MVFF40 Program 2017 by CAFILM

Projecting commitment.

All the ﬁlms featured at this year’s Mill Valley Film Festival are the results of thousands of artists working together to bring a story and vision to life.

Wells Fargo is proud to return as the Opening Night sponsor of the 40th Annual Mill Valley Film Festival because the achievements of these artists reﬂect our working together spirit and commitment to help our communities thrive.

Enjoy the show

SHIRTS | TOTES

On the shirt pocket

Available at: Outdoor Art Club & Smith Rafael Film Center More info at mvff.com/merchandise

CFI GREEN INITIATIVE

MVFF respects the planet and is working to be a net-zero waste event by 2020. There are many ways you can help:

• Select Print-at-Home Tickets when buying online, then get your e-tickets scanned from your phone at the theater.

• Share and recycle this program.

• Bring your own reusable water bottle.

• Carpool to screenings and events.

• Recycle your Festival badge.

Learn more at c afilm.org/green-initiative

WELCOME TO THE 40 TH MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL!

Recently, I was in line for takeout when a man approached me to explain what the Mill Valley Film Festival had come to mean to him over the years. “It’s been life-changing. My wife and I attend these amazing movies. Then we go to dinner and talk about them. It enriches our lives in so many ways.”

As MVFF turns 40, for myself, I feel like I’ve gotten more back over the years than I’ve put in. What began as a three-day celebration of mostly Bay Area filmmakers has blossomed into something so much bigger. Our slate has grown, embracing American indies, international films, and the best of the Oscar® season. In my office, I have a full-page San Francisco Chronicle spread from that first year, with a pictorial of a children’s filmmaking workshop—a reminder that education, too, has always been a vital component of MVFF.

As part of our look back over the past four decades, this year’s program includes Michael Wadleigh’s acclaimed documentary Woodstock , which was first presented at MVFF’s inaugural festival in 1978 in a tribute to cinematographer David Myers. And in this year’s 5@5 Golden Years program, we present short films from festivals past from filmmakers Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, MVFF 2016), Agnès Varda (an MVFF mainstay, whose latest feature Faces, Places is part of this year’s program), and James Broughton (our first honoree in 1978).

But as we approach this Ruby Anniversary, it is not only a time to reflect on the past, but also to honor the present and contemplate the future. One of the things that excites me most about the 2017 program is the number of young filmmakers whose work is featured: directors like Greta Gerwig, whose debut feature, Lady Bird, is a love letter to her hometown of Sacramento; Italian-American filmmaker Jonas Carpignano, who follows up his first feature Mediterranea (MVFF 2015) with A Ciambra, a riveting drama set in Italy’s Romani community and performed by a nonprofessional cast; and Tangerine director Sean Baker’s

third film, The Florida Project . It will be a pleasure watching all of the young directors in this year’s program bloom over the coming decades.

Another filmmaker to watch is Pariah director Dee Rees, who brings Mudbound, her epic drama of two families in the Jim Crow South, to MVFF. Rees will be the recipient of our MVFF Award this year, along with fellow honorees Kristin Scott Thomas, featured in our Opening Night film Darkest Hour, directed by MVFF alum Joe Wright; director Todd Haynes (Carol, MVFF 2015), whose critically lauded Wonderstruck will make its California premiere; Andrew Garfield in a breakout role in Andy Serkis’s directorial debut, Breathe; and the magnificent Holly Hunter.

After years of screening his films at the Festival, including the US premiere of his directorial effort Into the Wild, actor/director Sean Penn will be honored as well. He’s done so much for CFI and MVFF over the years, including taking part in our “Films of Our Life” program at the Smith Rafael Film Center with a screening of Soviet director Elim Klimov’s 1985 drama Come and See

We are also excited about a number of films by veteran directors, including Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerwitz Stories ; Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri ; Guillermo Del Toro’s The Shape of Water ; and Richard Linklater’s Last Flag Flying. And we continue our Mind the Gap program, focusing on the contributions of women directors, along with our ¡Vive el Cine! program, spotlighting films from Spain and Latin America.

Over the past 40 years, music has played a recurring role at MVFF, both on film and in live performance. This year, we are hosting 10 nights of music at Mill Valley’s Sweetwater Music Hall, and as part of our anniversary celebration, 2017 marks the return of Huey Lewis. Years ago, he played at a private Closing Night party for staff and volunteers, and now he returns for a public performance that will be a benefit for CFI’s long-term plans to remodel the Sequoia Theater. Because what’s an anniversary, if you can’t look ahead?

Finally, I’d like to express my deep gratitude to all of our supporters, corporate sponsors, foundations, staff, board, and volunteers for making these past four decades possible; to the filmmakers who create the look and feel of the Festival; and to our loyal and enthusiastic audience. We could not do it without you!

MARK FISHKIN MVFF Founder/Director

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We would also like to thank the hundreds of volunteers and other contributors who help make the Mill Valley Film Festival a memorable experience every year!

The Godmother Lorraine of Arabia

The Witch of Oz

Ms. Smith Goes to Washington

Midnight Cowgirl

The Third Woman Florence Gump Goodgals

Things look a little different from a woman’s perspective.

MCF is proud to be the Leadership Partner for Mind the Gap, the Mill Valley Film Festival’s gender equity initiative. Let’s make sure every story is told.

Photo: Erik Aadahl, Sound Designer and Editor

THE CENTER OF IT ALL... superstars

{ Nordstrom Rack NOW OPEN! }

e w r ite r thinks, the poet sings,

e craftsmen fashion wondrous things,

e doctor heals, the lawyer pleads,

e miner f ollows the precious leads;

But this or that, whate’e r be fall,

e far me r he must feed them all.

e farme r’s t ra de is one of worth;

He’s par t ner with the sky and earth,

He’s par t ner with the sun and rain,

A nd no man loses for his gain;

A nd men may rise, or men may fall,

For the far me r he must feed us all.

- excerpts from Amelia E. Barr

THURSDAY Marin Civic Center (8am - 1pm)

SUnday Marin Civic Center (8am - 1pm)

Barber Lane Cooper Alley Salon International Orange Larkspur Landing Optometry Maxwell the Cleaner SoulCycle Tutu School Well Made Home Yogaworks marincountrymart.com

MARIN COUNTRY MART

OPENING NIGHT

DARKEST HOUR

UK 2017, 114 min Director Joe Wright

Director Joe Wright’s ( Pride and Prejudice, MVFF 2005) Darkest Hour is absolutely gripping. Gary Oldman’s brilliant performance drives this story of Winston Churchill’s rise to power both as Prime Minister and as architect of the push against what seemed like the imminent, inevitable Nazi invasion of Britain—not to mention their utter domination of Europe—in World War II. Bullishly immune to his unpopularity amongst his fellow politicians, Churchill is aided and abetted by assistant Elizabeth (Lily James, Downton Abbey ), and by his wife: Kristin Scott Thomas, impeccably arch as Clementine Churchill, her charm and insightfulness making her the ultimate ally of the man who had the full weight of the world on his shoulders. In this pivotal situation, this audacious, controversial, and visionary leader must navigate the backstage wheeling and dealing, the political maneuvering, and power plays in a seemingly untenable, unwinnable moment in history. As he does: Oldman’s Churchill is forceful, antagonistic, humorous, bombastic, eloquent—and unstoppable. —Zoë Elton

Guests: Kristin Scott Thomas, Joe Wright

Thursday, October 5, 7:00pm | CinéArts Sequoia

Program & Gala | $125 general | $110 CFI members

Program Only | $60 general | $55 CFI members

OPENING NIGHT SPONSOR

OPENING NIGHT GALA

9:00pm–Midnight | Live music by Wonder Bread 5 Gala Only | $90 general | $75 CFI members

2257 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur

OPENING NIGHT

WAIT FOR YOUR LAUGH

US 2017, 85 min Director Jason Wise

Fascinating, funny, and full of showbiz soul, this spirited documentary highlights the epic career of one of the most brilliant comediennes of the last century. She started as Baby Rose Marie, a child prodigy, singing and dancing on stage before most kids could ride a bike. She grew up to be Rose Marie, beloved for her role as sassy scriptwriter Sally Rogers on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and her even sassier zingers on The Hollywood Squares game show. Filmmaker Jason Wise reveals there is much more to this tough, smart woman’s 87-year entertainment career. Interviews with Peter Marshall, Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke, Tim Conway, and the lady herself—still going strong at 94—combine with rare footage to depict a complicated, inspirational life. From her passionate marriage to trumpeter Bobby Guy to her up-close-and-personal connections to Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel, Rose Marie forged intense, lasting relationships while delighting audiences from Las Vegas to Hollywood, always marching to her own beat. —Brendan Peterson

Guests: Jason Wise, Peter Marshall

Thursday, October 5, 7:00pm | Cinema Corte Madera

Program & Gala | $125 general | $110 CFI members

Program Only | $60 general | $55 CFI members

OPENING NIGHT SPONSOR

OPENING NIGHT GALA

9:00pm–Midnight | Live music by Wonder Bread 5 Gala Only | $90 general | $75 CFI members

2257 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur

CLOSING NIGHT

THE CURRENT WAR

US 2017, 105 min Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

In stellar performances that crackle and shine, Benedict Cumberbatch ( The Imitation Game, MVFF 2014), Michael Shannon ( Loving , MVFF 2016), and Nicholas Hoult ( Kill Your Friends, MVFF 2015) don the brilliant, larger-than-life personae of Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and Nikola Tesla in this triangular tale of electricity’s trailblazing pioneers. “This is just how boys play,” opines a nonplussed Westinghouse, the more equanimous of the three, as the incendiary Edison creates a buzzworthy public smear campaign against him, while Tesla walks a fine line, creating an alternating current between the two highly-charged poles. In the war for nationwide dominance between two delivery systems—AC (Westinghouse) and DC (Edison)—the stakes are sky-high as competitive bidding for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair draws nigh. Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s ( Me and Earl and the Dying Girl ) enlightening film skillfully weaves together personal and technological histories, in an illuminating tale of the demigods of conductivity. —Karen Davis

Guest: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

Sunday, October 15, 5:00pm | CinéArts Sequoia

Program & Party | $85 general | $75 CFI members

Program Only | $45 general | $40 CFI members

CLOSING NIGHT SPONSOR

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY

7:00pm–10:00pm | Mill Valley Plaza

Party Only | $50 general | $45 CFI members

CLOSING NIGHT

LADY BIRD

US 2017, 93 min Director Greta Gerwig

Bumbling through her senior year at a Catholic high school, Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson desperately wants to escape Sacramento for the loftier environs of an East Coast liberal arts college. Played by the always enchanting Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn, MVFF 2015) and clad in the compulsory polo shirt and plaid skirt ensemble, the rebellious teenager spends her final semesters hanging out in parking lots and minimarts while navigating the confusing world of college applications and blossoming relationships. Indie darling Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut demonstrates a discernible acumen towards filmmaking and a keen understanding of the high school experience and the complex relationships between a young woman, her family, and her hometown. Lady Bird is Gerwig’s love letter to Sacramento, a commemoration of finding herself and where she belongs, while remaining tied to the city that shaped her. —Dominique O’Neil

Guests: Greta Gerwig

SPOTLIGHT ON GRETA GERWIG

Our Closing Night Spotlight program will feature an onstage conversation with Greta Gerwig, a screening of Lady Bird, and the presentation of the MVFF Award.

Sunday, October 15, 5:00 pm | Smith Rafael Film Center

Rafael House 1 | Live Intro & Q&A

Program & Party | $85 general | $75 CFI members

Program Only | $45 general | $40 CFI members

CLOSING NIGHT SPONSOR

Rafael Houses 2 & 3 | Simulcast Intro and Q&A

Program & Party | $75 general | $65 CFI members

Program Only | $35 general | $30 CFI members

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY

7:00pm–10:00pm | Mill Valley Plaza

Party Only | $50 general | $45 CFI members

I Made It! Glass Creations

AG Denim

Avant Toi

Brochu Walker

Calleen Cordero

Christian Peau

Daniel Basta

Delle Cose Divka

Faliero Sarti

Giorgio Brato

Guidi

Hartford

James Perse

Jasmine Wang

Johnny Farah

Lost and Found

Majestic

Marc Le Bihan

Nicole Miller

Officine Creative

Pas de Calais

Roberto Del Carlo

JEWELRY

Ashley Morgan

Jill Platner

Julieri

Justine Alexandra

Rosa Maria

Susan Cummings

Thalia

dress by Jasmine Wang

KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas has ignited the screen and stage for decades, infusing sleek sophistication and refined intelligence into enduring roles in Bitter Moon, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The English Patient (for which she received an Oscar ® nomination), The Horse Whisperer, and Gosford Park , to name a few. She has been nominated for 44 international awards, winning 26 of them. On stage, she has capably handled Chekhov, Pinter, and Sophocles, winning accolades and awards across the board. Her latest work opposite Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour continues a remarkable career of memorable and transcendent performances.

DARKEST HOUR

US 2017, 114 min Director Joe Wright

Our Tribute program will feature an onstage conversation with Kristin Scott Thomas, a screening of Darkest Hour, and the presentation of the MVFF Award. Join us after the program for a celebratory reception at Il Fornaio in Corte Madera.

Friday, October 6 | 6:30pm | Smith Rafael Film Center

Program & Reception | $85 general | $75 CFI members Program only | $45 general | $40 CFI members

TRIBUTE SPONSORS

Nancy P. and Richard K.

Robbins Family Foundation

RECEPTION SPONSOR

TRIBUTE

By Leah LoSchiavo

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas has had quite a productive year. Releasing back-to-back films this fall, Scott Thomas stars in Joe Wright’s rousing Winston Churchill biopic Darkest Hour (pages 32 and 121) and Sally Potter’s darkly comic farce The Party (page 143). In both roles, she infuses her very different characters with palpable shades of vulnerability and warmth. At the same time, she maintains her signature genteel veneer infused with winking wit.

On screen and on paper, Scott Thomas’ awards and accomplishments speak loudly for themselves: a BAFTA Award, four Evening Standard British Film Awards, two London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, for her film work; as well as a DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire), for her services to drama. She received Academy Award ® and Golden Globe Award ® nominations for her indelible starring role opposite Ralph Fiennes in Anthony Minghella’s Best Picture Oscar ® -winning The English Patient (1996). Scott Thomas shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture with her fellow actors from Robert Altman’s Gosford Park (2001), and the cast was also honored with the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble.

Award) nominee; The Horse Whisperer (1998), starring opposite director Robert Redford; Brian De Palma’s Mission: Impossible (1996); Sydney Pollack’s Random Hearts (1999); Irwin Winkler’s Life as a House (2001), opposite Kevin Kline; Roman Polanski’s Bitter Moon (1992); two films for Philip Haas, Angels and Insects (1995), for which she won the Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress, and Up at the Villa (2000); Richard Loncraine’s Richard III (1995); Guillaume Canet’s hit Tell No One (2006); and Charles Sturridge’s A Handful of Dust (1988), for which she was awarded her first Evening Standard British Film Award.

“I’ve always felt a bit sans patrie, you know? Stuck in the middle. I’m English, but I’m French. In England, people always think of me as French; in Paris, they always say I’m English. But my family, the family I made, are in France.”

Scott Thomas made her screen debut in Under the Cherry Moon (1986), starring opposite Prince. Her breakout role came in the Best Picture Oscar-nominated classic comedy, Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), written by Richard Curtis and directed by Mike Newell, which garnered her BAFTA and Evening Standard British Film Awards. Among her numerous and praiseworthy screen credits are Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Nowhere Boy (2009), for which she was a BAFTA and BIFA (British Independent Film

After a run of successful aristocratic roles in American and British films, Scott Thomas decamped to France for a hiatus. Considered one of the most intriguing and enigmatic of British actresses, born and bred in Cornwall, Scott Thomas has lived in Paris for more than 30 years and reported to The Independent in 2012, “I do consider myself as being French, I suppose.” The French seem to have adopted her, as well: She was awarded the Légion d’Honneur, the highest civilian award in France, in 2005.

While still popping up sporadically in supporting roles in English-language independent and studio features, Scott Thomas focused much of her work throughout the 2000s towards challenging lead roles in French cinema and on stage. The bilingual actress received her fourth Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Catherine Corsini’s Partir (Leaving) (2009), which also brought her a César Award nomination for Best Actress. She was previously a César nominee for Philippe Claudel’s Il y a longtemps que je t’aime (I’ve Loved You So Long) (2008), for which she was again a Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominee.

Darkest Hour

KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS

Film commitments made pursuing theater roles impossible until she reached her 40s, but, through a gradual accumulation of roles—a touring production of Racine’s Berenice; successful West End productions of Luigi Pirandello’s As You Desire Me and Anton Chekov’s Three Sisters; the role of Arkadina in Ian Rickson’s acclaimed Royal Court staging of Chekov’s The Seagull, for which she received the Olivier Award for Best Actress and reprised on Broadway—she has, observes The Telegraph, “gained a reputation as an exciting stage presence, capable of mining extreme psychological depths while seeming to do very little on the surface.” Scott Thomas re-teamed with Rickson for a succession of acclaimed roles in productions of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal and Old Times, and Sophocles’ Electra. In 2015, she inherited the role of Queen Elizabeth II in Peter Morgan’s The Audience from none other than Helen Mirren. Fine company, indeed.

“Now it has to be about what I want to do in an emotional and spiritual way.”

Despite her successes, however, Scott Thomas claims she has “never felt like I belonged.” She explained further to The Telegraph, “I’ve always felt a bit sans patrie, you know? Stuck in the middle. I’m English, but I’m French. In England, people always think of me as French; in Paris, they always say I’m English. But my family, the family I made, are in France. So I feel completely torn…It’s hard.” The DBE designation in 2015 was a welcome gift from her native country. “It was very touching, because I haven’t lived in England for such a long time and this felt so welcoming,” she relays.

While still very much committed to her domestic life in France, Scott Thomas has broadened the framework of her career in film, tackling exciting and metamorphic performance challenges. She asserts, “Now it has to be about what I want to do in an emotional and spiritual way.”

Among her more recent films are the classic period drama The Invisible Woman (2013), starring with director Ralph Fiennes and Felicity Jones; Nicolas Winding Refn’s visceral and transgressive Only God Forgives (2013), opposite Ryan Gosling; François Ozon’s mesmerizing In the House (2012), with Fabrice Luchini and Emmaneulle Seigner; and Israel Horovitz’s charming My Old Lady (2014), starring once more with Kevin Kline, as well as Dame Maggie Smith—all roles and genres that exhibit the wide range of her gifts.

Scott Thomas’ latest films continue to exhibit the protean trend of her recent work. As Janet in Sally Potter’s The Party, Scott Thomas vividly embraces a whirlwind of a role, running the gamut of emotion from celebration to intrigue, shock, confusion, betrayal, panic, grief, and vengeance, all couched in the confines of a gleefully acidic drawing room comedy of (bad) manners. Surrounded by a formidable ensemble comprised of Patricia Clarkson, Timothy Spall, Cherry Jones, Cillian Murphy, Emily Mortimer, and Bruno Ganz, Scott Thomas adeptly leads the cast through Potter’s knotty and whip-smart script, billed as “a comedy wrapped around a tragedy.”

Sharply contrasted with this film is the classically crowd-pleasing and galvanizing World War II drama of Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour, an impressive vehicle for a nearly unrecognizable and thoroughly committed Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill. Scott Thomas is eloquent in support, playing Churchill’s wife, Baroness Clementine Ogilvy Spencer-Churchill, a compelling figure in her own right appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for her service to country during a time of great turmoil and upheaval. Wright’s film depicts the inspiring true story when, within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Churchill faced indomitable Nazi forces rolling across Western Europe to imminently invade England. Conflicted by worry for an unprepared public, conspired against by a duplicitous party, and challenged by a doubtful king, Churchill must rally a nation to fight for their ideals, liberty, and freedom. Early reviews of the film applaud the entire cast, with Variety highlighting Scott Thomas’ work as “a strong force” in the well-received biopic.

On the horizon looms yet another transformative role: director. Currently in pre-production, Scott Thomas will star in and helm The Sea Change, about an unhappily married couple whose holiday in Greece takes some unexpected turns. The Witch ’s Anya Taylor-Joy and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ’s Mark Strong will costar. To round out the industrious productivity of 2017, she is also in pre-production on Alexandra-Therese Keining’s Paramour, where she’ll dig into the real-life role of BMW heiress Susanne Klatten, a powerful, yet reclusive woman, whose life changes irrevocably after she embarks upon a passionate affair with mysterious and seductive Swiss businessman, Helg Sgarbi.

It is a pleasure to see so many facets of Scott Thomas revealed through the astute sophistication and variation of roles she chooses to inhabit and impart to the world. We welcome Dame Kristin Scott Thomas to the Mill Valley Film Festival, and are truly honored to present her with the MVFF Award.

Leah LoSchiavo is a marketing coordinator and writer. Between the two, she is pretty certain she’s on deadline for something right now.

The Party

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A LITTLE TASTE OF FRANCE IN SAN RAFAEL

EPICERIE SHOP

SEAN PENN

Sean Penn has become an American film icon in a career spanning over three decades. As an actor, Penn has been nominated five times for an Academy Award ® as Best Actor for Dead Man Walking , Sweet and Lowdown, I Am Sam, and won his first Oscar ® in 2003 for his searing performance in Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River and his second in 2009 for Gus Van Sant’s Milk . Penn received Best Actor awards at the Cannes (She’s So Lovely ) and Berlin (Dead Man Walking ) film festivals, as well as being a two-time winner of Best Actor honors at the Venice Film Festival (Hurlyburly, 21 Grams). His unparalleled acting career also includes performances in Taps, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, At Close Range, State of Grace, Carlito’s Way, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, and The Tree of Life. As a director, Penn has crafted powerful dramas such as The Indian Runner, The Pledge and Into the Wild, which garnered Penn nominations from the DGA and WGA. Additionally, Penn wrote and directed the United States’ contribution to the compilation film 11’09’01 MVFF welcomes back long-time guest and friend Sean Penn for the 40th edition of the Festival.

Our Tribute program will feature an onstage conversation with Sean Penn, a clip reel of his work, and the presentation of the MVFF Award..

Saturday, October 7 | 3:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center

$55 general | $45 CFI members

TRIBUTE

by Pam Grady

Sean Penn has been nominated for five Academy Awards ® for his acting, winning two. And within those five performances is a master class on range by an actor who Roger Ebert called the most powerful of his generation: an inarticulate death row prisoner in Dead Man Walking (1995); a flamboyant, alcoholic, Django Reinhart-obsessed guitarist in Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown (1999); a slow-witted man trying to retain custody of his young daughter in I Am Sam (2002); a volatile, vengeful, and grief-stricken father in Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River (2003), which won him his first Oscar ®; and the exuberant, pioneering gay rights leader Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant’s Milk (2008), which garnered his second.

Penn is not a classic movie star, those larger-than-life figures whose every role is informed by the force of their personalities. Rather, he is an extraordinary chameleon, sinking deep into the skin of his characters. The son of actor/director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan, he took on two early roles that set the tone for what continues to be a brilliant career. In his 1981 big-screen debut, Taps, Penn was part of an ensemble that included fellow Hollywood icons Timothy Hutton, Evan Handler, and Tom Cruise, all playing military school cadets who stage an occupation when the school is threatened with closure. In The New York Times Vincent Canby gave the film a mixed review, but Penn was among the cast he singled out for his superlative performance as the only cadet with any sense.

A year later Penn would become a full-blown star for a part that could not have been more different than that straight-arrow student, when he played perpetually stoned teen surfer Jeff Spicoli in Amy Heckerling’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The class idler who’d rather be out catching the waves and constantly at odds with history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston), Spicoli emerges as a dazzlingly specific character, one so exact that it is possible to imagine the scent of marijuana wafting off his clothes and escaping out of the movie screen. Audiences sat up and took notice and so did critics, with Janet Maslin of The New York Times declaring Penn the movie’s “real scene stealer.”

spending his last days at home before going off to fight World War II in Racing with the Moon (1984), and John Schlesinger reunited him with his Taps costar Hutton in the ripped-from-theheadlines drama The Falcon and the Snowman (1985). For his role as a drug dealer who joins his CIA employee friend (Hutton) in a scheme to hand off secrets to the Soviets, Ebert praised Penn’s “twitching intensity.”

“I know how to do this part. I know this character. If you want to see it, hire me.”

Fast Times at Ridgemont High also reflected a measure of Penn’s confidence in his own talent. Taps had not yet come out, so he was an unknown quantity when he auditioned for the part of Spicoli. Nearly 40 years later, in a 2017 interview, screenwriter Cameron Crowe, who also wrote the book on which the movie was based, related a still vivid memory: “He came in—I can’t even believe this happened—and we said, ‘Do the part’,” Crowe recalled. “He said, ‘I’m not going to do the part.’ We’re like, ‘You came in to audition.’ He said, ‘I know how to do this part. I know this character. If you want to see it, hire me.’ And he’d been in nothing we’d seen.”

Directors certainly noticed the rising young actor in their midst once he started building credits. Louis Malle cast Penn as one of a gang of inept safe crackers in Crackers (1984), Richard Benjamin hired him to play opposite Nicolas Cage as a Marine recruit

Like The Falcon and the Snowman, James Foley’s At Close Range (1986) was inspired by real life, as Penn played Brad Jr., a young man seduced into his career criminal father’s underworld life. He stars opposite his own mother, Eileen Ryan, here cast as his grandmother, while his brother Chris Penn plays a role mirroring reality: a younger brother following a sibling into the family business. But while the film afforded Sean Penn the opportunity to share a screen with his kin, it also offered him an indelible character in the tough but tender Junior, a smart kid who comes to understand exactly who—and what—his father is. Christopher Walken is Brad Sr., who evinces a combustible blend of menace and sleazy charm. The film is a master class of two actors at the top of their game, in Ebert’s estimation, while Canby praises Penn for his portrayal of “a ravaged saint.”

It is Penn who has the role of the unrepentant villain in Brian DePalma’s Casualties of War (1989). Like Taps of nearly a decade before, the drama stars an ensemble of some of the greatest young actors at work at that time, including Michael J. Fox, John C. Reilly, and John Leguizamo. And, once again, Penn is in uniform. But this time he is a soldier on the front lines of the Vietnam War, a short-timer who snaps and hatches a diabolical plot against an innocent Vietnamese woman. A natural leader, his fellow soldiers who have served with him in battle are only too willing to join him in the unspeakable. It is a tricky role in a film that, Ebert argues, is dependent on the strength of its performances—and most par-

ticularly, Penn’s performance—to succeed. “If he is not able to convince us of his power, his rage and his contempt for the life of the girl, the movie would not work. He does, in a performance of overwhelming, brutal power.”

DePalma rewarded Penn’s exemplary work in Casualties of War with an even juicier role in the gangland thriller Carlito’s Way (1993—one that would allow him go toe-to-toe with another master at getting to the heart of a character: Al Pacino. Pacino is the film’s titular character, a paroled heroin dealer whose vow to go straight meets with obstacles. Among them is his coke-addled lawyer David Kleinfeld, played by Penn, whose fuzzy schemes drag both men closer to hell. Penn is a live wire as the attorney who long ago roasted his ethics on a dumpster pile. He is also practically unrecognizable, with hair permed and shaved, his eyes hidden behind wire-framed glasses, and a hideous wardrobe of garish threepiece suits. For once, the often flamboyant Pacino is the sedate one next to the impudent attorney. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association noticed: Penn was nominated for a supporting actor Golden Globe. It was in this decade that Penn occasionally talked about retiring from acting. He made his feature writing and directing debut in 1989 with The Indian Runner, a gripping drama about brothers standing on opposite sides of the law. The story was one he said he’d been thinking about for eight years. By the time he finally set the screenplay to paper, he could see the film he would make in his head. In 1995, he directed Jack Nicholson as a father bent on revenge in The Crossing Guard, another drama that met with critical acclaim. Penn has continued to write and direct, including the 2007 real-life adventure saga Into the Wild, which had its US premiere at MVFF.

“I’ve always operated under the notion that audiences don’t always know when they’re being lied to, but that they always know when they’re being told the truth.”

SEAN PENN

But the release of The Crossing Guard coincided with the release of Dead Man Walking —and the run of characters with which Penn re-embraced his acting career. Beyond the Oscar ® -nominated roles were characters and performances just as strong, among them an unpredictable alcoholic hung up on the ex-wife (Robin Wright) who has remarried in She’s So Lovely (1997); a fast-talking, misogynistic casting agent in Hurlyburly (1998); a mathematician recovering from a heart transplant whose desire to learn about his organ donor leads him down a rabbit hole of a widow’s obsession with the man who killed her husband in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 21 Grams (2003); real-life hijacker and would-be murderer of a US president in The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004); an eccentric rock star seeking a Nazi war criminal in This Must Be the Place (2011); and real-life ‘50s mobster Mickey Cohen in Gangster Squad (2013).

So, what is Penn’s secret? Why is he so good? How does he always seem to find the truth of his characters? He is one of the most talented actors of his or any other generation, but it is more than that. In an interview he did with The Boston Globe at the time The Assassination of Richard Nixon came out, he expressed an approach to his art and craft that has served him well in a long, storied career:

“I’ve always operated under the notion that audiences don’t always know when they’re being lied to, but that they always know when they’re being told the truth,” Penn said. “And if there are what I think are unsung truths to be talked about in a film— through a character, through a story—and that dominates the piece, that’s the key for me.”

Pam Grady is a San Francisco freelance writer and editor. She is a member of the San Francisco Film Critics Circle and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists.

DEE REES

Powerhouse director and screenwriter Dee Rees exploded onto the American independent film scene in 2011 with her feature film Pariah, garnering mass critical acclaim, seven NAACP Image Awards nominations and multiple awards at the Independent Spirit Awards, Gotham Awards and GLAAD Media Awards. In 2015, she wrote and directed the Emmy-Award winning HBO film Bessie, which received 12 Emmy nominations and four Critics’ Choice Awards, in addition to Directing Awards from the DGA and NAACP. Her latest film to set critics abuzz, Mudbound, premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and makes its Bay Area bow at MVFF40.

MUDBOUND

US 2017, 134 min Director Dee Rees

Dee Rees ( Pariah) further establishes herself as a director of the first order with this remarkable tale, based on Hilary Jordan’s potent novel, of two families whose lives fatefully intertwine in the Jim Crow South. In the wake of World War II, two veterans (Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell) form a fast friendship, and the loved ones they return home to (Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blige) forge a tenuous connection despite the deeply entrenched racial tensions that still seethe in their small Mississippi town. Employing themes and multiple narrators that evoke the sophistication and insight of Faulkner, Rees brilliantly conveys a story that’s epic in its scale but still intimate in its characterizations. With terrific support from Jason Clarke, Jonathan Banks, and Rob Morgan, and painterly images by cinematographer Rachel Morrison perfectly capturing the period, Mudbound is steeped in history, tragedy, and the promise of reconciliation that still resonates today

Our Spotlight program will feature an onstage conversation with Dee Rees, a screening of Mudbound, and the presentation of the MVFF Award. Join us after the program for a celebratory reception at the Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley.

Saturday, October 7 | 6:30pm | CinéArts Sequoia

Program & Reception | $50 general | $45 CFI members Program only | $25 general | $20 CFI members

SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR

RECEPTION SPONSOR

SPOTLIGHT

by Nadia Ismail

Dee Rees creates in her own image. She lends her remarkable capacity for humanity to her characters and breathes into them a complexity that makes them flesh and blood. A self-proclaimed outsider, Rees’ newest feature, Mudbound (page xx), sold to Netflix for $12.5 million, the largest acquisition of Sundance 2017.

Rees came onto the film scene as an explosive new voice in 2011 with Pariah, an NYU-graduate-school-short-turned-feature, which garnered her a Gotham Independent Film Award, a Film Independent Spirit Award, and a tie for Mill Valley Film Festival’s Audience Award. Her 2015 film Bessie, about the life and loves of celebrated Blues singer Bessie Smith, won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Queen Latifah’s portrayal of the chanteuse.

As The New Yorker writer Hilton Als writes, “all artists are other,” and Dee Rees’ myriad forms of other as an African-American queer female writer-director have been the basis for her perceptiveness and ability to see all characters—even the bigoted—as chiefly human.

MVFF Spotlight honoree Dee Rees took some time to speak about Mudbound, her experience as a minority female filmmaker, and the future of cinema.

NADIA ISMAIL: Given what is going on in our country, how does our political context inform the meaning of Mudbound, a postWorld War II period piece?

DEE REES: I think any film, whether it’s 1944 or 2044, is really commenting on the contemporary. It’s commenting on the times in which it’s made. When we made Mudbound, we were shooting it a year and a half ago, before we knew any of this, and so, when you’re saying something that’s true or meaningful, it’s always on time. And I think now that people have today’s political context, I think it gives them the critical distance they need to really take in the story and understand that it’s real and that this happens and that we’re not far from it happening again or from it being the current situation.

DR: I’m from Nashville, Tennessee. I’m actually from a small suburb called Antioch, Tennessee, which in the day, it was kind of like the boonies. Now, it’s kind of like a typical fast food chain suburb. But I think place informs point of view, in that it’s just kind of baked into you. It’s how you see the world. And so for me, this suburban kid, growing up in the sticks, for whom riding bikes and jumping the creeks was our entertainment. I feel like there’s a certain kind of immediacy in my filmmaking, a certain kind of rawness that I appreciate, and an authenticity. And so, I think place necessarily informs the artist, whether you’re a painter, or a writer, or a sculptor, just because it’s just how you see the world.

“In [ Mudbound ], I was trying to explore white as a currency, so that everyone’s not expressing these ideas in the same way.”

And so, I think it just makes people more receptive in a way and more open. In my works, I’m always trying to tell stories and build narratives. I think it makes the narrative more immediate, because we can relate to these characters. I think everyone can admit, “Oh, I know a Pappy.” Or, “I have an uncle who’s like Henry.” Or, “I have an aunt who is like Laura.” And in the film, I was trying to explore white as a currency, so that everyone’s not expressing these ideas in the same way. But they’re spending it differently.

NI: I noticed Tennessee, your home state, has been a presence in each film you’ve directed. How does this place, and particularly where you are from, influence your work?

Tennessee is a very mountainous place, and a very hilly place. So, I’m always interested in asymmetry. I’m interested in rise, and faces, and people. And so for this film, it was really important that the faces all felt real and felt authentic, and felt Southern. In terms of language, I think place informs how you respond to language and how melody and the rhythm of words flows for you.

NI: As a woman writer-director, have you experienced gender discrimination? And I know that this is kind of a tricky question, because you represent other on many facets.

DR: Black, lesbian and a woman, yeah. I think it happens in many ways. I think as [James] Baldwin would say, “I hit the jackpot.” But I think yes, I think the first thing is subtle manifestations, in terms of just capability. I always say people kind of assume you’re incompetent until proven otherwise. Where, if I was in a different package, if I was male even, if that one thing changed, would people assume I was competent until proven otherwise?

I’ve totally walked onto sets and PAs have directed me to background casting. That comes from a basic underlying assumption, that you’re a black woman. There’s no way you’re the director. There’s no way you’re going to the set. So, people’s assumption is that, without even knowing it, you must be one of the extras, without even doing their homework.

NI: And Baldwin wrote about how being a black man, knowing his station, it kind of kept him from being a writer. He didn’t even entertain that thought, because he was like, “I’m not going to do that. I’ll go be a preacher, or I’ll end up on the street, but I can’t follow my dream.” Is that why you went for an MBA first?

DR: Kind of, yeah. Because it’s like being a writer, or being an artist, is this dreamy, indulgent thing. It’s not on the list of things you could do, even though the people I was inspired by growing up, were these authors.

If you major in English, or literature, you end up being an English teacher. So, get something practical. Get this big degree, because then you can do whatever. Being an artist as a career wasn’t something that seemed practical when I was a kid, like attainable. If you had asked me, when I was 12, I don’t think I even quite understood what directors did. If you had asked me if I could be a director, I would have no kind of knowledge of how to get there. I wouldn’t think there’s any way I’d be here, but absolutely, I do think people have unconscious expectations of you, or ideas about what your life can be. It’s up to you to define what your life will be and it’s often beyond your own expectations.

DEE REES

we should be doing futuristic pieces. And we should be doing scifi. We should be doing other things that tell the story. But they’re all reflecting on now and just getting different ideas out there. So, the long game is in the realm of ideas. And filmmaking, narratives, and storytelling are just a way to exchange ideas, to put ideas out there, and to have community gather around them.

NI: Do you have an audience in mind when you make your films?

DR: I want to just tell a great story. So, when I’m writing or when I’m directing, I try not to think about the audience. I try as much as possible, to just think about the scene. I’m just thinking about the characters in this moment. How can I make this moment the best it can be? And if I get the moment right, then I’ll get the scene right. If I get the scene right, I’ll get the sequence right. Then if the sequence is happening right, then we’ll get the film right. I just try to make each moment mean something, feel something, convey something. And just trust that the viewers will come.

“I feel like there’s a certain kind of immediacy in my filmmaking, a certain kind of rawness that I appreciate, and an authenticity.”

But with Mudbound, based on its runs at Sundance, I’m excited, because I feel like the viewer isn’t necessarily the same as who I am, which is exciting because I feel like that means it’s reaching people and connecting on another level. It’s not necessarily connecting on the level of a shared experience, but it’s connecting on a shared sentiment, or a shared feeling. And I think it can have a bigger impact that way.

NI: What are the implications for you of being an artist in this moment? What does that mean to you?

DR: I think, to me, it means starting where you are. I think we have to tell stories that are meaningful, or that are important personally, because if it’s important to you personally, or if you’re connected to it personally, then it’ll have this different resonance. And we need everybody telling different parts, doing different things. It’s trying to get that thing where we’re telling many different stories, many different threads, but it’s all part of the same cloth that we’re weaving. And it has to be interesting and it has to be unexpected. And I think that’s the great thing with many different filmmakers working—everyone started where they are, with their different take on the world. And that’s the kind of thing that enlivens it.

So it doesn’t mean we should all go do historical pictures, or bio-pics, but I think

Nadia Ismail is a writer on politics, film, art and cultural production living in New York City. She is an MFA candidate in Columbia University’s writing program.

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HOLLY HUNTER

Holly Hunter has been bringing her sassy, bright and memorable characters to stages and screens since the early 1980s, winning recognition for her earthy performances in Raising Arizona, Broadcast News, Miss Firecracker, Always, and Roe vs. Wade —and picking up an Oscar ® for her beguiling and accomplished work in Jane Campion’s The Piano She’s charted a refreshingly candid career in a variety of film and television roles, including Home for the Holidays, Living Out Loud, Crash, Saving Grace, and Thirteen, reteaming with Campion for a vividly realized turn in Top of the Lake, and most recently standing out in 2017’s The Big Sick . MVFF is proud to honor the distinctly openhearted spirit of Ms. Hunter’s contributions to the art of acting.

Our Tribute program will feature an onstage conversation with Holly Hunter, a clip reel of her work, and the presentation of the MVFF Award. Join us after the program for a celebratory reception at Tiburon Tavern.

Sunday, October 8, 7:00pm | Rafael Film Center

Program & Reception | $85 general | $75 CFI members

Program only | $45 general | $40 CFI members

RECEPTION SPONSOR

TRIBUTE

By Zoë Elton

Holly Hunter is the consummate artist. Whether she applies her considerable talents to film, theater, or television, she has maintained a career over almost four decades that never ceases to inspire and delight. She has that rare gift of creating fully-formed characters grounded in an emotional truth, whether in dramatic roles, like her transcendent, Academy Award ® -winning role in The Piano; in comedic roles, like her hilarious, deadpan turn in Raising Arizona; or in roles that straddle both drama and humor, like her recent, impressive performance in The Big Sick. Her distinctive voice adds something special to the two-dimensional world of the ’toon as well: The Incredibles was surely made more incredible by the inclusion of Hunter’s voice for Elastigirl.

She seems to have led a life filled with serendipity. Initially passionate about music, as a girl she learned piano—she has said she wouldn’t even go spend the night at a friend’s unless they had a piano. But after a school play in her mid-teens, this segued to acting. And a stint in repertory theater in upstate New York at age 15 made her realize that she wanted to study drama seriously. She went to Carnegie Mellon and after graduation moved to New York to pursue a career in theater. There, she met playwright Beth Henley—in a stalled elevator—and thus began a professional connection and a friendship that still endures. Hunter made her Broadway debut in Crimes of the Heart, Henley’s Pulitzer- and Tony-winning play.

It was her work in theater that led to her break into film. When she was in Crimes of the Heart in 1981, filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen were casting for what would become their debut feature, Blood Simple. They saw Hunter and offered her the female lead. However, Hunter had already committed to Henley’s next production, The Wake of Jamey Foster, and was unable to do it. So the role went instead to her roommate, Frances McDormand (who went on to marry Joel Coen.)

Of course, the connections continued, friendships ensued, and the Coens wrote the role of Ed in their next film, Raising Arizona, for Hunter. Of working with the Coens in that extraordinary role, Hunter has observed about their writing, “The deal with Joel and Ethan when they write a script is, that’s it. The script is magical, it’s every single syllable. I mean, their dialogue is impeccable. It’s not even that it’s right, it’s magic. And there’s nothing in the world that you would ever want to change about their writing. I would never want to improvise a single line of theirs because the line reads like poetry.”

After a two-hour audition, Brooks asked her to come to his house the next day to meet Albert Brooks. There, she was greeted with champagne and the news that she would be starting the next day. She says, “I almost had a nervous breakdown because I had very little film experience, and I had to play a person who was smarter than Bill Hurt, and he’s a very smart guy. I was extremely intimidated by the entirety of the experience of having landed the role but thinking that I might not be capable of doing it. It was the most afraid that I’ve ever been.” It would seem she got over her fear, and delivered a performance that was a revelation and might bring to mind a line in the film: “I had no idea she was this good.”

“I like that vulnerability, that toughness, the fact that she was just willing to go there and express an emotion that was like something all of us can feel.”

For me, Hunter’s work is indelibly connected with the experience of The Piano, and not just because I lined up for hours to make sure I could get into its first screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993, where I ended up seated on the stairs in the nosebleed section of the 2400-seat Lumière theater. The film began, and I was completely entranced.

Around that time, but before Raising Arizona was released, casting was in progress for Broadcast News. Though Hunter had initially been turned down for the role of Jane Craig, it had still not been cast months later. So another chance arose. As she tells it, “The floodgates opened, and I got in to read for the part. And William Hurt was at the audition, which I thought was unusual. And Bill and I proceeded to read the entire script for Jim Brooks.”

This much anticipated film’s premiere took the Croisette by storm. Hunter’s remarkable performance as a nineteenth century Scottish woman helped propel director Jane Campion’s groundbreaking film into becoming one of the seminal works of late twentieth century cinema—as well as a key moment in Cannes history: The Piano became the first (and remains the only) film by a woman director to win the Palme d’Or. Hunter also won the best actress award at Cannes that year, and her international acclaim included wins at the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs.

That same year came her Emmy ® -winning performance in HBO’s The Positively True Adventures of the Texas Cheerleading Mur-

dering Mom. The incredible contrast between these two projects bears witness to the broad dramatic and comedic range of Hunter’s work. Yet each role is notable for its energy and insight, its multi-dimensional and fully inhabited honesty, which spans her work from Living Out Loud to Thirteen to The Big Sick

The Big Sick debuted at Sundance earlier this year to great acclaim—and again confirmed the power of Hunter’s estimable talents. It’s about a Pakistani-American stand-up comedian (played by Kumail Nanjiani) who falls in love with a white woman, Emily (Zoe Kazan), and must navigate many awkward interactions with her parents (Hunter and Ray Romano) when Emily falls sick and ends up hospitalized in a coma. It is based on the real-life story of Nanjiani, who co-wrote the script with his wife Emily V. Gordon. Working with an actor who co-wrote a screenplay based on a personal story of challenge and adversity is not unfamiliar to Hunter. In 2003, she was in Catherine Hardwicke’s (MVFF Tributee, 2015) Thirteen, which Hardwicke co-wrote with then-teenager Nikki Reed. That role led to Hunter’s fourth Academy Award ® nomination.

To gain a little insight into what it’s like to work with Hunter, I spoke with Hardwicke about her experience as a director—and, at that point, a first-time director—working with her. When it came to casting, she says, “I had that famous scene in Broadcast News pop into my mind, where she breaks down and cries, and then stands up and just gets on with it. I thought, Oh, I like that vulnerability, that toughness, the fact that she was just willing to go there and express an emotion that was like something all of us can feel: she was very raw. And so I said to the producer, ‘Wouldn’t Holly Hunter be fantastic as the mom?’ At that time, we had no distribution, I’d never directed a movie, never written a movie. I was a production designer! We had no money. No nothing.”

Nevertheless, the contact was made, Hunter read the script, and Hardwicke was called for a next-day meeting in New York. In preparation, Hardwicke dashed over to Reed’s house, filmed a

HOLLY HUNTER

video of her hairdresser mom, and delivered it to Hunter the next day. Hunter, she continues, “loved the specificity of this woman that she was going to play—how she had her hair salon in her house and she would mix up colors with the neighborhood kids and put streaks in their hair, all these little very specific details that Holly loved in the script.” Hunter made “very powerful and intelligent and incisive comments” on the script, and Hardwicke “wove them into the screenplay.” As Hunter created her character, she “did not try to imitate Cheryl, Nikki’s mother, but she spent time with Cheryl and actually learned how to cut hair…she spent time with Nikki and just absorbed everything. Her eyes were just like a sponge, soaking it all in, and then, of course, made the character her own.”

As I look at Hunter’s work from the outside, it seems as though she is always looking for authenticity, and her work is always multidimensional. It seems like full-spectrum character building. I asked Hardwicke if that thought aligned with her experience of working with her as a director. She replied, “Yes, that character building is what seemed to me to be very interesting. In this case, since it was a real person used as a springboard, and that real person had a profession, had kids, had a backstory, had a lack of education, had all these different issues that she understood about the backstory, but then she wanted to live it, too.”

Hardwicke’s insights bring me back to The Big Sick, and Hunter’s extraordinary ability to get to the heart of a character. Of her new film, she said, “It goes to this really private and intimate place because Kumail and Emily meant it. That’s one of the reasons I was attracted to it, because it had an authenticity. It had even more than an authenticity, it has an inside track that I felt was compelling.” That authenticity, that inside track into the emotional truth in a character: We’ve come to trust that in the artistry that Holly Hunter brings to all her roles.

Zoë Elton is a writer, curator, and MVFF’s Director of Programming.

LAST FLAG FLYING

US 2017, 119 min Director Richard Linklater

Once upon a time in ‘Nam, Doc (Steve Carell), Sal (Bryan Cranston) and Mueller (Laurence Fishburne) were an inseparable trio. Then something horrible went down, one of them took the fall, and they stopped speaking to each other. Decades later, Doc tracks down his fellow vets—Sal’s an alcoholic bar owner; former hellraiser Mueller is now a man of God—to ask for a favor: His only son has just died in combat in Iraq. He needs them to accompany him to identify the body and to join him on one last mission. This sequel to The Last Detail —like Hal Ashby’s 1973 classic, an adaptation of a Darryl Ponsican novel—is a funny, talky, emotionally resonant road movie. But this Richard Linklater masterwork is also a moving, heartbreaking tribute to the bonds forged in warfare and a penetrating, performance-driven actors’ showcase that boldly asks why we fight—and how we as a nation heal from the damage done. —David Fear

Guest: Richard Linklater

Thursday, October 12 | 7:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center

Program & Party | $85 general | $75 CFI members

Program Only | $45 general | $40 CFI membersy

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TODD HAYNES

Considered a pioneer of the New Queer Cinema movement and auteur of outstanding American independent films, celebrated director, producer and screenwriter Todd Haynes has contributed uniquely beautiful, provocative and empathetic films to the cinematic canon, including Poison, Safe, Velvet Goldmine, Far from Heaven, I’m Not There (MVFF 2007), Mildred Pierce, and Carol (MVFF 2015), all of which have garnered widespread critical acclaim and multiple nominations and awards. Nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, Haynes’ latest feature film, Wonderstuck , makes its California premiere at MVFF40.

WONDERSTRUCK

US 2017, 115 min Director Todd Haynes

Ben and Rose are children who live in eras 50 years apart; each has a secret wish that propels their stories in Todd Haynes’ (Carol, MVFF 2015) exquisite rendering of Brian Selznick’s illustrated novel. In rural Minnesota, Ben (Oakes Fegley, Pete’s Dragon ) dreams of wolves and seeks clues about the identity of his father. In Hoboken, NJ, Rose (marvelous newcomer Millicent Simmonds) immerses herself in the movies of charismatic Lillian Mayhew (Julianne Moore, a beautiful nod to Lillian Gish). Each is deaf; each sets out on a quest that leads them to New York, with the American Museum of Natural History a common backdrop. It’s perfect territory for Haynes’s rich cinematic senses: The vibrant color and swagger of 1977 New York is evoked to perfection by Ed Lachman’s cinematography; Cartwell Burwell’s score is terrific. Wonderstruck is striking and wonder-filled, and confirms Haynes as one of the most important artists of his generation. —Zoë Elton

Our Tribute program will feature an onstage conversation with Todd Haynes, a screening of Wonderstruck , and the presentation of the MVFF Award. Join us after the program for a celebratory reception at Green Chile Kitchen in San Rafael.

Friday, October 13 | 7:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center

Program & Reception | $85 general | $75 CFI members

Program only | $45 general | $40 CFI members RECEPTION SPONSORS TRIBUTE SPONSOR

TRIBUTE

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Todd Haynes about his latest film Wonderstruck, the parallel stories of two 12-yearold runaways, Rose and Ben, set in New York in 1927 and 1977. We talked about how Haynes chose to cast the film, his process of working with children and deaf actors, some of his sources of inspiration, and his creative process.

BECKY MACDONALD: Could you talk about the process of casting Millicent Simmonds [in the role of Rose]? Were you committed to casting a deaf girl?

TODD HAYNES: Yes, it was absolutely a goal, a kind of vision to try to do everything possible to find a deaf kid to play young Rose. It just seemed essential and meaningful on so many levels, starting with who the character is, and how central she is in wanting to feel something that might not come as readily, or something that I wouldn’t even know how to ask from a hearing actor. But also, we felt like having a deaf person in such a central part of the film would set up a kind of closeness to the community that you really can’t get any other way. We knew that it was an essential role for the film, that carried the story, that had to function without dialogue, and so there were even greater demands placed on the performance of the character.

Everything that I ended up needing in this performance, she would deliver to the film to a degree that I’m just sort of catching up to, I think. It’s a remarkable performance that functions on so many levels, and she seems to understand how to work with the medium of film, without any experience. The intuition and the intelligence of this kid was just something that we found by luck. I did not extract this performance out of Millie. This performance was already in Millie, and I just created the circumstances that enabled it to be seen and recorded and shared with people. There was something in her person, in her body and voice and the way she spoke and signed, and the way she communicated who she

was that was unmistakable, and that really just shot through you to the core. I felt like I was holding this precious, fragile thing that could just disappear at any moment, because you don’t know that she’ll be able to do it. We were extraordinarily fortunate with her. And she brought so much to the production, and she was such a lovely person, and a wonderful, generous, funny, warm presence on the set.

And so it set a tone of inclusiveness and communicativeness that made it so easy to interact with her, and she basically set that in motion. And it also made us want to go further with the deaf community. At a certain point it became the brainchild of me, and [casting director] Laura [Rosenthal], and Brian Selznick [the author of the book from which the film was adapted] to include other deaf actors in roles in the silent portion of the film who were playing hearing characters, but they were in a silent film, so to speak, and they could impersonate us. That was a unique reversal that they don’t always get a chance to enjoy, to have fun with. So it meant that we were around a lot of deaf actors who come with unique histories and careers and experience. And that was another enrichment of the process of making the movie.

BM: How did you approach making a movie for children? Was it different than how you approached making other films?

TH: One thing I wanted to start by doing was going back to movies I watched when I was a kid, around this age—movies like The Miracle Worker, which was a very big movie for me when I was a kid. I was very obsessed with that film. It made a deep impression on me for a number of reasons, and it’s still a really powerful film to look at today. And then other films that I hadn’t revisited for any other reason than this, like the movie Sounder, which I saw when I was 11, and that I remember being a very emotional experience. And I assumed that that meant the film was catering to a child’s sort of emotional limits. And in fact, it’s an incredibly sophisticat-

Becky MacDonald

ed, understated, and very elegantly made movie about a 1930 Black sharecropping family in Louisiana. But it’s the simplest sort of socioeconomic story about this family, and it does not cater to children. It speaks in a nuanced and universal language that an adult and a child could easily access. And I found that to be so inspiring and encouraging. And so I just felt like we don’t have to do anything special, but pay acute attention to the integrity of these two kids as characters and their lives and experiences.

My manner of dealing with them on set was not to give them any special or unique communication, but just give them the full respect and professionalism that I try to give any actor I work with. And there is something extraordinary about this age. I do think much of the world’s conflicts might be eradicated if 12-year-olds actually ruled the world—real 12-year-olds, not those stuck in or regressed back to maybe a much younger age, like we currently have. It’s a strange and interesting age: It’s just before puberty hits, and for girls often they’re in puberty. But for boys, it’s right before that change. So they’ve achieved all this level of knowledge and sophistication, but they’re still kids. And they have a clarity and a sense of fairness that is just unencumbered by hormones, and then things start crashing in, and, at least for boys, never really leave you again afterwards.

TODD HAYNES

elemental parts of film were being asked to step up and really make this work as a concept.

BM: Each of your films takes a new risk—whether it be stylistically, narratively, or through choices in casting. Is there a risk that you’re looking forward to taking that you haven’t taken yet?

“I do think much of the world’s conflicts might be eradicated if 12-year-olds actually ruled the world—real 12-year-olds, not those stuck in or regressed back to maybe a much younger age, like we currently have.”

BM: For most of your movies you’ve written the screenplay, except for Carol (MVFF 2015) and now Wonderstruck, which were both based on books. What was it like to work with another writer, and specifically with Brian? Do you consider it a departure from the way you’ve worked in the past?

TH: It is different to not spend all that time in the generating process of an idea, the research process, where you live with something in your own enclosed world for those many years that it often takes. But there’s a point where, after you’ve written even your own script, where the script is still just this blueprint, that you need images and sounds and something ineffable. At least this is how I look at making a movie, as a director. But every stage you’re in is kind of a discarding of the stage that precedes it, and a kind of surrender of the ideas and visions that you might’ve formed, because you have to deal with what’s in front of you. And that is true from script to production, from production to dailies, from dailies to your first cut, the whole mysterious process of editing, and sound, and post that follows that.

I find, in some ways, I would be just as hard and disparaging on my own writing as I would on anybody else’s work that I’ve taken on. Brian also has already adjusted his book, which is also built on images, to really thinking deeply about cinema and film language and all of its resources, particularly for a film that doesn’t rely on dialogue. So all of the purely cinematic elements of the medium became necessary to tell the story—the editing, the production design, obviously the performances, and music, and sound design as well. So that was great, to just feel that all the essential,

TH: Oh yeah. There’s everything I haven’t done. And there are too many things I haven’t done, and not enough time to do them. One thing I just recently announced when I was in Locarno, I am hoping to put together this documentary on the Velvet Underground. I’ve never done an actual documentary, and of course, this documentary on the Velvet Underground is going to be a unique challenge given the fact that, unlike most bands, there’s not a lot of visual material showing them in any of the rudimentary ways you expect to see a band through its life, performing live—just mostly experimental coverage of them through Warhol and fantastic photos. So it’s going to take a different kind of strategy, which I think will be appropriate to that unique moment, where they really were the most marginal band, with the most extraordinary influence on popular music, even if it took years for that to be understood. And it’s really tapped deeply into the experimental language of New York City counterculture and art culture and film culture at that time—and, of course, experimental music. It’s gonna be fun, and it’s gonna be a challenge, so it’ll be a new thing for me!”

Becky MacDonald teaches film at Brooklyn College and is a former staff member of MVFF.

Wonderstruck

ANDREW GARFIELD

Andrew Garfield is an Academy Award ® -nominated actor who captivates global audiences with his transformative performances spanning feature films and notable theater productions. He continues to evolve his body of work in powerful roles and compelling narratives. His acclaimed performances can be seen in Hacksaw Ridge, Silence, Angels in America, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Social Network , 99 Homes, Never Let Me Go and, most recently, in David Robert Mitchell’s Under the Silver Lake and Andy Serkis’ Breathe

BREATHE

UK 2017, 117 min Director Andy Serkis

In his directorial debut, actor Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes ) tells the remarkable true love story of Robin (an exceptional Andrew Garfield) and Diana Cavendish (The Crown ’s Claire Foy, as resolute as a royal), two charming and free-spirited young Brits who are newly wedded in the late 1950s, when the dashing young Robin is suddenly struck down by polio. Paralyzed and confined to a bleak hospital ward, the constant mechanical breathing of a respirator is all that keeps him alive—though it’s hardly a life he can bear living. Unwilling to accept such a fate, the devoted Diana makes a radical decision that upends all conventional and scientific wisdom of the era—and completely changes the course of their lives. Produced by their son Jonathan Cavendish, Breathe is a romantic and reverent tribute to a fearless couple who became pioneering inventors and advocates for the disabled community long before disabled rights were a matter of law. —Joanne Parsont

Our Spotlight program will feature an onstage conversation with Andrew Garfield, a screening of Breathe, and the presentation of the MVFF Award. Join us after the program for a celebratory reception at the Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley.

Saturday, October 14 | 7:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center

Program & Reception | $85 general | $75 CFI members

Program only | $45 general | $40 CFI members

SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR

JENNIFER COSLETT MACCREADY

RECEPTION SPONSOR

SPOTLIGHT

By Atissa Manshouri

Priest. Murderer. Soldier. Clone. Internet pioneer. Web-slinging superhero. There are few leading men who can match the talent and diversity that Andrew Garfield has displayed in his career, and even fewer who can embody the internal moral and existential conflicts of his characters in the way that Garfield does. Even his teenage Spider-Man, Peter Parker, is conflicted, grappling with the consequences of his newly discovered powers as he simultaneously explores and unleashes them. As Garfield told the UK Telegraph, “It’s not just a guy climbing the side of a building. It’s a guy climbing the side of a building in an existential dilemma.”

Existential questions of a more emotional nature inform Garfield’s latest performance in Breathe, the inspiring true story of Robin Cavendish, a charismatic 28-year-old struck down by polio in the 1950s. Deeply in love with his spirited, pregnant wife Diana (played by The Crown’s Claire Foy) and their adventurous life together, Cavendish is forced, upon his diagnosis, to contemplate an irretrievably reduced existence spent connected to a respirator in a hospital ward. Refusing to allow her husband to simply accept his fate, Diana flouts both medical and social conventions of the time and devises a way for Robin to leave the institution to be cared for at home. With an active mind and no loss of his sparkling personality, Robin is not only reawakened to the possibility of living his life, but he and Diana also find a way to make their lives bigger and more meaningful, transforming their passion into advocacy for others.

Garfield will surely gain notice for the incredibly focused physicality of this role. Using little more than his eyes, his voice, and his facial expressions, he conveys both the elated highs and utter depths of his experience. Garfield says, “The voice was the main challenge, but also the stillness, and how that affects the face, how much more active it makes the eyes. I think his inner life became much more vivid because of his inability to have a physical life in the same way that he did before.”

Andy Serkis, the acclaimed actor (Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) making his directorial debut with Breathe, calls Garfield “a phenomenal actor who leaves no stone unturned. The part is a very complex, hugely challenging emotional roller coaster. But for the most part, Andrew is sitting or laying down, only able to express himself through his facial muscles and the intensity of his performance.” That intensity, of course, is what makes his performance crackle with intelligence. Garfield takes audiences on a gut-wrenching journey to show how Robin ultimately realizes that his life still has possibility. It’s an acting thrill ride, but an internal one, devoid of bells and whistles.

Judging by his choices over the past decade or so, Garfield seems drawn to characters on an internal journey, those who are engaged in self-reflection and moral inquiry. A self-described skinny and sensitive youth who experienced bullying during his school years, he eventually made his way from Surrey, where he grew up, to London, for drama school. Following a few notable TV series appearances (including Doctor Who) and critically acclaimed stage performances, he landed his first major leading screen role as Jack in Boy A, a TV drama for Britain’s Channel Four.

Loosely based on 1993’s Bulger child murder case in the UK, Boy A finds Garfield struggling through the darkest recesses of the

human experience. As an eleven-year-old, his character participates in the senseless murder of a young child; as a young man, he is released back into society—reformed, rehabilitated, and renamed—and yet wholly unsure of whether there will be a place for him. The real-life Bulger case, in which two ten-year-old boys were convicted of kidnapping and murdering a toddler, horrified the nation and prompted heated debate around the ethical implications of imprisoning minors as violent criminals, and how and when they should be released. Garfield would have been ten years old himself when the Bulger murder took place and was apprehensive about taking the role. “But then,” he said in an interview around the time of the film’s release, “I thought about what I saw as the greater good, which was exploring a subject from an angle that hasn’t been explored yet, offering a suggestion to people that maybe we shouldn’t brand kids as just evil. Maybe life and human beings are more gray than just good or bad.”

His work in Boy A earned him a BAFTA Award and helped land him squarely on the Hollywood radar. A key supporting role in Robert Redford’s Afghanistan War polemic, Lions for Lambs, quickly followed, and soon he had lined up a leading turn in Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go, based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s celebrated novel. Never Let Me Go is a dreamlike hybrid of dystopia and teenage awakening set at a British boarding school. Garfield plays Tommy, a vulnerable but artistic young man buoyed by his friendships with Kathy (Carey Mulligan) and Ruth (Keira Knightley). What the trio do not know is that they are human clones, bred for their organs, which they will be forced to donate, one by one, until they “complete.” Garfield brings a touching humanity to his engineered-human role, particularly in Tommy’s discovery of his appreciation for art and his desire to create, which he naively hopes will prove that he has a soul and “defer” him from his morbid fate. “What is at the core [of the film]… is a very human story, discussing what it is to have a soul, and how you prove what a soul is,” he said.

Though he’d already set both stage and screen alight at home in the UK, Garfield became widely known to American audiences in David Fincher’s The Social Network (2010). “Shatteringly good

The soul of a film that might not otherwise have one,” is how Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers assessed his star turn as Eduardo Saverin. Like his performance in Breathe, Garfield’s portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg’s former friend and Facebook co-founder is all the more interesting for its philosophical undertones. In The Social Network, the questions revolve around friendship, ambition, and intellectual property. Who owes what and to whom, when the stakes are a world-changing technology and billions of dollars? Fincher originally looked at Garfield for the part of Mark Zuckerberg, but realized quickly that he was all wrong to play the notoriously intransigent, be-hoodied wunderkind. “Andrew doesn’t shy away from characters having doubts about themselves,” Fincher has said. “He’s amazingly connected to his humanity. And he helps the audience find a real way into characters like that.”

Garfield’s follow-up to The Social Network was one of the biggest Hollywood has to offer: Spider-Man. Garfield found himself playing a character he had idolized since first dressing up as him as a three-year-old on Halloween. He readily identified with the skinny teenager who’s stronger than he looks on the outside, and also with the hesitations faced by a hero-in-the-making. In an interesting parallel, his own reluctance at becoming part of a Hollywood juggernaut comes through in multiple interviews from the time. “I love being an actor,” he said in one of them, “but I’m not crazy about celebrity culture.”

ANDREW GARFIELD

duction (he died in 2014), sang Garfield’s praises while applauding his level head. “He’s very serious and dedicated. He’s never satisfied with himself. He knows what’s happened with his movie career—and he’ll fight with every fiber of his being not to let that go to his head.”

A Spider-Man sequel followed in 2014, but one gets the sense these days that Garfield has gone looking in a different direction since retiring his Spidey suit. He co-produced and starred in the 2014 independent drama 99 Homes as a recently evicted single father caught up in a housing scam in which he is forced to evict others just like him. True to form, Garfield zeroes in on his character’s ethical quandary, giving this parable of the recent housing crisis a beating heart and emotional core.

“It’s not just a guy climbing the side of a building. It’s a guy climbing the side of a building in an existential dilemma.”

Just as The Amazing Spider-Man was hitting screens in 2012, Garfield returned to (or perhaps sought refuge in) the theater. Tony ® -nominated as Biff in Mike Nichols’ quintessential Broadway production of Death of a Salesman, Garfield commanded the stage alongside an acting hero of his, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Nichols, who would win his eighth and last Tony Award for this pro -

2016 was a marquee year for Garfield, with headlining roles in two prestige productions: as a Jesuit priest in 17th-century Japan in Martin Scorsese’s passion project, Silence; and as the pacifist war hero Desmond Doss in Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, for which he earned his first Academy Award ® nomination. Both roles required a moral gravity and an ability to explore ideas of faith, far more than the usual requirements for Hollywood’s leading men. In Gibson’s words, “This character [Doss] needed to be profound down to the bootstraps of his soul.” Gibson’s words continue to resonate when thinking about Garfield’s performance as Robin Cavendish, who also had to reach down to the bootstraps of his soul to find his determination to live. That willingness to tackle the internal journey is ultimately what distinguishes an Andrew Garfield performance and makes him such a fascinating actor to watch.

Atissa Manshouri is a freelance writer based in Mill Valley.

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Resident groups include the Ross Valley Players, Laurel House Antiques, Pixie Park, and the Moya Library – Ross Historical Society, a valuable resource for horticulture and local history. Visit our website for more information. Open dawn to dusk, 7 days a week. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross, CA 94957 www.magc.org 415-455-5260 Visit the Marin Art & Garden Center

BEHIND THE SCREENS

Panels | Master Classes | Workshops | VR

MASTER CLASSES + PANEL + WORKSHOPS MIND THE GAP SUMMIT

Saturday, October 7, 10:00am–6:00pm I Outdoor Art Club

$75 full day, includes networking lunch and happy hour

$40 morning, includes lunch

$40 afternoon, includes happy hour

Registration required* | To register, go to mvff.com/mind-the-gap

*Limited number of scholarships available

The dearth of women working in film industry leadership is on par with that of women in the tech world. This full day of networking events, discussions, and master classes explores compelling issues such as entrepreneurship, mentorship and inclusivity and how to sustain a productive, creative career in these innovative and intersecting fields. Join an incredible group of filmmakers, business leaders and other trailblazers in these communities as they come together to tackle the lack of gender parity. Guests include: Blye Faust (producer, Spotlight); Robin Hauser (director, CODE ); Stephanie Lampkin (Blendoor); Amber Kirsch (visual effects producer, Wonder Woman); Pratibha Parmar (director, Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth); Tiffany Shlain (filmmaker, 50/50 ); Osnat Shurer (producer, Moana), and many more.

For more details and registration information, see page 103 and mvff.com/mind-the-gap

WORKSHOP

METAMORPHOSIS: A SCREENWRITING IMMERSIVE FOR TEENS

Sunday, October 8, 2:30–5:00pm I Outdoor Art Club FREE, by application only | To apply, go to mvff.com/behind-thescreens

Ages 14–18 only | Limited to 20 participants | Participants are required to attend the screening of Metamorphosis: Junior Year (page 38) prior to the workshop (film ticket included with registration)

This hands-on screenwriting workshop for teens follows the screening of the youth-produced feature Metamorphosis: Junior Year (page 138). Filmmaker mentors from Elysium Bandini Studios will lead participants through a series of writing, storyboarding and pitching exercises to flesh out the backstory of one of the Metamorphosis characters. Participants will create and compare their own stories and approach to their film. The workshop will wrap up with an ice cream social/networking opportunity.

Facilitators:

TOM FRANCO, Partner, Elysium Bandini Studios

IRIS TORRES, Lead Producer, Elysium Bandini Studios

PANEL

CANNABIS CULTURE & THE NEW ENTREPRENEUR

Sunday, October 8, 3:00pm I Sweetwater | FREE, ticket required)

As marijuana has become legal in eight states this year, the cannabis industry has been booming, with a slew of entrepreneurs stepping into the breach—and women playing a major role in this new cannabis culture. In this panel discussion preceding the world premiere of Mary Janes: Women of Weed (page 138), we will take a look at the many opportunities the industry provides and celebrate the parity these women are working to achieve.

Invited Guests:

WINDY BORMAN, Executive Producer/Director, Mary Janes: The Women of Weed

AMANDA REIMAN, VP of Community Relations, Flow Kana

ADRIAN SEDLIN, CEO Canndescent

MODERATOR: DAVID DOWNS, Cannabis Editor, San Francisco Chronicle

MASTER CLASS JOHN SANBORN: AN INTROSPECTIVE RETROSPECTIVE

Thursday, October 12, 7:00pm | Outdoor Art Club

$15 general |$12.50 CFI members

MVFF40 artist in residence John Sanborn takes us on a journey through biology, history and technology that is part master class, part memoir, but above all a wild ride in a time machine. Sanborn will VJ selections from his world-renowned media art works, interspersed with pictures and stories about the times, the people he’s collaborated with (Philip Glass, Twyla Tharp, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and King Crimson, to name a few), and the technologies he’s toyed with to create his inimitable body of work.

ACTIVE CINEMA HIKE NETWORKING IN NATURE

Saturday, October 14, 10:00am, Tennessee Valley | FREE

Get some fresh air and fresh ideas with filmmakers, friends, and cinephiles during this easy 3.5 mile hike to the ocean through beautiful terrain. Join Festival staff and guests and exchange ideas and wisdom on filmmaking, filmmaker resources, activism, and strategies for action. Bring water and sunblock, and wear good walking shoes. All are welcome! Meet at the Tennessee Valley trailhead parking lot.

Tennessee Valley info: nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/tennessee_valley

PANEL SPONSORED BY

BEHIND THE SCREENS

SNEAK PREVIEW SCREENING + PANEL TALKING ABOUT TEEN SUICIDE

Saturday, October 14, 11:00am | Rafael $15 general |$12.50 CFI members

Following a special screening of the locally produced documentary Not Alone, the filmmakers and teens featured in the film will join mental health experts in a community discussion that will explore the epidemic of teen suicides and how friends, parents, and communities can support teens struggling with depression, anxiety and mental illness

Invited Guests:

KIKI GOSHAY, Co-director/Producer (Not Alone )

DR. ELI MERRITT, psychiatrist; author, Suicide Risk in the Bay Area

JACQUELINE MONETTA, Co-director (Not Alone )

DR. KIM NORMAN, psychiatrist

TAMARA PLAYER, MSW, Chief Executive Officer, Buckelew Programs

JULIAN PLUMADORE, Community Engagement Manager, Mental Health Association of San Francisco

SHEILA SOUDER, School Counselor, Drake High School Counseling and Wellness Center

NOT ALONE

US 2016, 50 min

When Jacqueline Monetta’s best friend committed suicide at 16, she struggled to understand why. That led her to make her first documentary, where young people could share their personal stories of suffering and healing and demonstrate how other teens can get the help they need. Conceived and created by, for and about teens, Not Alone is an inspiring testament to the power of love and compassion

VR + PANEL

VR AT THE CROSSROADS:

EMPATHY | EMBODIMENT | EDUCATION | ENTERTAINMENT

Saturday, October 14 I Outdoor Art Club

2:00pm VR Experience + 2:45pm Panel 2:45pm Panel + 4:15pm VR Experience FREE, ticket required

MVFF40 takes a 360-degree view of the current VR landscape with a panel discussion and presentation that explores the ways that virtual reality can expand our sensitivities to other species, other genders—and to new ways of listening to each other and to our natural world.

Invited Guests:

NATHALIE MATHE, Co-creator, Uturn

DIMITRI MOORE, Video Producer, Storytelling Coach, Digital Promise Global

PIERCE, Creator, Out of the Blue

EMMANUEL VAUGHN-LEE, Co-creator, Sanctuaries of Silence

MILICA ZEC, Co-creator, Tree

MODERATOR: MARIO KENYON, Head of Production, Furious M; Producer, Defrost

VR EXPERIENCE TREE

Friday, October 13, 10:00am–4:00pm

Saturday, October 14, 10:00am–4:00pm

Sunday, October 15, 10:00am–2:00pm

Outdoor Art Club | FREE, registration required

To register, go to mvff.com/behind-the-screens

Tree is a multisensory VR installation that gives participants the unique opportunity to grow from seed to full grown rainforest tree. Matching a fully immersive experience with a powerful narrative, artists Milica Zec and Winslow Porter allow you to see, feel, hear and smell what it is like to “be” a tree and witness its fate firsthand: With your arms as branches and your body as trunk, you’ll experience the wonder of growth, literally from the ground up.

KEN JACOBSON, Installation Curator

PANEL + RECEPTION STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: FROM ACQUISITION TO EXHIBITION

Saturday, October 14, 11:30am | Rafael | FREE, ticket required Reception to follow | Vin Antico, 881 Fourth St., San Rafael

Over the past four decades, the film industry has changed and evolved in innumerable ways. Where are we heading now? Join us for an in-depth discussion on the issues surrounding international film markets, foreign film funds, international co-productions, independent film sales and all avenues of film distribution with individuals who know this tangled terrain inside and out.

Invited Guests:

SIMON CURTIS, Director (Goodbye Christopher Robin )

CRISTINE DEWEY, Managing Director, ro*co films international SYDNEY LEVINE, consultant; writer, SydneysBuzz

JOHN SLOSS, Founder, Cinetic Media; Producer (Last Flag Flying )

MODERATOR: PAUL COHEN, independent film distributor; Executive Producer (Life and Nothing More ); Executive Director, Torchlight Program, FSU Film School

CAPTURE YOUR MVFF STORIES!

MVFF has partnered with with the Mill Valley Public Library and StoryCenter to capture audio/video recordings of community memories of the Festival.

To reserve a recording session (up to 30 min) at MVPL, go to storycenter.org/mvff40. Session times:

1–5pm on Sat, Sept 9 | Sun, Sept 17 | Sat, Sept 23 | Sun Oct 1

BEHIND THE SCREENS SPONSOR

MVFF Music returns for a third year with a diverse series of concerts at the Sweetwater Music Hall. Ten nights of live music include performances by artists featured in MVFF films, as well as local, national, and international musicians. Drop in and discover your new favorite act, or make a night of it and pair a screening about an artist with their corresponding live show!

MAD HANNANS

Following the North American premiere of the Mad Hannans documentary (page 137), an all-star cast of musical talent will celebrate this beloved local Irish folk rock band with a live performance featuring Jerry Hannan along with Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads and Modern Lovers), Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), Shawn Dailey (Hole), Josh Clark (Tea Leaf Green), and the film’s director (and musician) Martin Shore

FRIDAY, OCT 6 • DOORS 8:00PM | SHOW 9:00PM

ADVANCE TICKETS $27 | DAY OF SHOW $32

A Benefit for MHI, BAMP and CFI FROM CALIFORNIA TO HAITI

PREMIERE SCREENING + ALL-STAR CONCERT

MVFF TRIBUTE TO BOB WEIR & ROB WASSERMAN

Join us for the world premiere screening of director Don Hardy’s short documentary Fingerprints followed by an all-star concert featuring the San Francisco Glide Memorial Church Choir, Haitian music master Paul Beaubrun, and the 40th Anniversary All Stars: Jay Lane, Robin Sylvester, James Nash, Randy Emata, and special guests. Filmed at the Conservatory of Music in San Francisco and J/P HRO in Haiti, and featuring kids from Music Heals International (MHI) and Bay Area Music Project (BAMP), Fingerprints tells the story of two music programs for kids in two different countries that come together through the universal language of music.

SATURDAY, OCT 7

FILM SCREENING:

DOORS 6:30PM | SCREENING 7:00PM | $9 FILM ONLY

MUSIC SHOW:

DOORS 8:30PM | SHOW 9:00PM | $100 FILM + MUSIC SHOW

WAILING SOULS

Jamaican reggae legends The Wailing Souls have been spreading their message of One Love since the 1960s. Along the way they’ve earned several Grammy ® nominations and played for thousands of people around the world. On October 8, they cap off MVFF’s Focus on Cannabis Culture day (page 111) with their first visit to the Sweetwater Music Hall.

SUNDAY, OCT 8 • DOORS 7:00PM | SHOW 8:00PM ADVANCE TICKETS $22 | DAY OF SHOW $27

SARAH JAROSZ

With her fourth album, Undercurrent , Sarah Jarosz makes a studied departure from her previous records, shifting the emphasis from her skills as a multi-instrumentalist to her songwriting and vocal performance. Undercurrent accentuates the growth and maturity that Jarosz, now 25, has achieved since graduating from New England Conservatory and moving to New York. The change in approach garnered Jarosz two Grammy Awards in 2017—Best Folk Album for Undercurrent and Best American Roots Performance for House Of Mercy

MONDAY, OCT 9 • DOORS 7:00PM | SHOW 8:00PM ADVANCE TICKETS $28 | DAY OF SHOW $32

Tickets for all MVFF Music shows are available online at mvff.com/music or in person at the Sweetwater box office. MVFF Music tickets are not available at the MVFF Box Office. MVFF Music, Select, and Producer’s Circle badges grant admission to all MVFF Music shows, except benefit shows . No other Festival badges grant admission to MVFF Music shows.

SHOW SPONSORED

A BLUES CELEBRATION HONORING PAUL BUTTERFIELD

Profiled in MVFF40 documentary Horn from the Heart (page 128), late Chicago bluesman Paul Butterfield was an iconoclastic harmonica great. Now it’s Butterfield’s turn to be tributed by friends, fans, and former collaborators. This blues-lover’s show will feature Butterfield’s friend and musical collaborator Nick Gravenites, accompanied by a band created specially for this event. Hosted by Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle Pop Music Critic

TUESDAY, OCT 10 • DOORS 8:00PM | SHOW 9:00PM ADVANCE TICKETS $25 | DAY OF SHOW $30

B AND THE HIVE

Led by the soulful vocals of front-woman Brianna Lee, B and The Hive spent the last three years touring California opening for such acts as Elvis Costello, Allen Stone, Goo Goo Dolls, Lucinda Williams, and more. Backed up by Josh Barrett on bass, Nick Simmons on guitar, and Hayden Gardner on drums, the band has a power and grace that make for a captivating live show. Their unique sound covers ground from indie and rock to delicate, bluesy ballads.

WEDNESDAY, OCT 11 • DOORS 7:00PM | SHOW 8:00PM ADVANCE TICKETS $15 | DAY OF SHOW $20

MANZAREK ROGERS TRIBUTE BAND

Eight-time Grammy nominee and Northern California native son Roy Rogers brings his virtuoso slide guitar style to the Sweetwater, reuniting the band that accompanied him and the late Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek on three albums, including Translucent Blues (highlighted in MVFF40 documentary Third Mind Blues, page 149). Joining this formidable line-up on keyboards is Jim Pugh, longtime member of the Robert Cray Band.

THURSDAY, OCT 12 • DOORS 7:30PM | SHOW 8:30PM ADVANCE TICKETS $35 | DAY OF SHOW $40

THE FAMILY STONE

SPONSORED BY

MVFF40 documentary On the Sly (page 142) follows a filmmaker’s search for the reclusive Sly Stone. Featured in the film are family members and former bandmates who continue the Stone legacy, performing now as The Family Stone. See the film, then get on your feet and celebrate 50 years of funk!

FRIDAY, OCT 13 • DOORS 8:00PM | SHOW 9:00PM ADVANCE TICKETS $45 | DAY OF SHOW $50

MVFF MUSIC

SUPERNOVA AT THE SWEETWATER JOE SATRIANI

Master guitarist Joe Satriani and his band perform as headliners for the first time at MVFF, in honor of the premiere of Joe’s filmmaker son Zachariah’s tour documentary Beyond The Supernova (page 118). Joe Satriani is the world’s most commercially successful solo guitar performer—with six gold and platinum discs to his credit—and founder of the multi-guitarist traveling experience G3, which has seen him share stages with Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Robert Fripp, among others.

SATURDAY, OCT 14

VIP MEET & GREET 7:30PM | DOORS 8:00PM | SHOW 9:00PM

GENERAL ADMISSION $75 | VIP MEET & GREET $115

40th Anniversary Benefit for CFI

HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS

Huey Lewis and the News return to their roots for two special benefit shows celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Mill Valley Film Festival. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the dynamic, chart-topping band in the heart of Mill Valley at the Sweetwater Music Hall. Proceeds will benefit the initial planning stages of the capital campaign to restore Mill Valley’s treasured Sequoia Theater.

TWO SHOWS!

SUNDAY, OCT 15

DOORS 6:00PM | SHOW 7:00PM

ADVANCE TICKETS $90 | DAY OF SHOW $125

DOORS 8:30PM | SHOW 9:00PM

ADVANCE TICKETS $90 | DAY OF SHOW $125

B AND THE HIVE

THE FAMILY STONE

JOE SATRIANI

HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS

SPONSORED BY

VENUE SPONSOR

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Requires subscription to XFINITY® TV service and TV5MONDE. Limited basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including Broadcast TV Fee (up to $6.50/mo.) and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change.

On Demand selections subject to charge indicated at time of purchase. Call for restrictions and complete details. © 2017 Comcast. All rights reserved. All trademarks are property of their respective owners.

25 degrés en hiver: © Man’s Films, Lancelot Films, Alokatu S.L., Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF) • 38 témoins: © Agat Films & Cie / Ex Nihilo • Ça rend heureux: © Eklektik Productions, Lotus Productions, World Video Productions • Élève libre: © Versus Production, MACT Productions, Inver Invest, Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF), Ryva • La régate: © Liaison Cinématographique, Samsa Film, Artémis Productions • Les âmes de papier: © Liaison Cinématographique • Les chevaliers blancs: © Les Films du Worso • Pas son genre: © Agat Films & Cie / Ex Nihilo • Sans rancune !: © Mact Productions • Ultranova: © Les Films Pelléas, Prime time, RTBF - Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française, Versus Production

THE FILM FEST CONTINUES YEAR-ROUND AT THE SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER

Experience the best of contemporary and classic independent film, world cinema, and special event screenings with filmmakers in attendance at Marin’s premier non-profit art house venue.

We thank you for your continued support throughout the year.

The Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center is owned and operated by the California Film Institute,

Marin’s News

Tupac’s“CaliforniaLove” tookoverthespeakersatthe theaterwhenGoffwaspicked. “It’sagoodspotformeand formyfamilytocomewatch games,”Goffsaid.“Veryexcitedtogetdownthereandget towork.”Now,theRamshopeGoffcan followinthefootstepsofAaron Rogers.Thetwo-timeNFLMVP outofCalfamouslyplummeted to24thoverallin2005after speculationhemightgofirst. Goff,incontrast,wasoffthe boardintheblinkofaneye.He becamethefirstBearsquarterbacktogofirstoverallsince quarterbackSteveBartkowski in1975.“WhatIknowofhimishe’sa greatkidandhe’sgotabright futureinfrontofhim,”Rodgers toldESPN.comleadinguptothe draft.“Andifhegetsdraftedby L.A.,he’saluckyman.”

OneparticipantataSanRafaelpartycelebrating JaredGoffbeingthetoppicksaid,“Thisisthe biggestsportseventinthehistoryofMarinCounty.”

familyfriendsatapartyinSan Rafael,wheretheyscreamedwith greatjubilationasNFLcommissionerRogerGoodellannounced thattheLosAngelesRamsselectedGoffwith theNo.1pickin thedraft.“It’scooltohave,andifJared wantsthemback,hecanhave them,”Paulasaidwithalaugh. “Youkindofknewthatsomethingwasgoingtohappenand theymightbeworthsomething someday.Notthatwe’llsell them.”ThehowlingonThursdaycontinuedasthe6-foot-4,215-pound quarterbackwalkedontotheAuditoriumTheatrestageinChicago,huggedGoodellandheld upabrand-newRamsjersey.

willbrushthesandfromtheir clothesandskipintoasparkling oasis.ThestateGOPconventionbeginswithabangFridayafternoonwithanaddressbyRepublicanpresidentialfront-runner andpoliticalsupernovaDonald Trump.Whenhetakesthestageatthe HyattRegencynearSanFranciscoInternationalAirport, Trumpwillusherinadizzying fiveweeksofcampaignseductionandmediasaturationculminatingJune7,whenGolden StateRepublicanscastwhatmay bedecisivevotesintheracefor theGOPnomination.

CELEBRATE FILM

24 FRAMES PER SECOND | 365 DAYS A YEAR

THE CALIFORNIA FILM INSTITUTE CELEBRATES FILM YEAR-ROUND AT THE NONPROFIT CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER, THROUGH CFI EDUCATION, AND DURING THE ANNUAL MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER | MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL | CFI EDUCATION

PHOTOS, LEFT TO RIGHT: TOP ROW: 1 & 3 TOMMY LAU; 2 EDDY HERNANDEZ; 4 COURTESY OF CFI. BOTTOM ROW: 1-3 TOMMY LAU; 4 GREG GARTHE

THE EACH FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE CALIFORNIA FILM INSTITUTE AND MVFF40.

We at the EACH Foundation strive to be trailblazers in private foundation philanthropy, employing a maximally efficient business model to effectively target our eight giving areas.

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

30 socio-economically diverse, civic-minded philanthropic advisors.

E.A.C.H.: Environment, Education, Art, Animals, Children, Community, Health, and Homelessness.

100% volunteer, fully discretionary grant-making.

$1.25 million given out to 214 distinct charities (since inception, June 2016).

Serving non-profits in the San Francisco Bay Area and Hawaii.

Come to our 2nd annual Four Charities Fundraiser, December 14th, 2017 in San Francisco, benefiting CFI.

MVFF’s ¡Viva el Cine! initiative showcases prize-winning Spanish-language and Latin American films and stories. This season, we feature eight new films including the inspiring true story of a Berkeley middle school teacher’s mentorship of a promising Hispanic student. Other films tackle the thorny political issues of historical culpability and the disenfranchised seeking justice from corrupt governments. Plus the more personal stories of a child’s adjustment to family loss, a fantastic transgender waitress/singer, and a young Cuban boy yearning to play the piano. ¡Join us!

THE DESERT BRIDE (Argentina/Chile)

Directors Cecilia Atan and Valeria Pivato

EL AMPARO (Columbia/Venezuela)

Director Rober Calzadilla

ESTEBAN ( Cuba )

Director Jonal Cosculluela

A FANTASTIC WOMAN ( Chile )

Director Sebastián Lelio

LOS PERROS ( Chile )

Director Marcela Said

QUEST ( US )

Director Santiago Rizzo

SUMMER 1993 ( Spain)

Director Carla Simón

VAZANTE ( Brazil )

Director Daniela Thomas

MVFF’s Active Cinema films are united in their commitment to explore the world and its issues, engage audiences, and transform ideas into action. Join us for screenings throughout the Festival, support the grassroots activism of filmmakers, and engage with the admirable work of special guests, co-presenters, and partners. Stay connected year-round: facebook. com/MVFFActiveCinema

CITY OF JOY

In association with V-Day

THE COUSIN

HAPPENING

In association with Vote Solar & Marin Clean Energy

JAHA’S PROMISE

In association with Safe Hands for Girls

THE LAST ANIMALS

In association with WildAid & WildLife Conservation Society

THE LAST PIG

THE LIGHT OF THE MOON LIYANA

THE LONG SHADOW

In association with Showing Up for Racial Justice

MARY JANES: THE WOMEN OF WEED

A RIVER BELOW

In association with American Cetacean Society & Omacha Foundation

ACTIVE CINEMA HIKE: Networking in Nature

Saturday, October 14 | 10:00am | FREE

Come enjoy some fresh air and fresh ideas with filmmakers, friends, and cinephiles during this hour-long hike to the ocean through beautiful terrain. Join Festival staff and guests and exchange ideas and wisdom on filmmaking, filmmaker resources, activism, and strategies for action. Bring water and sunblock, and wear good hiking shoes. All are welcome! Meet at the Tennessee Valley trailhead parking lot. Tennessee Valley info: nps.gov/goga/ planyourvisit/tennessee_valley

SUMMER 1993

Look for this icon to identify Active Cinema programs throughout the Festival.

Look for this icon to identify ¡Viva el Cine! programs throughout the festival. SPONSORED

LEADERSHIP PARTNER

In anticipation of MVFF’s 40th anniversary, we committed to the goal of 40% female directors across the whole spectrum of the Festival—world, US, docs, shorts—and 50/50 by 2020. (To put this in perspective, only 7% of Hollywood films are directed by women.) We found no shortage of amazing women making terrific films, and incredible female-forward storytelling. And: We exceeded our goal—with 44% women directors at MVFF40!

Mind the Gap at MVFF40, our gender equity initiative, focuses on the intersection of film and tech, and launches with our first ever Mind the Gap Summit. We hope you’ll join us—and an amazing line-up of female talent. Register early: Space is limited!

MIND THE GAP SUMMIT

Achieving Gender Parity in Film and Tech

Saturday, October 7 | 10:00am–6:00pm | Outdoor Art Club

This full-day intensive of presentations, discussions, master classes and networking will be led by an extraordinary line-up of thought leaders and creatives in the film and tech industries. The program includes a deep dive into the creative process with director Catherine Hardwicke (director, Twilight), a panel with the team behind the film Mudbound (page 140), and presentations by the filmmakers of recent top female-driven movies. Examining the intersections between film and tech and what each can learn from the other, this is an amazing opportunity to engage, connect—and be inspired.

Register for a morning or afternoon session, or the full day. In the evening, cross the street to the CinéArts Sequoia to see Mudbound and celebrate director/writer Dee Rees as she receives the MVFF Award at her Spotlight program (page 57).

See mvff.com/mind-the-gap for full schedule and line-up.

Look for this icon to identify Mind the Gap films throughout the Festival. At 44% of the program, they’re not hard to find!

MVFF IS GRATEFUL FOR THE WISDOM AND SUPPORT OF OUR MIND THE GAP ADVISORS

Robin Hauser | Dawn Lyon | Tiffany Shlain | Sherri Tull | Valerie Weiss AND OUR ALLIES

CATHERINE HARDWICKE AT HER MVFF 2015 MASTER CLASS CITY OF JOY

PROVIDING BAY AREA STUDENTS OF ALL AGES WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD THROUGH THE ART OF FILM

CFI EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM

FENWICK FOUNDATION

HORACE W. GOLDSMITH FOUNDATION

NANCY P. AND RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION

In honor of Ray Kaliski, Senior

PHOTO BY TOMMY LAU PHOTOGRAPHY

EDUCATION AT MVFF

CFI Education turns the Festival into a classroom, bringing thousands of Bay Area students to the theater and sending filmmakers out to local schools.

MVFF EDUCATION SCREENINGS feature weekday matinees of narrative features, documentaries, and shorts programs selected from the general Festival program for school-age audiences, with special guests for post-screening Q&As and accompanying curriculum guides. This year’s programs include:

5@5 A BETTER FUTURE

5@5 FUTURE LEGEND

THE CORRIDOR

ESTEBAN

JANE

KIM SWIMS

LIYANA

THE LONG SHADOW

OWLS & MICE

FILMMAKERS GO TO SCHOOL takes local and visiting filmmakers from around the world into Bay Area classrooms to show their films and talk to students about the art, craft and business of filmmaking.

If you are interested in having your school take part, please contact us at education@cafilm.org.

ﬁlmHOOD

BOYHOOD. GIRLHOOD. CHILDHOOD. ADULTHOOD… WELCOME TO film HOOD! The place where filmgoers of every age can come to experience great cinema from around the world. The place where children, teens and young adults are an essential part of the conversation—both on screen and off. Come to filmHOOD for a carefully curated array of intergenerational, eye-opening programs. It’s a film-for-all!

5@5 A BETTER FUTURE

5@5 FUTURE LEGEND

LIYANA

MOANA (Free outdoor screening: see page 157)

THE MYSTERY OF GREEN HILL

OWLS & MICE

REVOLTING RHYMES

WENDY

filmHOOD Highlight: Young Adult (YA) Programs

Teen and young adult voices are amplified throughout MVFF40 in a variety of unique programs designed for maximum interaction and participation by youth and adults alike—from youth-produced shorts, features, and VR experiences to a teen screenwriting workshop, and a special screening/panel discussion about teen suicide.

5@5 FUTURE LEGEND (page 114)

METAMORPHOSIS: JUNIOR YEAR (page 138)

METAMORPHOSIS: A SCREENWRITING IMMERSIVE FOR TEENS (page 86)

NOT ALONE (page 87)

VR AT THE CROSSROADS: EMPATHY | EMBODIMENT | EDUCATION | ENTERTAINMENT ( page 87)

filmHOOD SPONSORED BY

In honor of Ray Kaliski, Senior

LIYANA

JESSER AND THE SUGARCANE (in 5@5 A Better Future)

FOCUS | CANNABIS CULTURE

A series of mind-expanding films, music, and conversations about cannabis

MARY JANES: WOMEN OF WEED ( page 138)

MVFF MUSIC: WAILING SOULS ( page 90)

PANEL: CANNABIS CULTURE & THE NEW ENTREPRENEUR ( page 86)

PRIVATE RECEPTION (Canna-Pass holders only, Ages 21+)

WOODSTOCK ( page 153)

CANNA-PASS | $40

Access to all Cannabis Culture programs

SPONSORED BY

FOCUS | HIDING & SEEKING

Films that explore the price of freedom and the search for hope in challenging times

AN ACT OF DEFIANCE AFTER THE WAR I STILL HIDE TO SMOKE IN SYRIA

THE INVISIBLES

THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE

YEVA

FOCUS | POLISH CINEMA

Classic animation, beautiful restorations, and contemporary fiction from one of the homelands of great cinema

LOVING VINCENT THE SANDGLASS

SPOOR

UNDER THE RADAR: 70 YEARS OF POLISH ANIMATION

SPONSORED BY

FOCUS | STEWARDS OF THE EARTH

Film and media experiences that support the survival and salvation of all forms of life on our planet

EARTH WISDOM FOR A WORLD IN CRISIS HAPPENING: A CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION

JANE

THE LAST ANIMALS THE LAST PIG THE NEW ENVIRONMENTALISTS: FROM GUATEMALA TO THE CONGO A RIVER BELOW SPOOR

TREE ( VR Experience, page 87)

LOVING VINCENT

SECTIONS | PREMIERES

SECTIONS

WORLD CINEMA

Stories from six continents that foster a new understanding of our global neighbors and ourselves

US CINEMA

A showcase of new films by master and emerging American filmmakers who share a talent for independent storytelling

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

The latest in documentary filmmaking, from heartfelt stories of activism to historical profiles, current events, and more filmHOOD

Boyhood. Girlhood. Childhood. Adulthood… Welcome to filmHOOD! The place where filmgoers of every age can come to experience great cinema from around the world

5@5 SHORTS

Collections of short cinematic gems from every genre including narratives, documentaries, animation, family films, and youth works

MUSIC

The Festival’s playlist of cinematic portraits of musical artists featuring internationally renowned musicians and Bay Area favorites

PREMIERES

BEYOND THE SUPERNOVA

THE CORRIDOR

THE DEEP SKY

FOURTH MOVEMENT

HAPPENING: A CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION

KIM SWIMS

THE LONG SHADOW

MAD HANNANS

MARY JANES: THE WOMEN OF WEED

NOT ALONE

THIRD MIND BLUES

TORCH

WAIT FOR YOUR LAUGH

AN ACT OF DEFIANCE

ANDRE: THE VOICE OF WINE

CIAO CIAO

THE COUSIN

JAHA’S PROMISE

THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH

LAW OF THE LAND

THE MYSTERY OF GREEN HILL

A RIVER BELOW

STRANGE BIRDS

VITCH

WENDY

SPONSORED BY

JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS

AFTER THE WAR

I STILL HIDE TO SMOKE

NOTHINGWOOD

PORCUPINE LAKE

RADIANCE

THE VENERABLE W

WORST CASE, WE GET MARRIED

YEVA

WORST CASE, WE GET MARRIED

LAW OF THE LAND

THE CORRIDOR

WENDY

5@5 A BETTER FUTURE

5@5

ALL THE MADMEN

filmHOOD 5@5 CYGNET COMMITTEE

Total Program 77 min

“Give my children sunny smile. Give them moon and cloudless sky. I demand a better future.” That’s exactly what the kids (or animals) are all striving for in these familyfriendly shorts. The future of the neighborhood lemonade stand is what’s at stake in Anya Adams’ Lemonade Mafia (US 2016, 6 min). In Ned Wenlock’s Spring Jam (New Zealand 2016, 6 min), a young stag lacking big antlers uses some musical improvisation to make an impression during mating season. When his grandson challenges him on the soccer field, an elderly man looks to his past for new inspiration in Hannes Thor Arason’s Footsteps (Iceland 2017, 15 min). Hedgehog’s love for his cozy home sparks an unexpected standoff with his forest neighbors in Eva Cvijanovic’s animated Hedgehog’s Home (Canada 2016, 10 min). In Godelieve Eijsink’s poignant documentary Jesser and the Sugarcane (Netherlands 2016, 15 min), a Nicaraguan boy dreams of becoming a farmer in hopes of avoiding the dangerous work in the sugarcane fields that has made his father sick. In Marlies van der Wel’s animated Sabaku (Netherlands 2016, 2 min), a bird goes in search of a new buddy after the water buffalo he hangs out with passes away. Bullied and angry, young Amelia learns the right and wrong ways to feel empowered in Halima Lucas’s Amelia’s Closet (US 2016, 18 min). And Marc Colagiovanni wants all kids to know that you are absolutely perfect just as you are in The Reflection in Me (US 2017, 4 min). Age 7+

—Joanne Parsont

Sat O ct 7 3:00pm S equoia

Mon O ct 9 10:00am Rafael* Sun O ct 15 4:00pm L ark

*CFI Education screening open to school groups and general public.

5@5 SHORTS

Total Program 70 min

“To the far side of town where the thin men stalk the streets while the sane stay underground.” Assembled here is an unforgettable collection of the fantastical and disturbing. Sophie Linnenbaum’s Pix (Germany 2017, 9 min) breaks down the fourth wall in our nostalgia-fueled photo-obsessed culture. Cameo Wood’s Real Artists (US 2017, 12 min) takes us into a job interview of the future. A daughter’s return home is not all that it seems in Natalie Erika James’ creepy Creswick (Australia 2016, 10 min). Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell star in the black-and-white film noir The Dark of Night (US 2017, 8 min) from director Robin Wright ( House of Cards ). The sensual and sinister history of the bathtub in movie culture gets an incisive exploration in Jennifer Proctor’s Nothing a Little Soap and Water Can’t Fix (US 2017, 9 min). Oscar’s allegorical Napalm Mayhem (Netherlands 2016, 4 min) is probably the most bizarre animated film you’ll see all year. And Ted Bundy’s execution is the backdrop for a girl’s unnerving night out in Laura Moss’s excellent Fry Day (US 2017, 16 min). Come join us for the strangest program at the festival…if you dare.

—Sterling Hedgpeth

Sat O ct 7 9:30pm Rafael Mon O ct 9 4:15pm S equoia

5@5 SHORTS

Total Program 63 min

“Words of strength and care and sympathy— I opened doors that would have blocked their way, I braved their cause to guide.” Films about human connection, in all its tender and tenuous forms, ground this special group of shorts. Annabelle Attanasio (TV’s Bull ) directs and stars in Frankie Keeps Talking (US 2016, 7 min) about how liberating a bad date can be. A birthday greeting to their daughter opens old wounds for a couple in Arian Vazirdaftair’s Not Yet (Iran 2016, 15 min). A young Latin-American girl caught in refugee limbo must adjust to a new life and uncertain future in Monica Santis’s moving Towards the Sun (UK 2017, 19 min). Economic difficulty and industry in transition in the Louisiana bayou force some hard decisions for a family in Nailah Jefferson’s atmospheric Plaquemines (US 2016, 21 min). And the charming complexity of father-daughter love is perfectly encapsulated in J.R. Heffelfinger’s Seconds (Puerto Rico 2017, 1 min).

—Sterling Hedgpeth

Fri O ct 13 3:45pm S equoia Sat O ct 14 6:15pm Rafael

FILMS

5@5 FUTURE LEGEND

filmHOOD

Total Program 87 min

Today’s youth filmmakers are tomorrow’s future film legends, and this eclectic and inspired collection showcases some true up-and-coming talent. In a dazzling array of almost two dozen short films, young artists from around the Bay Area and the country (and Turkey!) share their original stories and singular views of the world. The program is the result of a unique peer jury process that takes place each summer during CFI’s Summerfilm series, in which teen participants in the Behind the Scenes program graduate into the Young Curators program, where they view, discuss, and curate from more than 100 films submitted from around the globe, all produced by young filmmakers ages 18 and under. Their selections include nearly every genre of filmmaking, from deeply personal narratives to fun fantasies, musical explorations, poetic visual essays, social commentary, and more: One 12-yearold student filmmaker pays loving tribute to her own grandmother in a story of a young woman coping with her grandfather’s memory loss. A local teen creates a conflicted cinematic love letter to San Francisco and his discomfort with its gentrification. Other films explore the value of green spaces in cities, musical traditions in Guatemala, body image, and how Prince Charming finds a princess when there are no actual damsels in distress to save. Many local youth media programs are represented including SF Art & Film, BAVC, Drake High School’s ComAcademy, and CFI Education’s own My Place My Story program. Meet some of the filmmakers and the Young Curators at the end of the program when they will come together onstage for a lively Q&A. Age 12+

Tue O ct 10 12:15pm L ark* Sun O ct 15 11:00am L ark

*CFI Education screening open to school groups and general public.

5@5 GOLDEN YEARS

5@5 SHORTS

Total Program 60 min

“Look at that sky, life’s begun. Nights are warm and the days are young.” Come celebrate the history of MVFF in this marvelous retrospective of rarely screened short films from festivals past. You know Barry Jenkins from his Moonlight (MVFF 2016) triumph, but he first came to MVFF with My Josephine (US 2003, 9 min), a paean to cultural integration and love in a laundromat. Filmmaking legend Agnès Varda has had a long history with MVFF (including this year’s Faces, Places ) and her documentary Oncle Yanco (US/France 1967, 18 min) is a tribute to her Sausalito-based artist relative and also a love poem to Marin. And we’re proud to showcase a brand-new 16mm restoration of the avant-garde classic The Bed (US 1968, 20 min), shot on Mt. Tamalpais by James Broughton, one of the honorees at the first MVFF in 1978. Plus an extra surprise or two! Don’t miss it!

—Sterling Hedgpeth

Fri O ct 6 4:45pm S equoia

Thur O ct 12 9:30pm Rafael

5@5 IT’S NO GAME

5@5

SHORTS

Total Program 70 min

“Silhouettes and shadows watch the revolution. No more free steps to heaven. It’s no game.” The stakes are often high as sports and physical expression dominate this eclectic set of timely shorts. Jeannie Donohoe’s Game (US 2016, 15 min) depicts a new high school student’s uphill battle in trying out for the varsity basketball team. Mari Walker explores why a secret midnight Swim (US 2016, 11 min) is a liberating moment for one shy teen. Racial tension in a tennis match spills over into an unlikely confrontation in Daniel Lee’s Fault (US 2017, 10 min). One hard-driving Bay Area mom and her quiet son learn some lessons on the competitive yoga circuit in Dan Damman and Chris Thomas’s Awarewolf (US 2017, 9 min). The beautifully dynamic choreography is just one marvelous element in Max Sachar and Natasha Adorlee Johnson’s slipstream dance piece Take Your Time (US 2017, 5 min). And a highly anticipated soccer playoff match converges with one anxious expecting Irish couple in Kev Cahill’s heartfelt comedy The Nation Holds Its Breath (Ireland 2016, 20 min).

—Sterling Hedgpeth

Wed O ct 11 9:15pm Rafael

Thur O ct 12 2:30pm S equoia

5@5 LIFE ON MARS?

5@5 SHORTS

Total Program 70 min

“Now she walks through her sunken dream to the seat with the clearest view, and she’s hooked to the silver screen.” Four different countries and four remarkable cinematic stories are unified by characters finding courage in the face of life’s unexpected hardships. Based on the haunting Stephen King short story, Tom Barbor-Might’s All That You Love Will Be Carried Away (UK 2017, 20 min) explores the inner life of a woman mourning the loss of her son. In Tom Teller’s spectacular Icarus (US 2016, 20 min), an astronaut team on Mars goes into action when one of their members gets into a perilous jam. Santosh Sopan Davakhar’s visually stunning Adnyat (India 2017, 15 min) is like a fever dream of the magical and macabre as a young child faces some bitter truths about his place in society. And finally, the heartbreaking errand a young high school girl must undertake is the central premise of Alireza Ghasemi’s Lunch Time (Iran 2017, 15 min). Don’t miss this powerful quartet.

—Sterling Hedgpeth

Mon O ct 9 9:15pm Rafael Tue O ct 10 5:30pm S equoia

5@5 STATION TO STATION

5@5

SHORTS

Total Program 62 min

“Here are we, one magical moment. Such is the stuff from where dreams are woven.” Join a twisted group of stop-motion, 2D, and multimedia animation spinning yarns of devious angst, alien and monster cosmos, and many appendages. In José Luis González and Dano Johnson’s The History of Magic: Ensueño (US 2016, 6 min), a young girl cycles through multiple fantastical deaths to a timely tune. Two films by masterful stop-motion director Brett Foxwell exemplify meticulous craft through detailed log shaving in WoodSwimmer (US 2017, 3 min) and his gorgeous machinery and armature creatures in Fabricated (US 2017, 3 min). Matt Reynolds’ Hot Dog Hands (US 2017, 6 min) is a hilarious and disturbing tube-steak journey into another dimension, followed by Stéphanie Cadoret’s My Man (Octopus) (France 2016, 9 min), where a woman is pulled into the depths by her needy mollusk mate. Quadrant Part 2 (US 2017, 2 min), by David Lauer and Woodrow White, is the second installment trailer for a tenuous sci-fi film full of special annihilation. Take a surreal trip through fire and satire in the chaotic land of I Don’t Feel Anything Anymore by Noémie Marsily and Carl Roosens (Belgium/Canada 2016, 9 min). It’s time to wake up from your Bowie-induced reverie, but perhaps instead it’s time to perish while in the company of an aging, bloody-stumped rival in Vincent Gallagher’s Second to None (Ireland 2016, 7 min).

—Amanda Todd

Tue O ct 10 9:30pm Rafael Fri O ct 13 9:00pm Rafael

5@5 TUMBLE AND TWIRL

5@5 SHORTS

Total Program 68 min

“Another day, but even in springtime, it’s a rich slice of life.” In this documentary shorts program we present a collection of truelife tales about extraordinary individuals. In Nicholas Coles’ Isis Hair Salon (US 2016, 5 min), hair stylist Carrie Banks has unwittingly been thrust into the war on terror, and she’s fighting back one braid, weave, and extension at a time. Dan Foldes’s Bread & Roses Presents (US 2017, 9 min) profiles the iconic 43-year-old organization that brings hope and healing through live music and the performing arts to isolated audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Fire & Light (US 2017, 10 min), director Dana Conroy introduces us to four young siblings with autism who find an unusual path to healing: fire dancing. In John Picklap’s Between the Sand (US 2016, 10 min), artist Jean-Paul Bourdier travels into covert desert locations to discover something more real and true about the nature of who we are. In a classic David vs. Goliath story, Saving Happy Birthday (US 2016, 15 min), filmmaker Jennifer Nelson chronicles the legal battle challenging Warner Chappell’s copyright claim to the song “Happy Birthday to You.” And Andrew Moir’s Babe, I Hate to Go (Canada 2017, 19 min) introduces us to Delroy, a migrant worker with a secret, in this intimate, observational documentary about a man coming to terms with his mortality.

—Kelly Clement

Sun O ct 8 12:15pm Rafael Wed O ct 11 4:00pm S equoia

FILMS

A CIAMBRA

WORLD CINEMA

Italy/Brazil/Germany/France/USA/ Sweden 2017 • 118 min

Director/Screenwriter Jonas Carpignano

Producers Paolo Carpignano, Jon Coplon, Christoph Daniel Cinematographer Tim Curtin Editor Affonso Gonçalves Cast Pio Amato, Koudous Seihon, Damiano Amato Print Source IFC Films

In Italian with English subtitles Writer-director Jonas Carpignano’s debut Mediterranea (MVFF 2015) chronicled the plight of African immigrants making their way to the filmmaker’s Italian homeland. With his sophomore effort, the filmmaker focuses on one of Mediterranea ’s supporting players, crafting an entire drama around Pio (Pio Amato), a teenaged Romani hustler in a small southern Italian community. Along the way, A Ciambra becomes a particularly gripping, neorealist coming-of-age tale as this resourceful boy tries to assert himself as the man of the house after his father and older brother go to jail. Poverty, crime, and family are Carpignano’s central themes, and A Ciambra meticulously documents Pio’s sometimes perilous quest—especially when he’s forced to turn to thievery. As in Mediterranea , Amato (an untrained actor) exudes effortless charisma, making us care deeply about his character’s dilemma and hope that he can somehow find a better life. A supporting cast that includes several of Amato’s family members add extra layers of urgency and authenticity to this unforgettable drama.

—Tim Grierson

Fri O ct 13 6:00pm L ark Sun O ct 15 11:45am Rafael

WITH SUPPORT FROM INSTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE MUSEO ITALO AMERICANO AND CINEMA ITALIA SAN FRANCISCO

AN ACT OF DEFIANCE

WORLD CINEMA

Netherlands 2017 • 123 min

Director Jean van de Velde

Producers Michael Auret, Richard

Claus Screenwriters Matt Harvey, Dominic Morgan, Jean van de Velde

Cinematographer Miles Goodall Editor

Sander Vos Cast Peter Paul Muller, Antoinette Louw, Sello Motloung Print

Source Cinema Management Group

FOCUS: HIDING & SEEKING In English and Afrikaans with English subtitles In this riveting historical drama, 10 political activists (including Nelson Mandela and his inner circle of Black and Jewish supporters) face a possible death sentence for conspiracy to commit sabotage after they are arrested by the apartheid South African government during a raid in the town of Rivonia during the summer of 1963. Bram Fischer (exceptionally played by Peter Paul Muller), a sympathetic lawyer, risks his career and freedom to defend these men, attempting to hide the fact that he, too, frequently convened on the farm where they were arrested. With An Act of Defiance , Dutch filmmaker Jean van de Velde ( The Silent Army ) captures a dark period in South Africa’s recent history, skillfully balancing a nail-biting political thriller with spectacular courtroom intrigue while paying tribute to the legendary figures who fought to end segregation and corruption in their country.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE —Joe Bowman

Fri O ct 6 2:30pm Rafael Sat O ct 7 6:30pm Rafael

AFTER THE WAR

(DOPO LA GUERRA)

WORLD CINEMA

Italy 2017 • 92 min

Director Annarita Zambrano Producers Stéphanie Douet, Tom Dercourt

Screenwriters Annarita Zambrano, Delphine Agut Cinematographer Laurent Brunet Editor Muriel Breton Cast Barbora Bobulova, Giuseppe Battiston, Fabrizio Ferracane Print Source Pyramide Films

FOCUS: HIDING & SEEKING In Italian and French with English subtitles Italy in the ‘70s and early ‘80s was roiled by left-wing groups that committed acts of terrorism to further their goals. Many convicted militants fled to France, benefiting from President François Mitterand’s decree barring their extradition. Annarita Zambrano’s compelling debut dramatizes the disruption faced by one family when the policy changed and extraditions commenced in 2002. For 16-year-old Viola, it’s a matter of one day gossiping with her pals in volleyball and being on the run with her father Marco the next. At first, there’s a thrill to the situation—hiding out, getting new identities, a stealth interview with a journalist—but when she discovers they’re being uprooted to Nicaragua, conflict develops between father and daughter. A parallel story set in Italy shows Marco’s sister and mother trying to go on with their lives in the wake of returned scrutiny into Marco’s activities. With suspense and emotional acuity, After the War depicts the interpersonal aftermath of political turmoil with sensitivity and balance. US PREMIERE

—Rod Armstrong

Fri O ct 13 9:30pm S equoia Sat O ct 14 6:15pm L arkspur

WITH SUPPORT FROM INSTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA

ALPHAGO

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 90 min

Director/Cinematographer Greg Kohs

Producers Gary Krieg, Josh Rosen, Kevin

Proudfoot Editor Cindy Lee Print Source Submarine

The game Go is among the most complex in the world. Played with small black and white stones on a 19-by-19 grid, there are—famously—more possible sequences of play than there are atoms in the visible universe. Treated as an art in parts of East Asia, the game is said to be mastered only by those with finely tuned instincts and intuition. Could a computer program replicate those qualities? The technology company Deep Mind sought to find out, developing AlphaGo in the hope that it could defeat the best players in the world. In March 2016, a thrilling match-up along the lines of Deep Blue vs. Garry Kasparov pitted the program against Korean Go champion Lee Sedol in a five-game series. Filled with fascinating personalities—from the brilliant but exceedingly humble Sedol to the breathlessly enthusiastic commentators that cover the big match— AlphaGo creates a surprisingly gripping man-against-machine narrative that may just have you cheering the outcome of a quiet, contemplative board game.

—Michael LoPresti

Sat O ct 7 11:30am Rafael Wed O ct 11 12:00pm S equoia

ANDRE: THE VOICE OF WINE

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US/Russia/Germany 2017 • 98 min

Director Mark Tchelistcheff Producers Mark Tchelistcheff, Andrey Spirin

Screenwriters Michael Chandler, Mark Tchelistcheff Cinematographers Wedigo von Schultzendorff, Mark Tchelistcheff

Editors Marat Magambetov, Mark Tchlistcheff Print Source Open Films

In English, French, Italian, and Russian with English subtitles California wine drinkers, raise a glass to Andre Tchelistcheff! A Russian émigré who came to be known as the dean of American wine, Andre would leave a legacy deeply entwined with the California wine industry and its rise to international legitimacy. Director Mark Tchelistcheff, Andre’s grandnephew, crafts a cinematic portrait that is very much like the man himself: at once dramatic, poetic, humorous, and inspiring. The child of an aristocratic family who narrowly escaped Russia’s revolution and civil war, Andre lived a life of singular purpose. Equal parts scientist and artist, the winemaker revolutionized the US wine industry through his work in helping Napa’s Beaulieu Vineyard move into the post-Prohibition marketplace. Andre’s epic journey through the upheavals of the early 20th century and into a career that influenced the world’s most important winemakers is explored here in personal interviews that reveal a philosophy about winemaking that is, at its core, an essential doctrine on how to live life with passion.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

—Deanna Quinones

Mon O ct 9 6:45pm S equoia Fri O ct 13 1:00pm Rafael Sat O ct 14 6:15pm L ark

IN ASSOCIATION WITH EATDRINKFILMS

ARRANGIARSI (PIZZA... & THE ART OF LIVING)

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US/Italy 2017 • 96 min

Director/Producer/Screenwriter/ Cinematographer/Editor Matteo Troncone Print Source Solare Films

In English and Italian with English subtitles From the Bay Area to Italy, Matteo Troncone searches for the meaning of life in this engaging, intimate documentary. Is it any surprise to discover that pizza is the answer? Writer, director, cinematographer, editor, and star Troncone begins his fascinating and philosophical first-person travelogue with no job, no relationship, and no home. While living in his VW van on the streets of Mill Valley, he decides there is only one thing to do: trace his roots to Naples and learn how to make pizza. Once there, he discovers the art of Arrangiarsi, the process of arranging yourself to make something from nothing. We meet a colorful crew of characters, from street artists to pizza makers, who find a way to live and love in the most joyful ways, regardless of circumstance. This delightful documentary combines a healthy smattering of foodie passion, intense Italian history, and quirky Neapolitans to tell the tale of one man’s journey to find himself, and the greatest pizza on earth.

—Brendan Peterson

Sun O ct 8 5:30pm Rafael Thur O ct 12 11:30am S equoia Fri O ct 13 3:15pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF SAN FRANCISCO, MUSEO ITALO AMERICANO, CINEMA ITALIA SAN FRANCISCO, AND EATDRINKFILMS

THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 111 min

Director/Screenwriter Jared Moshé

Producers Edward Parks, Neda Armian, Dan Burks Cinematographer David McFarland Editor Terel Gibson Cast Bill Pullman, Peter Fonda, Michael Spears

Print Source A24

Lefty Brown (Bill Pullman) spent his life riding Montana’s scenic ranges, in the company of men who would become dime-novel heroes. His own legend burns not so bright. People wonder how the likes of new US Senator Edward Johnson (Peter Fonda), Governor Jimmy Bierce (Jim Caviezel), and lawman Tom Harrah (Tommy Flanagan) could put up with the garrulous, incompetent old coot. But this apparent fool courageously risks his own life to seek justice for a fallen friend, never wavering in his determination even as deadly forces array themselves against him. Pullman, the sophisticated star of Independence Day and Lost Highway, gets in touch with his inner-Walter Brennan to deliver a masterful performance of a man whose hayseed persona masks his true nature. But while this absorbing Western offers a finely-etched character portrait of an underrated cowpoke, it also delivers thrilling, action-packed drama. A superb gallery of supporting characters includes the gorgeous Montana wilderness in this exquisitely lensed film.

—Pam Grady

Fri O ct 6 7:00pm C orte Madera

BEYOND THE SUPERNOVA

MUSIC

US 2017 • 60 min

Director/Cinematographer/Editor ZZ

Satriani Producer Satch Tours, Inc. Print Source Satch Tours, Inc.

For a whole generation, Surfing with the Alien remains the essential rock instrumental album of the 1980s, defined by the piercing sonic soundscapes of guitarist Joe Satriani’s technical virtuosity. Now, on that record’s 30th anniversary, ZZ Satriani chronicles his father’s 2017 concert tour through Japan and China with this loving tribute to a musician still at the top of his game. Fronting a hard-driving ensemble, Satriani proves he’s the master of sweeping solos, pulsing rhythms, and intricate fingerwork. But we also see him in his more meditative moments—discussing his influences, his love of collaboration (Steve Vai makes an appearance), and the struggle between the private person and the master showman. His craft is serious, but his rehearsals are playful and we’re given intimate access to a legend free of pretense and self-seriousness. With stylish flourishes and boundless affection, ZZ, in his directorial debut, celebrates a musical icon who has never tired of blazing his own distinctive trail. WORLD PREMIERE

—Sterling Hedgpeth

Sat O ct 14 4:00pm L ark

Live music event to follow at Sweetwater. Separate ticket required. See page 91 for details.

BILL FRISELL, A PORTRAIT

MUSIC

Australia 2017 • 115 min

Director/Producer/Screenwriter/ Cinematographer/Editor Emma Franz Print Source Films Transit International

Guitarist, composer, and arranger Bill Frisell is widely acknowledged as a musician’s musician. His style ranges from jazz to folk and Americana and beyond, and there’s seemingly no end to his list of musical coconspirators. As he’s not one to draw attention to himself, Emma Franz’s portrait of the unassuming master is a welcome opportunity to peek into an eclectic musical mind of genius caliber. Frisell conveys a childlike sense of wonder at his luck in forging a lifelong career in music, and it’s clear through their interviews that his collaborators are also fans. But it’s not all talk in this joyful film, there’s plenty of music. Frantz, herself a singer and composer, brings an artist’s insight to a documentary that’s as much about the music-making as it is about the man himself. Whether jamming with a trio in the studio, or recording with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Frisell always has that same gleeful smile and incomparable sound.

—Laura Henneman

Sun O ct 8 8:45pm Rafael Mon O ct 9 3:15pm S equoia

IN ASSOCIATION WITH SF SKETCHFEST AND SFJAZZ

SPONSORED

BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE)

(120 BATTEMENTS PAR MINUTE)

WORLD CINEMA

France 2017 • 143 min

Director/Editor Robin Campillo Producers

Hugues Charbonneau, Marie-Ange Luciani Screenwriters Robin Campillo, Philippe Mangeot Cinematographer

Jeanne Lapoirie Cast Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel Print Source The Orchard

In French with English subtitles Robin Campillo’s unforgettable film, winner of the Grand Prize at Cannes, depicts the dynamics of the Paris chapter of ACT UP, the direct-action advocacy group committed to ending the AIDS crisis, alongside the heartrending personal moments generated by an epidemic laying waste to men and women in the prime of life. Set in 1989, the opening throws the viewer right into one of ACT UP’s fraught meetings as members review a recent action that goes awry. But BPM is not just a drama of activism. There is also a passionate love story, as the HIV-negative Nathan falls head over heels for Sean whose health is beginning to fail. Campillo’s vibrant fresco contrasts righteous protests against Big Pharma, celebratory Pride parades, and redemptive nights at the disco with quieter moments of intimacy and struggle. BPM is a breathtaking, deeply moving, immersive piece of cinema, vibrant with the immediacy and passion of something happening in the moment.

—Rod Armstrong

Sun O ct 8 8:15pm S equoia

Thur O ct 12 3:45pm Rafael

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH FRAMELINE

BREATHE

WORLD CINEMA

2017 • 117 min

Director Andy Serkis Producer Jonathan Cavendish Screenwriter William Nicholson Cinematographer Robert Richardson Editor Masahiro Hirakubo Cast Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Tom Hollander, Diana Rigg Print Source Imaginarium Productions

SPOTLIGHT: ANDREW GARFIELD In his directorial debut, actor Andy Serkis ( Lord of the Rings , Planet of the Apes ) tells the remarkable true love story of Robin (an exceptional Andrew Garfield) and Diana Cavendish ( The Crown ’s Claire Foy, as resolute as a royal), two charming and free-spirited young Brits who are newly wedded in the late 1950s, when the dashing young Robin is suddenly struck down by polio. Paralyzed and confined to a bleak hospital ward, the constant mechanical breathing of a respirator is all that keeps him alive—though it’s hardly a life he can bear living. Unwilling to accept such a fate, the devoted Diana makes a radical decision that upends all conventional and scientific wisdom of the era—and completely changes the course of their lives. Produced by their son Jonathan Cavendish, Breathe is a romantic and reverent tribute to a fearless couple who became pioneering inventors and advocates for the disabled community long before disabled rights were a matter of law.

—Joanne Parsont

Sat O ct 14 7:00pm Rafael

FILMS

CITY OF JOY

WORLD CINEMA

France/China 2017 • 83 min

Director/Screenwriter Song Chuan

Producer Guillaume de la Boulaye

Cinematographer LI Xuejun Editor JeanMarie Lengellé Cast Liang Xueqin, Zhang Yu, Hong Chang Print Source Zorba Production

In Chinese with English subtitles They say you can never really go home again—a notion that, unfortunately for Ciao Ciao (Liang Xueqin), can’t be taken literally. Young, restless, and permanently attached to her cellphone, this twentysomething city dweller is stuck killing time in her backwater birthplace in the Yunnan province. Out of sheer boredom, she starts to flirt with two men: a rough-and-tumble rascal (Zhang Yu); and a polite hairdresser (Zhou Quan), who tempts Ciao Ciao with dreams of opening a salon far, far away. Filmmaker Song Chuan follows up his incredible 2012 debut Huan Huan with this keen, compelling portrait of a generation caught between competing landscapes and lifestyle choices. Blessed with colorful, eye-popping widescreen cinematography and a soundtrack that blends traditional Eastern sounds with skittery globo-techno, Ciao Ciao is a funny, fraught indictment of the easy-‘n’-empty thrills of modern living and the hypocrisy of “small-town” values.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

—David Fear

Fri O ct 6 9:00pm Rafael Mon O ct 9 6:00pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

Democratic Republic of Congo/US

2016 • 75 min

Director/Screenwriter/Editor Madeleine Gavin Producer Allyson Luchak

Cinematographers Taylor Krauss, Lisa Rinzler Print Source Lightmotive

In Swahili, French, and English with English subtitles The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country rich in minerals. The multinational companies that buy these minerals fund militias to plunder the mines, and these thugs are responsible for unprecedented sexualized violence, millions of murders, and 20 years of war. One town, Bukavu, in eastern DRC, has grown from 50,000 to over a million, its population swelling with refugees. In it stands the City of Joy, a sanctuary for female victims of the brutality. Here they are medically treated, housed, educated (with the help of Vagina Monologues playwright Eve Ensler), and transformed from victims into leaders against violence. Madeleine Gavin’s enthralling documentary, which transmutes unimaginable horror into joy and empowerment, follows the story of one woman who will not let the appalling violence destroy her. As part of the first class of students at the City of Joy, Jane embodies the co-founders’ hard-fought—and extremely risky—vision for the future of women who reclaim their bodies and make them engines of change.

—Frako Loden

Sun O ct 8 6:00pm Rafael Tue O ct 10 12:30pm S equoia

THE CORRIDOR

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 72 min

Directors/Cinematographers Richard O’Connell, Annelise Wunderlich Producers Annelise Wunderlich, Richard O’Connell, Linda Peckham Editor Linda Peckham

Orange may be the new black, but documentaries that take us behind real jailhouse walls can still provide revelations. What’s it like to go to school while incarcerated? It means that the tools in your bike repair class are locked to the table and that classrooms come equipped with panic buttons. It means that room assignments take gang affiliation into account. And it means that exposing your ignorance is seen as a weakness, “becoming prey,” as one inmate-student describes it, in a world of predators. These are just some of the challenges that face participants in the San Francisco Sheriff Department’s pioneering program to help inmates earn their GEDs. Local filmmakers Richard O’Connell and Annelise Wunderlich trace students’ progress from orientation to graduation in this timely and quietly provocative documentary. Observational footage of school and jail routine is supported by a soundtrack of articulate reflections from guards, teachers, and inmates. Intertitles of statistics underline the daunting odds these students face, and their equally impressive achievements. WORLD PREMIERE

—Monica Nolan

Sat O ct 7 8:45pm L ark

Thur O ct 12 10:00am Rafael*

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PRISON UNIVERSITY PROJECT

*CFI Education screening open to school groups and general public.

SPONSORED BY JIM BOYCE TRUST AND KRIS OTIS

THE COUSIN

(HA BEN DOD)

WORLD CINEMA

Israel 2017 • 93 min

Director/Screenwriter Tzahi Grad

Producers Ehud Bleiberg, Tzahi Grad

Cinematographer Eitan Hatuka Editors

Sari Bisharat, Danny Rafic Cast Tzahi Grad, Ala Dakka, Osnat Fishman Print

Source Bleiberg Entertainment

In Hebrew with English subtitles Naftaly, a middle-aged TV actor and writer (played by writer-director Tzahi Grad) sets out one morning to pick up the Israeli Arab day laborer he’s hired to spruce up his home office. This commonplace act of economic opportunism triggers an escalating succession of misunderstandings that upends the sun-kissed equilibrium of Naftaly’s low-key suburban life. A deadpan, well-meaning everyman living in a carefully constructed bubble of liberal platitudes, Naftaly finds himself sandwiched between the irrational fears of a Keystone Kops corps of suspicious neighbors and his wife’s (Osnat Fishman) increasing frustration. Meanwhile, his erstwhile employee, Fahed (popular Palestinian-Israeli singer/actor Ala Dakka), is stuck in Kafkaland. The Cousin is an unsettling satire of our irrational fears of the strangers among us, steeped in droll one-liners and absurdist sight gags. As a bonus, the film wittily questions how the neat resolution of the three-act narrative structure can possibly encompass the complicated reality— and morality—of everyday life.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

—Michael Fox

Fri O ct 6 6:00pm L ark

Sun O ct 8 11:45am S equoia

WITH SUPPORT FROM CONSULATE GENERAL OF ISRAEL

THE CURRENT WAR

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 105 min

Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

Producers Timur Bekmambetov, Basil Iwanyk Screenwriter Michael Mitnick

Cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung

Editor David Trachtenberg Cast Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Holland, Katherine Waterston

Print Source The Weinstein Company

CLOSING NIGHT In stellar performances that crackle and shine, Benedict Cumberbatch ( The Imitation Game , MVFF 2014), Michael Shannon ( Loving , MVFF 2016), and Nicholas Hoult ( Kill Your Friends , MVFF 2015) don the brilliant, larger-thanlife personae of Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and Nikola Tesla in this triangular tale of electricity’s trailblazing pioneers. “This is just how boys play,” opines a nonplussed Westinghouse, the more equanimous of the three, as the incendiary Edison creates a buzzworthy public smear campaign against him, while Tesla walks a fine line, creating an alternating current between the two highly-charged poles. In the war for nationwide dominance between two delivery systems—AC (Westinghouse) and DC (Edison)—the stakes are sky-high as competitive bidding for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair draws nigh. Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s ( Me and Earl and the Dying Girl ) enlightening film skillfully weaves together personal and technological histories, in an illuminating tale of the demigods of conductivity.

—Karen Davis

Sun O ct 15 5:00pm S equoia Sun O ct 15 5:00pm S equoia

DARKEST HOUR

WORLD CINEMA

UK 2017 • 114 min

Director Joe Wright Producer Tim Bevan Screenwriter Anthony McCarten

Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel

SPONSORED BY

Editor Valerio Bonelli Cast Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, John Hurt

Source Focus Features

OPENING NIGHT | TRIBUTE: KRISTIN SCOTT

THOMAS Director Joe Wright’s ( Pride and Prejudice , MVFF 2005) Darkest Hour is absolutely gripping. Gary Oldman’s brilliant performance drives this story of Winston Churchill’s rise to power both as Prime Minister and as architect of the push against what seemed like the imminent, inevitable Nazi invasion of Britain—not to mention their utter domination of Europe—in World War II. Bullishly immune to his unpopularity amongst his fellow politicians, Churchill is aided and abetted by assistant Elizabeth (Lily James, Downton Abbey ), and by his wife: Kristin Scott Thomas, impeccably arch as Clementine Churchill, her charm and insightfulness making her the ultimate ally of the man who had the full weight of the world on his shoulders. In this pivotal situation, this audacious, controversial, and visionary leader must navigate the backstage wheeling and dealing, the political maneuvering, and power plays in a seemingly untenable, unwinnable moment in history. As he does: Oldman’s Churchill is forceful, antagonistic, humorous, bombastic, eloquent—and unstoppable.

—Zoë Elton

Thur O ct 5 7:00pm S equoia* Fri O ct 6 6:30pm Rafael**

* Opening Night

** Tribute to Kristin Scott Thomas

SPONSORED

FILMS

THE DEEP SKY

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 85 min

Director/Producer Luke Korem

Screenwriters Bradley Jackson, Luke

Korem Cinematographer Jacob Hamilton

Editors Derek Boonstra, Luke Korem Print

Source IFC Films

Don’t call Richard Turner a magician: He is a card mechanic, one who controls the outcome of a game better than anyone else in the world. “Magicians can’t do that,” says Turner. Winner of the audience award at SXSW this year, this dynamic documentary provides a close-up look at a true legend in the magic community and the limits he overcame to get to be at the top of the game. Turner, 62, is legally blind and began losing his sight as a young boy. Never without a deck of cards in his hands, he practices almost constantly; surrounded by his wife, son, and sister, he strives ceaselessly for perfection. But the man who knows how to do every trick in the book must learn that it’s OK to ask for help. This skillful portrait of a complex and colorful character is as inspiring and captivating as Turner’s sleight of hand.

—Lucia Proctor-Bonbright

Sun O ct 8 1:00pm C orte Madera

This screening is free for CFI Members. Get your complimentary ticket at mvff.com

US 2017 • 86 min

Director/Screenwriter/Cinematographer

Frazer Bradshaw Producers Frazer Bradshaw, Cari Borja, Kurt Norton, Jason Wolos, Dawn Rich Editors Frazer Bradshaw, Richard Levien Cast Sarah Rose Butler, Kelechi Nwadibia, Luise Helm Print Source Lucky Hat Entertainment

Opening a romantic relationship is usually a delicate exercise. Lenora and Arlan, a Bay Area couple who are as cerebral as they are empathic, navigate the decision with enough intentionality to give themselves confidence that if any two people can make non-monogamy work, they can. A chance encounter in the supermarket produce section eventually leads Nina, an enigmatic young woman from Germany, into their lives. She rapidly becomes entwined—emotionally and intellectually as well as sexually—in their relationship. Rather than the casual (and separate) romantic encounters they had envisioned opening themselves up to, Lenora and Arlan begin to imagine life as two nodes of a triad. The film treats its subject matter thoughtfully, without ever verging into tawdriness. Shot on location in Oakland by local filmmaker Frazer Bradshaw, The Deep Sky is a reflective, often quiet rumination on the emotional contours and complexities of love that transcends two people. WORLD PREMIERE

—Michael LoPresti

Sat O ct 7 9:15pm S equoia Mon O ct 9 8:45pm L ark

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CENTER FOR SEX & CULTURE

THE DESERT BRIDE

WORLD CINEMA

Argentina/Chile 2017 • 78 min

Directors/Screenwriters Cecilia Atan, Valeria Pivato Producer Alejo Crisóstomo Cinematographer Sergio Armstrong

Editor Andrea Chignoli Cast Paulina García, Claudio Rissi Print Source Strand Releasing

In Spanish with English subtitles A reserved woman finds her horizons and worldview subtly transformed during a journey across rural western Argentina in this warm and delicate film. Teresa (the phenomenal Paulina García, Gloria , MVFF 2013) has worked for the same Buenos Aires family for over 30 years, but their failing finances spells an end to her position. Traveling to her new job located far from the city in Argentina’s arid Cuyo region, the cautious Teresa is left with several hours to kill in a small town. There, several events transpire—a lost handbag, a windstorm, the offer of a ride from a garrulous stranger—that lead her to reflect on her closed-off attitude, while the vast expanse of her environment begins to liberate her from the anxieties that urban living have induced. In this way, the locale’s rugged terrain and history play a role just as important as the film’s characters do, with Sergio Armstrong’s handsome cinematography providing the backdrop to Teresa’s small but significant transformation.

—Rod Armstrong

Sat O ct 7 3:45pm S equoia Mon O ct 9 6:30pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TACOLIST.COM LATINO ON-LINE CLASSIFIEDS

DIRTBAG: THE LEGEND OF FRED BECKEY

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 96 min

Director/Cinematographer Dave O’Leske Producers Dave O’Leske, Jason Reid, Colin Plank, Andy McDonough Editors Jason Reid, Darren Lund

Portraying a stubbornly independent spirit— and a legend among mountain climbers for generations—this lively documentary celebrates an exceptional life and chronicles the sublime thrill of ascending never-before-attained peaks. Well into his late 80s, Fred Beckey has yet to surrender his ropes and crampons as he continues to scale alpine walls. Animation, archival footage, and the stories spun by Beckey’s fellow climbers bring his past conquests, as well as his checkered history, to vivid life. Director Dave O’Leske charts the logistics and aesthetics of Beckey’s various lines of ascent, underlining his accomplishments and exposing a kind of beauty in the relationship between man and mountain face. Beckey’s lifestyle has been rough and ready, leaving a trail of awkward and abandoned relationships. But there is a sort of idiosyncratic glory to his individualism and refusal to give in to convention as he relentlessly pursues lofty new paths to surmount.

—Brian Karl

Fri O ct 6 8:30pm Rafael Tue O ct 10 8:30pm L ark Fri O ct 13 12:00pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BAY AREAS CLIMBERS COALITION

THE DIVINE ORDER

WORLD CINEMA

Switzerland 2017 • 96 min

Director/Screenwriter Petra Biondina Volpe Producers Lukas Hobi, Reto Schärli

Cinematographer Judith Kaufmann

Editor Hansjörg Weißbrich Cast Marie Leuenberger, Maximilian Simonischek, Rachel Braunschweig Print Source Zeitgeist Films

In German, English, and Italian with English subtitles A bucolic alpine village becomes a battleground for social change in 1970 Switzerland in writer/director Petra Volpe’s uplifting drama. The right to vote, taken for granted by most Western women, is still a year away for Swiss females. Mother of two Nora wants to get a job. But working outside the home is not legally possible without her husband’s permission—and he’s not giving it. Her free-spirited niece Hanna has it even worse: Her father has arranged a prison cell to keep her away from her older boyfriend. Nora reaches a breaking point with the patriarchy. Defying her husband and conservative village elders, she begins actively campaigning for suffrage, soon joined by other townswomen. In both fierce and humorous ways, Nora and her compatriots push against entrenched attitudes that favor inequality. Nora’s awakening is beautiful to witness as she literally finds her voice and emancipates not only herself, but also her family, friends, and community.

—Melissa Howden

Sat O ct 7 5:30pm Rafael Sun O ct 8 6:00pm L ark

WITH SUPPORT FROM CONSULATE GENERAL OF SWITZERLAND

EARTH WISDOM FOR A WORLD IN CRISIS

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 57 min

Director/Producer/Cinematographer

Stephen Olsson Editors Kristin Tieche, Parisa Soultani Print Source CEM Productions

FOCUS: STEWARDS OF THE EARTH At this urgent time of climate change, indigenous people around the globe hold untapped wisdom and experience in human adaptation for survival. Will international leaders heed our native brothers and sisters and learn how to live sustainably before it’s too late? In this episode of the Global Spirit series, Emmy ®-winning local filmmaker Stephen Olsson focuses on indigenous leaders and tribal representatives who come together at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Living in reciprocity with nature, they know how to spiritually and materially restore harmony and balance after destruction of land and water. Indigenous wisdom keepers and non-native allies gathered as the prophesied Rainbow Tribe to nonviolently protect the water at Standing Rock Sioux Reservation where they slowed progress of the Dakota Access Pipe Line, the foretold Black Snake. Here, and at the UN, they are the voice of the earth. Time to listen.

—Carol Harada

(Oct 6 only) PRECEDED BY THE NEW ENVIRONMENTALISTS: FROM GUATEMALA TO THE CONGO

See page 145 for description.

(Oct 13 only) PRECEDED BY FINGERPRINTS

US 2017 • 25 min

Director Don Hardy

The story of two music programs for kids— one in Haiti and one in California—that come together, discovering that music is a universal language that connects us all.

Fri O ct 6 2:00pm S equoia

Fri O ct 13 6:15pm L arkspur

FILMS

EL AMPARO

WORLD CINEMA

Venezuela/Colombia 2016 • 99 min

Director Rober Calzadilla Producers

Mariana Illas, Rubén Sierra Salles

Screenwriter Karin Valecillos

Cinematographer Michell Rivas Editors Gustavo Rondón Córdova, Mariana Rodriguez Cast Vicente Quintero, Giovanny Garcia, Vicente Pena, Rossana Hernandez, Samantha Castillo Print

Source Figa Films

In Spanish with English subtitles Tension, apprehension and desperation flow like a river when 14 fishermen leave their village on the Venezuela/Colombia border to take their daily catch on the river, but only two return home. Caught up in a net of corruption, the men are jailed, swatting away confrontations with politicians and the press like the mosquitoes that previously represented their biggest problems, as they face accusations that they are responsible for their comrades’ disappearance. The pair must decide whether to give in to the temptation of bribery and falsely confess or stand up against injustice and honor their friends. Meanwhile the village rises together in anger and falls apart in grief as families decide which version of truth to believe in. In his remarkable and uplifting debut feature, director Rober Calzadilla focuses his lens on tenderness and vulnerability as a weapon in a drama based on a 1988 incident.

—Delfin Vigil

Mon O ct 9 9:15pm L arkspur

Thur O ct 12 6:30pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CANAL ALLIANCE AND TACOLIST.COM LATINO ON-LINE CLASSIFIEDS

ESTEBAN

WORLD CINEMA

Cuba 2016 • 90 min

Director Jonal Cosculluela Producer

Maritza Ceballo Screenwriter Amilcar

Salatti Cinematographer Lianed

Marcoleta Editor Alían Hernández Cast

Yuliet Cruz, Reynaldo Guanche, Corina Mestre Print Source MediaPro

In Spanish with English subtitles There must be more to life than selling small containers of shampoo, conditioner, and packs of tampons to strangers on the streets of Havana. So believes Esteban, a nine-year old Cuban schoolboy, who becomes mesmerized by the sounds of an intricate piano melody wafting through a window on one of his after-school sales routes. Pining to play the instrument, Esteban’s awareness is increasingly oblivious to the obstacles his single mother faces in struggling to provide basic necessities like breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Paying for piano lessons? Now that’s a cigar-scented pipe dream. Impossibilities aside, Esteban literally scales a wall finding his fingers playing piano scales by ear. A curmudgeonly music teacher with a dark secret must decide if Esteban is a discordant omen or the missing melody of an unfulfilled life in this debut feature by director Jonal Cosculluela that juxtaposes perseverance with innocence. Afro-Cuban jazz great Chucho Valdés composed the film’s music.

—Delfin Vigil

Wed O ct 11 5:30pm Rafael

Thur O ct 12 6:15pm L ark

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CUBACARIBE, CANAL ALLIANCE, AND TACOLIST.COM LATINO ON-LINE CLASSIFIEDS

FACES, PLACES

(VISAGES, VILLAGES)

WORLD CINEMA

France 2016 • 89 min

Directors Agnès Varda, JR Producers Rosalie Varda, Emile Abinal, Charles S. Cohen Cinematographer Agnès Varda

Editors Agnès Varda, Maxime Pozzi

Garcia Print Source Cohen Media Group

In French with English subtitles Film auteur Agnès Varda and street photographer JR are creators of images from different generations. Varda, the revered female filmmaker of the French New Wave, has long been associated with the art film and inner circles of film lore, including Jacques Demy, Alain Resnais, Jean-Luc Godard, Anna Karina, and Chris Marker. JR views the street as his canvas and adorns walls and buildings with murals of his works. Their mutual commitment to human stories creates a path for collaboration and an opportunity to visit the French countryside. These singular artists traveling together makes for an extraordinary journey. This is a brilliant film from one of the most iconic and visionary talents in cinema, whose openness in her conversations with another original—JR—brings us an extraordinarily layered portrait: of two artists, of two generations, of the people they encounter, of France—and the French. Winner of L’Oeil d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2017 for best documentary across all official selections.

—Nadia Ismail

Fri O ct 6 6:00pm Rafael Sun O ct 15 11:00am S equoia

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO, THE FRENCH HERITAGE SOCIETY, AND EATDRINKFILMS

A FANTASTIC WOMAN

(UNA MUJER FANTÁSTICA)

WORLD CINEMA

Chile/Germany/US/Spain 2017 • 103 min

Director Sebastián Lelio Producers Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín Screenwriters Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza Cinematographer Benjamín Echazarreta Editor Soledad Salfate Cast Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco, Aline Kuppenheim Print Source Sony Pictures Classics

In Spanish with English subtitles When we first meet Marina—the complex, tender, and determined title character in this masterful new drama by Sebastián Lelio ( Gloria , MVFF 2013)—she is working as a waitress, pursuing singing on the side, and deeply in love with an older man who loves her in return. All in all, she is entering a confident phase of her life as a mature, well-adjusted transgender woman. But when her paramour dies unexpectedly, Marina must suddenly face a humiliating swirl of suspicion and rejection not only by the man’s family but by a society intent on taking away her dignity and challenging her very right to grieve. Featuring an extraordinary performance by transgender actor Daniela Vega, A Fantastic Woman dramatizes, in pitchperfect and often darkly comic scenes, the slow, toxic burn of social ostracism and the resilience and rage required to overcome it. No less important, like last year’s Moonlight , it is a cinematic breakthrough, staking out new dramatic terrain for the portrayal of fully dimensional queer lives.

—Peter Stein

Sun O ct 8 5:30pm S equoia Tue O ct 10 3:00pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH FRAMELINE, THE SPAHR CENTER, AND TACOLIST.COM LATINO ON-LINE CLASSIFIEDS

FÉLICITÉ

WORLD CINEMA

France/Senegal/Belgium/Germany/ Lebanon 2017 • 124 min

Director Alain Gomis Producers Arnaud Dommerc, Alain Gomis Screenwriters

Alain Gomis, Olivier Loustau, Delphine Zingg Cinematographer Céline Bozon

Editors Alain Gomis, Fabrice Rouaud Cast Vèro Tshanda Beya Mputu, Gaetan Claudia, Papi Mpaka Print Source Strand Releasing

In Lingala with English subtitles In the back of a crowded, rowdy club in the back streets of Kinshasa, you’ll find Félicité (Véro Tshanda Beya Mputu) singing her heart out, providing a soulful-groove serenade to the dance-floor flirting and bar fights started by her handyman boyfriend Tabu (Papi Mpaka). Their routine is shattered, however, when her teenage son is seriously injured in a car accident. Félicité races around town trying to raise money for his operation; when she fails to get enough cash in time, the songbird begins to lose her voice—and her sanity. Franco-Sengalese filmmaker Alain Gomis ( Tey, MVFF 2012) crafts an incredible story of maternal endurance, driven by a vibrant soundtrack featuring everything from the Kasai Allstars’ rump-shaking Afro-pop to the city’s real-life church choirs, and orchestras. And in singer-turned-actress Mputu, he’s found a first-rate performer capable of breaking your heart with a glance or lifting you heavenward with a single transcendent note.

—David Fear

Sat O ct 7 2:15pm Rafael Wed O ct 11 2:00pm Rafael

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL

WORLD CINEMA

UK 2017 • 105 min

Director Paul McGuigan Producer Barbara Broccoli Screenwriters Matt Greenhalgh, Peter Turner Cinematographer Urszula Pontikos Editor Nick Emerson Cast

Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters Print Source Sony Pictures Classics

In a sensational performance, Annette Bening plays Academy Award ® winner Gloria Grahame, an American actress best remembered for playing femmes fatales in The Big Heat and In a Lonely Place , as well as starring in such Hollywood classics as It’s a Wonderful Life and Oklahoma! . Directed by Paul McGuigan ( Victor Frankenstein , Lucky Number Slevin ), Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool chronicles the final years of Grahame’s life and her passionate affair with a young actor named Peter Turner (Jamie Bell, Snowpiercer ), whom she meets while performing on stage in the titular northwestern English town. When the glamourous star’s health begins to fail, Turner’s family steps in to help care for her. Based on Turner’s memoir of the same name, the film also stars Julie Walters, who is reunited with her Billy Elliott costar Bell; Kenneth Cranham; and Oscar ® winner Vanessa Redgrave. —Joe Bowman

PRECEDED BY YOURS SINCERELY, LOIS WEBER US 2017 • 6 min

Director Svetlana Cvetko

A stylish tribute to the prolific and trailblazing American silent film director Lois Weber.

Fri O ct 6 6:45pm S equoia Thur O ct 12 9:00pm L ark

SPONSORED BY JIM BOYCE TRUST AND KRIS OTIS

FILMS

THE FLORIDA PROJECT

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 115 min

Director/Editor Sean Baker Producers Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Kevin Chinoy, Andrew Duncan Screenwriters Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch Cinematographer Alexis Zabe Cast Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Valeria Cotto, Bria Vinaite, Christopher Rivera, Caleb Landry Print Source A24

DIRECTORS’ NIGHT The Magic Castle Motel is the tattered safety net for Orlando families verging on homelessness, a world away from Disneyworld’s glittering attractions just across town. But for precocious, six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), the inn and its surrounding neighborhood hold their own enchantment as her gritty, personal amusement park. The little girl runs wild, sometimes dangerously so, and incites her playmates to follow her lead. While Bobby (a terrific, world-weary Willem Dafoe), the hotel’s sympathetic, often exasperated manager scolds her, her wild-child mother Halley (Bria Vinaite) indulges her. She is also about as emotionally mature as her daughter, and acts out without considering consequences. Like filmmaker Sean Baker and co-writer Chris Bergoch’s previous collaboration Tangerine , which focused on transgender women prostitutes in Los Angeles, The Florida Project observes its impoverished characters with understanding and compassion. Prince and Vinaite tug at the heart in a drama that evocatively depicts their lives and a hardscrabble corner of Florida with warmth, humor, and poignancy.

—Pam Grady

Tue O ct 10 8:15pm Rafael Wed O ct 11 6:00pm S equoia

FOURTH MOVEMENT

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 115 min

Director/Screenwriter Rob Nilsson

Producers Rob Nilsson, Carol Richards, Marshall Spight, Michelle Anton Allen, Celik Kayalar Cinematographers Aaron Hollander, David Castro, Chris Damm, Chikara Motomura Editor Deepika Metkar Cast Lydia Becker, Brette McCabe, Melanie Shaw, Celik Kayalar, Paul Grenberg, Tiziana Perinotti

Rob Nilsson and players from his Direct Action Workshop explore the lives of nocturnal seekers on the edges of the jazz music world. It’s opening night at San Francisco’s new C Flat Jazz Club—and it’s election night 2016: the 21st century’s “Eve of Destruction.” Everything is about to change. Strangers, lovers, wonderers, and wanderers from diverse cultures come together or break apart because of, and in spite of, the uncertain future ahead. Among them are Lou the soulful torch singer; jazz club owner “Groove” and Nuray, a beautiful Azerbaijani refugee; German Barbara and her errant lover Errol; Italian Valentina; and freespirited Juliana, with her suite of midnight callers. All are lovingly enveloped by the smoky sounds of Fred Randolph’s jazz sextet, evoking the city’s deep-rooted jazz history and its current rebel heart. “Tear up the charts and reach for the high notes”: Fourth Movement fulfills its promise, note for note.

WORLD PREMIERE

Sat O ct 7 10:00pm S equoia Sat O ct 14 8:45pm Rafael

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

WORLD CINEMA

UK 2017 • 107 min

Director Simon Curtis Producer Steve Christian Screenwriters Frank Cottrell

Boyce, Simon Vaughan Cinematographer Ben Smithard Editor Victoria Boydell Cast Margot Robbie, Kelly Macdonald, Domhnall Gleeson Print Source Fox Searchlight

In which the backstory of the creation of the world’s most beloved bear, Winnie the Pooh, is written by playwright A.A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson). Plagued by the trauma of his wartime experiences, Milne determines to write an anti-war book. Instead, he succumbs to his son’s—Christopher Robin, played with irresistible charm by Will Tilston—plea for a story of his own. In their walks in what would become known as the Hundred Acre Wood, the story evolves, and the joy and wisdom of Pooh and his friends are born, with the power to heal a nation. The books become an instant success, filling a deep need in the generation who suffered through the Great War, and Christopher Robin is launched into unexpected celebrity—with bewildering results for the family. Insightfully directed by Simon Curtis ( My Week with Marilyn , MVFF 2011) the wonderful cast includes Margot Robbie as Daphne Milne and Kelly Macdonald as Christopher’s devoted nanny.

—Lily Buchanan

Sat O ct 14 3:45pm Rafael

Sun O ct 15 1:45pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH BOOK PASSAGE

SPONSORED BY

HAPPENING: A CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 75 min

Director James Redford Producers James Redford, Jill Tidman Cinematographer John Behrens Editors Jeff Boyette, Tina Imahara, Bill Weber Print Source The Redford Center

FOCUS: STEWARDS OF THE EARTH Are we living at the dawn of a clean energy revolution, or will politicians and utility companies, entrenched in our fossil-fuel economy, keep that sun from rising? This question drives James Redford’s disarmingly personal and unpretentious documentary. A Marin County resident and award-winning filmmaker, Redford appears as a concerned, average Joe who just wants to know: Where does our power come from, and can renewable sources ever scale up to satisfy our needs? With a quiver of reasonable questions, Redford hopscotches the country, talking to mayors, activists, entrepreneurs, and executives in Utah, New York, Texas, California, and more. Refreshingly low-key, this documentary has no data-filled charts, ambush interviews, or strident sermons. Rather, it’s a rambling road trip—set to a congenial soundtrack by singer-songwriter (and Petaluma local) Sean Hayes—full of hopeful conversations with the everyday people who are making sure that revolution happens. WORLD PREMIERE

—Jeff Campbell

Sat O ct 7 12:00pm Rafael Mon O ct 9 1:15pm S equoia

HAROLD AND MAUDE

US CINEMA

US 1971 • 91 min

Director Hal Ashby Producer/

Screenwriter Colin Higgins

Cinematographer John A. Alonzo Editors

William A. Sawyer, Edward Warschilka Cast Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort Print Source Paramount Pictures

HONORING ANN BREBNER An unparalleled dark comedy that simultaneously redefined cinema and captured San Francisco’s post-summer-of-love malaise, Harold and Maude is an indelible part of the American zeitgeist. MVFF screens this 1971 cult classic in honor of famed Marin casting director Ann Brebner, who cast the film locally—and nearly played the role of Harold’s mother. Harold (Bud Cort), a quiet and morose young man, has what his mother calls a “sense of the absurd” that manifests itself in an incorrigible desire to fake his suicide in increasingly outlandish ways. While attending one of many funerals, Harold happens upon Maude (Ruth Gordon) casually picnicking at the cemetery. A 79-year-old with a lust for life and a penchant for stealing cars, Maude is daring, impulsive, and political—everything Harold is not. Iconic music from Cat Stevens permeates the soundtrack, and the leads carry the film through their chemistry, resulting in a tragicomic romance that is just as groundbreaking and gratifying as it was over four decades ago.

—Alexis Whitham

Wed O ct 11 3:00pm Rafael

THE HI DE HO SHOW

MUSIC

US • 120 min

Summer, 1967. John Goddard, our resident maestro of the mellifluous and curator of the curious, turns to that iconic summer for his annual extravaganza, veejaying from his personal collection, fuelled by his peerless anecdotes. From May 1 to August 31, 1967 he saw 36 concerts, and he’s basing his playlist on the artists he saw then (chronologically, of course.) He saw Big Brother and the Holding Company 14 times; Quicksilver Messenger Service 16 times (full disclosure: he grew up with John Cipolina). He saw Jesse Fuller and Rahsaan Roland Kirk for the first and only time. He saw Cream at the Fillmore on their first US tour; Howlin’ Wolf at the Avalon. Odetta, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry. He compared notes on his cheap Brownie camera with a guy who had the identical model and had just played on the back of a truck in the Panhandle: Jimi Hendrix. What became known as the Summer of Love was for Goddard a four-month long, non-stop music fest. So…turn up, tune in, drop in, drop out—just don’t miss this year’s Hi De Ho Show !

—Zoë Elton

Fri O ct 6 9:30pm S equoia Sat O ct 14 9:00pm Rafael

FILMS

HOLY AIR

(HAWA MOQADDAS)

WORLD CINEMA

Israel 2017 • 81 min

Director/Screenwriter Shady Srour

Producers Ilan Moskovitch, Shady Srour

Cinematographer Daniel Miller Editor

Naaman Bishara Cast Shady Srour, Laetitia Eido, Shmulik Calderon, Tarik Copti, Dalia Okal, Byan Anteer Print

Source IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films

In Arabic, Hebrew, and English with English subtitles Writer-director-actor Shady Srour’s cleverly plotted and unreservedly affectionate satire of Palestinian gridlock and frustrated ambition centers on a thirtysomething Nazareth entrepreneur at a crossroads. Adam (the bearded Srour, bearing more than a passing resemblance to comedian Zach Galifianakis) is happily married to thoroughly modern and sexual Larnia (Letitia Eido), who’s ready to start a family. At the other end of the life-cycle spectrum, his traditional Arab Christian father is diagnosed with cancer and solemnly bestows his dusty bottle-making workshop on Adam. That’s no career path for an educated man with a steady stream of visionary schemes (that never bear fruit, alas) until Adam hits on the idea of selling air bottled atop nearby Mount Precipice—a key site from the time of Christ—to European and American tourists. Even with local roots and a friend in the Israeli government, success—and satisfaction—isn’t guaranteed. But as the prophets Mick and Keith declared, sometimes you get what you need.

—Michael Fox

Thur O ct 12 12:15pm S equoia Fri O ct 13 6:30pm Rafael

WITH SUPPORT FROM CONSULATE GENERAL OF ISRAEL

HORN FROM THE HEART: THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD STORY

MUSIC

US 2017 • 104 min

Director/Editor John Anderson Producer

Sandra Warren Cinematographers Stan Eng, Peter Trilling Print Source Anderson Productions, Inc.

Answering the question, “What happens when a white teenager from Chicago’s Hyde Park befriends Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Little Walter?” this electrifying documentary explores the fascinating and complicated life of Paul Butterfield, who some call the greatest blues harmonica player who ever lived. Most music fans have heard of Butterfield, but few understand his impact on modern blues and rock and roll. This electrifying documentary sets the record straight as it captures Butterfield from his early days as a wide-eyed kid jamming with his heroes to blowing his harp at the Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock. The film combines astounding concert footage, scintillating rock-and-roll stories, and unexpected insights about the cultural barriers of popular music in the 1960s and ‘70s. Voice recordings of Butterfield along with interviews with family members and fellow musicians, including Elvin Bishop, Bonnie Raitt, BB King, and Maria Muldaur, paint a picture of a supremely talented, sometimes tortured artist who disrupted racial lines to bring the blues to a rock audience.

—Brendan Peterson

Tue O ct 10 6:00pm S equoia*

Thur O ct 12 3:00pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE GOLDEN GATE BLUES SOCIETY

*Live music event to follow at Sweetwater. Separate ticket required. See page 91 for details.

HUMAN FLOW

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

Germany, US 2017 • 140 min

Director/Producer Ai Weiwei Cinematographers Ai Weiwei, Murat Bay, Christopher Doyle, Huang Wenhei, Konstantinos Koukoulis Renaat Lambeets, Li Dongxu, Lv Hengzhong, Ma Yan, Johannes Waltermann, Xie Zhenwei, Zhang Zanbo Editor Niels Pagh Andersen Print Source Magnolia Pictures

Following the success of his extraordinary installation on Alcatraz, renowned artist Ai Weiwei turns his talents to investigating the impact of recent large-scale human migrations—forced by war, ethnic cleansing, and other threats of violent collateral damage— on the migrants themselves. The stories and struggles emerge of those camped out in the long-term limbo of growing tent cities, or simply sleeping, exhausted, by railroad tracks after days and weeks of walking on foot. With often stunning images—from gorgeous blue Mediterranean waters to sprawling desert camps and heavily policed barbed wire borders—the film provides real-world snapshots of precarious river crossings and jittery shore-landings of overloaded rubber dinghies. Both fact-filled and impressionistic, casually intimate at times and sweeping in scope, this documentary records refugees’ driven travels and precarious encampments. With the artist’s eye often apparent in the framing and movements of shots, Human Flow captures fleeting individual portraits from amidst these streams of humanity fleeing danger.

—Brian Karl

Fri O ct 6 12:00pm S equoia Thur O ct 12 7:15pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE HEADLANDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

I STILL HIDE TO SMOKE

(À MON ÂGE JE ME CACHE ENCORE POUR FUMER)

WORLD CINEMA

France/Greece/Algeria 2016 • 90 min

Director/Screenwriter/Editor Rayhana Obermeyer Producer Michèle Ray-Gavras Cinematographers Olympia Mytilinaiou, Mohamed Tayeb-Laggoune Cast Hiam Abbass, Fadila Belkebla, Nadia Kaci, Nassima Benchicou, Sarah Layssac, Maymouna Print Source K.G. Productions

FOCUS: HIDING & SEEKING In Arabic and French with English subtitles In this tight, tense, and riveting drama, an Algerian women’s hammam (bathhouse) proves to be both warm sanctuary and steamy political crucible for a group of culturally and religiously diverse women over the course of one momentous day. The central drama pivots on the fate of an unmarried pregnant teenager hiding out in the bathhouse—her destiny a microcosm of the violence and sexism imperiling the region. Award-winning actress Hiam Abbass ( In Syria , MVFF 2017; The Lemon Tree , MVFF 2008; The Visitor ; Munich ) stars as Fatima, the hammam’s head masseuse who presides over candidly unveiled conversations with her patrons covering everything from religion to orgasms, terrorism to marriage. In adapting her own 2009 play, first-time feature filmmaker Rayhana Obermeyer offers an urgently contemporary and complex view of women living under patriarchal and theocratic law. US PREMIERE

—Tim Grierson

Mon O ct 9 4:00pm Rafael Tue O ct 10 11:15am S equoia

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE AND THE ARAB FILM FESTIVAL

IN SYRIA

(INSYRIATED)

WORLD CINEMA

Belgium/France/Lebanon 2017 • 86 min

Director/Screenwriter Philippe Van Leeuw Producers Guillaume Malandrin, Serge Zeitoun Cinematographer Virginie Surdej Editor Gladys Joujou Cast Hiam Abbass, Diamand Abou Abboud, Juliette Navis

Print Source Film Movement

FOCUS: HIDING & SEEKING In Arabic with English subtitles Amid sounds of gunfire and shelling, an extended family wakes up to another morning in war-torn Damascus, the only remaining residents in a middle-class apartment building commandeered by combatants and thugs. In peacetime, she might be called a control freak, but in wartime, it is mother and daughter-in-law Oum Yazan who holds everyone together by barking out orders and stern reassurances that they will survive the siege despite the bombardments. Then intruders bang on the door and war’s horror comes inside. Belgian cinematographer Philippe van Leeuw follows up his harrowing 2009 The Day God Walked Away, about a woman in the Rwandan genocide, with another wrenching story of civilians caught in the middle of conflict. The winner of the Panorama Audience Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, In Syria boasts a remarkable ensemble cast and a stunning performance by its lead, Palestinian actress/director Hiam Abbass.

—Frako Loden

Fri O ct 6 9:00pm S equoia Mon O ct 9 1:30pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ARAB FILM FESTIVAL

IN THE FADE

(AUS DEM NICHTS)

WORLD CINEMA

Germany/France 2017 • 106 min

Director/Producer Fatih Akin

Screenwriters Fatih Akin, Hark Bohm

Cinematographer Rainer Klausmann

Editor Andrew Bird Cast Diane Kruger

Print Source Magnolia Pictures

In German with English subtitles Diane Kruger shines in her first German-language film as Katja, a woman living in Hamburg with her Turkish husband, Nuri, and their six-year-old son. Their connection is profound, passionate, and steady. But then, tragedy strikes. An act of xenophobic violence tears her life apart, and she must face prejudice and ignorance in order to find the truth and ensure justice is served. Director Fatih Akin ( Head-On , MVFF 2004) crafts a drama in three chapters that skillfully follows Katja on her rollercoaster journey. Kruger’s raw performance as a complicated and simultaneously fierce and wounded woman won her Best Actress at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and ensures that the audience stays with her every step of the way. With all the suspense of a thriller and a career-high performance from Kruger, this movie rends its broad political themes deeply personal and relatable. In the Fade is a timely tale of how we cope when the unimaginable happens.

—Lucia Proctor-Bonbright

Sat O ct 14 5:45pm S equoia Sun O ct 15 5:45pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

FILMS

THE INLAND ROAD

WORLD CINEMA

New Zealand 2017 • 79 min

Director/Screenwriter Jackie van Beek Producer Aaron Watson

Cinematographer Giovanni C. Lorusso

Editors Luca Cappelli, Tom Eagles Cast Gloria Popata, Chelsie Preston Crayford, David Elliot, Jodie Hillock, Georgia Spillane Print Source LevelK

While hitchhiking across New Zealand’s South Island, 16-year-old Tia (Gloria Popata, in an unforgettable debut performance) finds unlikely shelter with a grieving family impacted by a fatal car crash. Indebted to her for saving his life, Will (David Elliot) invites the runaway to stay on the farm he shares with his pregnant wife Donna (Chelsie Preston Crayford). There, Tia becomes an unorthodox mother figure to Will’s sixyear-old niece Lily (Georgia Spillane). Against the bucolic backdrop of the remote Otago region of New Zealand’s South Island, temptations awaken and familial roles shift as a wayward teen navigates her turbulent circumstances in search of a place of belonging. This assured feature directorial debut from New Zealand actress Jackie van Beek premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival where it was nominated for the Crystal Bear, and later won Special Jury Mention for New Directors at the Seattle International Film Festival.

—Jesse Knight

Fri O ct 6 3:30pm S equoia

Thur O ct 12 1:00pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH KIAORAUSA AND THE NEW ZEALAND AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO

THE INSULT

WORLD CINEMA

Lebanon 2017 • 113 min

Director/Screenwriter Ziad Doueiri

Producers Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb, Julie Gayet Cinematographer Tommaso Fiorilli Editor Dominique

Marcombe Cast Adel Karam. Kamel El Basha, Camille Salameh, Diamand Abou

Abboud Print Source Cohen Media Group

In Lebanese with English subtitles A minor disagreement sparks an unforgivable insult, which ignites a confrontation of national importance in this riveting courtroom drama by Lebanese writer-director Ziad Doueiri ( The Attack , MVFF 2012). Tony, a Christian Phalanges Party supporter who runs an auto repair shop and whose wife is expecting a baby, clashes with Yasser, a Palestinian construction foreman, over an illegal drainpipe. It seems like a trivial incident involving bruised male egos that could easily be resolved with an apology—so their wives think—but an impulsive insult escalates the case dramatically. Now Tony and Yasser become supporting players in a battle pitting celebrity lawyers, TV news, and political leaders, culminating in a trial that rips open raw memories of Lebanon’s violent past. Nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, this intelligent, politically charged drama is a thoughtful parable of the unrepaired schisms and unhealed wounds of history that continue to rupture in everyday life.

—Frako Loden

Sun O ct 8 2:30pm Rafael

Tue O ct 10 9:00pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ARAB FILM FESTIVAL

THE INVISIBLES

WORLD CINEMA

Germany 2017 • 110 min

Director Claus Räfle Producers Frank Evers, Claus Räfle, Jörg Schulze Screenwriters Alejandra López, Claus Räfle Cinematographer Jörg Widmer

Editor Julia Oehring Cast Max Mauff, Alice Dwyer, Ruby O. Fee Print Source Beta Cinema GmbH

FOCUS: HIDING & SEEKING In German with English subtitles In June 1943, Germany infamously declared Berlin “judenfrei”— “free of Jews.” But at that moment there were still 7,000 Jews living in the Nazi capital: hiding in attics, basements, and warehouses, protected by courageous Berliners while desperately trying to avoid deportation. Only 1,700 lived to liberation. The Invisibles tells the stories of four survivors, interweaving their testimony with highly accomplished dramatizations, an unusual hybrid approach that brings edge-of-the-seat suspense to their years spent underground. The two men and two women whose stories unfold are well chosen, and their younger selves are sensitively portrayed: Cioma is an art student who uses his drafting skills to forge passports in exchange for food ration cards; Hanni dyes her hair blond and tries to pass as Aryan; teenager Eugen is handed to a succession of sympathetic Communist families; and Ruth must resort to roaming the streets before being taken in by a surprising protector. If their stories sound contrived, The Invisibles makes their veracity all the more stunning.

—Peter Stein

Thur O ct 12 12:00pm Rafael

Sat O ct 14 12:45pm L arkspur Sun O ct 15 11:15am Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE JFCS HOLOCAUST CENTER AND THE OSHER MARIN JCC

JAHA’S PROMISE

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

The Gambia/USA/Ireland 2017 • 81 min

Directors/Producers Patrick Farrelly, Kate O’Callaghan Cinematographer Kate McCullough Editor Sinead Kinnane Print

Source First Hand Films

An ancient and inhumane ritual still being performed to this day affects over 200 million women and girls around the world, as over 30 countries continue to treat female genital mutilation as a rite of passage and religious tradition. Twenty-six-year-old Gambian activist Jaha Dukureh was one of many newborns subjected to such an unthinkable act. Now, she is among the leaders of the global crusade against the barbaric custom that nearly ended her life. In this powerful and inspiring documentary, filmmakers Patrick Farrelly and Kate O’Callaghan follow Dukureh’s passionate fight to break the cycle of abuse and ban female genital mutilation across the globe, garnering support from world leaders and confronting her most fervent detractors, even those within her own family. Named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2016, Dukureh is a real-life superhero whose remarkable resilience and exhaustive efforts have already begun to change the world and ensure a safer future for women. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE —Jesse Knight

Mon O ct 9 8:45pm L arkspur Thur O ct 12 12:30pm Rafael

JANE

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 90 min

Director/Screenwriter Brett Morgen

Producers Brett Morgen, Bryan Burk, James Smith Cinematographer Hugo van Lawick Editors Joe Beshenkovsky, Brett Morgen, Will Znidaric Print Source Cinetic Media

FOCUS: STEWARDS OF THE EARTH No one had studied Africa’s chimpanzees in the wild before 26-year-old Jane Goodall set up camp in Tanzania’s Gombe forest. This documentary, using never-before-seen 1960s footage by famed National Geographic photographer Hugo van Lawick, captures that revolutionary encounter. Narrated by Jane herself—with a moving original score by Philip Glass—it shows the impossibly young researcher at work, jade eyes focused, her wry smile barely hiding her disbelief that her childhood dream has come true. As the chimpanzees grow to trust Jane, she sits among them, until she’s feeding and grooming them. Jane fell in love in Africa: with science, with the animals, and with Lawick, whom she married. Yet Jane kept returning to Gombe and her wild family: to David Greybeard, Goliath, Flo, and Fifi. Today, Jane’s loose ponytail is white, but her message, which still rocks science, is unwavering: Intelligence and compassion are not ours alone, but shared. Thus, we must protect Africa’s wildlife.

—Jeff Campbell

Tue O ct 10 6:00pm Rafael Wed O ct 11 10:00am Rafael*

IN ASSOCIATION WITH WILD CARE BAY AREA

*CFI Education screening open to school groups and general public.

JUST ONE DROP

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 66 min

Director/Producer Laurel Chiten

Cinematographers Marc Wishengrad, Tamara Taddeo, Dan Brohawn, Maxx Corkindale, Andy Abrahams Wilson

Editor Bernice Schneider Print Source Blind Dog Films

Homeopathy is controversial, pitting patients with abundant anecdotal evidence against well-funded, organized skeptics out to discredit it as “quackery.” This timely examination of legitimacy and access to holistic healthcare proves the best medicine is open curiosity and more scientific research. The wondrous history of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann’s scientific “provings” in his development of homeopathy is dramatized through elegant animation. Meanwhile, a couple uses homeopathy to help heal their young autistic son. And suspense heightens as European homeopathy researchers team up to investigate an Australian report that smears homeopathy’s efficacy and threatens true freedom of choice in healthcare. As worldwide healthcare debates rage on, India is successfully integrating homeopathy and conventional medicine as parallel paths for treatment.

—Carol Harada

PRECEDED BY UNSPOKEN

US 2017 • 26 min

Directors Emma Zurcher-Long, Julia Ngeow, Geneva Peschka

Emma is a 14-year-old autism spectrum ambassador, bringing her brilliance and emotional intelligence to audiences eager to connect.

Thur O ct 12 3:00pm S equoia Sat O ct 14 2:30pm S equoia

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BAY AREA HOMEOPATHY ASSOCIATION AND THE CALIFORNIA HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY

SPONSORED BY BELLAM SELF STORAGE AND BOXES

SPONSORED BY THE NANCY P. AND RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION

FILMS

LADY

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 76 min

Director Kate Webber Producers David Orr, Kate Webber, Marc Smolowitz

Cinematographer David Orr Editor Chad Herschberger Print Source Kate Webber

What some people might find terrifying or crazy, New Zealand open-water swimmer Kim Chambers finds electric and pure. Relatively new to marathon swimming, Kim is determined to cross the treacherous 30 miles from the shark-infested Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge in the frigid San Francisco Bay. Kim Swims depicts her journey across the water and the months leading up to one of the most challenging swims in the world. Only four men have made the journey and Kim, for very personal reasons, wants to be the first woman. Directed by Kate Webber with intimacy and spirit, this documentary explores the limits of our bodies and why we push ourselves to reach beyond them. As Kim’s story unfolds before our eyes, her self-awareness draws us close and we cannot help but cheer her on as, stroke by stroke, she powers toward her story’s suspenseful conclusion.

WORLD PREMIERE

—Jennie-Marie Adler

Sat O ct 7 1:00pm S equoia Fri O ct 13 10:00am Rafael*

IN ASSOCIATION WITH NIGHT TRAIN SWIMMERS

*CFI Education screening open to school groups and general public.

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 93 min

Director/Screenwriter Greta Gerwig

Producers Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, Evelyn O’Neill Cinematographer Sam Levy Editor Bill Henry Cast Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Beanie Feldstein, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet Print Source A24

CLOSING NIGHT | SPOTLIGHT: GRETA GERWIG Bumbling through her senior year at a Catholic high school, Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson desperately wants to escape Sacramento for the loftier environs of an East Coast liberal arts college. Played by the always enchanting Saoirse Ronan ( Brooklyn , MVFF 2015) and clad in the compulsory polo shirt and plaid skirt ensemble, the rebellious teenager spends her final semesters hanging out in parking lots and minimarts while navigating the confusing world of college applications and blossoming relationships. Indie darling Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut demonstrates a discernible acumen towards filmmaking and a keen understanding of the high school experience and the complex relationships between a young woman, her family, and her hometown. Lady Bird is Gerwig’s love letter to Sacramento, a commemoration of finding herself and where she belongs, while remaining tied to the city that shaped her.

—Dominique O’Neil

Sun O ct 15 5:00pm Rafael

THE LAST ANIMALS

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US/UK 2017 • 92 min

Director Kate Brooks Producers Kate Brooks, Stephanie Soechtig Screenwriters Mark Monroe, Kate Brooks Cinematographers Kate Brooks, Michal Krejci, Jason Longo Editors Brian Anton, Brian Lazarte Print Source WME Entertainment

F OCUS: STEWARDS OF THE EARTH

In English, French, Czech, and Lingala with English subtitles Whenever she would begin to lose faith in humanity, the sight of elephants always reminded war photographer Kate Brooks that there is still beauty in the world. Then she saw that these magnificent beasts—as well as rhinoceroses—are being hunted to near-extinction. Profits from sales of ivory tusks and horns fund conflict in Africa, supporting the activities of Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, the Lord’s Resistance Army, and other rebel groups. In this powerful documentary, Brooks exposes several facets of the all-out war on these animals while also highlighting the work of anti-poaching rangers, scientists, and activists engaged in the global struggle to prevent the pachyderms’ extinction. As the five remaining northern white rhinos on the planet count down to two, Brooks makes an urgent argument for a total ban on the ivory trade. Without such action, there is a very real possibility that our grandchildren will be left only with fading images of these gentle and awesome creatures.

—Frako Loden

Sun O ct 8 3:00pm S equoia Tue O ct 10 6:45pm Rafael* Fri O ct 13 12:30pm L arkspur

*Panel discussion to follow the screening

LAST FLAG FLYING

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 119 min

Director Richard Linklater Producers Ginger Sledge, John Sloss Screenwriters

Richard Linklater, Darryl Poniscan

Cinematographer Shane F. Kelly Editor

Sandra Adair Cast Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell, Laurence Fishburne Print Source Amazon Studios

CENTERPIECE Once upon a time in ‘Nam, Doc (Steve Carell), Sal (Bryan Cranston) and Mueller (Laurence Fishburne) were an inseparable trio. Then something horrible went down, one of them took the fall, and they stopped speaking to each other. Decades later, Doc tracks down his fellow vets—Sal’s an alcoholic bar owner; former hellraiser Mueller is now a man of God—to ask for a favor: His only son has just died in combat in Iraq. He needs them to accompany him to identify the body and to join him on one last mission. This sequel to The Last Detail —like Hal Ashby’s 1973 classic, an adaptation of a Darryl Ponsican novel—is a funny, talky, emotionally resonant road movie. But this Richard Linklater masterwork is also a moving, heartbreaking tribute to the bonds forged in warfare and a penetrating, performance-driven actors’ showcase that boldly asks why we fight—and how we as a nation heal from the damage done.

—David Fear

Thur O ct 12 7:00pm Rafael

THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH

WORLD CINEMA

UK 2017 • 85 min

Director Danny Huston Producers

Simon Astaire, Farah Abushwesha, Cat Villiers Screenwriter Simon Astaire Cinematographer Ed Rutherford Editor Francisco Forbes Cast Danny Huston, Sarita Choudhury, Stacy Martin Print

Source The Works Film Group

Sweets wrappers tossed onto a car floor, flower petals lifted by a breeze, swing carousel riders spinning against a gray sky—a swirl of memories and layers of grief haunt London bookseller Tom Hammond, whose son Luke died in the skies over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. Iconic actor Danny Huston returns to directing after a 20-year hiatus and takes the lead as the heartbroken father whose most treasured possession is the last photograph taken together with his son. When the fading Polaroid goes missing, Tom’s buried agony rises to the surface. Set along two timelines, in 1988 and 2003, this tour-de-force of impressionistic montage intersperses scenes of Luke’s first love affair, the days surrounding his death, Tom’s fevered search of the city, and his tentative attempts to connect with a lovely café proprietor (Sarita Choudhury, Mississippi Masala , Hunger Games: Mocking Jay ). But it is Huston’s own shattering performance that renders this narrative mosaic into such an affecting portrayal of loss.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

—Lucy Laird

PRECEDED BY THE KODACHROME ELEGIES

US 2017 • 11 min

Director Jay Rosenblatt

A nostalgic meditation on the popular home movie color film stock, a vibrant artifact of the analog age.

Fri O ct 13 6:30pm S equoia Sun O ct 15 11:00am Rafael

THE LAST PIG

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 54 min

Director Allison Argo Producers Allison Argo, Joseph Brunette Cinematographer Joseph Brunette Editors Allison Argo, David Kennedy Print Source Piggy Films LLC

FOCUS: STEWARDS OF THE EARTH

This spare yet lush immersion in the daily interactions between a farmer and his pigs follows what grows from an essential awareness of kinship. Conscious of wielding the power of life and death over what society has agreed are animals to be eaten, the man still recognizes his animals as fellow sentient beings. He takes his obligation to the herd seriously, caring for it humanely. He learns from the pigs how to tend them without causing undue stress and likewise how to manage himself as their keeper. Gorgeous cinematography and a meditative score enrich this unflinching look at the season of nurture and communion, which must inevitably give way to the season of slaughter. A decade into this way of life, this pig farmer’s awareness ripens into a harvest of clear-eyed acts of compassion.

—Carol Harada

PRECEDED BY

RAM DASS, GOING HOME

US 2017 • 31 min

Director Derek Peck

A profound and poetic encounter with cultural and spiritual icon Ram Dass at his home on Maui in the final chapter of his life.

Thur O ct 12 8:00pm S equoia Fri O ct 13 12:00pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMPASSIONATE LIVING

SPONSORED BY

SPONSORED BY CORPORATE MEDIA SYSTEMS, INC.

FILMS

LAW OF THE LAND

(ARMOTON MAA)

WORLD CINEMA

Finland/Sweden/Norway 2017 • 90 min

Director/Screenwriter Jussi Hiltunen

Producers Kai Nordberg, Kaarle Aho

Cinematographer Tuomo Hutri Editor Kimmo Taavila Cast Ville Virtanen, Antti Holma, Mikko Neuvonen, Malin Buska, Outi Mäenpää, Pernilla August, Jørgen Langhelle Print Source Making Movies Ltd

In Finnish and Swedish with English subtitles In the snow-covered Lapland region of Finland near the Swedish border, Lasse (Ville Virtanen, Sauna ), a police officer on the cusp of retirement, must try to keep the peace in the village after a recently paroled convict ignites a violent feud with his son. As tensions continue to mount, it becomes clear that Lasse will need to address some long-buried secrets from his past if he is to prevent further bloodshed. Exquisitely filmed by award-winning cinematographer Tuomo Hutri ( Letters to Father Jacob ), this taut, ice-cold No’Western ‘chiller’ marks the assured feature debut of writer/director Jussi Hiltunen, calling to mind some of the most iconic works of the Coen Brothers ( No Country for Old Men , Blood Simple ). Exceptionally acted across the board, Law of the Land also stars Swedish actresses Malin Buska ( The Girl King , MVFF 2015) and Pernilla August ( A Serious Game , MVFF 2016) in key supporting roles.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

—Joe Bowman

Fri O ct 6 6:15pm Rafael

Sun O ct 8 8:45pm L ark

WITH SUPPORT FROM CONSULATE GENERAL OF SWEDEN AND THE BARBRO OSHER PRO SUECIA FOUNDATION

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE FINLANDIA FOUNDATION SF BAY AREA CHAPTER AND THE FINNISH AMERICAN HOME ASSOCIATION

THE LEISURE SEEKER

WORLD CINEMA

Italy/France 2017 • 112 min

Director Paolo Virzì Producers Marco Cohen, Fabrizio Donvito Screenwriters

Michael Zadoorian, Stephen Amidon, Francesca Archibugi Cinematographer

Luca Bigazzi Editor Jacopo Quadri Cast

Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland, Kirsty Mitchell Print Source Sony Pictures Classics

Two of cinema’s most gifted and beloved screen icons, Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren, deliver their best in this slightly offbeat and very much on-point road movie, filled with unexpected twists and turns. Director Paolo Virzi ( Like Crazy, MVFF 2016) sets the big wheels in motion as John (Sutherland), a retired literature professor with growing memory loss, and Ella (Mirren), his still-vibrant, sharp-as-a-tack spouse, hit the highway in the family Winnebago (aka “The Leisure Seeker”), on the lam from their two adult children and the threat of a sad and sedentary future. The destination: wherever the road takes them, especially if it leads to Hemingway’s house in Key West. Revisiting the past while driving head-on toward an uncharted future, The Leisure Seeker offers quite a ride and no stalls, from its gentle send-up of American suburbia, rolling smoothly into an unforgettable celebration of love across the last stretches of the road.

—Karen Davis

Wed O ct 11 6:30pm S equoia Fri O ct 13 4:00pm Rafael

WITH SUPPORT FROM INSTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA

LET THE SUNSHINE IN (UN BEAU SOLEIL INTERIEUR)

WORLD CINEMA

France 2017 • 95 min

Director Claire Denis Producer Olivier Delbosc Screenwriters Christine Angot, Claire Denis Cinematographer Agnès Godard Editor Guy Lecorne Cast Juliette Binoche, Xavier Beauvois, Philippe Katerine Print Source IFC Films

In French with English subtitles Groundbreaking French filmmaker Claire Denis charts beguiling new emotional terrain with Let the Sunshine In , an exceedingly lovely study of a middle-aged divorcée navigating the pitfalls of romance and career. Juliette Binoche plays Isabelle, a painter who remains open to love, despite the many times her heart’s been broken, and the film follows her through a series of possible courtships that test her faith in a happily ever after. Never cutesy and often witty, this wise and melancholy comedy may feel like a departure for Denis, who’s won international acclaim for searing portraits like White Material and Basterds . But what connects Let the Sunshine In to her earlier work is the writerdirector’s commitment to realistic, nuanced portraits of complicated characters trying to make the best of their situation. Binoche is pure wistful radiance, and her supporting cast is equally exquisite, including Gérard Depardieu in a sublime cameo. Prepare to have your heart stolen by this deceptively low-key, swoon-worthy beauty.

—Tim Grierson

Sun O ct 8 2:30pm S equoia Tue O ct 10 3:00pm S equoia

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO AND THE FRENCH HERITAGE SOCIETY

LIFE AND NOTHING MORE

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 95 min

Director/Screenwriter Antonio Méndez

Esparza Producer Pedro Hernández

Santos Cinematographer Barbu Balasiou

Editor Santiago Oviedo Cast Andrew Bleechington, Regina Williams, Robert Williams, Ry’Nesia Chamberszz Print Source Film Constellation Ltd.

In this remarkable second feature, Spanishborn writer/director Antonio Méndez Esparza follows up his drama Aquí y allá (MVFF 2012) with another sensitive portrait of the struggles of a hardworking family in the face of hardship. Stressed and overworked by her job in a diner, single mother Regina (Regina Williams) is raising her two children in northern Florida. When her 14-year-old son Andrew (Andrew Bleechington), has a brush with the law, she worries he’ll wind up like his father, in prison. But even as she deals with Andrew’s situation, Regina strives to improve her own life, seeking better employment and allowing herself to love a new man. Cinematography and sound design are outstanding in this drama that draws welcome comparisons to this year’s Oscar ®winning Best Picture Moonlight . Méndez Esparza employs documentary-style realism to capture heartfelt, nuanced performances from his nonprofessional cast in this moving snapshot of race, class, and the bonds of family in contemporary America.

—Joe Bowman

Sat O ct 14 6:30pm L arkspur

THE LIGHT OF THE MOON

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 90 min

Director/Screenwriter/Editor Jessica

M. Thompson Producer Michael Cuomo

Cinematographer Autumn Eakin Cast

Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David, Catherine Curtin Print Source The Film Collaborative

While walking home alone from a party late one night, the life of a confident and successful young Brooklyn-based architect is tragically changed when a stranger sexually assaults her. She seemingly recovers, but the impact of that harrowing experience slowly leaves its imprint, shattering the dynamics of her personal and professional life. Carried by Stephanie Beatriz’s ( Brooklyn Nine-Nine , Short Term 12 ) nuanced, authentic performance, The Light of the Moon prefers not to center on the criminal repercussions of the assault; rather, it offers an unflinching and raw portrayal of the invisible wounds that painfully affect a victim’s psyche and subtly strain an intimate relationship following sexual trauma. A timely discussion on rape culture with a noticeable female perspective and sensibility both in content and style, director Jessica M. Thompson’s feature debut is unafraid to question taboos, society’s expectations of womanhood, and uncomfortable issues of guilt and self-worth—and like its thorny subject, the film offers no easy resolution.

—Julia Barbosa

Mon O ct 9 8:45pm Rafael Wed O ct 11 6:00pm L arkspur

LIYANA

filmHOOD

Swaziland/US 2017 • 78 min

Directors/Cinematographers Aaron Kopp, Amanda Kopp Producers Amanda Kopp, Aaron Kopp, Daniel Junge Screenwriter Intaba Creative Editors Davis Coombe, Aaron Kopp Print Source Intaba Creative

In English and SiSwati with English subtitles Young Swazi orphans are invited to create a story together out of their deep suffering and rich imaginations. Famed South African storyteller Gcina Mhlophe encourages them to envision a character and draw, write, and enact the adventure. They invent Liyana and her dangerous quest to rescue her twin brothers from human traffickers. Aaron and Amanda Kopp ( The Hunting Ground , MVFF 2015) highlight the simple joy and beauty of the children at work and play in their group home. The horrors they’ve faced—hunger, abuse, violence, death of parents from HIV/AIDS—haven’t diminished their creativity and hope. This backstory, the children’s vivid enactment of Liyana’s journey, and gorgeous animation are artfully intercut to immerse us fully in the adventure. Through collective storytelling, the orphans deepen their resilience by shaping Liyana’s quest and becoming heroes and heroines in their own lives. Age 11+

—Carol Harada

PRECEDED BY BLACK HEAD COW

Tanzania 2016 • 12 min

Director Elizabeth Nichols

Students and staff of a school in Tanzania wrote and produced this film about a schoolgirl in a Maasai village dealing with an unexpected arranged marriage.

Fri O ct 13 12:45pm L ark Sat O ct 14 12:00pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH ALLIANCE FOR GIRLS AND MARIN MOMMIES

SPONSORED BY JIM BOYCE TRUST AND KRIS OTIS

FILMS

THE LONG SHADOW

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 87 min

Director/Screenwriter Frances Causey

Producers Frances Causey, Sally Holst, Jed Riffe Cinematographers Rogelio Garcia, Emiko Omori Editor Maureen Gosling

Of all the divisions in America, none is as insidious and tenacious as racism. In this powerful documentary, journalist and activist Frances Causey investigates the roots of our current racial conflicts. A daughter of the South, raised with a romanticized vision of America’s past, Causey is haunted by slavery’s legacy. She passionately seeks the hidden truth and the untold stories that reveal how the sins of yesterday feed modern prejudice, which burns undiminished despite our seeming progress. From the moment of America’s birth, slavery was embedded in institutions, laws, and the economy, and yet even as slavery ended, racism survived like “an infection.” By telling individual stories—of free blacks in Canada; of a modern, racially motivated shooting— Causey movingly personalizes the costs and the stakes of continued inaction. “The past is never dead,” William Faulkner once said, and this echoes one scholar’s warning: “We’re still fighting the Civil War, and the South is winning.” WORLD PREMIERE

—Jeff Campbell

Sat O ct 7 6:00pm L ark

Tue O ct 10 10:00am L ark*

Wed O ct 11 11:15am Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BERKELEY FILM FOUNDATION

*CFI Education screening open to school groups and general public.

LOS PERROS

WORLD CINEMA

Chile 2017 • 94 min

Director/Screenwriter Marcela Said Producer Tom Dercourt Cinematographer Georges Lechaptois Editor Jean de Certeau Cast Antonia Zegers, Alfredo Castro, Alejandro Sieveking Print Source Films Boutique

In Spanish with English subtitles Issues of class, power, and historical culpability play out in surprising and provocative ways in Marcela Said’s riveting new film. Fortytwo-year-old Mariana (Antonia Zegers, The Club , MVFF 2015) comes from money; her father owns a logging company, and her main preoccupations are her dogs, her horseback riding lessons, and satisfying her husband’s desire for a child. Her own desires remain somewhat inchoate, from her half-hearted interest in fertility treatments to the way she responds when her riding instructor Juan (the extraordinary Alfredo Castro) is accused of human rights abuses stemming from the Pinochet era. Watching Zegers is thrilling as she beautifully registers every facet of Mariana’s character—her assertions of the systems of privilege and denial that she has accepted and encouraged and her ability to use her erotic power in a male-dominated environment. Galvanized by this central performance, Los Perros plays out like a thriller as Mariana begins to see that the blood tide of history may lead up to her front door.

—Rod Armstrong

Fri O ct 13 6:30pm L arkspur Sun O ct 15 2:15pm S equoia

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CANAL ALLIANCE AND TACOLIST.COM LATINO ON-LINE CLASSIFIEDS

LOVE, CECIL

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 98 min

Director/Producer Lisa Immordino Vreeland Cinematographer Shane Sigler Editor Bernadine Colish

Following her exceptional documentary Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel , filmmaker Lisa Immordino Vreeland turns her camera toward another vibrant fixture of the 20th-century fashion industry: celebrated photographer and costume designer Cecil Beaton. Best known to film and theater lovers as the Oscar ®-winning costume and production designer for My Fair Lady and Gigi , Beaton rose to fame (and a certain notoriety) in England as a photographer for Vogue before getting fired from the magazine and shifting into war photography during WWII. Focusing on his larger-than-life personality, Love, Cecil has no shortage of juicy tales ranging from trysts with Greta Garbo, rivalries with Noël Coward, and hilariously catty takedowns of the likes of Katharine Hepburn. With his diaries narrated by Rupert Everett, this vivacious, beguiling documentary features engaging interviews with fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, actress Leslie Caron, American Vogue editor Hamish Bowles, and renowned painter David Hockney.

—Joe Bowman

Sat O ct 7 6:00pm S equoia

IN ASSOCIATION WITH EATDRINKFILMS

LOVELESS

(NELYUBOV)

WORLD CINEMA

Russia/France 2017 • 127 min

Director Andrey Zvyagintsev Producers

Gleb Fetisov, Sergey Melkumov, Alexander Rodnyansky Screenwriters

Oleg Negin, Andrey Zvyagintsev

Cinematographer Mikhail Krichman

Editor Anna Mass Cast Yanina Hope, Aleksey Rozin, Maryana Spivak Print

Source Sony Pictures Classics

In Russian with English subtitles Oscar ®nominated Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev ( Leviathan ) delivers some devastating scenes from a marriage in Loveless , a meticulous, absorbing drama that won the Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Boris (Alexey Rozin) and Zhenya (Maryana Spivak) are a contentious husband and wife anxiously looking forward to finalizing their divorce—both of them have new lovers and new lives awaiting them—but they’re forced to spend time together after they belatedly realize that their 12-year-old son has gone missing. Loveless works as both an elegant police procedural and a spellbinding dissection of a faltering relationship with Rozin and Spivak delivering nuanced, fascinating portrayals of deeply flawed individuals. One of the most compelling talents in contemporary Russian cinema, Zvyagintsev’s mesmerizing vision makes this portrait of a miserable couple sifting through the wreckage of a failed marriage one of the most highly touted films of the year.

—Tim Grierson

Tue O ct 10 6:00pm L arkspur Fri O ct 13 3:00pm S equoia

LOVING VINCENT

WORLD CINEMA

Poland 2017 • 94 min

Directors Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman Producers Sean M. Bobbitt, Ivan Mactaggart, Hugh Welchman Screenwriters Jacek Dehnel, Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman Cinematographers Tristan Oliver, Lukasz Zal Editors Dorota Kobiela, Justyna Wierszynska Cast Douglas Booth, Aidan Turner, Helen McCrory, Eleanor Tomlinson, Saoirse Ronan, Chris O’Dowd Print Source Good Deed Entertainment

FOCUS: POLISH CINEMA A labor of love rendered on a spectacular canvas, the animated Loving Vincent audaciously brings the visionary life and art of Vincent van Gogh to the big screen. Filmmakers Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman follow a postman’s son (Douglas Booth) in 1891 as he travels to the tiny French community of Auvers to deliver the last letter the tortured painter wrote his brother Theo before his death. Soon, the son’s journey becomes a quest to unravel the circumstances surrounding van Gogh’s mysterious end— which might not have been a suicide as previously believed. This historical whodunit doubles as a gorgeous crash course in the man’s influential oeuvre: The movie consists of 65,000 separate, oil-painted frames crafted by 125 painters working from liveaction footage shot by the directors with their cast. Loving Vincent took seven years to complete, but its impact is instantaneous, immersing the viewer in the master’s flowing, passionate brushstrokes and complicated genius.

—Tim Grierson

Thur O ct 5 7:00pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH POLONIASF.ORG

MAD HANNANS

MUSIC

US 2017 • 85 min

Director Martin Shore Producers Martin Shore, Dan Sameha Screenwriters Martin Shore, Kelli Colaco Cinematographers Jonathan Clark, Dante Della Maggiore Editors Clayton Halsey, Dante Della Maggiore Print Source Social Capital Films

A sensation in the local music scene, the Mad Hannans have entertained crowds with their distinctive brand of Irish folk rock for over a decade. Now, director Martin Shore brings a highly personal portrait of the band founded by brothers Jerry and Sean Hannan, as their modest origins escalate into a cult following at bars and festivals all over Marin County. From Larkspur to Nicasio and Mill Valley, our own backyard serves as an affectionate backdrop to a creative collaboration that was often contentious but always filled with familial love and support, especially when events take a tragic turn. Filled with home movies, never-before-seen studio sessions, and a collection of fans ranging from Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison to filmmaker Sean Penn, Mad Hannans reminds us that the ties that bind are also often the bonds that allow for the most liberating form of self-expression.

WORLD PREMIERE

—Sterling Hedgpeth

Fri O ct 6 6:15pm S equoia* Mon O ct 9 3:15pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH 19 BROADWAY NIGHTCLUB AND RANCHO NICASIO RESTAURANT & BAR

*Live music event to follow at Sweetwater. Separate ticket required. See page 90 for details.

SPONSORED BY

SPONSORED

SPONSORED BY

FILMS

MANKILLER

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 74 min

Director Valerie Red-Horse Mohl

Producers Gale Anne Hurd, Valerie RedHorse Mohl, Charlie Soap, Kristina Kiehl, Stacy Mahoney Cinematographers Tarin Anderson, Josh Mayes, David Aubrey, Robert Swanson, Curt Mohl, Corey Soap

Editors Ken Schneider, Joe Lamattina, Lisa Lamattina Print Source Valhalla Entertainment

This profile in courage illuminates the life and times of Wilma Mankiller, first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation. Though she faced deadly challenges in her efforts to rebuild her tribe’s self-governance, she persisted. Produced by Gale Ann Hurd ( The Terminator trilogy), Valerie Red-Horse Mohl’s in-depth documentary reveals how Mankiller’s indigenous feminism and grassroots leadership arose from traditional Cherokee matrilineal society and her work in Bay Area social justice. She arose from humble beginnings in northeast Oklahoma, rich in community, but economically poor before moving to California where she spent two decades as a community activist. As chief, she cultivated non-elected leaders and headed self-reliance projects, ultimately reestablishing Cherokee sovereignty. Mankiller’s inspiring story and journey of exile and return spring to vivid life through rare archival footage of Mankiller and interviews with her family, friends, and collaborators, including Gloria Steinem. At a time of women marching and leading, Wilma Mankiller’s story is essential.

—Carol Harada

Tue O ct 10 3:30pm S equoia

Wed O ct 11 2:30pm Rafael

Sat O ct 14 12:00pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH MARIN AMERICAN INDIAN ALLIANCE AND THE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN

MARY JANES: THE WOMEN OF WEED

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 85 min

Director/Producer/Screenwriter Windy Borman Cinematographers Drew Dorsey, Jerome Stolly, Daniel Gorrell

Editor Gregg Stouffer Print Source DVA Productions

FOCUS: CANNABIS CULTURE From farms to labs to dispensaries and beyond, this fascinating and immersive documentary sheds light on the female researchers and entrepreneurs blazing a trail in today’s legalized marijuana industry. It is the female—not male—marijuana plants, after all, that produce those potent buds, so it’s fitting then that women are the ones revolutionizing US cannabis consumption. In her meetings with scientists, activists, CEOs, dispensary owners, bakers, and other proud tokespeople, including cancer survivor and Oscar ®-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, filmmaker Windy Borman explores how cannabis is not only an industry, but also a vibrant and growing movement of people she dubs Puffragettes™: any person dedicated to environmental sustainability, social justice reform, gender parity, and reaping the health and medicinal benefits of a plant that over the decades has been the subject of much overblown controversy and propaganda. Through Borman’s eyeopening firsthand experience, it’s clear that when it comes to marijuana, there are many reasons to just say “yes.”

WORLD PREMIERE

—Jesse Knight

Sun O ct 8 6:00pm S equoia

Mon O ct 9 2:30pm Rafael

Thur O ct 12 9:00pm L arkspur

METAMORPHOSIS: JUNIOR YEAR

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 75 min

Directors Alec Cohen-Schisler, Arjan Mobin, Brandon Fu, Christina Polanen, Dylan Griffith, Juan Santos, Peter Gold, Sadie Fearon, Sam Cook Producers Iris Torres, Tom Franco, Kimberly Parker Screenwriters Betsy Franco, Sadie Fearon, Adele Bloch, Ally Crawford, Clara Baker, Dajiana Huang, Gabe Cohen, Zachary Sanders Cinematographers Christina Voros, Danny Hammerson, Flora Hon, Leslie Garcia-Oblitas, Max Lenail, Misia Poray, Ryan Dickson, Teagan Cimring, William Dougall Editor Metric Cosmetics Cast Arash DeMaxi, Ava Hawk, Alonso Valdivia, Maya Donato, Jillian Li, Eva Stoneburner, Alexandra Esperanza Print Source Elysium Bandini Studios

Metamorphosis: Junior Year is a film about becoming. Created by Palo Alto High School students in collaboration with James Franco and based on a Young Adult novel by Betsy Franco, this coming-of-age tale takes on the myriad themes which define youth: identity, sex, purpose, drugs, selfimage. Haunted by the disappearance of his sister and plagued by his parent’s expectations, young artist Ovid uses mythology and drawings to understand the world around him while his friends become our window into current high school life—from potheads to poets and shoplifters to singers. Friendship, drama, betrayal, and redemption abound as we see how these teenagers relate to one another and the environment around them. Their transformations take on new resonance as we remember that growth is essential to all living things. Animated interludes add whimsy and originality to this modern mythology for a new generation.

—Nadia Ismail

Sun O ct 8 12:30pm S equoia* Sun O ct 15 1:30pm L ark

*Teen screenwriting workshop to follow. See page 87 for details.

THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 110 min

Director/Screenwriter Noah Baumbach

Producers Noah Baumbach, Eli Bush, Scott Rudin Cinematographer Robbie Ryan Editor Jennifer Lame Cast Dustin Hoffman, Adam Sandler, Emma Thompson, Ben Stiller Print Source Netflix

In the latest dark comedy from writer/director Noah Baumbach ( The Squid and the Whale , MVFF 2005), Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, and Elizabeth Marvel deliver hysterical turns as a trio of estranged, dysfunctional siblings who gather together in New York City to celebrate the work of their father Harold Meyerowitz (Dustin Hoffman), a minor, largely uncelebrated sculptor in his golden years, whose art has been selected to be a part of a group show. A major hit at this year’s Cannes Film Festival with a tone reminiscent of his screenwriting collaborations with Wes Anderson ( The Life Aquatic , Fantastic Mr. Fox ), The Meyerowitz Stories showcases Baumbach’s wit and offers Sandler, who shines as the eldest Meyerowitz sibling, his best role since starring in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love 15 years ago. Candice Bergen, Emma Thompson, and Adam Driver round out the all-star cast in unforgettable supporting roles.

Sun O ct 8 5:30pm C orte Madera

MOANA

filmHOOD

US 2016 • 107 min

Directors John Musker, Ron Clements

Producer Osnat Shurer Screenwriter

Jared Bush Editor Jeff Draheim Cast Auli’I Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement Print Source Walt Disney Studios

Join us under the stars to catch the Disney blockbuster that brought a brand-new style of princess riding in on a wave of accolades. Moana is a dashing adventure set in long-ago Polynesia about a brave teen’s quest to save her island, recapture the lost wayfinding arts of her people, and restore ecological balance to the planet. Though Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) needs no prince to rescue her, she does get an assist from flashy demigod Maui who sports massive muscles, animated tattoos, and the charming-hilarious swagger of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Colorful, evocative animation brings the ocean-centered tale to spectacular life, with visual gags and incredible textures layered throughout, and the whole brilliant cake is topped with songs by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song Oscars ® , Moana ’s greatest achievement is shining a light on an ancient culture whose arts and accomplishments deserve to be celebrated.

—Deanna Quinones

Fri O ct 6 7:00pm O ld Mill Park

MOLLY’S GAME

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 140 min

Director/Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin

Producers Mark Gordon, Matt Jackson, Amy Pascal Cinematographer

Charlotte Bruus Christensen Editors

Alan Baumgarten, Eliot Graham, Josh Schaeffer Cast Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Natalie Krill Print Source STX Entertainment

DIRECTORS’ NIGHT From high-speed ski racing to high-stakes poker, Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain) was always on the fast track to something big. The true story of the one-time Olympic hopeful turned “Poker Princess” is literally ripped from the headlines: Beautiful young woman busted by the feds for her role in an underground gambling ring catering to A-list celebrities and business moguls—with alleged ties to the Russian mob. But, as played to perfection by a feisty yet restrained Chastain, there is much more to Molly than meets the tabloid eye. In a world driven by big money, big risk and big (male) egos, she not only holds her own but also holds her moral ground. Renowned writer of volubility Aaron Sorkin ( The Social Network , The West Wing ) makes his directorial debut with a swift-talking script, adapted from Bloom’s 2014 memoir, and a high-powered cast, including Kevin Costner as Molly’s backbreaking father and Idris Elba as her straight-talking defense lawyer.

—Joanne Parsont

Wed O ct 11 6:00pm Rafael

FILMS

MR. ROOSEVELT

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 91 min

Director/Screenwriter Noël Wells

Producers Michael B. Clark, Alex Turtletaub, Chris Ohlson

Cinematographer Dagmar WeaverMadsen Editor Terel Gibson Cast Noël Wells, Nick Thune, Britt Lower, Daniella Pineda, Andre Hyland Print Source Beachside Films

Emily escaped the “velvet rut” of Austin only to land in the ditch of LA’s fringe comedy scene, where she’s utterly failing to parlay viral YouTube stardom into, well, anything. Cue an emergency text from the ex-boyfriend: Her eponymous orange tabby is in a bad way. After flying back to Texas with only the clothes on her back, Emily soon has more than just an urn full of cat cremains to handle—she also has to deal with the mess she’s made of her life. Writerdirector Noël Wells ( Master of None ) stars in her endearingly weird and funny debut, an autobiographical ode to 21st-century twentysomething angst, which snagged audience and jury awards at SXSW. But you don’t need to be an Austinite hipster to relate to getting over the new girlfriend who’s “a Pinterest board come to life,” mourning a beloved city being drained of its quirkiness by gentrification, and stumbling toward purpose in our social-media-steeped world.

—Lucy Laird

Tue O ct 10 9:15pm L arkspur Thur O ct 12 6:30pm S equoia

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE

MUDBOUND

US CINEMA

US 2016 • 134 min

Director Dee Rees Producers Sally Jo Effenson, Cassian Elwes, Carl Effenson

Screenwriters Dee Rees, Virgil Williams Cinematographer Rachel Morrison Editor Mako Kamitsuna Cast Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan, Jonathan Banks, Garrett Hedlund Print Source Netflix

SPOTLIGHT: DEE REES Dee Rees ( Pariah ) further establishes herself as a director of the first order with this remarkable tale, based on Hilary Jordan’s potent novel, of two families whose lives fatefully intertwine in the Jim Crow South. In the wake of World War II, two veterans (Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell) form a fast friendship, and the loved ones they return home to (Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blige) forge a tenuous connection despite the deeply entrenched racial tensions that still seethe in their small Mississippi town. Employing themes and multiple narrators that evoke the sophistication and insight of Faulkner, Rees brilliantly conveys a story that’s epic in its scale but still intimate in its characterizations. With terrific support from Jason Clarke, Jonathan Banks, and Rob Morgan, and painterly images by cinematographer Rachel Morrison perfectly capturing the period, Mudbound is steeped in history, tragedy, and the promise of reconciliation that still resonates today.

Sat O ct 7 6:30pm S equoia

MY HAPPY FAMILY

(CHEMI BEDNIERI OJAKHI)

WORLD CINEMA

Germany/Georgia/France 2017 • 119 min

Directors Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Gross Producers Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo, Simon Gross Screenwriter Nana Ekvtimishvili Cinematographer Tudor Vladimir Panduru Editor Stefan Stabenow Cast Ia Shugliashvili, Merab Ninidze, Berta Khapava, Tsisia Qumsashvili Print

Source Memento Films International

In Georgian with English subtitles Manana (Ia Shugliashvili) is a beautiful, middleaged teacher who decides not to buy dill for her mother. This small act of defiance at an outdoor market in Tbilisi is a turning point in Manana’s life—a rare bid for happiness and the opportunity to hear her own thoughts above the din of her clamorous, tightknit family. Directors Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross paint an exquisite, tableau of Manana’s raucous intergenerational kin: husband Soso, who has a few secrets; philosophical father Otar; loud mother Lamara; son Lasha, who drinks out of containers in the fridge; and daughter Nino, who is desperately trying to get pregnant. Beautifully shot, this often-comic drama opens with Manana renting an apartment where she can live alone. The motivations for this radical undertaking on the part of a Georgian mother are partially obscured, but who among us has not dreamed of walking out, leaving our lives and our many roles behind for a chance at happiness?

—Nancy Fishman

PRECEDED BY

THAT IS HOW MOTHERHOOD WORKS

US 2017 • 12 min

Director Rivkah Beth Medow

A mother attempts to illustrate the steep learning curve of new motherhood to her daughter, who seeks to find her own pathway.

Wed O ct 11 8:30pm Rafael Fri O ct 13 3:00pm L arkspur

SPONSORED BY MAROEVICH O’SHEA & COGHLAN INSURANCE SERVICES

THE MYSTERY OF GREEN HILL

(UZBUNA NA ZELENOM VRHU) filmHOOD

Croatia 2017 • 81 min

Director Cejen Cernic Producers Ankica Juric Tilic, Hrvoje Pervan Screenwriter

Hana Jusic Cinematographer Danko Vucinovic Editor Slaven Zecevic Cast

Marko Tocilj, Alex Rakos, Jan Pentek, Tin Gregoric, Jakov Piljek, Lucija Philips Print

Source Kinorama

In Croatian with English subtitles Dark woods around a quiet lake, a series of mysterious crimes, a band of sleuthing kids ready to take the case that’s shaking up the whole town. Koko and his friends make an entertaining Scooby gang in this comingof-age adventure set in an idyllic Croatian countryside. When burglars target homes in a small community, the adults seek help from police who demonstrate little concern. Tensions rise as the spree continues. Local boys who had nothing planned for the summer beyond practicing their diving skills, batting away pesky girls, and telling ghost stories around the fire suddenly find themselves in hot pursuit of the thieves. For fans of Stand By Me and the nostalgic flavor of Stranger Things , this charmer celebrates the bonds of friendship, the thrill of the chase, the spark of first love, and the bittersweet reward of doing the right thing even when the answers you find aren’t the ones you sought. Age 10+

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

—Deanna Quinones

Sun O ct 8 1:15pm L ark Sun O ct 15 2:45pm Rafael

NO MAN’S LAND

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 81 min

Director/Cinematographer David Byars

Producers David Byars, Morgan Spurlock, Jeremy Chilnick, David Holbrooke, David Osit Editor David Osit Print Source The Film Collaborative

In the winter of 2016, members of the radical right took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, the occupation becoming a media sensation. David Byars interviews journalists and participants, but his even-handed documentary’s strength is its footage—some of it harrowing—that captures the unfolding events from the inside. Underlying issues of grazing leases on federal land and the financial squeeze facing ranchers quickly become buried in rhetoric over constitutional rights. People from the conservative end of the political spectrum flock from far and wide to join the occupation and “make a stand.” The occupiers’ ultimate plan remains vague, but their animosity towards government is as obvious as their weaponry. Skillful editing neatly captures the way inflammatory diatribes and paranoia feed on each other, making violence almost inevitable. No Man’s Land grants a rare opportunity to peer inside what interviewee Hal Herring calls an “intellectually gated community,” one of many that thrive in our country.

—Monica Nolan

Tue O ct 10 6:15pm Rafael Wed O ct 11 9:15pm S equoia

NOTHINGWOOD

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

France 2017 • 85 min

Director/Screenwriter Sonia Kronlund Producer Laurent Lavole Cinematographers Alexander Nanau, Eric Guichard Editors Sophie Brunet, George Gragg Print Source Pyramide Films

In French and Dari with English subtitles Meet Salim Shaheen, iconic Afghan actor, prodigiously prolific filmmaker, producer, and all-around raconteur. As he prepares for his 111th feature, this larger-than-life multi-hyphenate hustles his crew from location to location, telling vivid stories from film shoots past, and taking time out to greet his fans or sit down to a vast meal. But there’s much more than meets the eye here, and Shaheen is more than an Ed Wood-style comic figure—his work may be no-budget, melodramatic fare, but it is warmly consumed by his adoring public. Most interestingly, his close-knit set of collaborators act like a family. One, an effeminate thespian named Qurban Ali, who often plays crossdressing roles, offers a fascinating glimpse into how outsiders may find a place for themselves amid Afghanistan’s societal strictures. Director Sonia Kronlund carefully balances her respect and admiration for Shaheen’s accomplishments with more critical asides, presenting a warts-and-all portrait that is funny, touching, and extremely entertaining. US PREMIERE —Rod Armstrong

Mon O ct 9 9:15pm S equoia Fri O ct 13 3:45pm L ark

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

FILMS

ON THE BEACH AT NIGHT ALONE

(BAMUI HAEBYEONESEO HONJA) WORLD CINEMA

South Korea/Germany 2016 • 101 min

Director/Producer/Screenwriter

Hong Sangsoo Cinematographers

Kim Hyungkoo, Park Hongyeol Editor

Hahm Sungwon Cast Kim Minhee, Seo Younghwa, Jung Jaeyoung, Moon Sungkeun, Kwon Haehyo, Song Seonmi Print Source Jeonwonsa Film

In Korean, English, and German with English subtitles A South Korean actress ( The Handmaiden ’s Kim Min-hee) finds herself in Germany, licking her wounds after an affair with a married filmmaker falls apart. She visits friends, has dinner with locals, visits a beach…but her heartbreak persists. Time passes, and the young woman returns to Seoul, where she impulsively makes out with female acquaintances at dinner and lashes out whenever the topic of love is mentioned. Then the object of her disaffection (Mun Seong-kun) shows up—and the woman verges on a nervous breakdown. Anchored by an astounding performance from Kim, who deservedly took home the Best Actress award at the Berlin Film Festival, Hong Sang-soo’s new drama is full of his signature Rohmer-esque conversations and Soju-fueled confrontations. The fact that the movie is also a response to the director’s own scandalous, highly publicized affair with his leading lady only makes this confessional character study that much more compelling.

—David Fear

Fri O ct 13 9:00pm L arkspur Sat O ct 14 3:00pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA AND THE KOREAN CENTER, INC

ON THE SLY: IN SEARCH OF THE FAMILY STONE

MUSIC

US 2017 • 83 min

Director/Screenwriter Michael Rubenstone Producers Michael Rubenstone, Patrick Sheehan

Cinematographers Jeremie Brilliant, Jason Blalock, Theo Hand Editors Michael Rubenstone, Salamo Levin Print Source Unreal Films

Part amateur sleuthing adventure, part chronicle of a legendary artist, On the Sly documents one man’s years-long quest to discover what happened to his musical hero, Sly Stone. Last seen at his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1993, rumors about the reclusive musician abound and become a breadcrumb trail for superfan and first-time filmmaker Michael Rubenstone. Rubenstone both directs this entertaining documentary and serves as the audience’s on-camera guide through the increasingly strange episodes of his journey. The search for Sly Stone himself is balanced by interludes recounting Stone’s progression from music theory student to charismatic performer to cultural icon. Music historians, Stone’s biographer, and original bandmates detail the history of the group and the cultural context of the times. Through it all, Sly and the Family Stone’s music, Rubenstone’s enthusiasm, and the excitement of the chase all shine through, proving, “You can make it if you try!”

—Laura Henneman

Fri O ct 13 6:00pm S equoia* Sat O ct 14 9:00pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH AMOEBA MUSIC

*Live music event to follow at Sweetwater. Separate ticket required. See page 91 for details.

ONE OF US

THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE (TOIVON TUOLLA PUOLEN)

WORLD CINEMA

Finland 2017 • 100 min

Director/Producer/Screenwriter Aki Kaurismäki Cinematographer Timo Salminen Editor Samu Heikkilä Cast Sherwan Haji, Sakari Kuosmanen Print

Source Janus Films

FOCUS: HIDING & SEEKING In Finnish, English, Swedish, and Arabic with English subtitles Khaled (Sherwan Haji) is a Syrian refugee seeking asylum in Helsinki. Wikström (Sakari Kuosmanen) is a salesman who parlays after-hours poker winnings into buying a restaurant. Their worlds collide when the entrepreneur finds the immigrant living behind his dumpster (“This is my room.” “This is my garbage field.”) and offers the man a job. Local authorities and nationalist goons, however, want Khaled gone. It will take a village—or in this case, savvy coworkers— to save him. Finnish cinema maestro Aki Kaurismäki returns with another gloriously deadpan story of down-and-outers, but like his 2011 poetic-realism riff Le Havre , the writer/director’s latest laces its hipster humor with a strong dash of humanity. Filled with Middle Eastern folk-to-rockabilly musical interludes and longtime collaborator’s Timo Salminen’s colorful cinematography, The Other Side of Hope uses Kaurismäki’s iconic too-cool-for-school comedy to smuggle in a compassionate, torn-from-today’s headlines fable of community.

—David Fear

Fri O ct 13 6:00pm Rafael Sat O ct 14 5:30pm S equoia

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE FINLANDIA FOUNDATION SF BAY AREA CHAPTER AND THE FINNISH AMERICAN HOME ASSOCIATION

OWLS & MICE (UILENBAL)

filmHOOD

Netherlands 2016 • 80 min

Director/Screenwriter Simone van Dusseldorp Producers Eva Eisenloeffel, Joost de Vries, Leontine Petit

Cinematographers Ton Peters, Stephan Polman Editor Peter Alderliesten Cast Hiba Ghafry, Matheu Hinzen, Felix van de Weerdt, Jashayra Oehlers, Mariana Aparicio Torres, Mimoun Oaissa, Birgit Schuurman Print Source Lemming Film

In Dutch with English subtitles read aloud The road to friendship takes surprising twists and turns in this quirky nature tale/kid-rock musical. When eight-year-old Meral moves to a new town, her first attempts to make friends go awry with wheelchair-bound Jason, over-eager Vito, and a snooty crew of soon-to-be classmates led by mean-girl Desi. Then a tiny mouse appears in her bedroom and Meral turns her efforts to befriending the critter she names Peepeep and bribes with bubblegum. When mom discovers droppings, Meral makes a desperate move to save her unofficial pet by taking him along on a school camping trip. Soon found out by Jason, Vito, and Desi, Meral find herself in an unexpected alliance to protect Peepeep—who, in a sad twist, falls prey to a hungry owl—that leads to an adventure in the woods featuring rocking musical numbers, lessons on the circle of life, and Instagram-worthy snaps of wild creatures both adorable and awe-inspiring. A treat for kids who love nature and for families navigating the tender terrain of grade-school social life. Age 6+

—Deanna Quinones

Fri O ct 6 10:00am Rafael* Sat O ct 7 10:30am S equoia

IN ASSOCIATION WITH MARIN MOMMIES

*CFI Education screening open to school groups and general public.

THE PARTY

WORLD CINEMA

UK 2017 • 71 min

Director/Screenwriter Sally Potter Producer Kurban Kassam

Cinematographer Aleksei Rodionov

Editors Emilie Orsini, Anders Refn Cast

Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson, Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones Print Source Roadside Attractions

Sally Potter’s real-time satire on uberchic Londoners is an absolute delight. Kristin Scott Thomas leads an incredible ensemble as Janet, a politician celebrating a career-escalating appointment with a group of friends who each arrive at her elegant home with, well, their own baggage. As the human drama escalates, husband Bill (Timothy Spall) is in his own bubble. Rogue banker (or, simply rogue?) Tom (Cillian Murphy) keeps sniffing off to the bathroom. Of course, there’s a life coach, Gottfried (Bruno Ganz). Zingers abound in Potter’s wit-filled script, many from Janet’s acid-tongued best friend April (the inimitable Patricia Clarkson), whose repartee hits home with such digs as, “You’re a first-class lesbian. But a second-class thinker” to professor Martha (Cherry Jones)—whose younger partner, played by Emily Mortimer, is recently pregnant. Oh, and there’s a gun. Will this party even make it to the appetizers? Who cares, when the company is so delicious?

—Zoë Elton

Sat O ct 7 6:00pm Rafael Sun O ct 8 3:30pm L ark

FILMS

PORCUPINE LAKE

WORLD CINEMA

Canada 2017 • 85 min

Director/Producer/Screenwriter Ingrid Veninger Cinematographer Benjamin Lichty Editor Chris Mutton Cast Charlotte Salisbury, Lucinda Armstrong Hall, Christopher Bolton, Delphine Roussel, Hallie Switzer, Harrison Tanner Print

Source pUNK Films Inc.

The latest feature film by the DIY Queen of Canadian filmmaking, Ingrid Veninger, is the ultimate teen girl’s coming-of-age tale, when every new friend is life-changing, and a summer trip to the country feels like being a stranger in a foreign land. Written at the pUNK Films Femmes Lab for female filmmakers, Porcupine Lake follows 13-year-old Bea: delicate, prone to fainting spells, and dripping with naiveté. But that’s before she meets Kate, a brash, long-haired tomboy eager to be Bea’s new best friend and maybe more. Bea finds herself enamored with Kate and with a strong new curiosity about kissing. Meanwhile, Bea’s protective parents Ally and Scotty struggle to maintain their own strained relationship while trying to figure out how to raise a burgeoning teen. Childlike Bea suddenly realizes that she’s facing adulthood, as well as the hard truth that all summers must end. US PREMIERE —Alexis Whitham

Fri O ct 6 8:45pm L ark Sat O ct 7 12:45pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH DIGITAL MOOSE LOUNGE

QUEST

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 85 min

Director Santiago Rizzo Producers Debbie Brubaker, Deborah Dion, Santiago Rizzo Screenwriters Darren Anderson, Tim Moellering, Santiago Rizzo Cinematographer Florian Stadler Editors Cami Starkman, Chris Young, Beau Cardall, Matt Chesse Cast Dash Mihok, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lakeith Stanfield, Betsy Brandt, Gregory Kasyan Print Source Santiago Rizzo

The streets of Berkeley come alive in this intense, lyrical coming-of-age story based on real events. It’s 1995, and Mills (Gregory Kasyan) is a messed-up middle-school graffiti artist. To avoid his abusive father (Lou Diamond Phillips), he wanders around town with his friends, tagging anything he can reach. With suspensions and arrests piling up, Mills is on the road to nowhere, or worse. Then he meets a teacher (Dash Mihok) who connects with this lost and lonely youth. Berkeley’s Willard Middle School teacher and coach Tim Moellering inspired filmmaker Santiago Rizzo to make this drama that mixes penetrating scenes of heartbreak with funny, real moments of human connection. Rizzo employs hypnotic camerawork, a pitch-perfect soundtrack, and authentic East Bay locations to capture the free, threatening energy of life on the streets. With passionate performances and urgent insights about education, adolescence, and abuse, this turbulent, but uplifting tale offers a world of hope and acceptance.

—Brendan Peterson

Sat O ct 14 3:45pm L arkspur Sun O ct 15 2:15pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TACOLIST.COM LATINO ON-LINE CLASSIFIEDS AND EATDRINKFILMS

RADIANCE (HIKARI)

WORLD CINEMA

Japan/France 2017 • 101 min

Director/Screenwriter Naomi Kawase Producers Naoya Kinoshita, Masa Sawada, Yumiko Takebe Cinematographer Arata Dodo Editor

Tina Baz Cast Masatoshi Nagase, Noémie Nakai, Tatsuya Fuji Print Source MK2

In Japanese with English subtitles In award-winning Japanese director Naomi Kawase’s evocative and tender film, Misako (Ayame Misaki), a young woman who creates audio description for movies for the sightimpaired, deals with the disappearance of her father and the slow loss of her mother to dementia. As Misako struggles to communicate through words the intricacies and nuances of a film while still leaving room for the audience’s imagination, she meets Mr. Nakamori (Masatoshi Nagase), a famous photographer who has lost his vision. Together, the pair must learn to see past the fog of grief for what they have lost and acknowledge the radiance of what can still be found. This delicately crafted film is as audibly stimulating as it is visually stunning, filled with complex soundscapes and luminous landscapes, submerging the viewer completely in Kawase’s poetic world. Radiance won the prize of the Ecumenical Jury at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. US PREMIERE

—Lucia Proctor-Bonbright

Fri O ct 13 8:30pm Rafael Sat O ct 14 11:30am S equoia

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA

THE RELATIONTRIP

US CINEMA

US 2016 • 89 min

Directors Renée Felice Smith, C.A. Gabriel Producers Rachel Kiri Walker, Renée Felice Smith, C.A. Gabriel Screenwriters C.A. Gabriel, Renée Felice Smith, Dana Scanlon Cinematographer Damian Horan Editors Eric Wilson, Josh Wilmott, C.A. Gabriel Cast Renée Felice Smith, Matt Bush, Eric Christian Olsen, Nelson Franklin, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Linda Hunt Print Source United Talent

Twentysomething loners Beck (co-director Renée Felice Smith) and Liam (Matt Bush) bond over a mutual appreciation for PB&Js and a common contempt for coupledom. Escaping from their friends’ expectations of relationships, the pair takes a “friendship friend-trip” to the desert with a few rules: separate rooms and no funny business. Over late-night diner escapades and cognac and half-and-half-fueled discussions, the duo grows closer, literally pulling off each other’s masks and setting them on the breakfast table. From there, Beck and Liam’s neuroses are free to emerge from their hiding places. Liam’s attachment issues are addressed in an impromptu therapy session in the living room fort, while Beck’s body issues prevent her from taking off her bathing suit. Ever. Playful surrealism enhances classic rom-com elements into enchanting sequences, while stars Smith and Bush jive together like peanut butter and jelly with witty banter and brazen charm.

—Dominique O’Neil

Sun O ct 8 11:45am Rafael

Mon O ct 9 12:30pm S equoia

Tue O ct 10 4:00pm Rafael

REVOLTING RHYMES

filmHOOD

UK 2016 • 58 min

Directors/Screenwriters Jakob Schuh, Jan Lachauer Producers Martin Pope, Michael Rose Editor Benjamic Quabeck Cast Dominic West, David Walliams, Rob Brydon, Tamsin Greig Print Source Magic Light Pictures

Revolting Rhymes is cause for celebration! /Come see Roald Dahl’s verse in animation! /These classic fairy tales aren’t quite the same as /The Disney movies that made them famous. /The Big Bad Wolf narrates all these stories /And promises “the real ones are much more gory.” /If you know Roald Dahl, you know his style / Is a tad more grim, dark, and wild. /These are fairy tales set in a modern world /With true piggy banks and empowered girls, /Gambling dwarves and a Cinderella /Who only wants a decent fella, /A smelly Jack and pistolpacking Riding Hood, /Whose aim is really pretty good. /But in truth, there’s nothing revolting about these rhymes. /Young and old, all will have a great time. /The animation matches Dahl’s style perfectly /Bright, crisp images with a touch of surreality. / There are a few mild gasps, sure, and lots of laughter, /But is there a happily ever after? / That’s something fairy tales can’t be without, /But you’ll have to watch to find out.

Age 7+

—Jeff Campbell

PRECEDED BY ALL THE MARBLES US 2017 • 18 min

Director Michael Swingler

In a world where marbles are precious as gold, a boy engages in an epic battle to win back his prize marble from the villain who stole it.

Sat O ct 7 12:00pm S equoia

Sun O ct 8 11:00am L ark

IN ASSOCIATION WITH BOOK PASSAGE AND MARIN MOMMIES

A RIVER BELOW

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US/Colombia 2017 • 87 min

Director Mark Grieco Producers Torus Tammer, Mike Erqin Cinematographer Helkin René Díaz Editor Dan Swietlik Print Source Sandarba Films

FOCUS: STEWARDS OF THE EARTH In English, Spanish, and Portuguese with English subtitles A documentary as dramatic, ambiguous, and multilayered as any fiction film, A River Below examines the efforts of two conservationists to publicize an environmental threat, and the unexpected results of their good intentions. Among the many exotic creatures native to the Amazon, the pink river dolphin is one of the most appealing. Once abundant, the aquatic mammal is now vulnerable, hunted by fishermen to use as bait. A marine biologist and the host of a Brazilian wildlife television show want to draw attention to the dolphin’s plight. But their different approaches bring them into conflict with each other, and with fishermen who believe these outsiders threaten their livelihood. Compelling and morally complex, A River Below raises questions about motivation, fame, and the difficulty of determining the greater good. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE —Margarita Landazuri

PRECEDED BY THE NEW ENVIRONMENTALISTS: FROM GUATEMALA TO THE CONGO US 2017 • 30 min

Directors John Antonelli, Tom Dusenbery, Will Parrinello

This Emmy Award ®-winning series features inspiring portraits of six activists around the world who have placed themselves in harm’s way to safeguard the Earth’s natural resources from exploitation and pollution.

Sat O ct 7 8:30pm Rafael Wed O ct 11 8:45pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM OF MARIN AND GOLDMAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE

FILMS

THE SANDGLASS

WORLD CINEMA

Poland 1973 • 124 min

Director Wojciech Has Screenwriters

Wojciech Has, Bruno Schulz

Cinematographer Witold Sobocinski

Editor Janina Niedzwiecka Cast Jan Nowicki, Tadeusz Kondrat, Irena Orska Print Source Film Polski

FOCUS: POLISH CINEMA In Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew, and Latin with English subtitles Loosely adapted from the short story collection “Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass” by the extraordinary Bruno Schulz, Wojciech Has’ dreamlike The Sandglass probes the illusory alliance between life and death. Long ago, Jozef travels by train to a remote sanatorium where time has become detached from reality. There he finds his father Jakub has been reanimated to a period prior to his premature demise. Like a somnambulist time traveler, Jozef ventures through gateways under beds and tables to revisit key moments from his youth, re-imagining his complicated relationships with his parents and his community. Schulz’s imaginative and ingenious words find their cinematic equivalent in Has’ hands, sharing parallels to his similarly tangled The Saragossa Manuscript Winner of the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and widely considered a masterpiece of Eastern European cinema, The Sandglass is a stunning achievement that will screen in a beautifully restored digital print.

—Jonathan Marlow

Sun O ct 8 2:45pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH POLONIASF.ORG

Screening will include an introduction and book signing by Annette Insdorf, author of Intimations: The Cinema of Wojciech Has.

THE SHAPE OF WATER

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 119 min

Director Guillermo del Toro Producers J. Miles Dale, Guillermo del Toro Screenwriters Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor Cinematographer Dan Laustsen Editor Sidney Wolinsky Cast Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer Print Source Fox Searchlight

Eliza, a shy mute, is part of the midnight janitorial crew at a 1960s secret government facility when she forges a connection with one of its prisoners, an aquatic creature from the Amazon. But what might have just been a Girl-meets-Gill-man story achieves enormous romantic sweep in the expert hands of director Guillermo del Toro ( Pan’s Labyrinth ) and two beautiful, expressive performances from Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones as the unlikely couple. Amidst Cold War suspicion and paranoia, our pair is joined by a motley crew of outsiders (Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg) in what can only be described as a very adult love story, full of monsters, myth, and miracles. Del Toro has always been a master of dark fantasy, but never have we seen his adoration of film history on such full display as he effortlessly melds the erotic and the innocent to sublime, visually startling effect.

—Sterling Hedgpeth

Mon O ct 9 6:15pm S equoia Sun O ct 15 8:00pm Rafael

A SIBLING MYSTERY

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 81 min

Directors/Screenwriters Rachel Wortell, Dan Erickson Producers Rachel Wortell, Dan Erickson, Ali Levin Cinematographer

Laura Valladao Editor Dan Erickson Cast Lily Meyer, Dan Erickson, Keith Bethea, Becky Abrams, Michele Hierholzer, Eamon Monaghan

Funny, sweet, enormously entertaining, and bursting with optimistic energy, this indie flick will have you grinning from ear to ear. Dan and Lily are a brother and sister staying in their aunt’s New York City Chinatown apartment for the summer. After finding a winning lottery ticket, they have one goal: throw the most awesome party of all time. But when a mysterious woman appears in the apartment, questions arise. Who is she? Who has the lottery ticket? Can they still afford two kegs for their epic party? The filmmakers’ infectious good humor winds its way through the story as the lively siblings wander downtown NYC in search of answers. Quirky supporting characters and a playful soundtrack infuse the action with off-the-wall intrigue. This simple, smart comedy gushes with wide-eyed enthusiasm about the idiosyncrasies of siblings and the excitement of everyday mysteries.

—Brendan Peterson

Tue O ct 10 6:30pm L arkspur

Wed O ct 11 3:00pm S equoia

Thur O ct 12 9:00pm Rafael

SNOWY BING BONGS

ACROSS THE NORTH STAR COMBAT ZONE

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 40 min

Directors/Screenwriters Rachel Wolther, Alex H. Fischer Producers Jason Klorfein, Anu Valia, Matt Day Screenwriters Rachel Wolther, Alex H. Fischer Cinematographer Ashley Connor Editors Rachel Wolther, Paul Rogers, Alex H. Fischer Cast Eleanore Pienta, Tallie Medel, Sunita Mani, Kate Berlant, Reggie Watts, Joe Pera Print Source Alex H. Fischer

This candy-colored intergalactic adventure is a dance routine, improv show, and performance-art installation all rolled into one outlandish joyride. From the duo behind last year’s breakout Sundance comedy Swiss Army Man , this wacky film features the Cocoon Central Dance Team of Tallie Medel, Sunita Mani, and Eleanore Pienta. From the opening scene, juxtaposition is the name of the game: Snowy landscapes at the beach, bikini-clad young women moving to the beat of unsexy sound effects, and even the pop-color of outer space is interspersed with oft-meta black-and-white vignettes. But the film’s end result is greater than the sum of its parts, examining the female image, art, film, and the inner life of a performer, all within a DIY aesthetic. Grab your beach ball, and head to this one-of-a-kind adventure.

—Alexis Whitham

PRECEDED BY

MERYL FUCKIN STREEP

US 2017 • 5 min

Director Ava Bogle

For two young screenwriters, a movie pitch takes a turn into the surreal.

BIRDS DROPPING

US 2016 • 11 min

Directors Mary Rachel Gardner, Coral Huerta

En route to a wedding, two women have their friendship tested as they embark on the shortcut from hell.

Wed O ct 11 9:30pm S equoia Thur O ct 12 4:00pm Rafael

SONG OF GRANITE

MUSIC

Ireland/Canada 2017 • 104 min

Director Pat Collins Producers Alan Maher, Jessie Fisk, Martin Paul-Hus

Screenwriters Pat Collins, Eoghan

Mac Giolla Bhríde, Sharon Whooley

Cinematographer Richard Kendrick

Editor Tadhg O’Sullivan Cast Macdara Ó Fatharta, Mícheál Ó Confhaola, Haren Cerf, Pól Ó Ceannabháín, Colm Seoighe

Print Source Oscilloscope

In English and Gaelic with English subtitles Song of Granite is a lyrical journey through the life of celebrated traditional Irish folk singer Joe Heaney. Loosely divided into three eras, the film opens as an observational tale of Heaney’s boyhood in Connemarra on the west coast of Ireland. Time has yet to catch up to this place, where the novelty of recording voices onto wax discs is an event worthy of a neighborhood gathering. Each black-and-white frame is an exquisite composition, and director Pat Collins weaves in haunting snippets of archival performance film as Heaney grows up, leaving his homeland and his family to make a new life in mid-century New York. This unusual biopic focuses on songs as much as character, inviting the audience to draw up a chair by the fire, or a stool at the pub, and experience heart-stirring a cappella performances.

—Laura Henneman

Sat O ct 7 3:45pm Rafael Tue O ct 10 6:00pm L ark

IN ASSOCIATION WITH IRISH CULTURE BAY AREA AND SF IRISH FILM

SPOOR (POKOT)

WORLD CINEMA

Poland/Germany/Czech Republic/ Sweden/Slovakia 2017 • 128 min

Director Director Agnieszka Holland

Producers Krzysztof Zanussi, Janusz Wąchała Screenwriterz Olga Tokarczuk, Agnieszka Holland Cinematographerz Jolanta Dylewska, Rafał Paradowski

Editor Pavel Hrdlička Cast Agnieszka Mandat, Wiktor Zborowski, Miroslav Krobot, Jakub Gierszał, Patricia Volny, Tomasz Kot Print Source TOR Film Production

FOCUS: POLISH CINEMA | STEWARDS OF THE EARTH In Polish with English subtitles A mountainous Polish village near the border of the Czech Republic provides the setting for an unusual murder mystery in the latest film from thrice Academy Award ®nominated director Agnieszka Holland ( Angry Harvest , Europa Europa , In Darkness ). Over the course of a year, several hunters meet violent ends in the woods. Schoolteacher Janina Duszejko (Agnieszka Mandat-Grabka, in a dynamic performance), a fiery woman with a strong passion for the animal kingdom and astrology, has a theory about the killings. But her suspicions fall upon the deaf ears of the brutish police force who have labeled her the village madwoman. Based on Olga Tokarczuk’s crime novel Drive Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead , Spoor won the Alfred Bauer Prize—awarded to films which open new perspectives in cinematic art—at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. It is also a visual treat with lush images of the town’s surrounding forest and the animals that live in it.

—Joe Bowman

Sun O ct 8 12:00pm Rafael Mon O ct 9 6:45pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH POLONIASF.ORG

FILMS

THE SQUARE

WORLD CINEMA

Sweden/Germany/France/Denmark 2017 • 142 min

Director/Screenwriter Ruben Östlund

Producers Erik Hemmendorff, Philippe Bober Cinematographer Fredrik Wenzel

Editors Ruben Östlund, Jacob Secher Schulsinger Cast Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, Christopher Læssø Print Source Magnolia Pictures

In Swedish, German, French, Danish, and English with English subtitles Swedish director Ruben Östlund continues to surprise: This year, he became the unexpected recipient of the Palme d’Or for his ambitious follow-up to his acclaimed international hit, Force Majeure (MVFF 2014). Continuing with some of the moral and societal themes of its predecessor, The Square follows Christian (Claes Bang, in a stellar, breakthrough performance), a handsome, fortysomething curator at a respected Stockholm art museum, whose life and current exhibit—also titled “The Square”—spiral out of control after his phone and wallet are stolen when he tries to break up a domestic dispute on the street on his way to work. Elisabeth Moss ( The Handmaid’s Tale ), Dominic West ( The Wire ), and Terry Notary ( War for the Planet of the Apes ) co-star in this hilarious and provocative satire of the art world, one of the rare comedies to capture the top honor at Cannes.

Sun O ct 8 8:45pm S equoia

Fri O ct 13 12:30pm S equoia

WITH SUPPORT FROM CONSULATE GENERAL OF SWEDEN AND THE BARBRO OSHER PRO SUECIA FOUNDATION

STRANGE BIRDS

(DRÔLES D’OISEAUX)

WORLD CINEMA

France 2017 • 70 min

Director Élise Girard Producer Janja Kralj Screenwriters Élise Girard, AnneLouise Trividic Cinematographer Renato Berta Editor Thomas Glaser Cast Lolita Chammah, Jean Sorel, Virginie Ledoyen, Pascal Cervo Print Source MPM Film

In French with English subtitles Intoxication is in the air—literally—in this romantic and charmingly offbeat second feature from writer-director Élise Girard. Lonely aspiring writer Mavie (Lolita Chammah, daughter of cinema icon Isabelle Huppert) arrives in Paris with her cat Jacques, a notebook, and a suitcase full of uncertainty. After landing a job at an antique bookstore run by curmudgeonly septuagenarian Georges (Jean Sorel), the shy twentysomething discovers the two have more in common than their age gap suggests, igniting a simmering connection that breaks down their emotional walls. In her follow-up to the 2010 minimalist drama Belleville-Tokyo , Girard imbues Paris with a mysterious and fanciful edge, a place that’s easy to find but difficult to escape, particularly for the seagulls that begin mysteriously dropping from the sky. Chammah brings a radiant warmth to contrast legendary French actor Sorel’s brusque but endearing misanthrope in this playfully surreal and unconventional love story.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE —Jesse Knight

Sat O ct 14 5:30pm Rafael Sun O ct 15 11:00am L arkspur

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO AND THE FRENCH HERITAGE SOCIETY

SUMMER 1993

WORLD CINEMA

Spain 2017 • 96 min

Director/Screenwriter Carla Simón Producer Valérie Felpierre Cinematographer Santiago Racaj

Editors Dida Palou, Ana Pfaff Cast Laia Artigas, Paula Robles, Bruna Cusí, David Verdaguer, Fermí Reixach, Montse Sanz Print Source Oscilloscope

In Catalan with English subtitles In Carla Simón’s evocative, sun-brushed autobiographical drama, six-year-old Frida struggles to come to terms with her new living environment after her parents’s death from AIDS. Used to the city life and tumult of Barcelona, she is brought by her uncle Esteve to live with his wife Marga and their younger daughter Anna in the countryside. While she adjusts fairly peaceably to the hot and desultory summer days, she is frequently petulant with her new guardians and sometimes acts out dangerously in the games she plays with Anna. Simón’s sublimely crafted scenario carefully delineates Frida’s emotional turbulence as the youngster tries to find the right words and questions to help process her grief and understand her new circumstances, and Laia Artigas, with her mop of hair and soul-deep eyes, is unforgettable in the role. Replete with similarly true and heartfelt performances, Summer 1993 (winner of the Best First Feature Award at the Berlin Film Festival) builds to a heartbreakingly perfect close. —Rod Armstrong

Fri O ct 13 8:45pm S equoia Sun O ct 15 8:30pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SPAIN ARTS & CULTURE PROGRAM AND TACOLIST.COM LATINO ON-LINE CLASSIFIEDS

THIRD MIND BLUES

MUSIC

US 2017 • 58 min

Director William Tyler Smith Producers

Gary S. Gumowitz, William Tyler Smith, Emma Broomhead Cinematographers

William Tyler Smith, Emma Broomhead

Editor Kurt Feldhun Print Source 418 Films

Chicago-born Ray Manzarek of The Doors was one of the most legendary keyboard players in rock and roll history. Roy Rogers grew up in Vallejo, distinguishing himself as one of the premiere slide guitarists anywhere. The unlikely intersection of their careers resulted in years of fruitful collaboration memorialized in William Tyler Smith’s intimate, irresistible music documentary, Third Mind Blues . Watching the pair improvise songs, rehearse for a concert tour, and lay down album tracks is a master class in the special alchemy of opposites attracting, with influences ranging from the classical canon and Delta blues heritage to the SF Beat poets who provided many of their lyrics. Throughout, we see them mingle the playful with the philosophical, embracing their musical pasts while forging new creative roads together. This passion and partnership are on lovely display here, and for Manzarek, who died in 2013, it’s a fitting tribute to a life devoted to music.

WORLD PREMIERE

—Sterling Hedgpeth

Thur O ct 12 5:30pm S equoia* Fri O ct 13 9:00pm L ark

IN ASSOCIATION WITH AMOEBA MUSIC

*Live music event to follow at Sweetwater. Separate ticket required. See page 91 for details.

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

US CINEMA

US 2017 • 115 min

Director/Screenwriter Martin McDonagh

Producers Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin Cinematographer Ben Davis

Editor Jon Gregory Cast Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Hedges, Peter Dinklage Print Source Fox Searchlight

Mildred Hayes may be the ultimate antiheroine of our time. Played with unbridled cynicism and priceless, profane sarcasm by the inimitable Frances McDormand, Mildred is an inconsolable grieving mother with a triple-billboard-sized grudge and a fathomless rage demanding to be reckoned with. In her small southern town, the ones doing the reckoning are the local police force and its beloved Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), whom she finds ambivalent and ineffective in solving the tragic murder of her teenage daughter, Angela. Her outsized roadside statement pits her squarely against both Willoughby and his hotheaded junior officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell)—a dimwitted, heavy-drinking momma’s boy with a penchant for brutality—with both hilarious and incendiary consequences. British playwright-turned-filmmaker Martin McDonagh ( In Bruges ; Seven Psychopaths , MVFF 2012) brings his singular brand of violence and black humor to this Coen-esque crime drama that surprises at every turn. But one thing remains constant: Hell definitely hath no fury like a Mildred Hayes ignored.

—Joanne Parsont

Sun O ct 8 3:15pm Rafael Sun O ct 15 5:15pm L arkspur

FILMS

TIP OF MY TONGUE

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 80 min

Director/Producer Lynne Sachs

Cinematographer Sean Hanley Editor Amanda Katz Print Source Lynne Sachs

Filmmaker Lynne Sachs celebrates turning 50 by creating a social experiment in history, memory, and the shape of things. Her collaborators are a diverse group of New Yorkers around her same age whom she invites to spend a weekend exploring the five decades leading to this moment. Their experiences intermingle while they engage in the act of remembering those things that have impacted their lives and shaped who they are—ranging from the assassinations of Kennedy and King, the moon landing, parental infidelities, and Watergate to a first taste of Tang. Tapestries of sound and image dodge and weave the disentangling of one person’s memory, hopscotching to the next when a six-year-old in a long hallway is presented with a ring inscribed with “I Have a Dream.” The result is a transfixing world of dream, imagination, and social reality, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

—Melissa Howden

PRECEDED BY

ROADSIDE ATTRACTION

US 2017 • 10 min

Directors Patrick Bresnan, Ivete Lucas

Palm Beach International Airport’s newest snowbird has become one of the fastest growing roadside attractions in the United States.

Tue O ct 10 9:00pm S equoia Wed O ct 11 9:00pm L arkspur

TORCH

US CINEMA

USA/Belize 2017 • 100 min

Director Christopher Coppola

Producers Christopher Coppola, Jeffrey Gliwa, Alain Silver Screenwriters

Christopher Coppola, Nona Haydon

Cinematographers Sebastian Hiriart, Tomas Tucker Editors Daniel Kremer, Nona Haydon Cast Lacey Dorn, Vincent Spano, John Savage, Deborah Kara Unger, Rita Moreno Print Source PlasterCITY Productions, Inc.

The lush rain forests of Belize should be a welcome home to brilliant vegetation, buzzing bugs, and raucous birds. But in this jungle thriller, it provides excellent cover for supernatural forces, menacing jaguars, and bandits with a plan. Many years after the mysterious deaths of her parents, the now adult but still fragile Clara returns with her new love, the smoldering Gabriel, to her grandfather August’s Belize compound. Gradually, Clara realizes that returning to the place she loved also means confronting her fears. Dreams merge into reality when her whole world suddenly and mysteriously turns upside down. Who can she trust? With drummers beating and beasts looming, local allies try to protect Clara from both new and old villains. Christopher Coppola’s ( Sacred Blood, MVFF 2015) exquisite cinematography and use of a local cast add a layer of authenticity to a tangled tale, in which only the jungle paradise knows the secrets that loom within. WORLD PREMIERE

—Janis

Plotkin

Sun O ct 8 9:00pm Rafael

UNDER THE RADAR: 70 YEARS OF POLISH ANIMATION

WORLD CINEMA

Total Program 90 min

LIVE ANIMATION & MUSIC PERFORMANCE

FOCUS: POLISH CINEMA For filmmakers in Poland, animation has been a creative means of liberation, with films that could go under the radar—and sometimes over the top—in this unique collection of shorts from the Communist era to the present. The first screening of this program features live animation by Poland’s most treasured animator, Mariusz Wilczynski, accompanied by live music by Trance Mission (30 min). Also featured is Wilczynski’s Kizi Mizi (2007, 20 min), a poetic cat-and-mouse story of love, betrayal, and unwanted solitude. In Wilczynski’s student Renata Gasiorowska’s Pussy (2015, 8 min), a young woman’s decision to have some fun has unexpected consequences when she initiates a hilarious evening of adult entertainment. Walerian Borowczyk and Jan Lenica build a playful and subversive collage using improvised geometric shapes and figures cut from old newspapers in Once Upon a Time (1957, 9 min). In Ryszard Czekala’s psychological portrait Son (1970, 10 min), self-sacrificing farmer parents are no longer able to communicate with their educated son. Zbigniew Rybczynski captures multiple events in one room in the mesmerizing Tango (1980, 8 min), winner of the 1982 Best Animated Short Oscar ® . In Tomek Baginski’s Fallen Art (2004, 6 min), a decommissioned military base catapults its decorated officers to a remote island where they are free to be themselves.

—Janis Plotkin

Sat O ct 7 8:45pm Rafael* Mon O ct 9 9:00pm S equoia**

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE POLISH CULTURAL INSTITUTE, THE POLISH FILM INSTITUTE, AND POLISH CINEMA

IN ASSOCIATION WITH POLONIASF.ORG

*Live performance at Oct 7 screening only. Program is free (ticket required)

**Oct 9 screening will feature a Mariusz Wilczynski retrospective in place of the live performance (regular ticket price).

VAZANTE

WORLD CINEMA

Brazil/Portugal 2017 • 116 min

Director Daniela Thomas Producers Beto Amaral, Maria Ionescu, Sara Silveira Screenwriters Daniela Thomas, Beto Amaral Cinematographer Inti Briones

Editors Estevan Schilling, Tiago Marinho Cast Adriano Carvalho, Luana Nastas, Sandra Corveloni, Juliana Carneiro Da Cunha, Roberto Audio, Jai Baptista Print Source Music Box Films

In Portuguese with English subtitles On a remote estate in colonial Brazil, a middle-aged slaveholder of waning fortunes weds his 12-year-old niece after childbirth claims his first wife and only progeny. Vazante’s story is pulled from the director’s own family lore and depicts the moral void formed when humans are treated as chattel. Masterfully lit by sunlight and firelight, the silvery black-and-white photography evokes an era long past but whose tendrils still coil into modern life. Hardly anyone speaks or needs to, their stories written into the textures that surround them. The camera lingers over bare feet and horse hooves slogging through mud, the craggy outcroppings that once promised riches, the smooth long boards of the manor’s hallways, the coarse bricks of slave quarters, the vein-rippled skin of slave hands, the milk-white specter of the child-bride. The title itself (“ebbing”) evokes lives emptied by an unseen yet pervasive violence, leaving hollows where compassionate impulses should be until only one remains, refusing extinction.

—Shari Kizirian

Mon O ct 9 6:00pm L ark Fri O ct 13 9:15pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TACOLIST.COM LATINO ON-LINE CLASSIFIEDS

THE VENERABLE W

(LE VÉNÉRABLE W)

WORLD CINEMA

France/Switzerland 2016 • 100 min

Director/Screenwriter Barbet Schroeder

Producers Margaret Menegoz, Lionel Baier Cinematographer Victoria Clay Mendoza Editor Nelly Quettier Print

Source Les Films du Losange/Bande à Part Films

In Burmese and English with English subtitles For some two decades, the Myanmar monk Wirathru has produced a stream of writings, sermons, and DVDs depicting and vilifying the Muslim Rohingyas—who number five percent of the country’s population—as subhumans determined to destroy Buddhism through immigration, intermarriage, and high reproduction rates. Gautama Buddha warned, “The innocent one, absorbing a drop at a time, can end up filled with evil,” and Wirathru seems to have adopted that as his mantra. Veteran filmmaker Barbet Schroeder ( Amnesia , MVFF 2015) encourages the religious leader to expound on his inflammatory views, resulting in a chillingly close-up portrait of Islamophobic demagoguery. While Schroeder’s camera does not turn away from the violence, the monk’s strangely soothing monotone and beatific smile are hauntingly unforgettable on their own. US PREMIERE

—Michael Fox

PRECEDED BY

WHERE ARE YOU AT, BARBET SCHROEDER?

France 2017 • 14 min

Director Barbet Schroeder

In this haunting short, world-renowned director Schroeder examines the impulse that compelled him to meet Wirathu, the infamous, incendiary Myanmarese monk.

Fri O ct 6 3:30pm Rafael Wed O ct 11 6:15pm L arkspur

WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA

VITCH

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 78 min

Director/Screenwriter Sigal Bujman

Producers Sigal Bujman, Marc Pingry

Cinematographer/Editor Marc Pingry

Print Source Marc Pingry Productions

In English, French, Hebrew, Polish, and German with English subtitles Artist and comedian Eddie Vitch (born Ignace Levkovitch) was a charismatic Jewish entertainer from Poland who found fame twice over: first in 1930s Hollywood with his iconic penand-ink caricatures of silver screen legends, and later performing brilliant pantomimes in Paris revues alongside Josephine Baker and Maurice Chevalier. But his life took a dark and morally complex turn during World War II: While his fellow Jews were deported and murdered en masse, Vitch managed to continue performing on stages throughout Nazi-occupied Europe, entertaining German troops at the behest of Josef Goebbels’ Ministry of Propaganda. This fascinating documentary follows the efforts of Vitch’s daughters and extended family to unravel the mystery of his life and come to grips with his choices: Was he daringly “hiding in plain sight,” or was he a protected collaborator? Or is there a moral gray zone in which the actions of those trying to survive at all costs can never be judged?

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

—Peter Stein

Sat O ct 14 3:00pm S equoia

Sun O ct 15 2:30pm L arkspur

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE JEWISH FILM INSTITUTE, JFCS HOLOCAUST CENTER, AND THE OSHER MARIN JCC

FILMS

WAIT FOR YOUR LAUGH

VALLEY OF THE DOCS

US 2017 • 85 min

Director Jason Wise Producers/ Screenwriters Christina Wise, Jason Wise

Cinematographer Jackson Myers Editors Jason Wise, Bryan Rodner Carr Print

Source Forgotten Man Films

OPENING NIGHT Fascinating, funny, and full of showbiz soul, this spirited documentary highlights the epic career of one of the most brilliant comediennes of the last century. She started as Baby Rose Marie, a child prodigy, singing and dancing on stage before most kids could ride a bike. She grew up to be Rose Marie, beloved for her role as sassy scriptwriter Sally Rogers on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and her even sassier zingers on The Hollywood Squares game show. Filmmaker Jason Wise reveals there is much more to this tough, smart woman’s 87-year entertainment career. Interviews with Peter Marshall, Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke, Tim Conway, and the lady herself—still going strong at 94—combine with rare footage to depict a complicated, inspirational life. From her passionate marriage to trumpeter Bobby Guy to her up-close-and-personal connections to Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel, Rose Marie forged intense, lasting relationships while delighting audiences from Las Vegas to Hollywood, always marching to her own beat. WORLD PREMIERE

—Brendan Peterson

Thur O ct 5 7:00pm C orte Madera

WENDY

filmHOOD

Germany 2017 • 91 min

Director Dagmar Seume Producers

Jan Kromschröder, Eva Holtmann

Screenwriter Caroline Hecht

Cinematographer Gunnar Fuss Editor

Dora Vajda Cast Jule Hermann, Jasmin Gerat, Maren Kroymann, Benjamin Sadler,Julius Hotz Print Source German Films

In German with English subtitles Dagmar Seume’s picturesque film about a resilient young equestrian and a very special horse is a moving story, punctuated with humor and joy, about family ties, resilience, compassion, and courage. It’s been a year since Wendy took a fall from her horse that has kept her out of the saddle. Though recovered from her injury, even the love and encouragement of her family isn’t enough to make her ride again. Everything changes when Wendy meets a neglected horse that desperately needs her help. Initially unsure of this spirited, forgotten creature, Wendy cannot resist her gentle and sweet new friend Dixie. The two must work together in secret to gain each other’s trust. Though Dixie’s plight is a mystery to Wendy, she knows that there is more to this unique animal than meets the eye. Time is running out and Wendy knows she must conquer her fears and fight to save her beloved horse’s life.

Age 8+ NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

—Whitney Summers

Sat O ct 14 2:30pm Rafael

Sun O ct 15 11:30am S equoia

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

WESTERN

WORLD CINEMA

Germany/Bulgaria/Austria 2017 • 119 min

Director/Screenwriter Valeska Grisebach

Producers Jonas Dornbach, Janine Jackowski, Maren Ade Cinematographer Bernhard Keller Editor Bettina Böhler Cast Meinhard Neumann, Reinhardt Wetrek, Syuleyman Alilov Letifov, Veneta Frangova Viara Borisova, Kevin Bashev Print Source Cinema Guild

In German, Bulgarian, and English with English subtitles German filmmaker Valeska Grisebach returns with her long-awaited follow-up to 2006’s Longing , focusing on a group of laborers brought over from Deutschland to help build a sustainable infrastructure in a small Bulgarian village. The relationship between the boorish workers and the beleaguered locals is volatile, to put it mildly; caught in the middle of this is Meinhard (Meinhard Neumann), a stoic exsoldier who’s there just to make a buck. At first, his only companion is a white horse he tames and rides, but the quiet, sensitive handyman eventually befriends the town’s gangster-like fixer (Syuleyman Alilov Leitfov) and gets to know his hosts. Some cultural barriers and bad-blood histories, however, can’t simply be washed away. A cutting commentary on the uneasy alliance between Europe’s industrialized nations and their Eastern counterparts, Grisebach’s graceful drama borrows the concept of the tall, honorable stranger to refashion the continent’s identity crisis as a backwards fight between the frontier and encroaching civilization.

—David Fear

Fri O ct 6 3:00pm Rafael Sun O ct 8 8:30pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

WONDERSTRUCK WHITE SUN (SETO

SURYA)

Nepal 2016 • 87 min

Director Deepak Rauniyar Producers Deepak Rauniyar, Joslyn Barnes, Tsering Rhitar Sherpa, Michel Merkt Screenwriters Deepak Rauniyar, David Barker Cinematographer Mark O’Fearghail Editor David Barker Cast Dayahang Rai, Asha Magrati, Rabindra Singh Baniya, Sumi Malla, Amrit Pariyar Print Source KIMSTIM

In Nepali with English subtitles Immersed in a gorgeous natural setting amid the textures of a rural mountain locale, White Sun unfolds complex political and interpersonal relationships in the still-unsettled aftermath of a long Maoist revolution in Nepal. Deceptively quiet but simmering with underlying tensions that threaten to erupt, the soundtrack is punctuated by radio broadcasts of the recalcitrant political situation in the larger country. A wounded soldier returning home amidst the seemingly idyllic beauty is confronted by conflicts over the burial of his recently deceased father and more personal domestic tensions. Shot from a variety of perspectives, a roving camera alternates images of great lucidity with partially obscured scenes set in darkness and subdued shadows. A difficult to dispose of corpse, unexploded ordinance, the brief flash of wedding festivities, and children of uncertain parentage are woven into the larger drama of villagers playing out differences between long-standing traditional customs and a highly fraught attempt at a new order.

—Brian Karl

Fri O ct 13 3:30pm Rafael Sun O ct 15 6:45pm L ark

US 2017 • 115 min

Director Todd Haynes Producers Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, John Sloss Screenwriter Brian Selznick Cinematographer Ed Lachman Editor Affonso Goncalves Cast Oakes Fegley, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Millicent Simmonds, Jaden Michael, Tom Noonan Print Source Roadside Attractions

TRIBUTE: TODD HAYNES Ben and Rose are children who live in eras 50 years apart; each has a secret wish that propels their stories in Todd Haynes’ ( Carol , MVFF 2015) exquisite rendering of Brian Selznick’s illustrated novel. In rural Minnesota, Ben (Oakes Fegley, Pete’s Dragon ) dreams of wolves and seeks clues about the identity of his father. In Hoboken, NJ, Rose (marvelous newcomer Millicent Simmonds) immerses herself in the movies of charismatic Lillian Mayhew (Julianne Moore, a beautiful nod to Lillian Gish). Each is deaf; each sets out on a quest that leads them to New York, with the American Museum of Natural History a common backdrop. It’s perfect territory for Haynes’s rich cinematic senses: The vibrant color and swagger of 1977 New York is evoked to perfection by Ed Lachman’s cinematography; Cartwell Burwell’s score is terrific. Wonderstruck is striking and wonder-filled, and confirms Haynes as one of the most important artists of his generation.

—Zoë Elton

Fri O ct 13 7:00pm Rafael

WOODSTOCK

SPONSORED

US 1971 • 220 min

Director Michael Wadleigh Producer Bob Maurice Cinematographers Malcolm Hart, Don Lenzer, Michael Margetts, David Myers, Michael Wadleigh Editors Michael Wadleigh, Martin Scorsese, Jere Huggins, Thelma Schoonmaer, Stan Warnow Print Source Warner Bros. Classics

FOCUS: CANNABIS CULTURE Come celebrate MVFF’s 40th anniversary with this special screening of Woodstock , which screened at MVFF’s inaugural festival in 1978 in tribute to cinematographer David Myers. Innocent, hopeful, and groovy, the musical happening at Yasgur’s farm instantly obliterated everyone’s expectations, and this documentary became a cultural and cinematic touchstone. No one had ever witnessed anything like this three-day gathering, which was genuinely peaceful despite times no less polarized than our own. Jerry Garcia marveled at the “biblical, epical, unbelievable scene,” and Woodstock captures every intimate detail: the acid and the skinny dipping, the babies and freaks, dumbstruck locals and awestruck promoters, Grace Slick’s electric blue eyes and Richie Havens’ fast-tapping foot, plus every bead of sweat flying from Joe Cocker’s head. Hendrix, Joplin, Santana, the Who, CSNY: No concert film boasts a better soundtrack, or better stage announcements. Be there.

—Jeff Campbell

Sat O ct 7 6:00pm C orte Madera

FILMS

WORST CASE WE GET MARRIED

(ET AU PIRE, ON SE MARIERA)

WORLD CINEMA

Canada/Switzerland 2017 • 91 min

Director Léa Pool Producers Lyse Lafontaine, François Tremblay, Elisa Garbar Screenwriters Léa Pool, Sophie Bienvenu Cinematographer Denis Jutzeler Editor Michel Arcand Cast Sophie Nélisse, Karine Vanasse, JeanSimon Leduc Print Source Les Films Seville

In French with English subtitles Do you remember the first time you fell in love?

Fourteen-year-old Aïcha Saint-Pierre is as possessed with her obsession for Baz, a handsome, 20-something neighbor, as she is consumed with fury at her single mother, Isabelle. Simmering with hormones, turbulence, and emotion, the Montreal teenager skips school, crafts a variety of rebellious personas informed by the Central-South neighborhood prostitutes who serve as her confidantes, and feverishly calculates how to beguile well-meaning Baz into the lover of her dreams. Her story unfolds through flashback and confession, leaving the audience to determine the nuances of truth stuck through a web of fabrications, presented by the unreliable narrator, Aïcha herself. In adapting French-Canadian novel Et au pire, on se mariara , acclaimed filmmaker Léa Pool ( The Passion of Augustine , MVFF 2015) reteams with actress Karine Vanasse ( Emporte-moi ) and elicits passionate performances from sisters Isabelle and Sophie Nélisse ( The Book Thief, MVFF 2013) as she explores the tumultuous nexus of obsession, desire, fantasy, and truth. US PREMIERE

—Leah LoSchiavo

Tue O ct 10 3:30pm Rafael Wed O ct 11 6:30pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH DIGITAL MOOSE LOUNGE

YEVA

WORLD CINEMA

Armenia/Iran 2017 • 94 min

Director/Screenwriter Anahid Abad

Producer Taghi Ali Gholizadeh

Cinematographer Hassan Karimi Editor

Siavash Kordjan Cast Narina Grigorian, Shant Hovhanisian, Sergay Tovmasian, Vrejh Kasoni, Marjan Avadisyan,Roz Avadisova, Digran Davtian Print Source Farabi Cinema Foundation

FOCUS: HIDING & SEEKING In Farsi with English subtitles After the death of her husband, single mother Yeva and her young daughter arrive in a small village seeking protection from vengeful in-laws in this compelling Armenian-Iranian drama helmed by a woman director. Hoping to escape to France with her little girl, Yeva soon finds that concealing her past is not as easy as she hoped. But as her situation becomes increasingly precarious, she learns that she is not alone in her struggle to conquer grief and find personal redemption. Anchored by a powerful lead performance from Narina Grigorian, and beautifully filmed with cinematic detail of Armenia’s disputed Karabakh region, where Persian, Turkish, and Russian cultures meet and collide, Anahid Abad’s debut feature paints a portrait of a border town rife with personal secrets and the aftereffects of war. US PREMIERE

—Emelie Mahdavian

Mon O ct 9 6:15pm L arkspur Tue O ct 10 9:00pm Rafael

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PERSIAN CENTER

CALENDAR

A BETTER FUTURE 77 min

6:30 PM SPOTLIGHT: DEE REES MUDBOUND 134 min 10:00 PM FOURTH MOVEMENT 115 min 12:30 PM METAMORPHOSIS: JUNIOR YEAR 75 min 3:00 PM THE LAST ANIMALS 92 min 6:00 PM MARY JANES: THE WOMEN OF WEED 85 min 8:45 PM THE SQUARE 142 min 2:00 PM EARTH WISDOM FOR A WORLD IN CRISIS 82 min 4:45 PM 5@5 GOLDEN YEARS 60 min 6:45 PM FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL 105 min 9:30 PM THE HI DE HO SHOW 100 min 10:30 AM OWLS & MICE 80 min 1:00 PM KIM SWIMS 76 min 3:45 PM THE DESERT BRIDE 78 min 6:00 PM LOVE, CECIL 98 min

9:15 PM THE DEEP SKY 86 min 11:45 AM THE COUSIN 93 min 2:30 PM LET THE SUNSHINE IN 95 min 5:30 PM A FANTASTIC WOMAN 103 min

6:30 PM AN ACT OF DEFIANCE 123 min 9:30 PM 5@5 ALL THE MADMEN 70 min 12:15 PM 5@5 TUMBLE AND TWIRL 68 min 2:30 PM THE INSULT 113 min 5:30 PM ARRANGIARSI (PIZZA... & THE ART OF LIVING) 96 min 8:30 PM WESTERN 119 min 7:00 PM DARKEST HOUR 114 min 7:00 PM LOVING VINCENT 94 min 7:00 PM WAIT FOR YOUR LAUGH 85 min

8:15 PM BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE) 143 min 10:00 AM OWLS & MICE 80 min

3:30 PM THE VENERABLE W 115 min

6:30 PM

TRIBUTE: KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS DARKEST HOUR 114 min 12:00 PM

HAPPENING: A CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION 75 min

3:00 PM TRIBUTE: SEAN PENN 90 min 6:00 PM THE PARTY 71 min 8:45 PM UNDER THE RADAR: 70 YEARS OF POLISH ANIMATION 90 min 12:00 PM SPOOR 128 min 3:15 PM THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI 115 min 7:00 PM

TRIBUTE: HOLLY HUNTER 90 min 9:00 PM TORCH 100 min 2:30 PM AN ACT OF DEFIANCE 123 min 6:15 PM LAW OF THE LAND 90 min 9:00 PM CIAO, CIAO 83 min 11:30 AM ALPHAGO 90 min 2:15 PM FÉLICITÉ 124 min 5:30 PM THE DIVINE ORDER 96 min 8:30 PM A RIVER BELOW 117 min 11:45 AM THE RELATIONTRIP 89 min 2:45 PM THE SANDGLASS 124 min 6:00 PM CITY OF JOY 75 min 8:45 PM BILL FRISELL, A PORTRAIT 115 min 3:00 PM WESTERN 119 min 6:00 PM FACES, PLACES 89 min

8:30 PM DIRTBAG: THE LEGEND OF FRED BECKEY 96 min 12:45 PM PORCUPINE LAKE 85 min 3:45 PM SONG OF GRANITE 104 min

MVFF 40 on Social Media

CALENDAR

12:30 PM THE RELATIONTRIP 89 min

3:15 PM BILL FRISELL, A PORTRAIT 115 min

6:15 PM THE SHAPE OF WATER 119 min

9:00 PM UNDER THE RADAR: 70 YEARS OF POLISH ANIMATION 90 min 12:00 PM ALPHAGO 90 min

3:30 PM MANKILLER 74 min

9:30 PM SNOWY BING BONGS ACROSS THE NORTH STAR COMBAT ZONE 60 min 11:15 AM I STILL HIDE TO SMOKE 90 min

3:00 PM A SIBLING MYSTERY 80 min

6:00 PM THE FLORIDA PROJECT 115 min

6:00 PM HORN FROM THE HEART: THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD STORY 104 min 9:00 PM TIP OF MY TONGUE 90 min 11:30 AM ARRANGIARSI (PIZZA... & THE ART OF LIVING) 96 min 2:30 PM 5@5 IT’S NO GAME 70 min 5:30 PM THIRD MIND BLUES 58 min 8:00 PM THE LAST PIG 85 min 1:15 PM HAPPENING: A CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION 75 min 4:15 PM 5@5 ALL THE MADMEN 70 min 6:45 PM ANDRE: THE VOICE OF WINE 98 min 9:15 PM NOTHINGWOOD 85 min 12:45 PM TBA 4:00 PM 5@5 TUMBLE AND TWIRL 68 min

6:30 PM THE LEISURE SEEKER 112 min 9:15 PM NO MAN’S LAND 81 min 12:30 PM CITY OF JOY 75 min 3:00 PM LET THE SUNSHINE IN 95 min 5:30 PM 5@5 LIFE ON MARS? 70 min 8:00 PM TBA 12:15 PM HOLY AIR 81 min 3:00 PM JUST ONE DROP 92 min

6:30 PM MR. ROOSEVELT 91 min 9:00 PM CALL ME BY YOUR NAME 132 min

10:00 AM 5@5 A BETTER FUTURE 77 min 1:30 PM IN SYRIA 86 min 4:00 PM I STILL HIDE TO SMOKE 90 min 7:00 PM TBA 10:00 AM JANE 90 min 3:00 PM HAROLD AND MAUDE 91 min 6:00 PM MOLLY’S GAME 140 min 3:00 PM A FANTASTIC WOMAN 103 min 6:00 PM JANE 90 min

8:15 PM THE FLORIDA PROJECT 115 min 10:00 AM THE CORRIDOR 72 min 1:00 PM THE INLAND ROAD 79 min 3:45 PM BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE) 143 min 7:00 PM CENTERPIECE: LAST FLAG FLYING 119 min

2:30 PM MARY JANES: THE WOMEN OF WEED 85 min 6:00 PM CIAO CIAO 83 min 8:45 PM THE LIGHT OF THE MOON 90 min 11:15 AM THE LONG SHADOW 87 min 2:30 PM MANKILLER 74 min 5:30 PM ESTEBAN 90 min 8:30 PM MY HAPPY FAMILY 131 min 3:30 PM WORST CASE WE GET MARRIED 91 min 6:15 PM NO MAN’S LAND 81 min 9:00 PM YEVA 94 min 12:30 PM JAHA’S PROMISE 81 min 3:00 PM HORN FROM THE HEART: THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD STORY 104 min 6:00 PM ONE OF US 95 min 9:00 PM A SIBLING MYSTERY 80 min 3:15 PM MAD HANNANS 85 min 6:30 PM THE DESERT BRIDE 78 min 9:15 PM 5@5 LIFE ON MARS? 70 min 2:00 PM FÉLICITÉ 124 min 6:30 PM WORST CASE WE GET MARRIED 91 min 9:15 PM 5@5 IT’S NO GAME 70 min 4:00 PM THE RELATIONTRIP 89 min 6:45 PM THE LAST ANIMALS 92 min 9:30 PM 5@5 STATION TO STATION 62 min 12:00 PM THE INVISIBLES 110 min 4:00 PM SNOWY BING BONGS ACROSS THE NORTH STAR COMBAT ZONE 60 min 6:30 PM EL AMPARO 99 min 9:30 PM 5@5 GOLDEN YEARS 60 min

CALENDAR

AM KIM

PM ANDRE: THE VOICE OF WINE 98 min 4:00 PM THE LEISURE SEEKER 112 min 7:00 PM TRIBUTE: TODD HAYNES WONDERSTRUCK 115 min 11:00 AM NOT ALONE: SCREENING & PANEL TALKING ABOUT TEEN SUICIDE 90 min (See page 87 for details) 3:45 PM

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN 107 min 7:00 PM SPOTLIGHT: ANDREW GARFIELD BREATHE 117 min 11:00 AM THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH 96 min 1:45 PM

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN 107 min 5:00 PM LADY BIRD 93 min 8:15 PM TBA 12:00 PM THE LAST PIG 85 min 2:45 PM THELMA 116 min 6:00 PM THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE 100 min 8:30 PM RADIANCE 101 min 12:00 PM LIYANA 89 min 2:30 PM WENDY 91 min 5:30 PM STRANGE BIRDS 70 min 9:00 PM THE HI DE HO SHOW 100 min 11:45 AM A CIAMBRA 118 min 2:15 PM QUEST

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E xecutive Creative Director

A ssociate Creative Director

C opywriter

E xecutive Director of Integrated Production

Clara Franco

BSSP

Greg Stern

Jo hn Butler

Keith Cartwright

Tom Coates

L uke Zehner

C ameron Murray

Patrick French

V ince Genovese

Senior Integrated Producer Fearghal O’Dea

Senior Producer

Integrated Production & Creative Coordinator

Editor/Director of Content

V ideographer/Technical Director

Account Supervisor

Business Affairs

POST PRODUCTION

Sound Design

TALENT

D ustin Levine

Emilee Goo

Nico Litonjua

Jason Apple

Danielle Patipa

A ngela Eddleman

Company 3/Method Studios Finishing

Chris Forrest

Kaaren James | Lauren Chatman | ND Koster | Zach Shapiro

SPECIAL THANKS

D eluxe Technicolor Digital Cinema

l -inc Design

Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce

Scott Kulander

L isa Berghout, Ed Apodaca

Jim Welte

The world’s most dramatic city. Film in SF to capture the imagination, and capture up to $600,000 in rebates. filmsf.org 415-554-6241

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A24

Betsy Abendroth

Ted T. Abo

Nancy Abodeely

Elaine Acampo

Edel Adam

Tom Adams

Michael Ahrens

Nicolette Aizenberg

Allied Integrated Marketing

Gunnar Almer

Amazon Studios

Ed Arentz

Artworks Foundry

Amy Astley

Roadside Attractions

Krissy Bailey

Barbro OsherPro Suecia Foundation

BAWIFM

Sheila Benson

Bob Berney

Andrea Bertolini

Luke Bird

Tim Bird

Ewa Bojanowska

David Bonbright

Adriene Bowles

Elizabeth Brambilla

Alexander Brebner

Anji Brenner

Girija Brilliant

Larry Brilliant

Des Buford

Meghann Burns

Mara Buxbaum

Rita Cahill

Lisa Carmel

Leah Chang

Brenda Chapman

Robert Chevara

Chicago Film Festival

Eric Christ

Howard Cohen

Consulate General of Sweden, San Francisco

Krystal Contreras

Joni Cooper

Krishel Coultrup

Reyna Cowan

Melissa D’Amore

Eric d’Arbeloff

Joe and Sara Danielson

Danish Film Institute

Julia Danison

Ninfa Dawson

Michelle Devereaux

Dot

Rama Dunayevich

Annie Easton

Amir Esfandiari

Arielle Estrada

Terri Ewing

Farabi Cinema Foundation

Film Fatales

Blye Faust

Finnish Film Foundation

Rebecca Fisher

Milady Flores

Julie Fontaine

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Frameline

Alan Franey

Friends of the Mill Valley Library

Elizabeth Gabler

Kristina and Ben Gale

Sid Ganis

Daven Gee

Libby Ginsberg

John Goddard

Goethe Institut

Debbie Goldberg

Suzanne Gray

Nancy Grover

Robin Gurland

Lynne Hale

Lol Halsey

Muriel and Murray Hammond

JoAnn Hastings

Ildi Hayman

Aude Hesbert

Karen Ho

Ted Hope

Jörn Horaczek

Melissa Howden

Mary Hrize

Marcus Hu

Julie Huntsinger

Icelandic Film Centre

IMCINE

Kristin Jensen

Aaron Kayce

Ralph Kaywin

Patricia Keaney

Susan Keel

Nancy Kelly

Jan Klingelhofer

Rose Kuo

Michael Kupferberg

Anne-Marie Kurstein

Maureen Labro

Joe Lambert

Cezary Łasiczka

Larry “The Hat” Lautzker

Huey Lewis

Alexandra Lexton

Wendy Lidell

Erin Lim

Lionsgate Entertainment

Meredith Lipsky

Richard Lorber

Hannah Loué

Erin Lowrey

Monique Luddy

Tom Luddy

Mark Maccollin

Becky MacDonald

Marie Pierre Macia

Magnolia Pictures

Marin County Board of Supervisors

Sato Masuzawa

Chrissy Mazzeo

Jim McCann

Claudia Mendoza-Carruth

Gary Meyer

Mill Valley Library

Mill Valley Merchants

Cornelius Moore

Clare Morris

Russell Nelson

Ruth Nelson

Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Stephanie Northen

Norwegian Film Institute

Gorete Novack

Susan O’Connell

Yuko Ohmori

Marilyn Ortiz

Outdoor Art Club

Paramount Pictures

Dr. Thomas Peters

Tom Peters

Sally Phillips

Pixar Animation Studios

Mimi Plauché

Polish Film Institute, Maria Gradowska

Tom Prassis

Carl Priolo

Lucas Priolo

Sophie Priolo

Sue Priolo

Elaine Proctor-Bonbright

Adriana Prodeus

Theresa Raabe

Richard Repas

Lisa Richie

Chris Robbins

Daniella Robinson

Jenny Rogers

Annie Roney

Rachel Rosen

Joel Rosenberg

Gary Rubin

John Sanborn

Lauren Schiller

Tom Schlesinger

Cynthia Schwartz

Donna Seager

SFFILM

Katayoon Shahabi

Alireza Shahrokhi

Tiffany Shlain

David Shultz

Osnat Shurer

Melissa Silverstein

MT Silvia

Tomek Smolarski

Jennifer Steinman

Jennifer Stott

Story Center

Strand Releasing

Isabelle Sugimoto

Swedish Film Institute

Sweetwater Music Hall

Lisa Taback

Tallulah

Danielle Taormina-Keenan

Telluride Film Festival

The Weinstein Company

Bev Thorman

Kyle Thorpe

Evelyn Topper

Gina Truex

Sherri Tull

Warner Bros. Pictures

Abby Wasserman

John C. Weaver III

Valerie Weiss

Victoria Woo

Kenji Yamamoto

Cecilia Zamora

Sue Zemel

Proud Sponsor of the Mill Valley Film Festival Celebrating 40 Years of showcasing quality American independent and foreign films.

and FILM RESOURCE OFFICE

DEAR FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL WE LOST IN 2017

ANN BREBNER

Ann Brebner’s connection with MVFF dates back to the very first Festival, when she phoned the office to find out about attending. From that moment on, she became part of the family: as Board Member and Board President, and then as a staff member as she led the visionary development of the Smith Rafael Film Center. Her wisdom has guided us for forty years; her presence remains in our hearts.

VICKI CLARK

Vicki Clark was a beloved volunteer at CFI, instrumental in ensuring that members had a great experience. We will miss her sweet, warm presence in the office.

LISA GRAEBER

A true film lover, Lisa Graeber was a long time supporter of CFI, and the Mill Valley Film Festival was a highlight for her every year. She was generous and kind, and we will miss her beautiful smile and cheery disposition.

BLAKE THORMAN

Blake Thorman’s deep love of film drew him to volunteer for MVFF (and many other Bay Area festivals). He brought us the grace of his presence, the benefit of his acute intellect and wit, the gift of his support for projects across the Festival, and his great friendship.

EVENt DESIGN RENTALS FABRICATION Fabric Treatments GRAPHICS

VENUES

THEATERS

CENTURY CINEMA

41 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera

CENTURY LARKSPUR

500 Larkspur Landing Cir, Larkspur

CINÉARTS SEQUOIA

25 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley

LARK THEATER

549 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur

SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER

1118 Fourth St, San Rafael

GUIDELINES & RULES

ARRIVE EARLY To guarantee admittance, ticket and pass holders must be in the appropriate line 30 minutes prior to published showtime. Doors typically open 30 minutes before showtime.

While waiting in line, please be considerate of our neighbors and local businesses, and do not block merchant doorways.

Entry to theaters occurs in the following order:

LINES:

Seat saving is not allowed.

Outside food and beverages are not permitted.

All cell phones and e-devices must be turned off prior to program introduction.

The use of cameras and other recording equipment is strictly prohibited during all screenings and programs.

Take personal items and trash with you as you exit.

ACCESSIBILITY

MVFF is committed to accommodating audience members with disabilities, offering early seating as needed. For assistance, please notify theater staff. All screening venues and their bathrooms are wheelchair-accessible. Assisted-listening devices are available at all theaters.

OUTDOOR ART CLUB

Join us at the Outdoor Art Club in downtown Mill Valley for:

Special programs

Festival merchandise

Beer, wine and snacks for sale

Filmmaker check-in

Filmmaker Lounge (badge holders with Lounge access only)

Open daily to the general public (excluding special events)

FILMMAKER LOUNGES

MILL VALLEY

Outdoor Art Club, 1 West Blithedale

Oct 6–14 10:00am—9:00pm

Oct 15 10:00am—5:00pm

SAN RAFAEL

Mark Fishkin Room, 1112 Fourth St

Oct 6–14 10:00am—9:00pm

Oct 15 10:00am—5:00pm

FILMMAKER CHECK-IN (Mill Valley Lounge only):

Oct 5 10:00am—5:00pm

Oct 6–14 10:00am—6:00pm

FILMMAKER HAPPY HOUR: 5:00–7:00pm (both lounges)

RESERVED SEATS

FILMMAKER LOUNGE ACCESS All badges with an “L”

Please do not sit in a reserved seat unless it has been arranged for you. Do not stand near the reserved seats in hopes that they will be released. MVFF staff and volunteers will release reserved seats whenever possible, but it is not guaranteed, and the aisles need to remain clear while the theater is being seated.

BOX OFFICES

SAN RAFAEL

Smith Rafael Film Center, 1112 Fourth St

Sept 12

4:00–8:00pm Premier Patron and above

Sept 13 4:00–8:00pm Director’s Circle and above

Sept 14

4:00–8:00pm Gold Star and above

Sept 15–16 4:00–8:00pm A ll CFI members

Sept 17–Oct 4 4:00–8:00pm General public

Oct 5–15 O ne hour before first screening each day to 15 min after last show starts

MILL VALLEY

Chamber of Commerce, 85 Throckmorton Ave

Sept 17–Oct 4 11:00am–3:00pm

Oct 5–15 O ne hour before first screening each day to 15 min after last show starts

OTHER BOX OFFICE VENUES

Open one hour before first screening each day:

Century Cinema Corte Madera Lark Theater

Century Larkspur 4

PRICING

General admission

WILL CALL

You must bring a valid photo ID that corresponds with the name on the credit card used to purchase the tickets.

All ticket orders are final. No refunds, exchanges, substitutions, or reprints. MVFF is not responsible for lost, stolen, forgotten, or damaged tickets, or tickets misdirected by the post office.

NEW THIS YEAR!

PRINT-AT-HOME TICKETS

Save time and skip Will Call! Select the Print-at-Home option when purchasing tickets online, and then either print your ticket at home or show it on your mobile device at the theater for scanned entry.

RUSH TICKETS FOR SOLD-OUT SHOWS

Rush tickets often become available after advance tickets have sold out.

The Rush line forms outside each venue one hour before showtime.

$12.50

$15.00 CFI members

Seniors (65+)

Students

$13.50

(Purchase online or in person. Present student ID at box office)

filmHOOD Programs

5@5 Programs

$10.00 (all ages)

$9.00

Convenience Fees: (All fees are nonrefundable)

Mail

Online

Phone

Rush tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis approximately 15 minutes prior to showtime. No discounts

Patrons have a 90% success rate of getting into shows through the Rush Line. Line up early!

$3.75 per order

$1.75 per ticket

$1.75 per ticket plus

$10.00 flat fee per order

In-person No service fee

CONSENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED/FILMED:

California Film Institute and its representatives may photograph, film, and/or otherwise record attendees at all festival activities. By attending, you consent to such photography, filming and/or recording and to any use in any and all media throughout the universe in perpetuity and without compensation for the use of your appearance, voice, and name for promotional and/or advertising, or any other purpose by California Film Institute and its affiliates and representatives.

PELICAN

INN

MUIR BEACH • CALIFORNIA

MOUNTAIN HOME INN

PANORAMIC HIGHWAY • MILL VALLEY • CALIFORNIA

Place at the top of the page.

STARK INSIDER IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF MVFF40

A

WEST COAST ADVENTURE

... A LIFETIME IN THE MAKING

PRINT SOURCES

A CIAMBRA

IFC Films ifcfilms.com

AN ACT OF DEFIANCE

Cinema Management Group Jean van de Velde cinemamanagementgroup.com

ADNYAT

Santosh Sopan Davakhar pnirgun6@gmail.com

AFTER THE WAR

Pyramide Films inter.pyramidefilms.com/

ALL THAT YOU LOVE WILL BE CARRIED AWAY Festival Formula Ltd

Tom Barbor-Might festivalformula.com

ALL THE MARBLES

Petersen Pictures michael@wryeye.com

ALPHAGO

Submarine Greg Kohs submarine.com

AMELIA’S CLOSET

Halima Lucas halimalucas@gmail.com

ANDRE: THE VOICE OF WINE

Open Films

Mark Tchelistcheff openfilms.net

ARRANGIARSI (PIZZA... & THE ART OF LIVING)

Solare Films

Matteo Troncone solarfilms.com/en/

AWAREWOLF

Potluck Productions potluckproductions.net

BABE, I HATE TO GO Taza Media Inc.

Andrew Moir tazamedia.com

THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN A24 a24films.com

THE BED Canyon Cinema canyoncinema.com

BETWEEN THE SAND

John Picklap picklajp@gmail.com

BEYOND THE SUPERNOVA

Satch Tours, Inc.

ZZ Satriani satriani.com

BILL FRISELL, A PORTRAIT

Films Transit International

Emma Franz filmstransit.com

BIRDS DROPPING

Kalliste Zoe Productions kallistezoeproductions@gmail.com

BLACK HEAD COW

Elizabeth Nichols enichols18@gmail.com

BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE)

The Orchard theorchard.com

BREAD & ROSES PRESENTS

Dan Foldes mhubler@breadandroses.org

BREATHE

Imaginarium Productions imaginariumuk.com

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Sony Pictures Classics sonyclassics.com

CIAO CIAO

Zorba Production Song Chuan zorba-group.com

CITY OF JOY

Lightmotive

Madeleine Gavin lightmotivefilms.com

THE CORRIDOR

Richard O’Connell, Annelise Wunderlich thecorridordocumentary.com

THE COUSIN

Bleiberg Entertainment bleibergent.com

CRESWICK

Fiction Film Company

Natalie Erika James fiction.net.au

THE CURRENT WAR

The Weinstein Company weinsteinco.com

THE DARK OF NIGHT

Nini Huynh ninilehuynh@gmail.com

DARKEST HOUR

Focus Features foxsearchlight.com/films/

DEALT

IFC Films ifcfilms.com

THE DEEP SKY

Lucky Hat Entertainment Frazer Bradshaw lucky-hat.com/welcome.php

THE DESERT BRIDE

Strand Releasing strandreleasing.com

DIRTBAG: THE LEGEND OF FRED BECKEY

Dave O’Leske dirtbagmovie.com

THE DIVINE ORDER

Zeitgeist Films zeitgeistfilms.com

EARTH WISDOM FOR A WORLD IN CRISIS

CEM Productions

Stephen Olsson cemproductions.org

EL AMPARO

Figa Films

Rober Calzadilla figafilms.com

ESTEBAN

MediaPro mediapro.com

FABRICATED

Brett Foxwell bfophoto@gmail.com

FACES, PLACES

Cohen Media Group cohenmedia.net

FALLEN ART

The Polish Cultural Institute polishculture-nyc.org

A FANTASTIC WOMAN

Sony Pictures Classics sonyclassics.com

FAULT

Daniel Lee thedanielstation@gmail.com

FÉLICITÉ Strand Releasing strandreleasing.com

FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL

Sony Pictures Classics sonyclassics.com

FINGERPRINTS

KTF Films

Don Hardy ktffilms.com

FIRE & LIGHT

Dana Conroy djohnson@pioneer.org

THE FLORIDA PROJECT A24 a24films.com

FOOTSTEPS

Fígúra, Fenrir Films Hannes Thor Arason fenrirfilms.com

FOURTH MOVEMENT

Rob Nilsson robnilsson.com

FRANKIE KEEPS TALKING Alacrity Productions Annabelle Attanasio iloveannabelle.com/alacrity/

FRY DAY

Laura Moss laura.moss@gmail.com

GAME

The Weinstein Company weinsteinco.com

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER

ROBIN

Fox Searchlight foxsearchlight.com/films/

HAPPENING: A CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION

The Redford Center James Redford redfordcenter.org/happening

HAROLD AND MAUDE

Paramount Pictures paramount.com

HEDGEHOG’S HOME

National Film Board of Canada

Jane Gutteridge j.gutteridge@nfb.ca

THE HISTORY OF MAGIC: ENSUEÑO

Ojo Flojo Productions Jose Luis Gonzalez ojoflojo@gmail.com

HOLY AIR

IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films samuelgoldwynfilms.com/holy-air/

HORN FROM THE HEART:

THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD STORY

Anderson Productions, Inc.

John Anderson hornfromtheheart.com

HOT DOG HANDS

Matt Reynolds mattreynolds21@gmail.com

HUMAN FLOW

Magnolia Pictures magnoliapictures.com

I DON’T FEEL ANYTHING ANYMORE

National Film Board of Canada

Jane Gutteridge j.gutteridge@nfb.ca

I STILL HIDE TO SMOKE

K.G. Productions kgproductions.fr

ICARUS

Frame48

Tom Teller hello@frame48.com

IN SYRIA

Film Movement

Philippe Van Leeuw filmmovement.com

IN THE FADE

Magnolia Pictures magnoliapictures.com

THE INLAND ROAD

LevelK

Jackie van Beek levelk.dk

THE INSULT

Cohen Media Group cohenmedia.net

THE INVISIBLES

Beta Cinema betacinema.com/en/

ISIS HAIR SALON

Nicholas Coles nickcoles@gmail.com

JAHA’S PROMISE

First Hand Films

Patrick Farrelly, Kate O’Callaghan firsthandfilms.com

JANE

Cinetic Media

Brett Morgen cineticmedia.com

JESSER AND THE SUGARCANE EO/IKONdocs

Godelieve Eijsink goodpitch.org/orgs/eo-ikon-docs

JUST ONE DROP

Blind Dog Films

Laurel Chiten blinddogfilms.com

KIM SWIMS

Kate Webber kate@katewebber.com

KIZI MIZI

The Polish Cultural Institute polishculture-nyc.org

THE KODACHROME ELEGIES

Jay Rosenblatt jayr@jayrosenblattfilms.com

LADY BIRD

A24 a24films.com

THE LAST ANIMALS

WME Entertainment Kate Brooks wmeentertainment.com

PRINT SOURCES

LAST FLAG FLYING Amazon Studios studios.amazon.com

THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH

The Works Film Group theworksfilmgroup.com

THE LAST PIG

Piggy Films LLC thelastpig.com

LAW OF THE LAND Making Movies Ltd mamo.fi

THE LEISURE SEEKER

Sony Pictures Classics sonyclassics.com

LEMONADE MAFIA

Anya Adams anyaadams@sbcglobal.net

LET THE SUNSHINE IN IFC Films ifcfilms.com

LIFE AND NOTHING MORE Film Constellation Ltd. filmconstellation.com/

THE LIGHT OF THE MOON

The Film Collaborative thefilmcollaborative.org

LIYANA

Intaba Creative LiyanaFilm.com

THE LONG SHADOW

Frances Causey thelongshadowfilm.com

LOS PERROS Films Boutique filmsboutique.com

LOVE, CECIL Cinetic Media cinetic media.com

LOVELESS

Sony Pictures Classics sonyclassics.com

LOVING VINCENT

Good Deed Entertainment gooddeedentertainment.com

LUNCH TIME Alireza Ghasemi anarki348@gmail.com

MAD HANNANS

Social Capital Films

Martin Shore stephensterlingmelin@gmail.com

MANKILLER

Valhalla Entertainment Valerie Red-Horse Mohl valhallamotionpictures.com

MARY JANES: THE WOMEN OF WEED DVA Productions Windy Borman windy@dvaproductions.com

MERYL FUCKIN STREEP Ava Bogle ava.bogle@gmail.com

METAMORPHOSIS: JUNIOR YEAR Elysium Bandini Studios ebstudios.org

THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES Netflix netflix.com

MOANA Walt Disney waltdisneystudios.com

MOLLY’S GAME STX Entertainment stxentertainment.com

MR. ROOSEVELT Beachside Films Noël Wells b-side.net

MUDBOUND Netflix netflix.com

MY HAPPY FAMILY

Memento Films International memento-films.com

MY JOSEPHINE

Brenda Mills bmills@admin.fsu.edu

MY MAN (OCTOPUS) Marmitafilms

Stéphanie Cadoret marmitafilms.fr/?lang=en

PRINT SOURCES

THE MYSTERY OF GREEN HILL

Kinorama

Cejen Cernic uzbunanazelenomvrhu.hr/en/

NAPALM MAYHEM

Oscar your.guy.oscar@gmail.com

THE NATION HOLDS ITS BREATH

The Weinstein Company weinsteinco.com

THE NEW ENVIRONMENTALISTS: FROM GUATEMALA TO THE CONGO

Mill Valley Film Group mvfg.com

NO MAN’S LAND

The Film Collaborative thefilmcollaborative.org

NOT ALONE

Kiki Goshay kikigoshay@comcast.net

NOT YET

Arian Vazirdaftair arian.vazirdaftari@yahoo.com

NOTHING A LITTLE SOAP AND WATER CAN’T FIX

Jennifer Proctor proctor.jennifer@gmail.com

NOTHINGWOOD

Pyramide Films inter.pyramidefilms.com/

ON THE BEACH AT NIGHT ALONE

Jeonwonsa Film koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/films/index/

ON THE SLY: IN SEARCH OF THE FAMILY STONE

Unreal Films

Michael Rubenstone unreal.co.nz

ONCE UPON A TIME

The Polish Cultural Institute polishculture-nyc.org

ONCLE YANCO

Janus Films janusfilms.com

ONE OF US Netflix netflix.com

THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE

Janus Films

Emily Woodburne janusfilms.com

OWLS & MICE

Lemming Film

Simone van Dusseldorp lemmingfilm.com/en/

THE PARTY

Roadside Attractions roadsideattractions.com

PICNIC PERFECT

Cal Thacher thacher@gmail.com

PIX

Sophie Linnenbaum wswdwtds@web.de

PLAQUEMINES

Jon Wood jwoodnswa@gmail.com

PORCUPINE LAKE

pUNK Films Inc. punkfilms.ca

PUSSY

KFF

Renata Gasiorowska krakowfilmfestival.pl/en/internationalshort-film-competition-57th-kff/

QUADRANT, PART 2

David Lauer davidalauer@gmail.com

QUEST

Santiago Rizzo srizzo@gmail.com

RADIANCE MK2

Naomi Kawase europa-international.org/members/ mk2-2/

RAM DASS, GOING HOME

Further Pictures

Derek Peck ramdassgoinghome.com

REAL ARTISTS

Charming Stranger Films Cameo Wood charmingstranger.com

THE REFLECTION IN ME

FableVision fablevisionstudios.com

THE RELATIONTRIP

Renée Felice Smith, C.A. Gabriel reneefelicesmith@gmail.com

REVOLTING RHYMES

Magic Light Pictures magiclightpictures.com

A RIVER BELOW

Sandarba Films

Mark Grieco torus@sandarba.com

ROADSIDE ATT

RACTION

Genuine Article Pictures goodpitch.org/orgs/genuine-articlepictures

SABAKU

Halal

Marlies van der Wel halal.amsterdam

THE SANDGLASS

Film Polski Wojciech Has filmpolski.pl/fp/index.php

SAVING HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Jennifer Nelson jennstar1@aol.com

SECOND TO NONE Caboom

Vincent Gallagher secondtononefilm@gmail.com

SECONDS

Runaway Horses

JR Heffelfinger jonathan.heffelfinger@gmail.com

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Fox Searchlight foxsearchlight.com/films/

A SIBLING MYSTERY

Rachel Wortell, Dan Erickson asiblingmystery.com

SNOWY BING BONGS ACROSS THE NORTH STAR COMBAT ZONE

Alex H. Fischer alexhustonfischer@gmail.com

SON

The Polish Cultural Institute polishculture-nyc.org

SONG OF GRANITE Oscilloscope oscilloscope.net/films/

SPOOR

Beta Cinema betacinema.com/en/

SPRING JAM

Ned Wenlock ned@oneedo.com

THE SQUARE

Magnolia Pictures magnoliapictures.com

STRANGE BIRDS

MPM Film

Elise Girard mpmfilm.com

SUMMER 1993 Oscilloscope oscilloscope.net/films/

SWIM

Mari Walker mariwwalker@gmail.com

TAKE YOUR TIME

Max Sachar max.sachar@gmail.com

TANGO

The Polish Cultural Institute polishculture-nyc.org

THAT IS HOW MOTHERHOOD WORKS Rivkah Beth Medow rivkahbeth@gmail.com

THELMA

The Orchard theorchard.com

THIRD MIND BLUES

418 Films

William Tyler Smith enlight77@aol.com

THREE BILLBOARDS

OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

Fox Searchlight foxsearchlight.com/films/

TIP OF MY TONGUE

Lynne Sachs lynnesachs@gmail.com

TORCH

PlasterCITY Productions, Inc. christophercoppola.com

TOWARDS THE SUN

The London Film School

Monica Santis lfs.org.uk/

UNSPOKEN

Geneva Peschka genevapeschka@gmail.com

VALENCE

Gus Aronson gushenry817@gmail.com

Forest Andrew Alvarez

John Antonelli

Doreen Aviv

Ralph Berets

Jordon Briggs

Frank Chan

Harris Cohen

Teresa Concepcion

Jackie Cormier

Frieda de Lackner

Charles Dickey

Maxine Einhorn

Emma Penaz Eisner

Daniel Reed Eisweirth

Suzanne Engelberg

Sarah Escalante

Maribel Guevara

Natalia Guecheva

Sandy Handsher

Aaron Hansen

John Harden

Hilary Hart

Sig Kramer Herzog

VAZANTE

Music Box Films musicboxfilms.com

THE VENERABLE W

Les Films du Losange/Bande à Part Films filmsdulosange.fr/en/

VITCH

Marc Pingry Productions pingryhdtv.com

WAIT FOR YOUR LAUGH

Forgotten Man Films forgottenmanfilms.net

WENDY

German Films

Dagmar Seume german-films.de/home/

PRINT SOURCES

WESTERN

Cinema Guild Valeska Grisebach cinemaguild.com/theatrical/western. html

WHERE ARE YOU AT, BARBET SCHROEDER?

Les Films Du Losange filmsdulosange.fr/en/

WHITE SUN KIMSTIM

Deepak Rauniyar kimstim.com/whitesun.html

WONDERSTRUCK

Roadside Attractions roadsideattractions.com

WOODSTOCK

Warner Bros. Classics WBClassics@warnerbros.com

Hayden Hicks

Nancy Kelly

Hossein Khosrowjah

Thor Klippert

Britta Leijonflycht

Phoebe Lewis

Alexandra Lexton

Mark Lipman

Leah LoSchiavo

Angela MacKenzie

Berta Segall McDonnell

Maria Mealla

Becky Mertens

Marilyn Mulford

Katie Norby

Ken O’Neil

Rachel Olson

Venus Oriane

Lisette Ostrander

Cynthia Pepper

Mark Phillips

Emily Porter

Francesca Prada

WOODSWIMMER

Brett Foxwell bfophoto@gmail.com

WORST CASE, WE GET MARRIED

Les Films Seville Léa Pool filmsseville.com

YEVA

Farabi Cinema Foundation Anahid Abad fcf.ir/en/

YOURS SINCERELY, LOIS WEBER

Double Take Pictures, Inc Svetlana Cvetko doubletakepictures.com/converse. html

PRE-SCREENERS

Kenn Rabin

Carlos Rodriguez

Saul Rouda

Terrie Samundra

Emmy Scharlatt

Mary Scott

Grace Shaw

John Slattery

Wendy Slick

Dale Sopheia

Lincoln Spector

Jesse Spencer

Cathy Summa-Wolfe

Nomi Talisman

Julie Thompson

Benjamin Thornton

Katy Tiemann

Erin Weigand

Lori Wright

Kenji Yamamoto

Angie Young

Abas Zadfa

FILMS BY COUNTRY

* Denotes country of interest

ALGERIA

I Still Hide to Smoke

ARGENTINA

The Desert Bride

ARMENIA

Yeva

AUSTRALIA

Bill Frisell, A Portrait Creswick

The New Environmentalists: From Guatemala to the Congo* Vitch*

AUSTRIA

Western

BELGIUM

Félicité

I Don’t Feel Anything Anymore

In Syria

BELIZE

Torch

BRAZIL

A Ciambra

Call Me by Your Name

A River Below Vazante

BULGARIA

Western

CANADA

Babe, I Hate to Go

Damsels in Distress

Hedgehog’s Home

I Don’t Feel Anything Anymore

The Long Shadow*

Porcupine Lake

Reflection

Song of Granite

Worst Case, We Get Married

CHILE

The Desert Bride

A Fantastic Woman

Los Perros

CHINA

Ciao Ciao

COLOMBIA

El Amparo

A River Below

CROATIA

Hedgehog’s Home

The Mystery of Green Hill

CUBA

Esteban

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Last Animals*

Spoor

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

OF CONGO

City of Joy

The Last Animals*

The New Environmentalists: From Guatemala to the Congo*

DENMARK

The Square Thelma

FINLAND

Law of the Land

The Other Side of Hope

FRANCE

AlphaGo*

Andre: The Voice of Wine*

BPM (Beats per Minute)

Call Me By Your Name

A Ciambra

Ciao Ciao

Faces, Places Félicité

I Still Hide to Smoke In Syria In The Fade

The Leisure Seeker

Let the Sunshine In Loveless

Loving Vincent*

My Happy Family

My Man (Octopus)

Nothingwood

Oncle Yanco

Radiance

The Square

Strange Birds

Thelma

The Venerable W Vitch*

Where Are You at, Barbara Schroeder?

THE GAMBIA

Jaha’s Promise

GEORGIA

My Happy Family

GERMANY

A Ciambra

Andre: The Voice of Wine

A Fantastic Woman Félicité

Fourth Movement*

Human Flow

In the Fade

The Invisibles

My Happy Family

On the Beach at Night Alone

Pix

Spoor

The Square Vitch*

Wendy Western

GUATEMALA

The New Environmentalists: From Guatemala to the Congo*

Refuge and Restriction: The Music of Guatemala

ICELAND

Footsteps

INDIA

Adnyat

The New Environmentalists: From Guatemala to the Congo*

IRAN

Lunch Time

Not Yet Yeva

IRELAND

Jaha’s Promise

The Nation Holds Its Breath* Second to None Song of Granite

ISRAEL

The Cousin

Holy Air Vitch*

ITALY

A Ciambra

After the War

Andre: The Voice of Wine*

Arrangiarsi (Pizza…& The Art of Living)

Call Me by Your Name Fourth Movement*

The Leisure Seeker

JAMAICA

Babe, I Hate to Go*

JAPAN

Radiance

KENYA

The Last Animals*

LEBANON In Syria

The Insult

NEPAL

White Sun

NETHERLANDS

An Act of Defiance

Jesser and the Sugarcane

Napalm Mayhem

Owls & Mice

Sabaku

NEW ZEALAND

The Inland Road

Kim Swims*

Spring Jam

NICARAGUA

Jesser and the Sugarcane*

NORWAY

Law of the Land

Thelma

POLAND

Death to Five Fallen Art

From the Green Hill In the Still of the Night

Kizi Mizi

Loving Vincent Once Upon a Time

Pussy

The Sandglass Son

Spoor

Tango

Times Have Passed Vitch*

PUERTO RICO

Seconds

ROMANIA

The Nation Holds Its Breath*

RUSSIA

Andre: The Voice of Wine Loveless

SENEGAL

Félicité

SINGAPORE

The Last Animals*

SLOVAKIA

Spoor

SLOVENIA

The New Environmentalists: From Guatemala to the Congo*

SOUTH KOREA

AlphaGo*

On the Beach at Night Alone

SPAIN

Summer 1993

SWAZILAND

Liyana

SWEDEN

A Ciambra

Law of the Land

Spoor

The Square

SWITZERLAND

The Divine Order

The Last Animals*

The Venerable W

Worst Case, We Get Married

TANZANIA

Black Head Cow

TURKEY

Fourth Movement*

Zero

All That You Love Will Be

Carried Away

AlphaGo*

Andre: The Voice of Wine*

Breathe

Darkest Hour

Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool

Goodbye Christopher Robin

Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story*

The Last Animals

The Last Photograph

The Party

Revolting Rhymes

Towards the Sun

A Ciambra

All the Marbles

Alphago

Amelia’s Closet

Andre: The Voice of Wine

Arrangiarsi (Pizza…& The Art of Living)

Awarewolf

The Ballad of Lefty Brown

The Bed

Between the Sand

Beyond the Supernova

Birds Dropping

Bread & Roses Presents

Burning the Old Year

Call Me by Your Name

City of Joy

Complete Me

The Corridor

The Current War

The Dark of Night

The Dead

Dealt

Dear San Francisco

The Deep Sky

Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred

Beckey

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Dream with Me

Earth Wisdom for a World in Crisis

Fabricated

A Fantastic Woman

Fault

Fingerprints

Fire & Light

The Florida Project

Fourth Movement

Frankie Keeps Talking

Fry Day

Game

Growing Community

Happening: A Clean Energy

Revolution

Harold and Maude

The Hi De Ho Show

The History of Magic: Ensueño

Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story

Hot Dog Hands

How to Eat Walnuts

Human Flow

Icarus

Indefinable

Indelible

Isis Hair Salon

Jaha’s Promise

Jane

John Sanborn: An Introspective

Retrospective

Joya Mia

Just One Drop

Kim Swims

The Kodachrome Elegies

Lady Bird

The Last Animals

Last Flag Flying

The Last Pig

Lemonade Mafia

Life and Nothing More

The Light of the Moon

Liyana

The Long Shadow

Love, Cecil

Love, Your Daughter

Mad Hannans

Mankiller

Mary Janes: The Women of Weed

Meryl Fuckin Streep

Metamorphosis: Junior Year

The Meyerowitz Stories

Moana

FILMS BY COUNTRY

Molly’s Game

Mr. Roosevelt Mudbound

My Josephine

The New Environmentalists: From Guatemala to the Congo

No Man’s Land

Not Alone

Nothing A Little Soap and Water Can’t Fix

On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone

Oncle Yanco

One of Us

Our Jewels

Picnic Perfect

Plaquemines

Quadrant, part 2

Quest

Ram Dass, Going Home

Real Artists

The Reflection in Me

Refuge and Restriction: The Music of Guatemala

The Relationtrip

A River Below

Roadside Attraction

Saving Happy Birthday

The Shape of Water

A Sibling Mystery

Snowy Bing Bongs Across the North Star Combat Zone

Swim

Take Your Time

That Is How Motherhood Works

Third Mind Blues

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Tip of My Tongue

Torch

Towards the Sun

An Uneasy Truth

Unspoken

Valence

Vital Fluid

Vitch

Wait for Your Laugh

Wonderstruck

Woodstock

Woodswimmer

Yours Sincerely, Lois Weber

VENEZUELA

El Amparo

VIETNAM

The Last Animals* Napalm Mayhem*

FILMMAKER INDEX

Abad, Anahid

Yeva 154

Adams, Anya

Lemonade Mafia 113

Akin, Fatih

In the Fade 129

Amasyalı, Mert

Zero 114

Anderson, John

Horn from the Heart:

The Paul Butterfield Story 128

Antonelli, John

The New Environmentalists:

From Guatemala to The Congo 123, 145

Arason, Hannes Thor Footsteps 113

Argo, Allison

The Last Pig

Aronson, Gus Valence

Ashby, Hal

Harold and Maude

Atan, Cecilia

The Desert Bride

Attanasio, Annabelle

Frankie Keeps Talking

Baker, Sean

The Florida Project

Barbor-Might, Tom

All That You Love Will Be Carried Away 115

Baumbach, Noah

The Meyerowitz Stories

Bogle, Ava

Meryl Fuckin Streep 147

Borman, Windy

Mary Janes: The Women of Weed 86. 138

Borowczyk, Walerian

Once Upon a Time 150

Bracken, Raine

Damsels in Distress 114

Bradshaw, Frazer

The Deep Sky

Bresnan, Patrick

Roadside Attraction

Brooks, Kate

The Last Animals

Broughton, James

The Bed

Brouillet, Zoe

The Dead

Bujman, Sigal

Vitch

Byars, David

No Man’s Land

Cadoret, Stéphanie

My Man (Octopus) 115

Cahill, Kev

The Nation Holds Its Breath 114

Calzadilla, Rober El Amparo 124

Campillo, Robin

BPM (Beats per Minute) 119

Capito, Gabriel Complete Me 114

Carpignano, Jonas A Ciambra 116

Causey, Frances

The Long Shadow 136

Cernic, Cejen

The Mystery of Green Hill 141

Chiten, Laurel

Just One Drop 131

Chuan, Song Ciao Ciao

Clements, Ron Moana 139

Cohen-Schisler, Alec

Metamorphosis: Junior Year 138

Colagiovanni, Marc

The Reflection in Me

Coles, Nicholas Isis Hair Salon

Collins, Pat Song of Granite

Colt-Lacayo, Sylvia

Conroy, Dana Fire & Light

Cook, Sam

Metamorphosis: Junior Year

Coppola, Christopher Torch

Corshen, Kiva

Cosculluela, Jonal

Curtis, Simon

Cvetko, Svetlana Yours

Cvijanovic, Eva

Gerwig, Greta

Lady Bird 35, 132

Ghasemi, Alireza

Lunch Time 115

Girard, Elise Strange Birds 148

Gold, Peter

Metamorphosis: Junior Year 138

Gomez-Rejon, Alfonso

The Current War 34, 121

Gomis, Alain Félicité 125

Gonzalez, Jose Luis

The History of Magic: Ensueño 115

Goshay, Kiki

Not Alone 87

Grad, Tzahi

The Cousin

Grady, Rachel One of Us

Grieco, Mark A River Below

Griffith, Dylan

Metamorphosis: Junior Year

Grisebach, Valeska Western

Gross, Simon My Happy Family

Guadagnino, Luca

Call Me by Your Name 119

Hardy, Don Fingerprints 90, 123

Has, Wojciech

The Sandglass 146

Haynes, Todd Wonderstruck 73-75. 153

Heffelfinger, JR Seconds 113

Hiltunen, Jussi Law of the Land 134

Holland, Agnieszka Spoor 147

Huerta, Coral Birds Dropping

Huston, Danny

The Last Photograph

James, Natalie Erika Creswick

Jefferson, Nailah Plaquemines

Jenkins, Barry My Josephine

Johnson, Natasha Adorlee Take Your Time

Kaurismäki, Aki

The Other Side of Hope

Kawase, Naomi Radiance

FILMMAKER INDEX

Killian, Harrison Dream with Me 114

Kobiela, Dorota Loving Vincent

Kohs, Greg AlphaGo

Kopp, Aaron Liyana

Kopp, Amanda Liyana

Korem, Luke Dealt

Kronlund, Sonia Nothingwood

Lachauer, Jan Revolting Rhymes

Lau, Kelly Growing Community

Lauer, David Quadrant, part 2

Lee, Daniel Fault

Lelio, Sebastián A Fantastic Woman

Lenica, Jan Once Upon a Time

Li, Elaine Love, Your Daughter

Linklater, Richard Last Flag Flying

Linnenbaum, Sophie Pix

Lucas, Halima Amelia’s Closet

Lucas, Ivete Roadside Attraction

Marsily, Noémie I Don’t Feel Anything Anymore

McDonagh, Martin Three Billboards Outside

Parrinello, Will

John

Pivato, Valeria

FILMMAKER INDEX

Polanen, Christina

Metamorphosis: Junior Year 138

Pool, Léa

Worst Case, We Get Married 154

Potter, Sally

The Party 143

Proctor, Jennifer

Nothing a Little Soap and Water Can’t Fix 113

Räfle, Claus

The Invisibles 130

Rauniyar, Deepak White Sun 153

Redford, James

Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution 127

Rees, Dee

Mudbound 57-59, 103, 140

Reynolds, Matt Hot Dog Hands

Rivera, Nicole

Our Jewels

Rizzo, Santiago Quest

Roosens, Carl

I Don’t Feel Anything Anymore

Rosenblatt, Jay

The Kodachrome Elegies

Rubenstone, Michael

On The Sly: In Search of the Family Stone

Russell, Dean

Vital Fluid 114

Rybczynski, Zbigniew Tango 150

Sachar, Max

Take Your Time

Sachs, Lynne Tip of My Tongue 150

Said, Marcela

Los Perros

Sanborn, John

John Sanborn: An Introspective Retrospective

Sangsoo, Hong

On the Beach at Night Alone

Santis, Monica Towards the Sun

Santos, Juan

Metamorphosis: Junior Year

Satriani, ZZ

Beyond the Supernova 91, 118

Schoenhoeft, Skye

How to Eat Walnuts 114

Schroeder, Barbet

The Venerable W

Where Are You at, Barbet Schroeder?

Schuh, Jakob

Revolting Rhymes

Serkis, Andy Breathe

Seume, Dagmar Wendy

Shore, Martin Mad Hannans

Simón, Carla Summer 1993

Skeva, Jessie Indefinable 114

Smith, Renée Felice

The Relationtrip

Smith, William Tyler Third Mind Blues

Sorkin, Aaron Molly’s Game

Srour, Shady Holy Air

Swingler, Michael All the Marbles

Tchelistcheff, Mark Andre: The Voice of Wine

Teller, Tom Icarus

Thacher, Cal Picnic Perfect

Thomas, Chris Awarewolf

Thomas, Daniela Vazante

Thompson, Jessica M. The Light of the Moon

Trier, Joachim Thelma

Troncone, Matteo Arrangiarsi (Pizza... & The Art

van Beek, Jackie

OPENING FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 Beauty is yours to define

TOWN CENTER CORTE MADERA

AIM

Andalou Naturals

Aroma

Bartender’s

Belcampo

Bellam

Best

Bloom

Body

Bossa

CPi

ADVERTISER INDEX

Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District

Good Green Moving

The Grateful Dog, Doggy PlayCare & Wellness Center

Green Chile Kitchen

ICG Magazine 162

iHeartMedia San Francisco 180 Il Davide Cucina Italiana 60 Il Fornaio 44

Incavo Wine & Tasting Collective 209

Jackson Square Partners ............ inside back cover

KPIX-TV

KWMR

La Ginestra Restaurant .............. 55

Lagunitas Brewing Company 109

Le Comptoir 50

Linda Walsh Real Estate ............. 38

The Lodge at Tiburon 163

Lucasfilm Ltd. back cover

LUNAFEST ........................ 39

Madison Real Estate 92

The Magic Flute 76

The Makery ....................... 70

Marie Van Elder Oil Paintings

TITLE INDEX

A Ciambra 116

An Act of Defiance 116

Adnyat 115

After the War 116

All That You Love Will Be Carried Away 115

All the Marbles 145

AlphaGo 117

Amelia’s Closet 113

Andre: The Voice of Wine 117

Arrangiarsi (Pizza... & The Art of Living) 117

Awarewolf 114

Babe, I Hate to Go 115

The Ballad of Lefty Brown 118

The Bed 114

Between the Sand 115

Beyond the Supernova 91, 118

Bill Frisell, A Portrait 118

Birds Dropping 147

Black Head Cow 135

BPM (Beats per Minute) 119

Bread & Roses Presents 115

Breathe 79, 119

Burning the Old Year 114

Call Me by Your Name 119

Ciao Ciao 120

City of Joy 120

Complete Me 114

The Corridor 120

The Cousin 121

Creswick 113

The Current War 34, 121

Damsels in Distress 114

The Dark of Night 113

Darkest Hour 32, 45, 121

The Dead 114

Dealt 122

Dear San Francisco 114

Death to Five 150

The Deep Sky 122

The Desert Bride 122

Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey 123

The Divine Order 123

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night 114

Dream with Me 114

Earth Wisdom for a World in Crisis 123

El Amparo 124

Esteban 124

Fabricated 115

Faces, Places 124

Fallen Art 150

A Fantastic Woman 125

Fault 114

Félicité 125

Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool 125

Fingerprints 90, 123

Fire & Light 115

The Florida Project 126 Footsteps 113

Fourth Movement 126

Frankie Keeps Talking 113

From the Green Hill 150

Fry Day 113 Game 114

Goodbye Christopher Robin 126

Growing Community 114

Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution 127

Harold and Maude 127

Hedgehog’s Home 113

The Hi De Ho Show 127

The History of Magic: Ensueño 115

Holy Air 128

Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story 91, 128

Hot Dog Hands 115

How to Eat Walnuts 114

Human Flow 128

I Don’t Feel Anything Anymore 115

I Still Hide to Smoke 129 Icarus 115 In Syria

Fade 129

In the Still of the Night 150

Inland Road

Insult

The Invisibles 130 Isis Hair Salon 115

Jaha’s Promise 131 Jane 131

Jesser and the Sugarcane 113

John Sanborn: An Introspective

Retrospective 86

Joya Mia 114

Just One Drop 131

Kim Swims 132

Kizi Mizi 150

The Kodachrome Elegies 133

Lady Bird 35, 132

The Last Animals 132

Last Flag Flying 69, 133

The Last Photograph 133

The Last Pig 133

Law of the Land 134

The Leisure Seeker 134

Lemonade Mafia 113

Let the Sunshine In 134

Life and Nothing More 135

The Light of the Moon 135 Liyana 135

The Long Shadow 136

Los Perros 136

Love, Your Daughter 114

Love, Cecil 136 Loveless 137

Loving Vincent 137

Lunch Time 115

Mad Hannans 90, 137

Mankiller 138

Mary Janes: The Women of Weed 86, 138

Meryl Fuckin Streep 147

Metamorphosis: Junior Year 86, 138

The Meyerowitz Stories 139 Moana 139

Molly’s Game 139

Mr. Roosevelt 140

Mudbound 57, 140

My Happy Family 140

My Josephine 114

My Man (Octopus) 115

The Mystery of Green Hill 141 Napalm Mayhem 113

The Nation Holds Its Breath 114

The New Environmentalists: From Guatemala to The Congo 123, 145 No Man’s Land 141

Not Alone 87 Not Yet 113

Nothing a Little Soap and Water Can’t Fix 113

Nothingwood 141

On the Beach at Night Alone 142

On The Sly: In Search of the Family Stone 91, 142

Once Upon a Time 150

Oncle Yanco 114

One of Us 142

The Other Side of Hope 143 Our Jewels 161 Owls & Mice 143

Bongs

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