Marin County Film Festival To Open With Oscar Winning Director’s New Film

MILL VALLEY, CA — The Mill Valley Film Festival returns for its 48th year and will open Oct. 2 with star studded guests and a screening from an Academy Award winning director.

Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet,” which stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, will screen Oct. 2 on the opening night of the festival. “Hamnet” is a story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

“It’s been five years since ‘Nomadland’ went on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Now, five years later, Zhao returns with Hamnet, a film that exceeds those high expectations. Poignant and powerful, this adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel will captivate her readers and anyone unfamiliar with the story alike,” said MVFF Director/Founder Mark Fishkin.

On Oct. 3 there will be an encore matinee screening of “Hamnet” and the presentation of the Mill Valley Film Festival Award to Buckley, recognizing her outstanding work in Hamnet and her contributions to contemporary cinema. An on-stage conversation with Zhao and Buckley, moderated by MVFF Program Director Zoë Elton, will follow the award presentation.

“I'm so excited to be opening this year's MVFF with Hamnet,” Elton said. “It’s like being in the company of great artists across time, from the imagined lives of Agnes Hathaway and William Shakespeare in sixteenth-century England via Maggie O’Farrell’s excellent book, to Chloé Zhao’s exquisite filmmaking and the extraordinary performances of Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, plus a wonderful ensemble. The story and characters feel remarkably contemporary, a testament to the power of the actor-director collaboration.”

The 48th Mill Valley Film Festival, presented by the California Film Institute, is set to run from Oct. 2-12. This significant cultural cinema event in the Bay Area has earned international acclaim for its dedication to showcasing outstanding films, nurturing new talent and encouraging creative discussions. Over time, MVFF has become recognized as a West Coast launch pad for numerous Academy Award-winning films and a center for cinematic excellence, having hosted celebrated filmmakers, actors and industry professionals.

Hailing from Beijing, Zhao is a multi-talented filmmaker, known for her work as a writer, director, editor, and producer. Her third feature film, “Nomadland,” garnered significant critical acclaim, earning the Golden Lion at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, as well as Golden Globe, BAFTA, DGA, and PGA Awards. The film also secured three Oscars for Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Picture. Zhao later co-wrote and directed Marvel Studios’ “Eternals.” In 2023, she co-founded Book of Shadows, a production company, with her producing partner Nic Gonda.

Buckley gained international recognition in Michael Pearce's “Beast” and has since received critical acclaim for films like “Wild Rose,” “Judy” and “The Lost Daughter,” earning an Academy Award nomination for the latter.

For tickets, visit mvff.com.