Thursday, October 6 marked the opening night of the 39th annual Mill Valley Film Festival. The night kicked off at CinéArts Sequoia with the highly anticipated Lionsgate release La La Land, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as they sing, dance and charm their way through director Damien Chazelle’s musical tribute to dreamers and artists, Hollywood, and filmmaking itself. Emma Stone made her debut for her first time in Mill Valley since winning best actress for the romantic musical in Venice. Joining Stone were Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz. The other movie premiering opening night was Paramount Pictures’ Arrival, a drama starring five-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams as a linguistics professor who unites all sentient beings on Earth by the power of communication. Adams was interviewed in a conference after the film at The Outdoor Art Club. Following the two films, the California Film Institute commenced the festivities with a formal gala at the Marin Country Mart. The guest list included filmmakers and other movie notables, who gathered by the bay for live music from the Ethan Tucker Band and catering by Belcampo Meat Co. and FarmShop as well as beverages by Coppola Wines, Lagunitas Brewing Company and Equator Coffee. Actors to be honored throughout the rest of the week include: Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Ewan McGregor, Gael García Bernal, Julie Dash and Aaron Eckhart. The Mill Valley Film Festival closes Sunday night, October 16, celebrating nearly four decades of excellence in cinema.

Email This To A Friend