The Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF), presented by the California Film Institute (CAFILM), is a significant San Francisco Bay Area cultural event founded by Mark Fishkin in 1977. The festival has gained international recognition throughout its nearly five decades for its commitment to showcasing exceptional films, supporting emerging talent, and fostering creative dialogue. Over the years, it has hosted renowned filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals, establishing its reputation as the West Coast launch pad for many Academy Award®-winning films and a hub for cinematic excellence.
During this year’s 47th season, October 3 – 13, 2024, the MVFF theme was “synergy,” illustrated in this year’s official visual design that features interwoven imagery, vibrant colors, and modern, fluid typography, all reflecting the interconnectedness of the communal viewing experience. This year’s first communal viewing experience was opening night, October 3, with a West Coast premiere of Conclave, starring the mesmerizing Ralph Fiennes. Directed by the acclaimed Edward Berger, the film, which also stars Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Carlos Diehz, and Isabella Rossellini, delves into the enigmatic and captivating world of a papal conclave, offering a compelling narrative and stellar performances. Berger and Ralph Fiennes both attended in person at the opening night festivities. The film previewed at both the Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley and the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
Conclave tells the story of Father Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) reluctantly doing his duty at the conclave when the Pope has just died and the future of the Catholic Church depends on Lawrence to convene the College of 108 Cardinals to select the papal successor at conclave. Based on Robert Harris’s novel, director Edward Berger’s drama is a tale of power, corruption, betrayal, and a secret that can upend all Christendom. Berger graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1994. His recent film, All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), won seven BAFTAs and four Oscars®, making it the most awarded international film ever. Berger received an Academy Award® for Best International Feature Film.
Additional star power comes to MVFF this season as Jude Law was honored with the coveted MVFF Award, which celebrates the work of distinguished artists and innovators in the filmmaking community. Law’s decades-spanning career has left audiences enchanted, and this tribute revisited key moments from his films and examine his unique portrayal of Henry VIII in Firebrand, a testament to his remarkable and diverse career. In 2024 in addition to Firebrand, Law leads the Disney+ series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Ron Howard’s Eden, and Justin Kurzel’s The Order, produced by Law’s production company Riff Raff. He is currently in production on the Netflix series Black Rabbit, in which he stars opposite Jason Bateman, who also directs, and executive produces under Riff Raff.
The Tribute honored lifetime achievement, and featured a conversation with Jude Law, and the presentation of the MVFF Award.
On the closing night MVFF 47 screened Amy Adams’ Night Bitch directed by Marielle Heller, a story of the hardships of motherhood. Adams plays a visual artist who gave up her career after the birth of her son, who is a very difficult 2 year old. Adams’ excellently portrays the extremely emotional and physical struggles as a mother. Adams achieved her breakthrough with Junebug in 2005, for which she won a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female and received her first Academy Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The Oscar® nod was the first of six, followed by Doubt (2008), The Fighter (2010), The Master (2012), American Hustle (2013), Vice (2018), Julie and Julia (2009), On the Road (MVFF45), Her (2013), Big Eyes (2014), Nocturnal Animals (2016), and Arrival. She also received two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and Outstanding Limited Series for Sharp Objects (2018).
MVFF is just one of the acclaimed programs of CAFILM, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing film and media arts. CAFILM Education offers students of all ages the opportunity to explore the world through film and filmmaking, fostering the next generation of film enthusiasts and creators. CAFILM’s premier independent theater, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, attracts more than 275,000 guests annually with compelling cinema and storytelling that addresses pressing social, environmental, and cultural issues. Additionally, CAFILM now owns and operates the Sequoia Cinema, furthering our commitment to preserving cinematic heritage and providing local access to quality films.
Photos courtesy of MVFF