Edward Berger's 'Conclave' Wins Top Audience Favorite Award at 47th Mill Valley Film Festival

Conclave directed by Edward Berger — Conclave (Focus Features)

Edward Berger’s ‘Conclave’ took the top prize of the MVFF Overall Audience Favorite at 47th Mill Valley Film Festival which wrapped after screening 132 films.

MVFF47 opened with Conclave, with actor Ralph Fiennes making his first public appearance in support of the film, joining director Edward Berger in person. It concluded with Marielle Heller’s bold new film Nightbitch, starring Amy Adams.

MVFF Founder/Director Mark Fishkin remarked, “I’ve been thinking about how to describe what we experienced, and the first thing that came to mind was optimism: optimism that what we created in 2024 signals a bright future. But even beyond optimism, this year’s event was simply great. Audience members were thrilled with the 2024 edition of films, and filmmakers were wowed by Marin County’s charm and our staff’s professionalism. We look forward to building on this success with our DOCLANDS documentary festival next spring.”

MVFF47 featured a Tribute to Jude Law, highlighted by a vibrant on-stage conversation with MVFF Director of Programming Zoë Elton. The festival also presented several Spotlight Programs, including Mikey Madison with a screening of Anora, the Emilia Pérez Ensemble, and a screening with Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofia Gascón, and Adriana Paz in person. Amy Adams headlined a Spotlight with the closing night screening of Nightbitch, appearing in person, as did Danielle Deadwyler for The Piano Lesson, accompanied by director Malcolm Washington and executive producer Katia Washington. A special screening of Unstoppable featured star Jharrel Jerome in a lively on-stage conversation with MVFF Founder/Director Mark Fishkin. The MVFF47 Centerpiece Program included a screening of Better Man, with director Michael Gracey and actor Jonno Davies in person.

Local filmmakers were also celebrated, with premieres like Damian Panetta’s Lost in Time: Druid Heights, Natalie Zimmerman’s Oceania: Journey to the Center, the 2022 DocPitch Industry Prize-winning film Standing Above the Clouds directed by Berkeley filmmaker Jalena Keane-Lee, Julie Rubio’s The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & the Art of Survival, Zurawski V Texas produced by Marin resident Blye Faust, and Connie Field’s Democracy Noir.

The Mind the Gap initiative continues to champion bold female and nonbinary filmmakers whose work inspires and empowers us. Mind the Gap Day on Saturday, October 5, celebrated their filmmaking and creativity through a series of curated events, beginning with the MTG Summit. The summit closed with the presentation of the Creation Prize, a $10,000 grant awarded to a first- or second-time female filmmaker for creative excellence, followed by a networking lunch. MTG was celebrated throughout the festival, including a Bay Area Community Mixer and a special screening of Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, celebrating her groundbreaking work in global cinema.