October 8 is the Official kickoff for the Mill Valley Film Fest!

All us folks up here in Northern California have some great festivals. However, they’re usually spread out over the course of the year and many are very niche-oriented. However, the Mill Valley Film Festival always manages to pull in a diverse blend of big-budget indies, world cinema, timely docs, and all sorts of fun little festival circuit favorites from the year gone by. This year’s festival, Mill Valley’s 32nd, is no exception and I can’t wait for the kickoff.

According to press materials, “the festival opens with two films that boldly celebrate the power of the human spirit – PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE and THE BOYS ARE BACK. Guests are invited after either Opening Night Film to join Clive Owen, Scott Hicks, Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe, Paula Patton, and Lee Daniels at the Mill Valley Community Center for delicious savories and sweets, wine and cocktails, and dazzling live music.

Other highlights of the festival include a “Spotlight on Jason Reitman” which will include his much anticipated film UP IN THE AIR, a tribute to Woody Harrelson which will include a screening of his film THE MESSENGER (no word on whether or not zombies or stoners may attend), and closing night films LOOKING FOR ERIC by director Ken Loach and the Emily Blunt-starring THE YOUNG VICTORIA.

Tickets are still available for many films and I suggest peeping Dia Sokol’s SORRY, THANKS. It’s a great little film and is sure to please fans of the new breed of D.I.Y. digital filmmakers.

For more information, check out the festival’s website HERE.