FESTIVAL VENUES
THEATERS + BOX OFFICES
PRE-FESTIVAL:
SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER – MARK FISHKIN ROOM
SEPT. 10 – OCT. 1
Daily • 11:00am – 5:00pm (closed Fridays)
SEQUOIA CINEMA – LOBBY
SEPT. 18 – OCT. 1
M – Th • 4:00 – 7:00pm | Sa + Su • 1:00 – 5:00pm
DURING THE FESTIVAL:
SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER – BOX OFFICE
Throughout the festival, the box office at the Smith Rafael Film Center will open 1 hour before the first screening of the day and close 15 minutes after the last.
SEQUOIA CINEMA – BOX OFFICE
Noon – 8:00pm daily
We’ll be in the Sequoia Cinema’s box office 12–8pm daily, as well as always 1 hour before the first screening of the day and close 15 minutes after the last.
OUTDOOR ART CLUB
Noon – 8:00pm daily
We’ll have additional support for members at the Outdoor Art Club daily from 12–8pm, as well as for extended hours during our Opening Weekend and to correspond with screening schedules in the Sequoia Cinema.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
In addition to our main box offices at the Smith Rafael Film Center and the Sequoia Cinema, we’ll also have in-person support available at the Lark Theater and BAMPFA. Additional Support Box Offices will open 1 hour before the first screening of the day and close 15 minutes after the last.
REMOTE SUPPORT
In an effort to remain as accessible as possible, remote Box Office support will be available from Sept. 8 through the end of the festival.
You can get help by emailing [email protected] or by starting a chat via the ‘Help’ button on this page.
Box Office Phone: 415.818.8757
Pre-Festival: M – F • 10am – 7pm | Sa + Su • Noon – 5pm
During Festival: Daily • 10am – 7p
TICKET ON-SALE DATES
Tickets will be available at noon on the following days to the designated groups:
SEPT. 10 • BRONZE & ABOVE
SEPT. 12 • PREMIER PATRON & ABOVE
SEPT. 14 • DIRECTORS CIRCLE & ABOVE
SEPT. 15 • ALL CAFILM MEMBERS
SEPT. 18 • GENERAL PUBLIC
FESTIVAL LOUNGES
Festival Hub
@ The Outdoor Art Club
1 W Blithedale Avenue • Mill Valley
Mark Fishkin Room
@ The Smith Rafael Film Center
1112 Fourth Street • San Rafael
Lounges are open Noon – 8:00 PM
Happy Hour 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Lounges are only available for badges and day passes with an ‘L’ designation.
BADGE PICK-UP
If you have a Festival Badge waiting for you, we encourage you to pick it up before the festival starts. All badges will be available for pick up at the following locations and times:
PRE-FESTIVAL:
SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER – MARK FISHKIN ROOM • San Rafael
SEPT. 28 – OCT. 1
Noon – 8:00pm
DURING THE FESTIVAL:
OUTDOOR ART CLUB • Mill Valley
OCT. 2 – 12
Noon – 8:00pm
ADMISSION
General $20 | CAFILM Members $16
Students (with ID) + Seniors $18
Youth (12 & under) + Shorts Programs $12
PLEASE NOTE: Ticket prices vary for Opening + Closing Night Screenings, Tributes, Centerpieces, Summits, and Special Events. Please check individual event pages for pricing details, including options for receptions, parties, and dinners where available.
GROUP SALES POLICY:
Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more from schools, corporations, nonprofits, film clubs, and community organizations.
Pricing:
- Regular Groups • $16 per ticket
- Student, Senior + Youth Groups • $10 per ticket
Group Booking Policies:
- Groups must book at least 10 days before their desired screening.
- Full payment is required at the time of booking.
- Tickets are non-refundable, reserved for specific screenings, and distributed electronically.
- Accessibility accommodations should be requested when booking.
- Availability is limited and subject to Festival Terms & Conditions.
Please contact [email protected] for more info.
TICKET AVAILABILITY + STANDBY
During the festival, you can visit our Browse Available Films page and find a list of films with tickets still available. More tickets are released daily at 12pm throughout the festival.
If a screening shows as “Standby,” it’s probably because we hold some tickets for special guests and partners. But don’t worry—Standby Tickets may still be available! Standby Tickets are released 15 minutes before showtime on a first-come, first-served basis. They’re only available in person at the venue and can’t be purchased online or with vouchers. Get in the Standby (Rush) Line early for your chance to grab a ticket!
REFUND POLICY
All ticket sales are final: we can’t provide refunds, exchanges, substitutions, or reprints. MVFF is not responsible for lost, stolen, forgotten, or damaged tickets. Please contact [email protected] if you believe you have extraordinary circumstances and would like to request a refund.
ATTENDING A SCREENING
Please arrive early and get in line at least 30 minutes before the start of your scheduled screening. Lines open one hour before the scheduled start time.
We can’t allow saving seats, so please have everyone in your party arrive together.
All events, except those at BAMPFA, have lines that follow a priority seating order:
LINE ● A: Select, Bronze, Silver, Platinum, Investor, and Leadership
LINE ◆ B: Director’s Circle, Premier Patron, Cinema Benefactor, Filmmaker, Guest, Press, Publicist, and Sponsor
LINE ■ C: All other membership levels + General Admission (you just need a valid ticket, no badge required)
STANDBY: See above.
BAMPFA events are General Admission only.
The backs of all MVFF48 badges provide details on access and benefits for that badge type. A valid ticket is required to join all lines unless your badge has a QR code that allows for Ticketless Admission.
GUIDELINES + RULES
Outside food and beverage is not allowed in any of our venues—but we do sell concessions! BAMPFA has a zero food and beverage policy.
Please turn off phones and all other electronic or noise-making devices while attending screenings and events.
The use of cameras and recording devices is strictly prohibited during all screenings and events and may result in removal from the venue.
Oversized bags, with the exception of medical equipment and childcare bags, are not allowed inside any of our venues. Bags 12″ x 12″ x 6″ and smaller are permitted.
Please DO NOT sit in a reserved seat unless it has been pre-arranged for you. Reserved seats are limited to specific donor levels (usually by name or badge type) or for special circumstances, including accessibility requests.
Please also don’t stand next to reserved seats in the hopes of them being released. For venue safety and its fire code, all aisles must be clear unless actively walking to or from your seat. Standing in the back of theater spaces or sitting in aisles or stairs is prohibited.
AUDIENCE FAVORITE VOTING
After each screening, head to our Audience Favorite page and log in or enter/scan the barcode from your ticket. You’ll be able to rate each film you’ve seen from 1 to 5 stars.
CONSENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED / FILMED
California Film Institute (CAFILM) and its authorized representatives may photograph, film, and/or otherwise record attendees at any festival event. By attending, you consent to such photography, filming, and/or recording and to the unrestricted right to use such recordings—including your image, voice, and name—in any and all media, now known or hereafter devised, throughout the universe, in perpetuity, without compensation. Such use may include, but is not limited to, promotional, advertising, or other purposes deemed appropriate by CAFILM and its affiliates.
CAFILM MEMBERSHIP
