Napa Valley Film Festival

The 6^th Annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) opened with a special screening of The Weinstein Company’s Lion, where Dev Patel participated in an on-stage Q&A for the audience. On Thursday, the festival hosted two special tribute presentations, starting with Matthew McConaughey, who received the Caldwell Vineyards Maverick Actor award, followed by the annual Celebrity Tributes program in which Kurt Russell (Charles Krug Legendary Actor), Lee Daniels (Charles Krug Legendary Filmmaker), Viggo Mortensen (Spotlight honoree), Dev Patel (Raymond Vineyards Trailblazer), Zoey Deutch (Chandon Rising Star) and Glen Powell (Chandon Rising Star) all received special honors and participated in an on-stage Q&A which was hosted by Access Hollywood’s Natalie Morales. Wyatt Russell, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Matt Ross, each shared words on stage at the Celebrity Tributes about Kurt Russell, Lee Daniels and Viggo Mortensen, respectively. On Friday, Aaron Eckhart and Ben Younger attended a red carpet screening of their new film, Bleed for This, and on Saturday, Vera Farmiga and Katie Holmes participated in Q&As for their respective films, Burn Your Maps and All We Had. Holmes, who both directed and starred in the film, received the Jury Award for Best Lounge Feature at the Festival. The annual Festival Gala on Saturday evening was attended by many of the festivals attending celebrities and filmmakers, where they were treated to cuisine from more than 30 of the Valley’s local culinary stars and wines from more than 50 of Napa Valley’s esteemed vintners and wineries. To close out the festival, Pisco Punch: A Cocktail Comeback Story made its world premiere at downtown Napa’s Uptown Theatre.

Tribute honorees and attendees of the Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) included Matthew McConaughey (Caldwell Vineyards Maverick Actor), Kurt Russell (Charles Krug Legendary Actor), Lee Daniels (Charles Krug Legendary Filmmaker), Viggo Mortensen (Spotlight honoree), Dev Patel (Raymond Vineyards Trailblazer), Zoey Deutch (Chandon Rising Star), Glen Powell (Chandon Rising Star), Cuba Gooding Jr., Katie Holmes, Vera Farmiga, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Matt Ross, William Fichtner, Wyatt Russell, Meredith Hagner, Briana Evigan, Tyler Blackburn, Erika Christensen, Madeline Zima, Dash Mihok, director John Madden, and more.

The Napa Valley Film Festival, the ultimate celebration of film, food and wine, lights up wine country at the most colorful time of year. NVFF presents over 120 new independent films and studio sneak previews in 13 beautiful venues throughout the picturesque towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. Attendees interact with over 300 filmmakers at screenings, and enjoy wine tastings, culinary demos, winemaker dinners, Celebrity Tributes, the Awards Ceremony and Festival Gala, Opening and Closing Night parties and more.

AWARD WINNERS

2016 Juried Awards

• Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature presented by Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards, and with a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of Meadowood Napa Valley, goes to

  Heaven’s Floor

• Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature presented by Vitus Wines, and with a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of Meadowood Napa Valley, goes to

  Big Sonia

• Jury Award for Best Screenplay presented by The Hess Collection goes to

  Love Is All You Need?

• Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast presented by Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley goes to

  Folk Hero & Funny Guy

• Jury Award for Best Narrative Short presented by Flora Springs Winery goes to

  Twinsburg

• Jury Award for Best Documentary Short presented by Beringer Vineyards goes to

  Think of Calvin

• Jury Award for Best Lounge Feature presented by Taken Wine Company goes to

  All We Had

• Jury Award for Best Lounge Short presented by Reynolds Family Winery goes to

  Madam Black

• Special Jury Award – For Compelling, Provocative & Timely Content in a Documentary Feature presented by Rombauer Vineyards goes to

  Accidental Courtesy

• Special Jury Award – For Innovative Treatment of a Social Issue in a Documentary Feature presented by Priest Ranch goes to

  God Knows Where I Am

• Special Jury Award – Best Performance in a Lounge Feature Film presented by Trinchero Napa Valley goes to George Kosturos for his work in the film

  American Wrestler: The Wizard

2016 Audience Awards

• Audience Award for Favorite Actor presented by Italics Winegrowers goes to George Kosturos for his work in the film

  American Wrestler: The Wizard

• Audience Award for Favorite Actress presented by Wolf Family Vineyards goes to Kyla Kenedy for her work in the film

  Love Is All You Need?

• Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Feature presented by Duckhorn Vineyards at Paraduxx goes to

  Big Sonia

  Honorable Mention goes to Until 20.

• Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Short presented by Beaulieu Vineyards goes to

  1-800-Give-Us-Your-Kidney

• Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Feature presented by Eleven Eleven Wines goes to

  American Wrestler: The Wizard

  Honorable Mention goes to Unleashed.

• Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Short presented by Favia Erickson Winegrowers goes to

  Madam Black

  Honorable Mentions go to Game and Friday Night.

• Audience Award for Favorite Short Feature presented by Liana Estates goes to

  Good Business

November 9 – November 13, 2016