HOW TO FEST

Welcome to MVFF! Whether you’re a seasoned festival-goer or a first-timer, we want to make sure you have an unforgettable experience. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your time at the festival.

GETTING TICKETS

Our 2025 selection of films will be announced on Sept 10. You can check out all the titles on our Browse Program page.

In 2025, tickets will be released at NOON on the following days for selected audience types and membership levels:

  • Sept 10: Bronze, Silver, and Donor Circle
  • Sept 12: Cinema Benefactor, Premier Patron, and Sponsor and above
  • Sept 14: Directors Circle and above
  • Sept 15: All CAFILM Members
  • Sept 18: General Public

  • From Sept 10–Oct 1, our main Box Office Hub can be found in the Mark Fishkin Room at the Smith Rafael Film Center, open 11am–5pm daily (closed Fridays).
  • From Sept 18–Oct 1, we’ll also have a satellite box office at the Sequoia Cinema open M–Th 4–7:30pm and Sa–Su 1–5pm. During the festival, we’ll also have additional member support available in the library of the Outdoor Art Club.
  • At all our screening venues during the festival, Festival Box Offices will open 1 hour before the first screening of the day and close 15 minutes after the last.
  • In addition to our main Box Offices in the San Rafael Film Center and the Sequoia, we’ll also have in-person support available at the Lark Theater and BAMPFA.
  • 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 on our website.
  • You can reach our Box Office team by phone at (877) 874-6833. In the lead up to the festival, phone lines will be open M–F from 10:00am–7:00pm and Sa–Su from 12–5pm. During the festival, lines will be open everyday 10am–7pm.

Our box offices can be found at the following addresses, but hours vary (see above):

  • Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St, San Rafael, CA (from 9/10)
  • Sequoia Cinema, 25 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA (from 9/18)
  • Outdoor Art Club, 1 W Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley, CA (for members during the festival)
  • Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur, CA (during the festival)
  • BAMPFA, 2155 Center St, Berkeley, CA (during the festival)

We hope this guide helps you navigate and enjoy the Mill Valley Film Festival to the fullest. Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to celebrating the magic of cinema with you!