This fall, the Bay Area’s biggest celebration of film returns. From October 2–12, 2025, the 48th Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) invites audiences to discover bold new stories, timeless artistry, and unforgettable conversations with the filmmakers shaping our world today.
Presented by the California Film Institute (CAFILM), MVFF has built a reputation as a launchpad for awards season contenders and a welcoming home for international cinema. Year after year, it brings together acclaimed directors, emerging voices, and local storytellers in an atmosphere that is both glamorous and deeply community-driven.
And this year, the lineup is nothing short of spectacular.
The festival opens with HAMNET, the latest from Academy Award®–winning director Chloe Zhao (Nomadland, MVFF43). Starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s beloved novel imagines the tender yet devastating love story between William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, haunted by the loss of their young son. It’s an intimate portrait of grief, creativity, and enduring love—set to launch MVFF48 with power and poignancy.
On October 12, the festival wraps with RENTAL FAMILY, starring Brendan Fraser, who was celebrated at MVFF45. Fraser plays an American actor adrift in Tokyo, who discovers unexpected meaning when he takes a job with a “rental family” agency, standing in for roles that strangers need filled in their lives. Touching, witty, and original, it’s a heartfelt finale to 11 days of cinematic discovery.
Global Cinema, Local Voices
MVFF48 features 138 films from 40 countries, with more than half directed or co-directed by women or non-binary filmmakers. Highlights include IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (winner of the Cannes Palme d’Or), SIRAT (Cannes Jury Prize), A PRESIDENT’S CAKE, AFTER THE HUNT, THE ALABAMA SOLUTION, BLUE MOON, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, THE MASTERMIND, ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA, THE SECRET AGENT, and BUGONIA, among many others.
Closer to home, MVFF proudly spotlights Bay Area filmmakers with works like ANDRE IS AN IDIOT by Tony Benna, BROTHER VERSUS BROTHER by Ari Gold, DIAMOND DIPLOMACY by Yuriko Gamo Romer, EVERYWHERE MAN: The Life and Times of Peter Asher by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, and SUN RA: DO THE IMPOSSIBLE by Christine Turner. It’s a reminder that world-class filmmaking thrives right here in our own backyard.
Stars and Stories in Person
MVFF has always been about more than just watching movies—it’s about connecting with the people who make them. This year’s Spotlight Programs and Tributes bring some of today’s most exciting talent into direct conversation with audiences.
Special guests include Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Zoey Deutch (Nouvelle Vague), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Tonatiuh (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Eva Victor (Sorry Baby), and Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You).
Two towering figures of world cinema will receive Tributes: Spike Lee, whose groundbreaking films have transformed American culture, and Jafar Panahi, the Iranian filmmaker celebrated worldwide for his courage and artistry in the face of adversity. These programs are always a festival highlight, offering the rare chance to hear directly from artists whose work continues to inspire.
A Festival with Purpose
For nearly five decades, MVFF has been more than a festival—it has been a community celebration. With screenings at the Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, the Lark Theater in Larkspur, and Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), the festival creates spaces where film lovers come together to experience stories that entertain, challenge, and connect us.
MVFF’s commitment to inclusivity shines through in its programming, with a lineup that embraces voices across gender, culture, and geography. It’s a place where audiences can travel the world without leaving Marin County, and where filmmakers know their stories will be met with curiosity, passion, and open dialogue.
For 11 days in October, the Mill Valley Film Festival will once again turn the Bay Area into a world stage for film. Tickets are always in high demand, and this year’s lineup is sure to inspire, entertain, and spark conversation long after the credits roll.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of it.