49th Mill Valley Film Festival
Oct 1–11, 2026 · Mill Valley, San Rafael, Larkspur, Berkeley
The 49th Mill Valley Film Festival runs October 1 through 11, 2026. The California Film Institute hosts screenings at four venues: Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley, the Lark Theater in Larkspur, and BAMPFA in Berkeley. The festival hub is the Outdoor Art Club on West Blithedale Avenue in Mill Valley, a Maybeck-designed clubhouse from 1904 where anyone can stop in for lunch or happy hour between screenings.
Tickets
General public tickets go on sale September 17 at noon. Standard tickets are $20, CAFILM members pay $16, students and seniors $18, and youth 12 and under $12. Prices vary for opening night, closing night, tributes, spotlights, and special events — check the individual screening pages on mvff.com.
If a screening shows as sold out, standby tickets are released 15 minutes before showtime at the venue, first come first served. The festival also does a daily ticket drop at noon during the festival for sold-out screenings.
How to get there
The four venues are spread across Marin and the East Bay. Smith Rafael Film Center is at 1118 4th Street in San Rafael. Sequoia Cinema is at 25 Throckmorton Avenue in Mill Valley. The Lark Theater is at 549 Magnolia Avenue in Larkspur. BAMPFA is at 2155 Center Street in Berkeley.
Box offices at each venue open one hour before the first screening and close 15 minutes after the final screening starts. Arrive at least 30 minutes early — lines open one hour before showtime.
On the day
No outside food or drinks in any venue (BAMPFA is zero food and drink entirely). Concessions are available at the other venues. Phones off, no cameras or recording during screenings. Bags larger than 12×12×6 inches are not allowed.
The Outdoor Art Club patio has a Mill Valley Market lunch cart from noon to 2 p.m. (October 2–9) and a happy hour bar from 4 to 6 p.m. (October 2–10). Both are open to everyone, badge or not.