Mill Valley Film Festival facts for kids
 |
|
| Location | Mill Valley, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 |
| Hosted by | California Film Institute |
| Festival date | October |
| Language | English |
The Mill Valley Film Festival is an exciting yearly event in the United States. It's a special celebration of movies that started way back in 1977. People come from all over to watch amazing films here!
Contents
History of the Film Festival
The Mill Valley Film Festival began in October 1977. Three friends, Mark Fishkin, Rita Cahill, and Lois Cole, started it. Their first event was a short, three-day festival. It showed special tributes to filmmakers. They even showed movies by famous directors like Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas.
Mark Fishkin said their first program was very new and exciting. The first official festival happened in August 1978. Since then, it has grown into a big annual event.
About the Mill Valley Film Festival
The Mill Valley Film Festival is held every October. It takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. This area is important for showing new and independent films. The festival helps introduce these movies to people on the West Coast.
The California Film Institute presents this festival. It's known for launching new films and creating excitement for awards season. Many people call it a "filmmakers' festival." It celebrates the best movies from America and around the world. It also highlights films that might win big awards.
Famous Faces at the Festival
Over its long history, the festival has welcomed many famous actors and directors. Some well-known names include Robin Williams, Helen Mirren, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Stone, and Ryan Gosling. Many other talented people have also attended. They come to share their work and meet movie fans.
What to See at the Festival
Each year, the festival lasts for 11 days. More than 200 filmmakers visit, and over 60,000 people attend. The festival has different sections for movies. These include World Cinema for international films and US Cinema for American movies. There's also Valley of the Docs for documentaries.
filmHOOD is a section for younger audiences. 5@5 shows short films. MVFF Music combines film with music. The festival also has special events. These include Mind the Gap: Women | Film | Tech and Viva El Cine!. They also honor famous filmmakers, writers, and actors.
Festival Locations
Movies are shown at several places. These include the Christopher B Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael. Other locations are the Sequoia Theatre in Mill Valley and the Cinema in Corte Madera. The Lark Theatre in Larkspur also hosts screenings.
Screen International magazine has called the Mill Valley Film Festival one of the top 10 film festivals in the U.S.
Audience Awards
The Mill Valley Film Festival gives out special awards. These are called "Audience Awards." The audience votes for their favorite films. This means the movies that people loved the most get recognized.
2017 Audience Favorites
In 2017, the overall favorite film was Mudbound. It was directed by Dee Rees.
- US Cinema:
- Gold Award: Molly's Game, directed by Aaron Sorkin
- Silver Award: Lady Bird, directed by Greta Gerwig
- World Cinema:
- Gold Award: Goodbye Christopher Robin, directed by Simon Curtis
- Silver Award: The Invisibles, directed by Claus Räfle
- Valley of the Docs (Documentaries):
- Gold Award: Kim Swims, directed by Kate Webber
- Silver Award: City of Joy, directed by Madeleine Gavin
