Nicole Kidman headlines 39th Mill Valley Film Festival The Mill Valley Film Festival revealed its biggest coup as it unveiled its full lineup Monday night for the 39th festival, which runs Oct. 6-16 at venues in Mill Valley, San Rafael, Corte Madera and Larkspur. The Academy Award-winning actress joins actors Ewan McGregor, Gael Garcia Bernal and Aaron Eckhart as well as groundbreaking filmmaker Julie Dash as artists who will be honored at the festival. “When you look at turning 39 and heading into our 40th year, the amount of energy and change and innovation we’re doing with this festival is extraordinary,” said Mark Fishkin, who with Zoe Elton is festival co-founder and co-director. The festival closes Oct. 16 with the highly-anticipated “Loving,” Jeff Nichols’ take on Richard and Mildred Loving (Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga), whose interracial marriage was challenged by existng laws and led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1967. The inclusion of “Loving,” considered by many a top contender in the Oscar race, might point to a course correction in the infamous #OscarsSoWhite controversy at the last Academy Awards in February — something this Mill Valley Film Festival is addressing, if not consciously. Dash was the first African American female to have a film gain full theatrical exhibition in the United States (“Daughters of the Dust,” 1991). There is also a special panel on the women behind the upcoming “Hidden Figures,” the true story of three genius African American women (played by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae) working for NASA who helped send John Glenn into orbit. [...] there is “Moonlight,” Bay Area filmmaker Barry Jenkins’ story of an African American man making his way out of the hardscrabble environment of 1980s Miami. Fishkin added, One would have to be living on a rock not to notice what has happened in relationship to the Academy and the entertainment industry in general in terms of diversity. ... Other highlights include the centerpiece presentation, “20th Century Women,” with Annette Bening (in person) and Elle Fanning; Eleanor Coppola’s first feature film, “Paris Can Wait,” starring Diane Lane and Alec Baldwin; and new films from Kelly Reichardt (“Certain Women,” with Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams and Laura Dern) and Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, an Oscar-winner for “A Separation” (the new one: “The Salesman”), who will appear in person. Making its world premiere — with cast and filmmakers in attendance — is “Monday Nights at 7,” Marty Sader’s cinematic poem about relationships and connections that features a strong performance by Edward James Olmos — who has a long history with the festival. The Mill Valley Film Festival has become an uncanny predictor of the Oscars, with eight of the last 10 best picture winners, including reigning champ “Spotlight,” playing here. [...] year of MVFF Music, concerts at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley
Reported by SFGate 2 hours ago.
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