5 MVFF films with a connection to wine country
Being a fan of wine country, and all the interesting personalities that call the place home (and work), every year I like to skim the…
Independent Film
Explore the world of independent film with news, reviews, and interviews from a filmmaker’s perspective. This category covers Sundance, SXSW, and the broader indie scene—with a focus on storytelling, creative risk-taking, and emerging talent shaping the future of cinema.
My Love Affair with the Brain utterly charming, inspiring documentary (#MVFF39)
"Take away the brain, you take away the person."
Mill Valley Film Festival Line-up Revealed: Neruda, The Salesman, La La Land, Arrival, more
The style might have been more relaxed, but the content was as impressive as ever. Last night, at Dolby Labs in San Francisco, we got…
MVFF 39: Emma Stone, Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Annette Bening among stars scheduled to appear
Oscar nominee Emma Stone. Nicole Kidman. Ewan McGregor. Annette Bening. Gael Garcia Bernal. Julie Dash. James Franco. Edward James Olmos. If you’re keeping score, that’s…
‘La La Land’ and ‘Arrival’ to open Mill Valley Film Festival
More indie film festival news to report today. Organizers of the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) have announced that La La Land (Lionsgate) and Arrival (Paramount Pictures) will open…
The Neon Demon a surreal perfume commercial with blood, electronica, geometry (Review)
Smash or trash? Nicolas Winding Refn probably doesn’t care which you choose. My guess is the Danish director is content with you just having the very…
Finding inspiration in ‘9 1/2 Weeks’ for making short films
One of my favorite past-times when it comes to video production is to look for inspiration in various places (art, cartoons, video games, movies, etc.).…
Film School MasterClass Review: Werner Herzog teaches filmmaking
“Capture the moment.” One of this online film school’s final suggestions is simple enough. But when it’s delivered by none other than legendary director and documentarian…
MVFF Closing Night Film: Interracial couple sentenced to prison in ‘Loving’
Film festival season will soon be here, and news and details have begun to emerge about one of our favorites, the Mill Valley Film Festival. Today…
Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke reveals filmmaking secrets (Video)
When it comes to Catherine Hardwicke one word comes to mind: hustle. As I discovered when I met the energetic director at the Mill Valley…