The fourth annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) announces its complete line-up, Opening Night & Gala screenings, special events and honorees for its Celebrity Tribute Program. NVFF returns in full force with a five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films in 14 unique screening venues in the four postcard-perfect towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga, November 12-16. Organizers also showcase Napa Valley’s finest food and wine at all special events, VIP receptions and Vintners Circle dinners, pre-screen wine tastings, and a series of celebrity chef presentations and demonstrations on the Culinary Stage.
The Festival kicks off Opening Night, Wednesday, November 12, with a Red Carpet screening of The Imitation Game, fresh off winning the audience award at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, The Imitation Game, stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley. Director Morten Tyldum is expected to attend. Following the screening, NVFF Patron Circle Members and other VIP guests will enjoy an Opening Night Party at the Napa Valley Museum catered by Estate Events by Meadowood.
On Thursday, November 13, the extravagant Red Carpet Festival Gala will follow the screening of Director Mike Binder’s new film Black and White, starring Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer. NVFF Patron Circle Members and Pass Plus and Gala ticket holders will mingle with filmmakers and celebrities at the not-to-be missed party of the year. Guests will enjoy cuisine from more than 20 of the Valley’s top chefs including Ken Frank (La Toque), Bob Hurley (Hurley’s), Joseph Humphries (The Fox and the Farmer), and Victor Scargle (Lucy at Bardessono) and wines from more than 50 of Napa Valley’s boutique wineries.
Napa Valley Film Festival Co-Founders/Directors Brenda and Marc Lhormer are excited to announce that the BVisionary Award will be presented by Beaulieu Vineyards to Screen Icon Kevin Costner at the Celebrity Tribute Program. Domaine Chandon will present the Rising Star award to Jeremy Jordan who appears in the NVFF Selection The Last 5 Years opposite Anna Kendrick. The Tribute Program will take place on Friday, November 14 at the Lincoln Theatre in Yountville and will include video highlight reels and intimate on-stage conversations with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush. Additional Tribute Honorees will be announced over the next few weeks.
Actress Shailene Woodley (The Fault in Our Stars, Divergent, The Descendants) will receive Variety’s Indie Impact Award at the 10 Producers to Watch event, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, on Saturday, November 15 at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena. Variety Executive Editor Steve Gaydos will also be conducting a “Contenders Conversation” with Kevin Costner at the event. A screening of The Fault in Our Stars will run Sunday, November 16 at 10:00 a.m. at the Uptown Theatre in downtown Napa, and Ms. Woodley will be in attendance for the Q&A.
“This year’s lineup is particularly diverse, including work by established directors alongside promising debuts by newly emerging talents,” said Artistic & Executive Director Marc Lhormer. “We are so gratified to see how many directors, writers, producers, and actors are planning on attending in support of their films. The interaction between artists and audience conversing about the films and enjoying wonderful food and wine is truly magical to behold.”
Other film highlights include:
· Alex of Venice – In actor Chris Messina’s directorial debut feature, Alex (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a workaholic environmental attorney, is forced to reinvent herself after her husband (Messina) suddenly leaves the family. Messina will participate in the post-screening Q&As. (November 15, 12:30 p.m., Cameo Cinema; November 16, 10:00 a.m., City Winery)
· Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me – An intimate, devastating, and inspiring look at the final tour of musical legend Glen Campbell as he faces the end of his career due to Alzheimer’s disease. This special screening takes place at the Uptown Theatre in downtown Napa that was the venue for Campbell’s final poignant performance. Director James Keach will attend the Q&A. (November 16, 5:30 p.m., Uptown Theatre)
· Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon – Mike Myers will attend the festival with Shep Gordon, the original mega talent manager and subject of Mike’s hilarious, touching and award-winning documentary Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon. Fandango’s Chief Correspondent Dave Karger will moderate an on-stage conversation with Myers and Gordon will follow the screening. (November 13, 2:00 p.m., Uptown Theatre)
· The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her & Him – A special presentation of a unique cinematic achievement: back-to-back screenings of Ned Benson’s two versions of a film about a marriage falling apart, one from the wife’s perspective and one from the husband’s, starring Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy. A post-screening discussion with Director Ned Benson will follow. (November 15, 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., City Winery).
· Sideways – 10th Anniversary – Few films have so accurately captured the ethos of friends, wine and wine’s place in modern civilization, as the 2004 romance/road film/buddy comedy Sideways. After the special screening of the movie, festival attendees can enjoy a grand tasting of some of the best Napa Valley Merlots (Screening: Friday, November 14, 1:00 p.m., Yountville Community Center; public tasting and expert tasting panel follow from 2:30-5:00 p.m. at the Yountville Wine Pavilion).
Additional sneak previews include:
· The Better Angels – Director A.J. Edwards’ debut feature tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s childhood in the wilderness of Indiana. Starring Jason Clarke, Diane Kruger, Brit Marling and Wes Bently (November 14, 12:30 p.m., Cameo Cinema; November 16, 12:30 p.m., City Winery). California Premiere
· The Last 5 Years – Based on the 2002 off-Broadway musical, and adapted by writer/director Richard LaGravenese, The Last 5 Years is the story of a couple’s tumultuous relationship, from entanglement to denouement starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. An on-stage conversation with Mr. LaGravenese will take place after the screenings (November 12, 5:00 p.m., Cameo Cinema; November 13, 8:30 p.m., City Winery). Mr. Jordan will join the Q&A on November 13). West Coast Premiere
· Match – A Seattle couple (Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard) travels to New York to interview an acclaimed former ballet star (Patrick Stewart) for a research project on the dance scene in the 1960’s. (November 14, 8:00 p.m., Cameo Cinema; Saturday, November 15, 5:30 p.m., City Winery). California Premiere.
· Escobar: Paradise Lost – The debut feature from writer/director Andrea Di Stephano traces the journey of a young Canadian surfer (Josh Hutcherson) who falls under the spell of a beautiful young woman in Columbia. Unfortunately she also who happens to be the niece of international drug kingpin Pablo Escobar (Benicio Del Toro). An edgy crime drama and a soul-searching love story about family ties and loyalty, the film is a look at a dark chapter in the war on drugs and the casualties. (November 13, 5:00pm, Barrel Room Theatre; November 15, 5:30pm, Oddfellows Hall). West Coast Premiere