The world has certainly shifted in profound ways since we last gathered for DocLands. That proverb, “May you live in interesting times” has never felt more relevant. These are interesting times. Beyond the obvious chaos in the world – we continue to adapt sometimes in inspiring and sometimes in less than inspiring ways. The documentaries in DocLands are here to take a beat on some of those changes. The films in this year’s program will educate and amuse you, enrage and move you, and if you attend DocPitch LIVE! on April 30, you will get a glimpse of the future of documentary storytelling.
Pay particular attention to our strands. They will help steer you as you plan your film festival journey. If films about politics, the state of our schools, or personal identities intrigue you, check out our “Art of Impact” titles. If you are drawn to stories of nature and the environment, look through our “The Great Outdoors” films. If you are looking for joy or an uplifting experience, “Wonderlands” is for you.
The aim of DocLands is not solely to entertain you— although we always strive to do that—it’s about
engaging with ideas, exploring new viewpoints, and connecting with the world around us; and also, to give you insight into our world, offer new perspectives, and educate. We cannot stop the world from changing any more than we can stop the planet from spinning, but we can assess some of that change film by film.
I want to send special thanks to DocLands Programming Director Joni Cooper and her team, as well as to everyone else who makes this festival the success that it is, including you. We’re grateful to share the journey with you.
Mark Fishkin Executive Director | Founder California Film Institute
DocLands is presented by the California Film Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that also owns and operates the Smith Rafael Film Center and Sequoia Cinema, presents Mill Valley Film Festival, and offers CAFILM Education programs throughout the year.
The following donors help sustain year-round programs at the California Film Institute, including DocLands, ensuring that internationally acclaimed, established, and emerging filmmakers have a platform to share their stories with our community. Their support provides free educational programs to thousands of diverse Bay Area students, preserves and programs a historic art-house theaters, and strengthens independent filmmaking to make a lasting impact. Thank you to all of our dedicated supporters!
LEADERSHIP
CHRISTOPHER and JEANNIE SMITH
VICKIE SOULIER
JENNIFER COSLETT M ac CREADY
NANCY P. AND RICHARD K. ROBBINS
FAMILY FOUNDATION
DANIEL KENYON and MICHELLE MARCHETTA KENYON
INVESTOR
JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS
BRISSON FAMILY FUND
DESTINO FUND
GRUBER FAMILY FOUNDATION
MOBLEY FAMILY FUND
MAGGIE O’DONNELL and JOSH FLOUM
MAYS FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND
JONATHAN and DEBORAH PARKER
GORDON RADLEY
CHRISTINE A. SCHANTZ
MICHAEL and SUSAN SCHWARTZ FUND
HENRY O. TIMNICK
PLATINUM
KAMALA GEROUX-BERRY and DAVID BERRY
KEN and JACKIE BROAD FAMILY FUND
BLAIRE and BENNO DORER FOUNDATION
KHR MCNEELY FAMILY FOUNDATION
JAMES MOCHIZUKI of FRIENDS PRODUCTIONS
SILVER
NANCY ABODEELY
BAKER SISTERS FAMILY FUND
JEAN BOLTE and CARL FREDERICK
ALICE CORNING
SUZETTE DEVOGELAERE
STEPHANIE DIMARCO
GRISWOLD FAMILY FUND, BOB and ALEX GRISWOLD
MARGARET HAAS FAMILY FUND
TOM and BARBARA HARRISON
ANDREE and JOHN JANSHESKI
WILLA JEFFERSON-STOKES
HOLLY KANE and MIKE GALLAGHER
ELIZABETH KING
K.C. and STEVE LAUCK
JANICE and JESSICA LINK
JACQUI LOPEZ
HARRISON MILLER and CLARE MCCAMY
STEPHEN and MARY MIZROCH
ALEXANDER NOURAFSHAN
CATHY and ROBERT NOURAFSHAN
CONSTANCE OCLASSEN
DEBORAH and PAUL SAGUES
MONA STEINBERG
LIVIA STONE
PATRICIA TANOURY
NAVIGATING
BOX OFFICE
SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER
1118 FOURTH STREET . SAN RAFAEL
APRIL 30 – MAY 4: Tickets available at the Rafael box office 60 min before first show until 15 min after start of last show of the day.
TICKET ON SALE DATES
APRIL 6: All Access Passes (Leadership, Investor, Platinum, Silver)
APRIL 8: Bronze Donors and all Membership Levels
APRIL 11: General Public
ADMISSION
$18.50 General | $15 CAFILM Members | $17 Senior (65+)
$89 Students w/ ID and Youth (12 & under)
QUESTIONS ABOUT TICKETING?
877.874.6833 | boxoffice@cafilm.org
ARRIVE EARLY
To guarantee admittance, ticket and pass holders must be in line 30 minutes prior to showtime. Doors typically open 30 minutes before showtime.
LINE A: Badge and ticket holders with an A sticker on their badge. Also reserved seat ticket holders.
LINE B: All other ticket holders.
. Please do not sit in a reserved seat unless previously arranged.
. Seat saving is not permitted.
. Outside food and beverages are not permitted.
. Digital devices must be turned off prior to the program.
. Use of cameras and other recording equipment is strictly prohibited at all screenings and programs.
RUSH TICKETS
When we run out of advance tickets for an in-theater program, tickets will no longer be available for purchase ahead of time and “At Rush!” will appear on the online ticketing page — but this doesn’t necessarily mean we are sold out.
We can sometimes release a limited number of tickets on the day of the program online at noon and/or at the theater 15 minutes before showtime. For the latter option, we recommend joining the rush line 45 minutes before showtime. At the venue, rush tickets are available on a first-come first-served basis.
BADGE PICK-UP
For year-round All Access Pass holders and those needing a badge for DocLands 2025:
Mark Fishkin Room (Adjacent to Smith Rafael Film Center)
April 30 . 3:00pm – 7:00pm
May 1 . 3:00pm – 7:00pm
May 2 . 2:30pm – 7:00pm
May 3 . 10:30am – 7:00pm
May 4 . 10:30am – 6:00pm
FESTIVAL GUIDELINES
At the California Film Institute we appreciate, respect, and honor the vibrant diversity and viewpoints of our community of guests and staff. We hold steadfast a commitment to freedom of creative expression. We ask that everyone—artists, audiences, volunteers, press, industry, staff, board members, and beyond—maintain an environment that is welcoming to all by following our Code of Conduct.
APRIL 30 . 7:00
1
but ticket required
. 9:00 MARK
ROOM
Adjacent to the theater 1112 Fourth Street, San Rafael
AT-A-GLANCE
The California Film Institute DocPitch initiative makes cash awards to filmmakers completing feature-length documentaries to further their projects’ development. Five finalists selected by committee will contend for Audience and Jury Awards.
In its ninth year, DocPitch 2025 will feature a hybrid format. Global audiences will view the pitches and vote online at doclands.com/docpitch/ starting Friday, April 11. Voting ends Friday, April 25.
Join us for DocPitch LIVE! where the Finalists will pitch their projects live on stage and you will have the opportunity to vote for the recipient of the $45,000 Audience Award!
FRIDAY MAY 2
The California Film Institute and DocLands Documentary Film Festival are located in Marin County, California, on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary homelands of the Coast Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo peoples. This includes the Southern Pomo and Graton Rancheria Tribes. These tribes were removed or displaced from their lands. We recognize this history and the harm to present-day Coast Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo peoples and to their ancestors. The California Film Institute commits to moving forward from a place of authenticity and working with present-day tribes to elevate their stories, history, and present-day legacy through film.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Mill Valley Film Festival is dedicated to using physical venues that are accessible to all of our attendees and invited guests, as well as accessible screening content both in-person and through our streaming services. Do you have any accessibility requests for this screening or event? Please let us know what you need in the checkout form while you are purchasing your tickets or by emailing accessibility@cafilm.org directly. We will work to accommodate all requests, but please note not all events have closed captioning or audio description available.
MVFF communicates directly with studios, distributors, and filmmakers about accessibility features with their films. This process takes time, and MVFF is committed to verifying that accessibility features do exist and screen properly. As we receive content and verify, the below lists will be updated. Please note that accessibility features for films may be verified and updated after tickets go on sale to the public.
If you wish to communicate an accessibility need, please fill out THIS FORM or email accessibility@cafilm.org directly. If you need ASL interpretation, please contact us at least 10 days prior to the screening you will need it for.
CONSENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED
California Film Institute (CAFILM) and its representatives may photograph, film, and/or otherwise record attendees at all festival activities. By attending, you consent to such photography, filming, and/or recording and to any use in any and all media throughout the universe in perpetuity and without compensation for the use of your appearance, voice, and name for promotional and/or advertising, or any other purpose by CAFILM and its affiliates and representatives.
DocLands Documentary Film Festival, presented by the California Film Institute, is a vibrant celebration of nonfiction storytelling held annually in Marin County, California. Expanding upon the exchange of ideas and inspiration through captivating screenings, networking, and engaging conversations, DocLands strives to foster dialogue, inspire connections, and build an inclusive community around the art of documentary
filmmaking. DocLands aims to illuminate filmmakers' diverse perspectives and ignite a passion for exploring real-world issues by showcasing compelling stories and the thought-provoking insights behind them. Through screenings, discussions, and networking opportunities, DocLands continues to highlight the artistry and impact of documentary cinema.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Transports us outside to truly appreciate, explore, and ultimately compel us to save and conserve our environment and the wilds of our precious planet.
SPONSORED BY NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION
WONDERLANDS
Lifts our spirits through stories of joy, wonder, and possibility.
SPONSORED BY JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS
ART OF IMPACT
Engages and sparks action by sharing stories that open our eyes to the global community and its disparate cultures, politics, personal narratives, and biographies.
SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL ARTS DISTRICT
OPENING NIGHT STARMAN
Buckle up! Prepare for an awe-inspiring ride throughout Earth's galaxy and beyond. Now in his 80s, celebrated NASA engineer and best-selling science fiction author Gentry Lee acts as pilot and narrator as he marvels with child-like wonder at his good fortune. Discovered at a young age to be a math wizard while calculating baseball batting averages, he was ushered through the elusive door that led to space travel and his life’s work at NASA. Academy Award ® Nominated director, Robert Stone magnificently illustrates decades of scientific research around space travel, life on other planets, Lee’s work with Carl Sagan, his unexpected co-writing career with foremost science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke ( 2001: A Space Odyssey ), and his somewhat unconventional beliefs as a free thinker as well as those that helped shape his life while a principal player in space exploration from the very beginning.
DIRECTOR
Robert Stone US 2025
85 min IN PERSON
Robert Stone
Gentry Lee
Shelby Stone
Ray Rothrock
STRAND WONDERLANDS
CHAMPIONS OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY
Skier Alishah Farhang dreamed of competing for Afghanistan in the Olympics. When that didn’t happen, he refocused his ambitions on his fellow Afghans in the mountainous region of Bamyan. In the years before the Taliban retook the country, Alishah develops a ski program welcoming both young men and women from all ethnic groups and introduces a yearly challenge race to declare a champion. Ben Sturgulewski’s thrilling documentary captures the rivalry and camaraderie of this enthusiastic community of athletes, some dreaming of skiing down the Alps someday -- maybe even on their handmade, makeshift skis. But there is another story at play here, namely what happens amid the regime change. Having coached girls, Alishah is at risk, and forced to flee with his family. A moving portrait emerges of a refugee and his family, as Alishah tries to make a new life in Germany while missing his beloved mountains of Afghanistan. Nominated for and recipient of numerous awards, including both the Grand Prize and Audience Choice Award at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. In English and Persian with English subtitles
DIRECTOR
Ben Sturgulewski US 2024
81 min IN PERSON
Ben Sturgulewski
Katie Stjernholm STRAND THE GREAT OUTDOORS BAY AREA PREMIERE
DANGEROUS GAMES: ROBLOX AND
THE METAVERSE EXPOSED
What happens when digital playgrounds designed for kids become hunting grounds for predators and extremists? After a disturbing encounter on the gaming platform Roblox, three young gamers—Alex, Janae, and Katie—set out to investigate the dark underbelly of the metaverse, uncovering dangers beyond their imagination. As they push for accountability, their worst fears are realized when online threats spill into the real world with devastating consequences. Blending immersive firsthand experiences, expert insights, and eye-opening evidence, this gripping documentary exposes the hidden risks within online worlds where millions of children interact daily. As the trio challenges tech giants, the film raises urgent questions about safety, responsibility, and the cost of unregulated virtual spaces. A must-see for parents and kids alike.
DIRECTOR
Ann Shin CANADA 2024
79 min IN PERSON
Ann Shin
Kavya Perlman
STRAND
THE DREAMERS & I
Kenji Yamamoto’s journey to complete his first feature film as director began a decade ago, not long before he competed as a Finalist during DocLands’ first ever DocPitch forum in 2017. Through the subsequent years, his film took a few turns as he honed the focal point of the story, Carlos’ unique dream of a Startup Embassy that offers an affordable and welcoming community to global entrepreneurs who make the pilgrimage to pricey Silicon Valley. Inspired by his characters Carlos (Madrid), Habibe (Istanbul), and Lucas (Seville), and their lofty high-tech dreams, Kenji turns the camera on his own story and becomes one of them, a dreamer with struggles of his own. Each endures vicissitudes while seeking success, but it’s inspiration that shines through—personally and professionally—within their chosen ‘entrepreneurial lives’.
DIRECTOR
Kenji Yamamoto US 2025
78 min IN PERSON
Kenji Yamamoto
Nancy Kelly
Nancy Blachman
STRAND
WONDERLANDS
FLIGHT 149: HOSTAGE OF WAR
A historical investigation uncovers one of the most shocking aviation incidents of modern times—why did British Airways Flight 149 land in Kuwait just as Saddam Hussein’s forces invaded? The passengers and crew, caught in the chaos, became hostages and human shields, victims of a geopolitical game that put nearly 300 lives at risk. Did the British government and British Airways know in advance that war had begun? Newly surfaced intelligence suggests they did. Through gripping reenactments and firsthand accounts from survivors, crew members, and Kuwaitis who risked their lives to help, this documentary unravels a decades-long cover-up. Now, with legal action underway, those who lived through the 1990 ordeal are demanding long-overdue answers about why they were placed in harm’s way—and who should be held responsible. In English and Arabic with English subtitles
Preceded by:
WE WERE THE SCENERY US 2025, 15 min
Two Vietnam refugees who were enlisted as background extras during the shooting of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now provide commentary of their unusual experience while viewing clips of the film. Winner of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury Award for Non-Fiction Director: Christopher Robert Radcliff
May 2 . Rafael Two . 4:30pm
DIRECTOR
FREE LEONARD PELTIER
For five decades, Leonard Peltier’s name has been synonymous with a pivotal moment in modern Native American history. Using a mix of contemporary interviews, archival footage, and AI recreations, Oglala Lakota filmmaker Jesse Short Bull ( Lakota Nation vs. United States , DocLands 2023) and David France bring to life the turbulent era of the American Indian Movement (AIM), when Indigenous activists rose up against oppression, and the US government responded with force. The film traces Peltier’s journey—from Indian boarding schools to his involvement with AIM to the deadly 1975 Pine Ridge shootout with FBI agents that led to his conviction. With evidence long challenged as falsified or inconclusive, Peltier became a global symbol of political imprisonment. (As the film was set to premiere at Sundance, President Biden commuted his sentence, leading to his release on February 18, 2025.) Free Leonard Peltier revisits his case in a new era, examining the forces that shaped his story and its lasting impact. Free Leonard Peltier received three awards at the recent 2025 Thessaloniki Film Festival, including the International Competition Silver Alexander (for directing), the International Amnesty Award, and the FIPRESCI Award for Best Documentary in the International Competition.
May 2 . Rafael Three . 3:30pm
DIRECTORS
Jesse Short Bull
David France
US 2025
110 min STRAND ART OF IMPACT
FROZEN IN TIME
Award-winning Canadian anthropologist and filmmaker Niobe Thompson brings us Frozen in Time , his newest film exploring the mysteries of evolution through the story of Natalia Rybczynski. A star in the field of paleontology, a traumatic brain injury stopped the scientist in her tracks. Before her injury, Natalia made fascinating discoveries in the Arctic, including the land-walking ancestor of seals, the first appearance of dam-building beavers, even the evolutionary origins of desert camels in Arctic snows. Her work suggests the Arctic was once a kind of evolutionary hub for species we now associate with much warmer climates. Despite her damaged brain, Natalia has never lost her curiosity and continues to study the high Arctic, once a rich forest world full of surprising creatures that thrived there before the Ice Age.
Preceded by:
USUGILIX AWAKUN US 2023, 11 mn
Passionate Native Alaskan biologist Shayla researches the connection between climate change and mussels, a staple cultural food that has become toxic for those in her Unanga community. Directors: Palmer Morse , Matt Mikkelsen
THE LAST OBSERVERS US 2024, 24 min
A Swedish couple tag migrating birds while working a day job at the last manual weather station, recording the weather day and night, seven days a week, for 36 years. Director: Maja K Mikkelsen
May 3 . Rafael Two . 2:00pm
DIRECTOR
Niobe Thompson
CANADA 2025
52 min IN PERSON
Niobe Thompson
Palmer Morse
STRAND THE GREAT OUTDOORS
WORLD PREMIERE
perfectly a strangeness
THE BIRD IN MY BACKYARD
SHORTS GETTING HIGH
perfectly a strangeness CANADA 2024, 15 min
A sensory aural encounter and cinematic exploration of an abandoned astronomical observatory guided by three donkeys with attitude: Ruperto, Palomo, and Palaye. Director: Alison McAlpine
THE BIRD IN MY BACKYARD CANADA 2024, 20 min
Through snow and sun, a passionate citizen scientist shares the wonders of the tiny birds in his own backyard. Director: Ryan Wilkes
THE EXPERIMENTAL AGE ITALY 2024, 25 min
Words reign supreme as celebrated Italian poet and author Erri De Luca climbs one step at a time into life’s next moment, in what he deems his third and final "horse." Director: Marco Zingaretti
THE BIRDS UK 2024, 40 min
Facing the twilight of his career, a filmmaker turns his well-honed cinematic skills skyward to decipher the murmuration of thousands of seabirds put into play by a lone falcon. Directors: David Allen, Martin Dohrn
IN PERSON
David Elisco With The Birds
GHOSTS OF THE SEA (LES ENFANTS DU LARGE)
Virginia Tangvald’s moving investigation into her family’s dark legacy begins with an Aristotle epigraph, “There are three kinds of people, the living, the dead, and those that go to sea.” The film goes on to define what the philosopher meant as Virginia follows the twin strands of the sailors in her family, her father, Norwegian adventurer Peter Tangvald, and her older brother Thomas. Peter, constantly circumnavigating the world in his handmade boat, cast a long shadow over Thomas. Tragedy, perhaps some of his own making, followed Peter and stalked Thomas, determinedly following in his father’s wake. Luminous cinematography of sky and open sea emphasizes the beauty of sailing life despite its hardships. Armed with her father’s logs and photographs, archival footage of his travels and of Thomas’s, and interviews with those that knew them, Virginia poignantly comes to terms with these men with restless spirits, happy only on the water.
CENTERPIECE
I NEED YOU: 53 YEARS OF THE BAND AMERICA
For over five decades, Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley have been the heart of America—not just a band, but also a sound that defined a generation. Sons of US airmen, they met in a London high school and, with the late Dan Peek, formed a trio blending folk and rock into a unique style that would become their signature. Their harmonies and craftsmanship yielded hits like “A Horse with No Name,” “Ventura Highway,” and “Sister Golden Hair.” After Peek’s departure, Bunnell and Beckley carried on, touring and finding success with songs like “You Can Do Magic.” They charted 11 Top 40 singles and maintained radio play into the 2000s. In 2024, America's retirement from touring marked the end of an era. I Need You chronicles their final chapter through intimate interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, revealing the deep bond between bandmates, their challenges, and the music that continues to resonate long after the stage lights fade. DIRECTORS Dustin
David
Jack
INCANDESCENCE
As wildfires grow more intense and frequent, fire has become an unavoidable force in our changing climate. Unlike traditional wildfire documentaries, this film doesn’t just inform—it immerses. Instead of focusing solely on destruction, it highlights what comes next: the land’s renewal, the return of life, and the knowledge we must reclaim to adapt. Stunning cinematography captures the rhythms of fire—its devastation, its aftermath, and its role in nature’s cycle. Personal accounts from firefighters, homeowners, and Indigenous firekeepers reveal the failure of modern fire suppression, and how controlled burns, fire-resistant plants, and fire-adapted homesteads can help reshape our relationship with fire. Directors Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper ( Metamorphosis , DocLands 2018) make it clear that as the planet heats up, we must change how we live with fire—or be consumed by it. Will screen on International Firefighters Day.
DIRECTORS
THE INVISIBLE DOCTRINE: THE
SECRET HISTORY OF NEOLIBERALISM
You may think you know what neoliberalism is—but do you really? Investigative journalist and “professional troublemaker” George Monbiot unpacks the roots, rise, and consequences of an ideology that quietly reshaped the modern world. With over 40 million views on just one of his TED Talks, Monbiot has a way of making complex ideas clear and compelling. Here, he reveals how neoliberalism infiltrated politics, economics, and even our sense of self—turning us from citizens into consumers. With sharp analysis and striking historical evidence, the film makes sense of how we got here, why inequality deepens, and why public institutions are under attack. But Monbiot doesn’t just expose the problem—he challenges us to imagine a different future, one where collective action and community-driven politics restore our sense of agency and belonging. Eye-opening and urgent, the film invites us to rethink not just the system, but our place within it.
4 . Rafael One . 6:30pm
DIRECTORS
Peter D. Hutchison
Lucas Sabean
US/UK 2025
75 min IN PERSON
Peter D. Hutchison
Lucas Sabean
Dr. Alice ChungMaccoubrey
STRAND
ART OF IMPACT
CALIFORNIA PREMIERE
THE INVISIBLE MAMMAL
Behold with wonderment as hundreds of furry-faced bats emerge from their cave at sunset. Or as some locals may have witnessed, emerging from the Rafael when a few winged trespassers shut it down temporarily last winter! Against the backdrop of the sixth mass extinction, an all-women team of dedicated biologists sets out to save bats from a deadly fungal disease and are sent down a path of discovery that illuminates the connections between bat conservation and the spread of infectious disease. In stunning slow-motion cinematography, The Invisible Mammal quickly debunks the unsavory reputation that unfairly besmirch these fascinating creatures. We fear what we don’t understand and being the only mammals that can fly—primarily at night—bats defy the expectations of a small mammal and have surprising physiological and anatomical adaptations for survival. By immersing the audience viscerally and emotionally, director Kristin Tièche has succeeded in making bats understood more fully by bringing them into the limelight.
May 3 . Rafael One . 12:00pm
DIRECTOR
Kristin Tièche
US 2025
89 min IN PERSON
Kristin Tièche
Matthew Podolsky
Heidi Zimmerman
Corky Quirk
Dr. Winifred Frick
STRAND THE GREAT OUTDOORS
WORLD PREMIERE
THE LAST EXPEDITION (OSTATNIA WYPRAWA)
Wanda Rutkiewicz disappeared more than 30 years ago. The first woman in the world to climb K2 and among the first to scale Mt. Everest, Wanda entered uninvited what was then a man’s world of mountaineering. Director Eliza Kubarska, herself a climber, sets off to the Himalayas in search of Wanda, her only clue an audio-diary her quarry left behind where she makes the mysterious assertion, "I know perfectly well that there's no way back for me.” When she vanished on Kangchenjunga in 1992, did she die or did she seek refuge in a Buddhist monastery, as a letter to her mother suggested? Esteemed climbers Reinhold Messner, Krzysztof Wielicki, and Carlos Carsolio, as well as the women closest to Wanda, her sister Janine Fies, and manager Marion Fiek, join Kubarska in exploring Wanda’s life and the mystery of her disappearance. Winner Best Documentary 2025 Orly Awards (Polish Film Awards equivalent to the Academy Awards ®).
May 3 . Rafael Three . 3:30pm
Kubarska
MIDDLETOWN
Unconventional teacher Fred Isseks and his “Electronic English” class provide an eye-opening and life-altering opportunity to a group of high school students in 1991 Upstate New York. The kids expect to make fun student videos. Instead, they find themselves working on something much bigger: an inquiry into the illegal dumping of hazardous chemicals at the local landfill. That simple assignment soon mushrooms into a wild story involving public health, political corruption, and the Mafia. Armed only with camcorders, these inspired teenagers capture it all, titling their homework project Garbage, Gangsters, and Greed . Controversy ensues as they tenaciously follow leads, coax whistleblowers, and confront stonewalling officials into revealing a criminal pact between local government and organized crime. Thirty years later, award-winning directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine reunite Isseks with his students to recall this astonishing tale of youth empowerment, a time capsule of student investigative journalism before camera phones and social media invaded the scene.
DIRECTORS
Jesse Moss
Amanda McBaine
US 2024
110 min IN PERSON
Jesse Moss
Amanda McBaine
Fred Isseks
Rachel Raimist
STRAND
ART OF IMPACT
BAY AREA PREMIERE
A RADICAL THREAD
In the face of environmental threats, a radical back-to-the-land community in the Sierra Foothills races to collectively stitch its 50 years of innovative sustainability into an epic 83-foot tapestry, one tiny stitch at a time. San Juan Ridge, an alternative collective of artists and ecologists in the Sierra Foothills, saved the Yuba River from being dammed while surviving numerous challenges like mining, logging, and climate change-created drought and wildfires. Bay Area media artist Jeanne C. Finley’s A Radical Thread documents San Juan Ridge’s struggles and celebrations through the 12 tapestry panels, painstakingly crafted by hundreds of volunteers over 17 years. The making of these visually stunning works of art along with poet Gary Snyder’s prescient archival footage chronicles the group’s ethos of collectivism, optimism, and passion. Finlay takes us on a journey that highlights the accomplishments of this remarkable back-to-the-land community and explores how the elders are passing along new ways of sustainability to future generations.
Preceded by:
GOOD ENOUGH ANCESTOR US 2024, 21 min
Due to a congenital heart condition, Taiwanese visionary Audrey Tang’s heart, like democracy around the globe, is both fragile and strong—still beating, but facing existential threats. Director: Cynthia Wade
DIRECTOR
Jeanne C. Finley
US 2025 70 min IN PERSON
Jeanne C. Finley
Jennifer Rain Crosby
Peter Coyote
Cynthia Wade STRAND WONDERLANDS
BAY AREA PREMIERE
REMAINING NATIVE
Ku Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner living on the Yerington Paiute reservation in northwest Nevada, hopes that his dream school, the University of Oregon, will recognize his talent and recruit him. But as Ku trains, he confronts unreconciled emotions as he recalls his great-grandfather Frank “Togo’o” Quinn’s story. At only eight years old, Quinn ran 50 miles across desert to escape an Indian boarding school. That journey becomes interwoven with Ku’s own ambition to not only run a collegiate-qualifying time but to connect past, present, and future. Ku sets his sights on recreating his great-grandfather’s flight to freedom, as the young athlete embraces his Native identity and runs with it, reconnecting with his family history. The film received both the Documentary Feature Special Jury Award and the Audience Award at this year’s SXSW Film & TV Festival.
THE RENAISSANCE PRINCE (RENESSANSEPRINSEN)
From age 15 to 20, William Heimdal’s journey unfolds as he chases artistic mastery guided by the great painters of the past. While his dedication earns him national acclaim in his native Norway, it also sets him apart—his peers are immersed in social media and technology, while he is consumed by the play of light and form. Despite his parents' concerns, he finds inspiration in the controversial, anti-modernist figurative painter Odd Nerdrum and leaves school at 16 to devote himself entirely to the traditions of the Renaissance and Baroque masters. As he matures, the film captures his artistic evolution and personal struggles, exploring whether an old soul can truly find a place in the modern world. Shot over a decade, the documentary offers an intimate portrait of a young painter navigating ambition, tradition, and the realities of life. The film was one of four nominees for Best Documentary Film at Gullruten 2025—Norway’s “Golden Screen” awards, the national equivalent of the Emmys. In English and Norwegian with English subtitles
Preceded by:
OLD GIRL IN A TUTU: SUSAN RENNIE DISRUPTS ART HISTORY
US 2025, 8 min
Feminist scholar Susan Rennie employs her iPhone to insert her queer, octogenarian body into classic art, offering a humorous, unapologetic critique of the male gaze and art history. Director: Cheri Gaulke
May 3 . Rafael Two . 7:30pm
DIRECTOR
Emily Louisa
Millan Eide
NORWAY 2024
78 min IN PERSON
Emily Louisa
Millan Eide
Cheri Gaulke
STRAND
WONDERLANDS
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
SPONSORED BY JENNIFER COSLETT
M ac CREADY
THE SECRET OF ME
A textbook in a 1995 feminist studies course reveals a devastating truth about herself to Kristi, a Louisiana college student. Throughout her life she always felt different and now she knew why—those she trusted the most lied to her. In taking a deep-dive investigation into her medical records, Kristi unearths disturbing truths about psychological experiments done on twins. Once hailed as a revolutionary success, the reality is the experiments were a terrible deception affecting thousands around the world. The Secret of Me lifts the lid on a medical scandal decades in the making that exploded into the public eye in the 2000s. The consequences for thousands of young intersex children would be devastating. This eye-opening film raises profound questions as Kristi’s story unfolds like a gripping true crime thriller, keeping you on the edge of your seat as it unravels long-held assumptions.
DIRECTOR
SHELF LIFE
What is it about cheese that has so many of us drooling in anticipation of its flavors? Why do even vegans attempt to emulate the elusive feel and flavor of cheese? In Ian Cheney’s ( Arc of Oblivion , DocLands 2023) captivating and immersive culinary experience, cheesemakers, cheese mongers, cheese microbiologists, and yes, cheese librarians, tickle our fancy and nurture us with all the myths and facts surrounding a most beloved, yet mysterious food. Through delightful and illuminating conversations that flow with bona fide knowledge from Japan to Tbilisi and buoyed by a soaring soundtrack, this magnificent film leads the curious on a peripatetic journey where they're greeted wholeheartedly by world cheese experts. How they ask, is it even food?
May 2 . Rafael One . 7:15pm
DIRECTOR Ian Cheney US 2024
SONO LINO
Lino Tagliapietra is widely known as the greatest master glassblower to ever live, beloved by millions around the globe. He began his journey with glass at the age of 11 as a factory worker in Murano, Italy, and now at age 88, his body is slowing down and he is approaching retirement. But before he steps away from his life’s passion, he prepares for one final hot shop session and a last opportunity to blow glass with members of his original team. In this beautiful and exciting documentary, Lino pulls off a feat worthy of someone half his age as his team celebrates their love for glass, each other, and the man who taught them everything they know.
May 2 . Rafael One . 1:30pm
May 4 . Rafael Three . 2:15pm
DIRECTOR
Jacob Patrick US 2024
75 min IN PERSON
Jacob Patrick
Lano Medina
STRAND WONDERLANDS
BAY AREA PREMIERE
SONS
What makes a man? How does a father break the cycle of the emotionally avoidant parent that he learned from his own dad and show his young son affection? How does he teach his child to avoid toxic masculine traits when the boy can see that behavior modeled everywhere? Those are the questions that plague filmmaker Justin Simms when his son Jude is born. Sons is his engrossing attempt to answer those queries during the first years of Jude’s life. Simms sneaks in statistics from time to time and interviews other dads that share his concerns, but the documentary is largely observational, as Simms parents a growing Jude. Moving scenes capture Simms in conversation with his father Randy, the older man recalling how he was parented and how he parented Justin. His hope is that Justin will form a more affectionate, emotional bond with Jude—from the evidence Sons so absorbingly presents, he has.
SPEAK.
Captivating audiences with spellbinding words and unshakable passion, SPEAK. follows five top-ranked high school seniors as they compete in the fiercely competitive world of national oratory championships. These students are storytellers, advocates, and visionaries. As they make their way through the highest rounds of competition, it becomes clear that their true power lies not in their technique but in their deeply personal perspectives on the world. Each competitor speaks from the heart, tackling issues that have shaped their lives. Though the competitions bind them together, it is the contenders’ unique experiences shared through their fearless storytelling that set them apart on stage. Fueled by the desire to be heard, these students wield words like weapons, aiming not just to win but to leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of their listeners. SPEAK. takes us on a journey through the joys, pressures, and triumphs of students who have mastered the art of speech.
May 2 . Rafael Two . 1:45pm
May 3 . Rafael Three . 6:30pm
DIRECTORS
Jennifer Tiexiera
Guy Mossman US 2025
104 min
IN PERSON
Jennifer Tiexiera
Guy Mossman
Lisa Hepner
STRAND
ART OF IMPACT
BAY AREA PREMIERE
THAW
Once a niche medical procedure, egg freezing is now a billion-dollar industry that promises women the ability to pause their biological clocks and extend their reproductive choices. For some, it’s a path to empowerment; for others, it’s a costly gamble in an unregulated system with no guarantees. Through the experiences of three American women navigating the process, this documentary examines the realities behind the growing trend—who has access, who profits, and what’s at stake. With insights from medical experts, ethicists, and industry leaders, the film unpacks the social, economic, and emotional complexities of egg freezing in a world where fertility is increasingly commodified. As more women turn to this technology with hopes of future parenthood, the question remains: What is the real cost—and the real impact—of putting fertility on ice?
DIRECTOR
Robin Hauser US 2025
88 min IN PERSON
Robin Hauser
Diane Dwyer
Bridgitte Protagonist
Monica Protagonist
Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh Expert
Marcia Inhorn, Phd. Expert
STRAND
TURTLE WALKER
A recently married young man in the 1970s with no knowledge of what a turtle nest even looked like, Satish Bhaskar nevertheless agreed to undertake sea turtle nesting research in India. Armed with only a transistor radio, pencil, and notepad, he would turn in his reports when he was finally able to return—often through somewhat sketchy pickup rendezvous. Satish became so captivated by sea turtles that he made the singular decision to widen his research and walked for years alone along the spectacular coastlines of India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Cut with delightful conversations with a now elderly Satish and his wife Brenda, stunning cinematography, and an inspiring rhythmic soundtrack, director Taira Malaney ( The Call of Pashmina , DocLands 2019) masterfully recounts a journey that single-handedly ushered in India’s necessary sea turtle conservation. DIRECTOR
YOU NEED THIS
From the makers of the Oscar ®-nominated Don’t Look Up comes a thought-provoking documentary that unpacks hidden forces shaping our lives. Director Ryan Andrej Lough takes us through a looking glass into the grip of consumer capitalism—how it dictates our values, our identities, and even our dreams. More than an economic system, consumerism has evolved into an insidious belief structure that distorts how we measure success, erodes our connections with one another, and pushes our planet toward collapse. Through conversations with economists, dream researchers, and social psychologists, the film unravels how the relentless pursuit of productivity and material wealth robs us of time—time to reflect, to connect, to dream, to simply be. Featuring insights from Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Juliet Schor, and Reverend Billy, You Need This challenges us to rethink our role in an unsustainable system and imagine a different way forward—before we lose what matters most.
DOCPITCH LIVE!
The California Film Institute DocPitch initiative makes cash awards to filmmakers completing feature-length documentaries to further their projects’ development. Five finalists selected by committee will contend for Audience and Jury Awards.
In its ninth year, DocPitch 2025 will feature a hybrid format. Global audiences will view the pitches and vote online at doclands. com/docpitch/ starting Friday, April 11. Voting ends Friday, April 25.
Join us for DocPitch LIVE! where filmmakers will pitch their projects live on stage and, if you haven't already voted online, you will have the opportunity to vote for the recipient of the $45,000 Audience Award!
With support from the NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION and RESONANCE PHILANTHROPIES
FREE but ticket required
April 30 . 7:00 . Rafael 1
RECEPTION . 9:00 . MARK FISHKIN ROOM (Adjacent to Smith Rafael Film Center)
DOCTALK . CAPTURING AN AUDIENCE
In addition to a slate of remarkable films, DocLands provides an in-person interactive forum to explore creative aspects of documentary filmmaking to help invigorate the business and art of nonfiction filmmaking toward building an active and fully supportive community around documentary film. Join us. Be part of the story.
Join us for an informal conversation amongst a few of this year’s DocLands filmmakers. Steered by their experiences and personal thoughts pertaining to making films, we plan to explore various methods they may choose to capture—and hold— audience attention. What techniques do they use that lead to stronger buy-in from an audience? Compelling characters? Suspense and anticipation? Situations and themes that resonate emotionally? Color palettes and cinematography to evoke emotions? Sound design and music? What works best when the topic is urgent? This discussion might prove enlightening for filmmaking, but perhaps for everyday life too!
Expected panelists:
Jenny Ash , Director, Flight 149: Hostage of War
Ryan Andrej Lough , Director, You Need This Lucas Sabean , Peter Hutchison , Co-directors, The Invisible Doctrine
Kristin Tièche , Director, The Invisible Mammal
Free but ticket required
May 4 . Mark Fishkin Room (Adjacent to Smith Rafael Film Center) . 10:30am
EDUCATION DOCLANDS
DocLands Education offers free screenings and conversations with special guests for students around the Bay Area. Virtual programs are offered for those unable to join us at the theater, both locally and across the country.
The program includes:
• In-theater and online documentary film screenings for grades 6-12
• Live Q&As with filmmakers and film subjects
• Curriculum resources for teachers and students, including lesson plans, discussion guides and activity toolkits.
• In-Person and virtual Filmmakers Go to School classroom visits.
With CAFILM Membership every night is an
Occasion
The California Film Institute relies on the support of our wonderful members to produce the DocLands, Mill Valley Film Festival, show films year-round at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center and Sequoia Cinema, and promote exceptional independent filmmakers in our community. Become a CAFILM member to keep the magic going all year long with free screenings of upcoming films, access to exclusive member events, and our lowest ticket prices on films and events!
ASSOCIATE Perfect for the solo film lover, who loves watching films at the Smith Rafael Film Center or online, and receiving invitations to our exclusive member screenings. $80
FILM FAN All of the perks of Associate membership, but for two! Perfect for couples or two friends who love to see amazing films together. $130
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE For the festival fan, Director’s Circle members receive even earlier access to MVFF tickets and a place in our early entry line, along with all the perks of Film Fan membership. $345
PREMIER PATRON Premier Patrons receive all of the benefits of Director’s Circle, plus earliest access to film tickets, invitations to exclusive events, and entry into the MVFF Filmmaker Lounge. $680
CINEMA BENEFACTOR Get behind-thescenes access! With all of the Premier Patron perks, plus invitations to even more events, free tickets to films, and complimentary concession coupons at the Rafael Film Center. $1,300
DONOR CIRCLE
Want even more? Explore our All-Access levels in the Donor’s Circle. By joining the vibrant Donor Circle community you will deepen your knowledge and appreciation of independent film through exclusive access and opportunities, while supporting a world-class independent film nonprofit organization.
Your involvement at the Donor Circle level enables CAFILM to provide a platform for internationally acclaimed, established and emerging filmmakers to share their stories with our community, offer free programs to thousands of diverse Bay Area students each year, deliver tangible results in gender equity in film, support the sustainability, maintenance, and programming of a historic art house theater, and champion independent filmmakers to make impact nationwide.
To learn more about our Donor Circle levels
VISIT CAFILM.ORG/DONOR
STAFF
EXECUTIVE
MARK FISHKIN
MVFF Founder + Director
CAFILM Executive Director + Founder
DANE CALLIHAN
Deputy Director
JULIE RAMOS
Executive Assistant
DEVELOPMENT
LIANA BENDER
Chief Development Officer
BEAU BLANCHARD
Associate Director of Institutional Giving
MAUREEN GALLIANI
Major Donor Stewardship Manager
CHRISTINE FUJIKI
Development Operations and Communications Manager
DERRICK DOVER
Development Relationship Manager
CHRISTINE HARVEY
Development Database Manager
JAMES FAHEY
Development Associate
PROGRAMMING
JONI COOPER
Director of Programming
MICHELLE SVENSON
Senior Programmer
KELLY CLEMENT
Programmer
STERLING HEDGPETH
Programming Manager
MARKETING
SHELLEY SPICER
Director of Publicity & Marketing
KATIE WOODRUFF
Community Outreach, Promotions & Publicity Assistant
