Step into the buzz of the 49th annual Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF)! In this second-annual collaboration between OLLI and the California Film Institute, you’ll go behind the scenes with a festival insider — then experience the magic firsthand with a shared day of film in Mill Valley.

The adventure starts with an online preview session led by Karen Davis, senior film programmer emerita of the MVFF, who will introduce the two featured films and reveal how a world-class festival lineup comes together. Then you'll head to the Festival to watch both films with fellow OLLI members — immersing yourself in the energy, conversation and discovery that define MVFF. Expect standout selections from the international festival circuit — fiction, documentary or premieres — with the possibility of guest filmmakers in attendance. Seats are limited! 

🍿 Part 1: The Preview

• Friday, Sept. 18, 10:30–noon

• Learn about the films and the filmmakers, plus what goes into programming an international film festival. 

• This session will be livestreamed and recorded.

🍿 Part 2: The Festival

• Friday, Oct. 9, 11 AM–TBD

• Spend the day at MVFF! We’ll gather in Mill Valley, watch two films together, and enjoy a break between screenings to relax, reflect and connect.

• Film-goers are responsible for their own transportation.

Showtimes, titles and more details about the day will be announced as soon as the Festival lineup is finalized.