Movie Under The Stars: The Princess Bride
Pop Up Dinner & Movie at Mendocino Grove
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS: THE PRINCESS BRIDE
Sponsored by Mendocino Grove
Festival Passes not valid for this event.
$40 adults; $10 Kids
Special pop-up event! Three-course dinner and a movie at Mendocino Grove outside under the stars, amidst the trees. Free popcorn! Beer and wine for sale! Doors open at 7 pm and the classic film THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987) will begin at sunset. Please bring a chair and wear warm clothes–it gets chilly in Mendocino in the evening. For details, go to Mendofilm.org or MendocinoGrove.com.
Wine provided by Maggy Hawk
A Tribute to Our Members
A Tribute to our Members
Sponsored By Noyo Harbor Inn
For Members, Sponsors, & Invited Guests
The Feel Good Shorts will be the star of this year’s special Members’ Event.
Wines & Libations from Scharffenberger Cellars
The Golden Gala
Golden Gala
SPONSORED BY PAMELA HUDSON REAL ESTATE
For Members, Sponsors, & Invited Guests
Coordinated by Prasad Events
Live Music by Magnolia
Small Bites by local culinary luminaries
Wines & Libations from local producers
Local Americana Band Sweet Root
Live Music
Local Americana Band Sweet Root
SponsorEd by The Inn at Newport Ranch
$30
Follows the film YOU GOT GOLD: A CELEBRATION OF JOHN PRINE
Sweet Root is a local folk quartet playing a mix of Americana-infused covers and originals. Fronted by the blood harmonies of sisters Phoebe Hanson and Ajah Leas, Sweet Root also features Peter Lopez on guitar and Mike Sebastian on mandolin and banjo.
The live music will follow the screening of YOU GOT GOLD: A CELEBRATION OF JOHN PRINE, a star-studded tribute to the legendary songwriter. The film features Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Tyler Childers, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Jason Isbell, and Bob Weir, among many others.
Pie Plates
Culinary Event
Pie Plates
Sponsored By Enlighten Med
Follows the film PIEOWA: A PIECE OF AMERICA
Enjoy a slice of pie and a cup of joe after the screening of PIEOWA. The film celebrates the myriad ways pie is woven into Iowa’s—and America’s—culture. Wholesome, uplifting, and humorous, it will leave you both hopeful and hungry for pie.
Homemade pie and coffee will be available for purchase to benefit Mendocino students’ Miasa exchange program.
Coffee by Strand Coffee Roasters
New York International Children's Film Festival Shorts
Free Children’s Program
New York International Children’s Film Festival Shorts
Sponsored by Sean Leland State Farm Insurance. Bike giveaway generously provided by Sean Leland State Farm Insurance.
Free screening and bike giveaway! Catch the best short films from around the world and introduce your kids to the magic of the big screen. From searching for the perfect pancake to interviewing a crocodile, these shorts will delight and enchant all audiences. Presented in partnership with New York International Children’s Festival. For ages 5+
Steal This Story, Please!
PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT MODERN-DAY MEDIA
Steal This Story, Please!
Sponsored by Sol de Mendocino and Applewood Property Management
Join us for a lively discussion with local journalists about the state of media today after the screening of STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! The film follows the intrepid independent journalist Amy Goodman over 30 years. From the frontlines of global conflicts to the organized chaos of her daily news show Democracy Now!, Goodman broadcasts stories and voices routinely silenced by commercial media. The film takes us behind the scenes with the
warm, wisecracking granddaughter of an Orthodox rabbi—raised in a tradition of asking hard questions—as she navigates a news landscape reshaped by technology, corporate consolidation, and political assaults on truth itself. Urgent, provocative and unexpectedly funny, STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! is both a call to action and a celebration of resistance, posing the question: what happens to democracy when the press surrenders to power? 102 min.
Wine & Cheese Tasting
Culinary Event
Wine & Cheese Tasting
Sponsored by Harvest Market and Bonterra Organic Estates
Follows the film THE BIG CHEESE
Immerse yourself in the world of cheese by traveling to the “Olympics of Cheese” in France with the underdog American team.
Three locally sourced Boneterra Organic Estates wines paired with local cheeses from Harvest Market available for purchase (cash only).
Filmmaker Party
Filmmaker Pary
Sponsored By Goldeneye Winery
For Filmmakers, Patron/Angel Members, Supporting/Major/Premier Sponsors, & Invited Guests
Live Music by The Standards featuring Ryan Marker and Mike Sebastian
Nibbles by Pennyroyal Farm, Harvest Market, Cypress Grove Cheese, Roundman’s Smokehouse, Hard Head Bread, Strand Coffee Roasters, Fort Bragg Bakery, and handcrafted pizza from Caletta Fire
A special thank you to Linda Friedman for her help with charcuterie and to Andrea Shepard for generously hosting.
Mendocino Music Festival Chorale
Live Music
Mendocino music Festival Chorale
SponsorEd by Sea Rock Inn
$20
Follows the film TINA
TINA, an uplifting New Zealand tale about a scrappy children’s choir with an unlikely leader, will pull at your heartstrings and make you tap your toes. Stay for a live performance by the Mendocino Music Festival Chorale.
Coming Home: From Shadowland To Spirit World
Fifth Annual Native Cinema
Coming Home: From Shadowland to spirit world
sneak preview - pat’s pick
Presented by xa kako dile: and indigenous community initiative
Sponsored by dark gulch environmental consulting
Our 5th Annual Native Cinema program, curated by U’ilani Wesley (Kanaka), Monique Sonoquie (Tongva/Chumash), and Melody Williams (Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians), is always one of the Festival’s most popular events. This year’s event showcases a sneak preview of COMING HOME: FROM SHADOWLAND TO SPIRIT WORLD and is preceded by two short films TULE and ROU DALAGURR: FOOD SOVEREIGNTY LAB. Special guests and presentation to follow. 102 min.
FOURTH ANNUAL NATIVE CINEMA
Our 4th Annual Native Cinema program, curated by Monique Sonoquie and U’ilani Wesley, is always one of the Festival’s most popular events.
NO OTHER LAND: LISTENING SESSIONS
One-on-one listening sessions will be available following the screening of NO OTHER LAND for those who would like to express their thoughts and feelings.
COFFEE WITH THE FILMMAKERS
Grab a coffee at The Waiting Room before heading to the Cafe Beaujolais garden for lively discussions with our visiting filmmakers.
NATASHA VINIK live comedy
Join us for live comedy with the Bay Area’s Natasha Vinik. Then stay for the film ANXIETY CLUB, an intimate and humorous look at anxiety through the eyes and minds of some of today’s most brilliant comedians.
FILMMAKER PARTY
Mingle with filmmakers and special guests at our exclusive Filmmaker Party. Nestled in the lush gardens of Cafe Beaujolais, this year’s shindig is sponsored by Goldeneye Winery and will feature small bites by Assaggiare and handcrafted pizza from The Brickery.
SHELF LIFE: WINE AND CHEESE TASTING
A unique global odyssey exploring the world of cheese, from Tbilisi to Japan and beyond, and the mongers and makers who devote their life to fermenting dairy.
AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT: LIVE PERFORMANCE OF ARIAS
A special treat for opera beginners and aficionados alike, local tenor Marius Constantin will perform two short arias with accompanist Robin Knutson following the screening of AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT.
THE INCREDIBLES: FREE CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
Follow the adventures of a family of former superheroes rediscovering the true source of their powers—in one another. Free screening and bike giveaway!
SWEET STÖRY AND REBEL WITH A CLAUSE: BOOK SIGNING & GRAMMAR TABLE
Meet pastry chef Meg Ray and grammarian Ellen Jovin in person at Gallery Bookshop. Grab their books Miette and Rebel with a Clause, and get your trickiest baking and grammar questions answered on the spot!
COFFEE WITH THE FILMMAKERS
Grab a coffee at The Waiting Room before heading to the Cafe Beaujolais garden for lively discussions with our visiting filmmakers.
O CANADA! EXPERIMENTS IN LOVE & WAR AT LARRY SPRING MUSEUM
Stop in for the experimental amnesiac film ARCHANGEL (1990) by Guy Maddin and stay for a strange and magical evening, including a mysterious video caller straight from Canada!
70’s ROCK AND ROLL WITH MOON RABBIT
Dance at a 70’s rock and roll party with Moon Rabbit following the new film NEIL YOUNG: COASTAL.
The Silver Screen & Sea Soiree Gala
Celebrate the opening night of the Festival with live music, libations, and small bites at the Mendocino Art Center.
A TRIBUTE TO OUR MEMBERS
The Women Who Dare Shorts Program will be the star of this year’s special Members’ Event. Scharffenberger Cellars sparkling wine kicks off our Festival weekend with panache!
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS: POP-UP DINNER & MOVIE AT MENDOCINO GROVE
Special pop-up event! Three-course dinner and a movie at Mendocino Grove outside under the stars, amidst the trees.
Native Cinema
In its second season, Native Cinema uplifts Native Cultural Leaders and brings visibility, acknowledgment, responsibility, and accountability to the 16th Annual Mendocino Film Festival.
The program opens with Coastal Pomo Dancers in song and dance offerings to acknowledge the land. Featuring: Bernadette Smith, Pricilla Hunter, Ras K’dee, L. Frank, Kanyon Sayers-Roods, Clarence Carrillo, Natalie Smith, Shayne McCloud, and Rulan Tangen. A screening of the GROUNDWORKS documentary film follows. After the film, stay for a panel discussion.
Made possible by the generosity of Xa Kako Dile: and Thanksgiving Coffee Company. Co-Produced by Lavender Grace and U’ilani Wesley.
Filmmaker Party
Our most exclusive party takes place in the stunning gardens of Cafe Beaujolais. Whimsical bites from Assaggiare’s Chef Julia A. Kendrick are inspired by this year’s films. Goldeneye will pour wine, and Ukiah Brewing Company will bring the beer. Additionally Cafe Beaujolais’ Brickery will serve up pizza topped with grass-fed lamb from Magruder Ranch.
Proudly sponsored by Engel & Volkers. Wine concession sponsor is Goldeneye Winery.
Taiko Drumming Workshop
An introduction to the art and culture that is taiko. The one-hour workshop will take you through the basics and guide you through an exploration of the many aspects of taiko playing and performing. Hosted by Sonoma County Taiko.
$30 per person. Space is limited to 20 participants.
Image by syvwlch, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Taiko Performance
Following the film FINDING HER BEAT, stay for a Taiko performance by Sonoma County Taiko. Sonoma County Taiko has been teaching and performing Taiko locally since it was established in 1995. Their mission “to build a community of acceptance, harmony and respect through their love of taiko” displays their community focus. Local schools, community events and festivals are regular beneficiaries of their performances. They also offer workshops and classes to adults and children at their dojo. sonomacountytaiko.org
Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown
Join the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Mendocino Film Festival for a FREE screening of RACE FOR YOUR LIFE, CHARLIE BROWN followed by a how-to-draw Snoopy lesson and hands-on crafts for kids at Coast Cinemas in Fort Bragg.
Sponsored by Sean Leland, State Farm.
John Santos Quartet
Following the film SANTOS: SKIN TO SKIN.
Far more than a master percussionist, internationally renowned, multi-Grammy-nominated San Francisco native John Santos is a prolific Afro-Latin bandleader, composer, teacher, writer, producer, and cultural activist. A 2012 San Francisco Latino Heritage Arts Awardee, he’s been at the center of the Bay Area’s music scene for 50 years. He has worked with acknowledged masters including Cachao, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Bebo Valdés, Max Roach, Eddie Palmieri, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Omar Sosa.
Gala Jazz Night & Chef Showcase at The Hill House Inn
For Members, Sponsors, & Invited Guests
Celebrate the opening night of the Festival with jazz, libations and small bites at the Hill House Inn. Enjoy specialties from 10 local chefs as you sip and savor local wines, beer, and craft cocktails in tandem with a smooth night of cool jazz, performed by the jazz quintet, Magnolia.
Sponsored by Pamela Hudson Real Estate.
Six California Kitchens
Book Signing with Karen Bates, Daughter of Sally Schmitt
Stop by Gallery Bookshop and meet Karen Bates, co-owner of the local Apple Farm and daughter of Sally Schmitt, featured in THE BEST CHEF IN THE WORLD, part of our Short Films: Fascinating Women program. Karen will be on hand to sign Sally’s memoir and cookbook, Six California Kitchens.
A Tribute to Our Members
For Members, Sponsors, & Invited Guests
The triumphant return of the Feel Good Shorts Program will be the star of this year’s special Members’ Event. Scharffenberger Cellars will fill your glass and small bites and cocktails will be dished up by Noyo Harbor Inn. We could all use a good laugh!
Proudly sponsored by Noyo Harbor Inn. Wine concession sponsor is Scharffenberger Cellars.
