Stark Insider is on location north of San Francisco for the 38th annual Mill Valley Film Festival. "This script made me cry." Director Tom Hooper is back. We last saw him here on Stark Insider when he introduced the world to The King's Speech. That film, which proved impediments could be...

"Take a deep breath." Who knew?! Breathing is critical to proper camera operation -- at least for the Hollywood pros. Amazing what you can learn on the Internet, and how many talented people are willing to share their knowledge and expertise. Such is the case with award-winning cinematographer Sean Bobbitt (Shame,...

You don't see horror films too often at mainstream film festivals. And you also don't see new Coppola films all that often either. Sacred Blood, thankfully, serves up both. Fortunately I was able to view an advance screening. Scheduled to premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival, this low budget gorefest is the...

Film festivals are a creative wonderland. You have the films themselves, thoughtful, and interesting indies, many from far away places, that shed new perspectives, and expanded cultural horizons. Then, of course, there are the creative people behind the making of the movies -- the directors, producers, actors, crew. Often, though, it's...

A preview of some of this year's gems at the Mill Valley Film Festival begins with 'Taxi' ('Taxi Tehran'), a banned film shot on the streets of Tehran. Jafar Panahi stars in his own film, as a taxi driver. When a rider recognizes the famed Iranian director -- even in that beret!...

Green Day 'American Idiot' documentary that sat on the shelf for 10 years will finally see day of light at Mill Valley Film Festival.

Elle Fanning, on this episode of Stark Insider Uncut! Watch as Elle, as fashionable and as graceful a young star as you're likely to see, arrives at the Mill Valley Film Festival. We talk film, acting, and female role models including Angelina Jolie, and Glenn Close, before she graciously works...

One of the (many) highlights of this year's edition of the Mill Valley Film Festival is the presence of a film legend. That, of course, would be Sir Ian McKellen. According to organizers, the twice Oscar-nominated (Gods and Monsters, LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring), English born great is set...

The countdown continues. In just about two weeks the 38th edition of the highly regarded Mill Valley Film Festival kicks off. In anticipation of opening night, we've been pulling footage from the trusty old Stark Insider vault (floating somewhere in the cloud, surely with bright orange racing stripes), and releasing uncut,...

It can be slightly overwhelming. You're handed a 60-page program guide. In front of you, 170 some-odd films; and a bunch of panels and tributes. Not to mention, shorts, premieres, parties (okay, if we must) and even a children's filmfest -- a festival within a festival. So, like most...