The Mill Valley Film Festival has always been non-competitive. There is no Palme d’Or, no Grand Jury Prize, no governing body looming, judging, and decreeing what is good and bad. The upshot of this deliberate choice is that there is no cloud of antagonism or rivalry hanging over the proceedings. Every film is as important as every other. Every filmmaker is a star. Quality is paramount.

Our intent at MVFF is to let the films stand on their own, free of studio influence, advertising, and award campaigning. The local filmmaker you meet in the grocery store shares equal footing with past and future Oscar winners. We like to believe that this approach creates a more relaxed, inviting, filmmaker-friendly atmosphere.

In addition to allowing our schedule of films to speak for themselves, we invite our festival attendees to use their voices, as well. Moviegoers vote after each screening, while the immediate impact of the film is still resonating in their hearts.

The MVFF Audience Awards represent the people’s choice favorites at the festival. The overall prizewinner scored highest across all categories. Other winners scored top in each of the festival’s sections: US Cinema, World Cinema, Valley of the Docs and Children’s FilmFest, as well as specialty categories. The film is listed with its director. Without further ado…

MVFF39 OVERALL AUDIENCE FAVORITE

LION
GARTH DAVIS

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

US CINEMA | GOLD

MOONLIGHT
BARRY JENKINS

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

US CINEMA | SILVER

LOVING
JEFF NICHOLS

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

US CINEMA INDIE | GOLD

UNLEASHED
FINN TAYLOR

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

US CINEMA INDIE | SILVER

DIANI AND DEVINE MEET THE APOCALYPSE
ETTA DEVINE, GABRIEL DIANI

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

WORLD CINEMA | GOLD

A MAN CALLED OVE
HANNES HOLM

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

WORLD CINEMA | SILVER

LAND OF MINE
MARTIN ZANDVLIET

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

WORLD CINEMA INDIE | GOLD

FUKUSHIMA MON AMOUR
DORIS DÖRRIE

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

WORLD CINEMA INDIE | SILVER

LAND LEGS
SAMUEL COLLARDEY

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

VALLEY OF THE DOCS | GOLD

MAYA ANGELOU: AND STILL I RISE
BOB HERCULES, RITA COBURN WHACK

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

VALLEY OF THE DOCS | GOLD

THE EAGLE HUNTRESS
OTTO BELL

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

VALLEY OF THE DOCS | SILVER

YASUNI MAN
RYAN PATRICK KILLACKEY

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

FAMILY FILMS | GOLD

ODDBALL
STUART MCDONALD

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

FAMILY FILMS | SILVER

KEPLER’S DREAM
AMY GLAZER

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

MUSIC

THE GROOVE IS NOT TRIVIAL
TOMMIE DELL SMITH

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

¡VIVA EL CINE! | NARRATIVE

JULIETA
PEDRO ALMODÓVAR

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

¡VIVA EL CINE! | DOCUMENTARY

FINDING OSCAR
RYAN SUFFERN

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

ACTIVE CINEMA

THE LAST DALAI LAMA?
MICKEY LEMLE

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

MIND THE GAP | DOCUMENTARY

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE BRAIN
CATHERINE RYAN & GARY WEIMBERG

MVFF39 AUDIENCE FAVORITE

MIND THE GAP | NARRATIVE

LOST IN PARIS
DOMINIQUE ABEL & FIONA GORDON