Mill Valley Film Festival 2021: Photos and Highlights

MILL VALLEY, CA – It’s a wrap! Believe it, festival-goers. Once again, the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) has come and gone from the San Francisco Bay Area.

But wait! Not so fast! Let’s first take a look at the 44th edition of the acclaimed film festival which boasts a long-standing reputation for launching new films and creating a buzz for awards season. (See photos below.)

Famous for its intimate urban setting and international vibe, the film festival kicked off this year’s festivities on Thursday, October 7 with the California premiere of a romantic musical, Joe’s movie “Cyrano,” Wright on Love and Panache, based on Edmond Rostand’s famous 1897 play. The film stars Peter Dinklage as the eponymous French nobleman facing a romantic dilemma.

Throughout the 11-day hybrid (virtual and in-person) event, presented by the California Film Institute, a series of tributes and spotlights also celebrated outstanding artists including Jane Campion, Kenneth Branagh, Denis Villeneuve, Paolo Sorrentino, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Simon Rex.

Mind the Gap (MTG), MVFF’s platform for inclusion and equity, held its annual summit, featuring first-time directors Halle Berry (“Bruised”), Rebecca Hall (” Passing “), Maggie Gyllenhaal (” The Lost Daughter “), and Nana Mensah (” Queen of Glory “).

The festival ended on a high note with the West Coast premiere of an eclectic film, “The French Dispatch”, Wes Anderson’s love letter to journalism, starring Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Timothee Chalamet.

In conclusion, MVFF founder and director Mark Fishkin summed up this year’s film festival: â€œMy intention for the 44th Mill Valley Film Festival was to create a safe and vibrant festival that entertains and responds to the universal need to be. bring together and share stories about our common community. After 11 days, 125 films and over 23,000 guests, I can say unequivocally that the hopes for this year’s festival have come true. ”

Check out photos from the 2021 Mill Valley Film Festival below.

Highlights in photos from MVFF 2021

Dakota Johnson arrives at the screening of “The Lost Daughter” at the Smith Rafael Film Center on October 16, 2021 in San Rafael, California. (Jonathan Shensa / MVFF)