The inaugural Napa Valley Film Festival goes live at: http://napavalleyfilmfest.org/ The festival is scheduled for November 9-13, 2011

Some quick highlights:

- 5 nights

- 4 festival villages

- 12 screening venues

- 100 films

- 125 wineries pouring

- 250 filmmakers and industry guests

- 30,000 anticipated total attendance

Top-lining a diverse program of films in competition and out (John Sloss of Cinetic Media is President of the Jury), with the following awards-season sneak previews:

- J. EDGAR

- THE DESCENDANTS

- LIKE CRAZY

- BUTTER

- UNDEFEATED

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OVERVIEW
The Napa Valley Film Festival showcases the best in new independent filmmaking and world cinema. Our vision is to build community around the art of visual story-telling, with the viewing of films and discussions with filmmakers fueling lively conversation amongst old and new friends … and those conversations being enriched with the world-class food and wine of legendary Napa Valley.

The Napa Valley Film Festival takes place on the second full weekend of November each year. This period represents mid-fall and the tail end of Napa Valley’s gorgeous harvest season. The festival runs from Wednesday evening through Sunday night – what we like to refer to as an extended weekend, the best kind.

Each year’s festival includes the following core components:

• 80 or more new films (narrative features and shorts, documentary features and short subjects, world cinema, student shorts).
• 200 or more visiting filmmakers (directors, writers, actors, producers) and industry executives… presenting their films, engaging in Q&A sessions with audiences, and participating in interactive panel discussions.
• A handful of sneak previews of Oscar-worthy end-of-year studio releases for the exclusive enjoyment of our Napa Valley audiences.
• One or more Tribute(s) to notable film industry figures for outstanding achievements in Directing, Acting, Producing.
• Juried and Audience Awards in a variety of categories, presented to our winning filmmakers at an Awards Ceremony on Closing Night.
• Screening venues clustered in walkable Festival Villages in the towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.
• Food & Wine-Tasting Pavilions in each Festival Village.
• Exclusive epicurean adventures for Festival Attendees and VIP Guests.

The first annual Napa Valley Film Festival is set for November 9 – 13, 2011. A fully-interactive festival program guide with details on all film screenings, panels and special events will go live online on or about October 1, 2011.

Below, please find an overview of the festival schedule:

Wednesday, November 9

• Welcome Centers open in each Festival Village
• Sneak Preview screenings (at least one venue open in each village)
• VIP receptions and after-parties

Thursday, November 10

• Welcome Centers open in each Festival Village
• Wine-Tasting Excursions during the day
• Cooking demonstrations at the Bosch Culinary Stage at Oxbow Market
• Opening Night premiere screenings
• The Opening Night Gala Celebration at Robert Mondavi Winery
• VIP receptions and late-night after-parties

Friday, November 11 (Veterans Day)

• Welcome Centers open in each Festival Village
• Screenings & Panels throughout the day
• Special Veterans Day Program at Lincoln Theater
• Wine Pavilions open throughout the day
• Cooking demonstrations at the Bosch Culinary Stage at Oxbow Market
• VIP Hospitality Lounges open throughout the day
• Film Industry Mixer at a prestigious Napa Valley winery
• VIP receptions and after-parties

Saturday, November 12

• Welcome Centers open in each Festival Village
• Screenings & Panels throughout the day
• Wine Pavilions open throughout the day
• Cooking demonstrations at the Bosch Culinary Stage at Oxbow Market
• VIP Hospitality Lounges open throughout the day
• Tribute Program at Lincoln Theater
• Filmmaker / Winemaker / Celebrity Chef Dinners
• VIP receptions and after-parties

Sunday, November 13

• Welcome Centers open in each Festival Village
• Screenings & Panels throughout the day
• Wine Pavilions open throughout the day
• Cooking demonstrations at the Bosch Culinary Stage at Oxbow Market
• VIP Hospitality Lounges open throughout the day
• Closing Night premiere screenings
• Awards Ceremony at the Napa Valley Opera House
• Wrap Party in Downtown Napa
• VIP receptions and after-parties