LIFE IN THE DOGHOUSE
102 min › p. 97
83 min › p. 113
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
70 min › p. 59
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
12:45 PM
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Feast it Forward p. 149
VARIETY'S 10 TO TASTE
CULINARY DEMO 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Charles Krug Winery
INTERMISSION
INTERMISSION
p. 24
Feast it Forward
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
pp. 150 - 151
THE THINGS WE KEEP 1:00 PM THE MAN WHO 75 min › p. 114 WASN'T THERE
ORDINARY DAYS
PICK OF THE LITTER
82 min › p. 100
81 min › p. 65
110 min ›
pp. 152 - 153
5:15 PM
5:15 PM 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
GENERAL MAGIC
5:30 PM
SPARE ROOM
90 min › p. 87
TURNING POINT
97 min › p. 74
CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
80 min › p. 115
Lincoln Theater pp. 25 - 27
Lincoln Theater pp. 25 - 27
7:45 PM - 8:45 PM 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
A-LIST DINNER PARTY
182
PATRON INTERMEZZO Lincoln Theater
8:15 PM
8:30 PM
Black Stallion Winery
COLD BROOK
THE TROUBLE WITH WOLVES
p. 28
103 min › p. 71
57 min › p. 90
NVFF.ORG
NAPAFILMFEST
@NAPAFILMFEST
@NAPAFILMFEST
NAPAFILMFEST
8:45 PM
HURLEY 83 min › p. 112
#NVFF18
OFF SCREEN
Full listing of events at nvff.org and on the NVFF mobile app
SPECIAL EVENTS pp. 23 - 38 INDUSTRY PANELS pp. 146 - 147 CULINARY DEMOS pp. 148 - 149 INTERMISSIONS pp. 150 - 153
AWARDS SEASON NARRATIVE FEATURES NARRATIVE SHORTS DOCUMENTARY FEATURES DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @NapaFilmFest for live updates. Sign up for our newsletter to receive the most current NVFF news.
ST. ST.HELENA HELENA CAMEO CINEMA
9:45 AM
10:00 AM
SOUFRA
10:00 AM
73 min › p. 122
89 min › p. 133
55 min › p. 122
1:00 PM
THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM
HIRO'S TABLE
ULAM: MAIN DISH
1:00 PM
90 min › p. 132
65 min › p. 111
ACCIDENTAL CLIMBER
DRIVE-IN DRIVE-IN
9:30 AM
SCIENCE FAIR 90 min › p. 114
80 min › p. 123
12:45 PM
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 2
CHARLES CHARLES KRUG KRUG
ACACIA ACACIA BARN BARN
9:45 AM
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 3
12:45 PM
CALISTOGA
NATIVE NATIVE SONS SONS
FARMSTEAD FARMSTEAD
VERGE DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS FOOD & BEV SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL EVENT
NARRATIVE SHORTS 2
12:30 PM
THE LONG DUMB ROAD 90 min › p. 98
83 min › p. 128
90 min › p. 50
5:15 PM
5:15 PM
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
MADNESS, FAREWELL
5:30 PM
CANCER REBELLION
5:30 PM
THUNDER ROAD
TRANSMILITARY
101 min › p. 84
SUMMER '03
NARRATIVE SHORTS 3
91 min › p. 103
75 min › p. 129
92 min › p. 89
95 min › p. 102
8:15 PM 8:30 PM
YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR FAMILY
BREWMASTER 89 min › p. 121
8:15 PM
8:30 PM
CALLING CARDS
WE ARE BOATS 107 min › p. 104
8:00 PM
TOMORROW 90 min › p. 75
83 min › p. 116
8:30 PM
WHITE TIDE: THE LEGEND OF CULEBRA 85 min › p. 105
113 min › p. 77
#NVFF18
88 min › p. 99
NAPAFILMFEST
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NAPAFILMFEST
NVFF.ORG
183
DAILY SCHEDULE
Friday, November 9
Schedule of film screenings and major events as of September 30. Please check the NVFF mobile app for the most up-to-date information.
SPECIAL EVENTS
NAPA
EVENTS ARE VALLEY-WIDE
ARCHER HOTEL
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
UPTOWN THEATRE
JaM CELLARS BALLROOM
INDUSTRY PANEL Westin Verasa Napa
UNLIKELY
CANCER REBELLION
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
101 min › p. 84
HESBURGH
ASK FOR JANE
100 min › p. 112
109 min › p. 70
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM
TOMORROW
pp. 146 - 147
INDUSTRY PANEL Westin Verasa Napa
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
FILM INDUSTRY MIXER
12:45 PM
FATHER'S KINGDOM 94 min › p. 86
Raymond Vineyards
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
90 min › p. 75
90 min › p. 50
CULINARY DEMO
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
THE GROUNDLINGS TRIBUTE p. 27
Feast it Forward p. 149
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
INTERMISSION
INTERMISSION
Feast it Forward
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
pp. 150 - 151
106 min › p. 116
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
pp. 146 - 147
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
LINCOLN THEATER
9:30 AM
9:45 AM
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
YOUNTVILLE
pp. 152 - 153
6:00 PM
TRANSMILITARY
5:00 PM
5:15 PM
5:15 PM
A PRIVATE WAR
ONLY HUMANS
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
106 min › p. 48
72 min › p. 73
97 min › p. 115
6:45 PM - 7:30 PM
92 min › p. 89
GEENA DAVIS TRIBUTE p. 26
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
MOVIE MOGUL DINNER
VINTNER CIRCLE DINNERS
Meadowood Napa Valley p. 33
Multiple Locations pp . 30 - 33
8:15 PM
8:30 PM
SHARKWATER EXTINCTION
WE ARE BOATS 107 min › p. 104
8:30 PM
BIAS 88 min › p. 111
88 min › p. 63
10:00 PM - 2:00 AM
FRIDAY NIGHT BASH Vonsaal Design Build p. 35
184
NVFF.ORG
NAPAFILMFEST
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NAPAFILMFEST
#NVFF18
OFF SCREEN
Full listing of events at nvff.org and on the NVFF mobile app
SPECIAL EVENTS pp. 23 - 38 INDUSTRY PANELS pp. 146 - 147 CULINARY DEMOS pp. 148 - 149 INTERMISSIONS pp. 150 - 153
AWARDS SEASON NARRATIVE FEATURES NARRATIVE SHORTS DOCUMENTARY FEATURES DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @NapaFilmFest for live updates. Sign up for our newsletter to receive the most current NVFF news.
ST. ST.HELENA HELENA CAMEO CINEMA
CALISTOGA
NATIVE NATIVE SONS SONS
FARMSTEAD FARMSTEAD
VERGE DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS FOOD & BEV SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL EVENT
ACACIA ACACIA BARN BARN
CHARLES CHARLES KRUG KRUG
DRIVE-IN DRIVE-IN
9:30 AM 9:45 AM 10:00 AM
WHEN WE GROW UP
GENERAL MAGIC 90 min › p. 87
9:45 AM
10:00 AM
AFGHAN CYCLES
GRACE
ARE YOU GLAD I'M HERE 84 min › p. 69
89 min › p. 83
101 min › p. 72
96 min › p. 76
12:45 PM
1:00 PM
12:45 PM
1:00 PM
UP TO SNUFF
THE TROUBLE WITH WOLVES
RIDE
A FATHERLESS GENERATION
80 min › p. 91
57 min › p. 90
98 min › p. 101
96 min › p. 85
5:15 PM
5:30 PM
THE LONG DUMB ROAD
THE INTERPRETERS 78 min › p. 88
5:15 PM
5:30 PM
SPARE ROOM
COLD BROOK 103 min › p. 71
12:30 PM
YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR FAMILY 113 min › p. 77
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
SUMMER '03
THUNDER ROAD
95 min › p. 102
91 min › p. 103
97 min › p. 74
90 min › p. 98
8:15 PM
8:30 PM
WHITE TIDE: THE LEGEND OF CULEBRA
8:15 PM
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 1
8:30 PM
NARRATIVE SHORTS 2
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 3
74 min › p. 131
83 min › p. 128
89 min › p. 133
8:00 PM
NARRATIVE SHORTS 1 78 min › p. 127
8:30 PM
ORDINARY DAYS 82 min › p. 100
85 min › p. 105
#NVFF18
NAPAFILMFEST
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NAPAFILMFEST
NVFF.ORG
185
DAILY SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 10
Schedule of film screenings and major events as of September 30. Please check the NVFF mobile app for the most up-to-date information.
SPECIAL EVENTS
NAPA
EVENTS ARE VALLEY-WIDE
ARCHER HOTEL
9:45 AM
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
CALLING CARDS
INDUSTRY PANEL
83 min › p. 116
Westin Verasa Napa pp. 146 - 147
YOUNTVILLE
UPTOWN THEATRE
JaM CELLARS BALLROOM
LINCOLN THEATER
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
AFGHAN CYCLES
THE LONG DUMB ROAD
SCIENCE FAIR
89 min › p. 83
90 min › p. 114
90 min › p. 98
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
INDUSTRY PANEL Westin Verasa Napa pp. 146 - 147
12:45 PM
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
ACCIDENTAL CLIMBER
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
UP TO SNUFF
RIDE
65 min › p. 111
80 min › p. 91
98 min › p. 101
DO YOU TRUST THIS COMPUTER? 78 min › p. 60
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
INTERMISSION
INTERMISSION
Feast it Forward
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
RISING STAR SHOWCASE
pp. 150 - 151
pp. 152 - 153
Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards p. 29
5:00 PM
5:15 PM
5:15 PM
HIRO'S TABLE
YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR FAMILY
55 min › p. 122
6:30 - 7:45 PM
6:30 - 7:45 PM
AWARDS CEREMONY
AWARDS CEREMONY
Uptown Theatre p. 36
VALLEY OF THE BOOM 100 min › p. 61
113 min › p. 77
Uptown Theatre p. 36
8:00 PM - 1:00 AM
FESTIVAL GALA
8:15 PM
8:30 PM
The CIA at Copia p. 37
MADNESS, FAREWELL
8:30 PM
WHEELMAN 82 min › p. 62
88 min › p. 99
90 min › p. 87
GENERAL MAGIC
12:00 AM -2:00 AM
PATRON CIRCLE AFTER-PARTY
Kitchen Collective p. 37
186
NVFF.ORG
NAPAFILMFEST
@NAPAFILMFEST
@NAPAFILMFEST
NAPAFILMFEST
#NVFF18
OFF SCREEN
Full listing of events at nvff.org and on the NVFF mobile app
SPECIAL EVENTS pp. 23 - 38 INDUSTRY PANELS pp. 146 - 147 CULINARY DEMOS pp. 148 - 149 INTERMISSIONS pp. 150 - 153
AWARDS SEASON NARRATIVE FEATURES NARRATIVE SHORTS DOCUMENTARY FEATURES DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @NapaFilmFest for live updates. Sign up for our newsletter to receive the most current NVFF news.
ST. ST.HELENA HELENA CAMEO CINEMA
9:45 AM 10:00 AM
ASK FOR JANE
CALISTOGA
NATIVE NATIVE SONS SONS
FARMSTEAD FARMSTEAD
92 min › p. 113
109 min › p. 70
10:00 AM
A FATHERLESS GENERATION
CHARLES CHARLES KRUG KRUG
ACACIA ACACIA BARN BARN
9:45 AM
THE PRICE OF FREE
VERGE DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS FOOD & BEV SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL EVENT
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 2
DRIVE-IN DRIVE-IN
9:30 AM
FATHER'S KINGDOM 94 min › p. 86
90 min › p. 132
96 min › p. 85
1:00 PM
HURLEY 83 min › p. 112
12:45 PM
THE TXOKO EXPERIENCE. 1:00 PM THE SECRET CULINARY PICK OF THE LITTER SPACE OF THE BASQUES 81 min › p. 65
12:45 PM
TURNING POINT 80 min › p. 115
12:30 PM
ONLY HUMANS 72 min › p. 73
54 min › p. 123
5:15 PM
5:15 PM 5:30 PM
BIAS
GREEN BOOK
AGAVE: THE SPIRIT OF A NATION
UNLIKELY
88 min › p. 111
130 min › p. 49
78 min › p. 121
106 min › p. 116
5:30 PM
8:30 PM
GRACE 101 min › p. 72
8:15 PM
THE THINGS WE KEEP 75 min › p. 114
8:15 PM
8:30 PM
THE DANCING DOGS OF DOMBROVA 102 min › p. 97
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NARRATIVE SHORTS 3
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
WHEN WE GROW UP
THE WHINNIES!
96 min › p. 76
77 min › p. 64
8:00 PM
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 1 131 min › p. 131
LIFE IN THE DOGHOUSE 83 min › p. 113
75 min › p. 129
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8:30 PM
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187
DAILY SCHEDULE
Sunday, November 11
Schedule of film screenings and major events as of September 30. Please check the NVFF mobile app for the most up-to-date information.
SPECIAL EVENTS
NAPA
EVENTS ARE VALLEY-WIDE
ARCHER HOTEL
YOUNTVILLE
UPTOWN THEATRE
JaM CELLARS BALLROOM
LINCOLN THEATER
9:30 AM 9:45 AM 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
10:00 AM
NARRATIVE SHORTS 2
10:00 AM
THE WHINNIES!
SUMMER '03
83 min › p. 128
77 min › p. 64
95 min › p. 102
SGT STUBBY: AN AMERICAN HERO 84 min › p. 66
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
12:30 PM
12:45 PM
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
TRANSMILITARY
LIFE IN THE DOGHOUSE
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
BREWMASTER
THUNDER ROAD
83 min › p. 113
89 min › p. 121
91 min › p. 103
92 min › p. 89
CULINARY DEMO
Feast it Forward p. 149
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
INTERMISSION
INTERMISSION
Feast it Forward
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
pp. 150 - 151
pp. 152 - 153
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
PATRON CIRCLE RECEPTION Andaz Hotel
5:00 PM 5:15 PM
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 3 89 min › p. 133
5:30 PM
ROBIN WILLIAMS: COME INSIDE MY MIND
5:15 PM
THE INTERPRETERS
ARE YOU GLAD I'M HERE
78 min › p. 88
84 min › p. 69
116 min › p. 54
7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
WRAP PARTY Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards
8:15 PM
WHITE TIDE: THE LEGEND OF CULEBRA
p. 38
85 min › p. 105
188
NVFF.ORG
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OFF SCREEN
Full listing of events at nvff.org and on the NVFF mobile app
SPECIAL EVENTS pp. 23 - 38 INDUSTRY PANELS pp. 146 - 147 CULINARY DEMOS pp. 148 - 149 INTERMISSIONS pp. 150 - 153
AWARDS SEASON NARRATIVE FEATURES NARRATIVE SHORTS DOCUMENTARY FEATURES DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
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ST. ST.HELENA HELENA CAMEO CINEMA
CAPERNAUM
SOUFRA
NEVER LOOK AWAY
73 min › p. 122
189 min › p. 52
5:30 PM
12:45 PM
ULAM: MAIN DISH 80 min › p. 123
5:15 PM
VOX LUX
NARRATIVE SHORTS 1
110 min › p. 51
78 min › p. 127
WE ARE BOATS
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
107 min › p. 104
97 min › p. 115
10:00 AM
121 min › p. 52
1:00 PM
12:45 PM
1:00 PM
HESBURGH 100 min › p. 112
5:30 PM
THE TROUBLE WITH WOLVES
SPARE ROOM
CHARLES CHARLES KRUG KRUG
9:30 AM
COLD BROOK 103 min › p. 71
12:30 PM
UNCRUSHABLE 70 min › p. 59
97 min › p. 74
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
5:15 PM
CANCER REBELLION
ACCIDENTAL CLIMBER
ORDINARY DAYS
101 min › p. 84
65 min › p. 111
82 min › p. 100
8:15 PM
8:30 PM
TOMORROW
A PRIVATE WAR
HURLEY
90 min › p. 75
106 min › p. 48
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DRIVE-IN DRIVE-IN
57 min › p. 90
8:30 PM
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ACACIA ACACIA BARN BARN
9:45 AM
9:45 AM 10:00 AM
CALISTOGA
NATIVE NATIVE SONS SONS
FARMSTEAD FARMSTEAD
VERGE DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS FOOD & BEV SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL EVENT
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NAPAFILMFEST
83 min › p. 112
NVFF.ORG
189
Film Index Accidental Climber............................. p. 111
Kodiak Queen, The ............................ p. 133
Uncrushable........................................ p. 59
Afghan Cycles......................................p. 83
Last Meal........................................... p. 127
Unlikely.............................................. p. 116
Agave: The Spirit of a Nation.............. p. 121
Liberty, The ....................................... p. 127
Up to Snuff.......................................... p. 91
Angela Wilson: A Butcher's Story........ p. 131
Life in the Doghouse.......................... p. 113
Valley of the Boom............................... p. 61
Are We Good Parents?........................ p. 127
Lightkeeper, The ............................... p. 128
View From Up Here, The .................. p. 129
Are You Glad I'm Here.......................... p. 69
Long Dumb Road, The ........................ p. 98
Vox Lux................................................ p. 51
Ask For Jane........................................ p. 70
Lost, The............................................ p. 129
We Are Boats .................................... p. 104
At Eternity's Gate.................................. p. 53
Madness, Farewell................................ p. 99
Wheelman............................................ p. 62
Bias................................................... p. 111
Messi & Me........................................ p. 132
When We Grow Up............................... p. 76
Biggest Little Farm, The....................... p. 50
Multiverse Dating for Beginners.......... p. 127
White Tide: The Legend of Culebra..... p. 105
Brewmaster........................................ p. 121
My Indiana Muse................................ p. 116
You Can Choose Your Family................. p. 77
Brownlist, The.................................... p. 127
My Paintbrush Bites........................... p. 132
Cancer Rebellion..................................p. 84
Never Look Away.................................. p. 52
Capernaum.......................................... p. 52
No Returns........................................ p. 128
Cold Brook........................................... p. 71 Connection In Crisis........................... p. 133
On My Way Out: The Secret Life of Nani and Popi................................. p. 116
Dancing Dogs of Dombrova, The .......... p. 97
Only Humans....................................... p. 73
Dashi Journey.................................... p. 131
Ordinary Days.................................... p. 100
Day Zero............................................ p. 133
Perfect Note, A.................................. p. 131
Deep Dish Apocalypse....................... p. 127
Pick of the Litter................................... p. 65
Devil's Garden......................................p. 64
Price of Free, The .............................. p. 113
Do You Trust This Computer?................ p. 60
Private War, A .....................................p. 48
Duke.................................................. p. 128
Ride................................................... p. 101
Empire on Main Street........................ p. 131
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind..p. 54
Esfuerzo............................................ p. 131
Science Fair....................................... p. 114
Father's Kingdom................................. p. 86
Sgt Stubby: An American Hero............. p. 66
Fatherless Generation, A...................... p. 85
Sharing Our Stories: The Eliza Project Documentary ................................ p. 133
Fear Us Women................................. p. 133 Foreman, A........................................ p. 129 Front Runner, The................................ p. 47 General Magic...................................... p. 87 Generations....................................... p. 128 Grace................................................... p. 72 Green Book.......................................... p. 49 Have It All.......................................... p. 127 Hesburgh........................................... p. 112 High-Sensitive Youth in the Horse-Heart-Space..........................p. 64
Sharkwater Extinction...........................p. 63 Sole Doctor........................................ p. 132 Soufra................................................ p. 122 Spare Room......................................... p. 74 Summer '03....................................... p. 102 Take The Hill...................................... p. 132 Things We Keep, The ........................ p. 114 This Changes Everything.................... p. 115 Thunder Road.................................... p. 103 Tomorrow............................................. p. 75
Hiro's Table........................................ p. 122
TransMilitary........................................ p. 89
Hula Girl............................................ p. 132
Trouble With Wolves, The .................... p. 90
Human Project, The .......................... p. 128
Turning Point...................................... p. 115
Hurley................................................ p. 112
Txoko Experience. The Secret Culinary Space of the Basques, The ............ p. 123
I Love Your Fucking Name.................. p. 132 Instant Family...................................... p. 49 Interpreters, The .................................p. 88
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Tzeva Adom: Color Red...................... p. 129 ULAM: Main Dish............................... p. 123
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191
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