Stargaze in Mill Valley, California
Great films shine at October's festival in the heart of Marin County
David Fenton
The intimate Sequoia Theatre puts you right next to the talent during the Mill Valley Film Festival, with stars, directors, and writers often giving talks before or after screenings. At other times, it shows first-run art-house and international films.
The mostly unglitzy hamlet of Mill Valley seems an unlikely place to see actress Helen Mirren sit down for tea. But when the Mill Valley Film Festival sweeps into town, residents often find themselves elbow to elbow with Hollywood’s A-list.
Not that it goes to their heads. “At a lot of film festivals, you get people showing off what they’re wearing – or not wearing,” says producer-actor-director Sydney Pollack. “Here, you get intelligent people who are interested in really good film.”
GETTING THERE
