Five Days of Celebrities and Cinema at the Napa Valley Film Festival

Sponsored by the Napa Valley Film Festival

The 8th annual Napa Valley Film Festival lights up Northern California’s premier wine country destination during the most colorful time of year: Nov. 7 – 11, 2018. NVFF has established itself as the ultimate celebration of film, food and wine, while becoming one of the region’s most entertaining, inspiring and memorable experiences for cultural travelers. USA Today ranked NVFF amongst the top 10 film festivals in the United States and it is embraced by locals as one of their favorite events of the year.

Festival Information

NVFF’s film program is organized into competitive categories showcasing primarily domestic independent films: Narrative Features and Shorts, Documentary Features and Shorts, Special Presentations, and the new “Verge” program (a separate group of cutting-edge films for the more adventurous movie-goer). Selections from competition and special screenings (around 100 films in all) are complemented with a showcase of high-profile “Red Carpet” films likely to be in the running for this year’s Golden Globes and Academy Awards.

Past screenings have included: The Shape of Water, Molly’s Game, The Descendants, The Imitation Game, Ms. Sloane, Call Me by Your Name, Crown Heights, Spotlight, Undefeated, Wild, and Nebraska.

Notable actors and filmmakers who have attended the festival include: Will Ferrell, Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell, Judy Greer, Jeffrey Wright, Shailene Woodley, Michael Shannon, Dev Patel, John Travolta, Katie Holmes, Zoey Deutch, and Viggo Mortensen.

This year, NVFF kicks-off on Wednesday, Nov. 7 with movies and culinary demonstrations, followed by a Red Carpet screening and two Opening Night Parties. Thursday’s festival highlights include the Celebrity Tributes at Lincoln Theatre in Yountville as well as the exclusive A-List Dinner Party at Black Stallion Winery.

After more daily film screenings, wine tastings, and culinary demonstrations, Friday night becomes the peak of the festival’s film, food and wine experience. The NVFF Vintner Circle Dinner Series highlights the best of Napa Valley food and wine over the course of 20 intimate dinners taking place simultaneously throughout the Valley.

Saturday includes the Awards Ceremony and Festival Gala, the biggest and dressiest events of the festival, while Sunday features a set of Closing Night films and the NVFF Wrap Party at Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards. New to the festival this year is the Festival Hub, located at Feast it Forward in downtown Napa. The Festival Hub will include the Monogram Appliance demonstration kitchen, Box Office, Wine Pavilion, and Filmmaker Lounge. Over the course of five days, the Demo Kitchen will showcase 12 culinary demonstrations, featuring filmmaker and chef collaborations.

Other theater venues for the film festival this year include a never-before-seen Drive-In Theater at the Fairgrounds in Calistoga, a pop-up theater in downtown Napa’s Archer Hotel, and a screening venue in the Acacia Barn at Las Alcobas.

Click here for a look at the complete film schedule for 2018.

Ticket Information

Attending the festival and planning one’s itinerary is easy! Passes range from the affordable $125 Flex Pass to the festival’s VIP Patron Circle, beginning at $2,500. NVFF organizers have made it easier than ever to fit festival screenings and events into most anyone’s budget and schedule. NVFF offers Weekend Passes, the 5-day Festival Pass and Pass Plus, as well as the Flex Pass, allowing pass holders to choose 5 specific events any time during the festival.

Use promo code SFTRAVEL for a discount off Pass Plus or Festival Pass, or a 4-pack of either.

Those without passes can always attend movies for $20 via Rush Lines at all venues. But make sure to focus on the bigger venues like the Uptown Theatre or the Lincoln Theater to receive the best chance of getting into the film screening of your choice.

Remember, lodging establishments throughout the Valley offer special rates for NVFF attendees, especially for those booking three nights or longer. Be sure to book now before rooms sell out! Here are other lodging options in the Napa Valley area.

Visit nvff.org for more information on the program lineup, a look at the filmmakers and celebrities attending, and to purchase passes. See you at the movies!

BUY A PASS TO NVFF 2018 FIND A NAPA VALLEY HOTEL