I will be a jury member for the first time ever at the Napa Valley Film Fest, I’m proud to announce. Napa, like the Savannah Film Festival and the Middleburg Film Fest and the Hamptons Film Fest and the Santa Barbara and Palms Springs Film Festivals are becoming more and more vital to the awards race as members gather in various enclaves rather than in the big cities to screen films and catch the latest buzz. Napa is nestled above San Francisco. My dogs and I will be headed up Sideways style to slither up the mighty state of California. It should be a lovely time.
Screenings:
- 78/52 – (IFC) An unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960), the “man behind the curtain,” and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema. Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe.
- Call Me By Your Name – (Sony Pictures Classics) In 1983, the son of an American professor is enamored by the graduate student who comes to study and live with his family in their northern Italian home. Together, they share an unforgettable summer full of music, food, and romance that will forever change them. Directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg. Michael Stuhlbarg is expected to attend.
- Chappaquiddick – (Entertainment Studios) Ted Kennedy’s life and political career become derailed in the aftermath of a fatal car accident in 1969 that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne. Directed by John Curran and starring Jason Clarke, Bruce Dern, Ed Helms and Kate Mara.
- Crown Heights – (Amazon Studios) When Colin Warner is wrongfully convicted of murder, his best friend Carl King devotes his life to proving Colin’s innocence. Directed by Matt Ruskin and starring Nnamdi Asomugha and Lakeith Stanfield. Nnamdi Asomugha is expected to attend.
- The Current War – (The Weinstein Company) The dramatic story of the cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose electrical system would power the modern world. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Nicholas Hoult, Michael Shannon and Katherine Waterston. Michael Shannon is expected to attend.
- Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool – (Sony Pictures Classics) A romance sparks between a young actor and a Hollywood leading lady. Directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Jamie Bell and Annette Bening.
- I, Tonya – (Neon) Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises among the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the sport is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes. Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Allison Janney, Margot Robbie and Sebastian Stan.
- LA 92 – (NatGeo) A look at the events that led up to the 1992 uprising in Los Angeles following the Rodney King beating by the police. Directed by Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin.
- The Leisure Seeker – (Sony Pictures Classics) A runaway couple go on an unforgettable journey in the faithful old RV they call The Leisure Seeker, traveling from Boston to The Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West. They recapture their passion for life and their love for each other on a road trip that provides revelation and surprise right up to the very end. Directed by Paolo Virzì and starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland.
CELEBRITY TRIBUTES
NVFF is excited to announce this year’s line-up of Celebrity Tributes that salute the highest levels of cinematic achievement. The festival will honor Charles Krug Legendary Filmmaker Nancy Meyers (It’s Complicated, The Intern), Raymond Vineyards Trailblazer Michael Shannon (The Current War, The Shape of Water), and Spotlight Tribute honoree Michael Stuhlbarg (Call Me By Your Name; The Shape of Water). New this year, The Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch Humanitarian Tribute will be presented to Nikki Reed (Twilight, Ian Somerhalder Foundation) and Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries, Ian Somerhalder Foundation). The Celebrity Tributes program will take place on Thursday, November 9 at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville and will include video highlight reels and intimate on-stage conversations with Access Hollywood’s Natalie Morales.
In addition to the Celebrity Tributes program, Will Ferrell (Anchorman; Daddy’s Home 2) will be honored with the Caldwell Vineyards Maverick Tribute on Friday, November 10, and the first annual Rising Star Showcase at Materra | Cunat Vineyards on Saturday, November 11 will honor a handful of young talent including Ana de Armas (War Dogs; Blade Runner 2049), Odeya Rush, (Lady Bird, Goosebumps), Austin Stowell (Battle of the Sexes, Bridge of Spies), Gregg Sulkin (Runaways, Faking It) and Alex Wolff (My Friend Dahmer; Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle).
Core Competitions (previously announced)
Narrative Features:
- American Folk, Directed by David Heinz
- The Boy Downstairs, Directed by Sophie Brooks
- The House of Tomorrow, Directed by Peter Livolsi
- I Can I Will I Did, Directed by Nadine Truong
- People You May Know, Directed by Shewin Shilati
- The Sounding, Directed by Catherine Eaton
- Stuck, Directed by Michael Berry
- Tater Tot & Patton, Directed by Andrew Kightlinger
- The Year of Spectacular Men, Directed by Lea Thompson
Documentary Features:
- ACORN and the Firestorm, Directed by Reuben Atlas and Samuel D. Pollard
- Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise, Directed by Jennifer Townsend
- Coyote, Directed by Thomas Simmons
- A Fine Line, Directed by Joanna James
- The Gateway Bug, Directed by Johanna B. Kelly
- Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies, Directed by Amanda Ladd-Jones
- Mighty Ground, Directed by Delila Vallot
- Skid Row Marathon, Directed by Mark Hayes
- The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin, Directed by Jennifer M. Kroot
The Lounge
Features:
- Amanda & Jack Go Glamping, Directed by Brandon Dickerson
- Class Rank, Directed by Eric Stoltz
- Coup d’etat, Directed by Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse
- Entanglement, Directed by Jason James
- A Happening of Monumental Proportions, Directed by Judy Greer
- Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town, Directed by Christian Papierniak
- Life Hack, Directed by Sloan Copeland
- Quest, Directed by Santiago Rizzo
- The Relationtrip, Directed by Renée Felice Smith and C.A. Gabriel
Special Presentations
- 40 Years in the Making – The Magic Music Movie, Directed by Lee Aronsohn
- The Ataxian, Directed by Zack Bennett and Kevin Schlanser
- Back to Burgundy, Directed by Cédric Klapisch
- Bernard and Huey, Directed by Dan Mirvish
- Breakable You, Directed by Andrew Wagner
- California Typewriter, Directed by Doug Nichol
- Constructing Albert, Directed by Laura Collado and Jim Loomis
- Dog Years, Directed by Adam Rifkin
- Don’t Shoot the Zebra Pony, Directed by Kathryn Lauritzen
- Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table, Directed by Leslie Iwerks
- Fermented, Directed by Jon Cianfrani
- Food Evolution, Directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy
- Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution, Directed by Jamie Redford
- Liyana, Directed by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp
- Man In Red Bandana, Directed by Matthew Weiss
- Michelin Stars: Tales from the Kitchen, Directed by Rasmus Dinesen
- New Chefs on the Block, Directed by Dustin Harrison-Atlas
- Poisoning Paradise, Directed by Keely Shaye Brosnan
- Rebels On Pointe, Directed by Bobbi Jo Hart
- Served Like a Girl, Directed by Lysa Heslov
- Taming Wild: A Girl and a Mustang, Directed by Elsa Sinclair
- To the Edge of the Sky, Directed by Todd Wider and Jedd Wider
- Wasted! The Story of Food Waste, Directed by Anna Chai, Nari Kye