As the 37th Mill Valley Film Festival brings thousands of cinephiles to Mill Valley and across Marin this week, a host of local businesses participated in the festival’s Window Display Contest, decking out their storefront windows with a cinematic theme and drawing in crowds in the process.
“We’ve seen twice the number of people as usual come through our doors since we put our display out,” EO Exchange Manager Karen Jordan says, pointing to the red carpet and velvet rope display outside her shop at 84 Throckmorton Avenue.
A collaboration with the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, the contest encourages local shop owners to decorate their windows and storefronts with a film theme. Led by California Film Institute board member Evelyn Topper, a group of judges that included Mill Valley Mayor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, CFI Programming Director Zoe Elton, CFI Senior Film Programmer Janis Plotkin, filmmaker Tom Dusenbery and Chamber Director of Community Engagement Jim Welte went to each business to evaluate the displays.
All of the displays were deemed worthy of an award, with Coldwell Banker garnering the top slot, featuring movies that were filmed in the area – like Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, which includes scenes filmed in Tiburon and Larkspur – and using the real estate industry’s old adage “location, location, location,” thus connecting its display to both MVFF37 AND to its business.
MVFF37 MERCHANTS WINDOW CONTEST AWARD WINNERS
1. “THE PAJAMA GAME” AWARD – The Store, 68 Throckmorton
2. ‘THE AVIATOR” AWARD – Wink Optometry, 70 Throckmorton
3. ‘THE RAZOR’S EDGE” AWARD – Liberty Salon, 74 Throckmorton
4. THE “GOSFORD PARK” AWARD – Sofia Jewelry, 80 Throckmorton
5. THE “DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES” AWARD – Vintage Wine & Spirits, 82 Throckmorton
6. THE “SUNSET BOULEVARD” AWARD – EO Exchange, 84 Throckmorton
7. “THE BIRDS” AWARD – Room Art Gallery, 86 Throckmorton
8. THE “LOVE ACTUALLY” AWARD – Famous 4, 96 Throckmorton
9. “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW” AWARD – Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton
10. THE “LA DOLCE VITA” AWARD – La Ginestra, 127 Throckmorton
11. THE “OLD YELLER” AWARD – Mt. Tam Dog Company, 6 Miller
12. THE “A STAR IS BORN” AWARD – Margaret O’Leary, 14 Miller
13. THE “WOMEN ON THE VERGE” AWARD – Alix & Company, 55 Throckmorton
14. “THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY” AWARD – Monarch, 27 Throckmorton
15. “THE BIG SLEEP” AWARD – Chadwick’s of London, 9 Throckmorton
16. THE “ROOM AT THE TOP” AWARD – At the Top Salon & Gallery – 10 East Blithedale
17. THE “A ROOM WITH A VIEW’” AWARD – Coldwell Banker, 12 East Blithedale
18. THE “BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S” AWARD – Jaylina’s, 19 East Blithedale
“We’ve seen twice the number of people as usual come through our doors since we put our display out,” EO Exchange Manager Karen Jordan says, pointing to the red carpet and velvet rope display outside her shop at 84 Throckmorton Avenue.
A collaboration with the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, the contest encourages local shop owners to decorate their windows and storefronts with a film theme. Led by California Film Institute board member Evelyn Topper, a group of judges that included Mill Valley Mayor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, CFI Programming Director Zoe Elton, CFI Senior Film Programmer Janis Plotkin, filmmaker Tom Dusenbery and Chamber Director of Community Engagement Jim Welte went to each business to evaluate the displays.
All of the displays were deemed worthy of an award, with Coldwell Banker garnering the top slot, featuring movies that were filmed in the area – like Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, which includes scenes filmed in Tiburon and Larkspur – and using the real estate industry’s old adage “location, location, location,” thus connecting its display to both MVFF37 AND to its business.
MVFF37 MERCHANTS WINDOW CONTEST AWARD WINNERS
1. “THE PAJAMA GAME” AWARD – The Store, 68 Throckmorton
2. ‘THE AVIATOR” AWARD – Wink Optometry, 70 Throckmorton
3. ‘THE RAZOR’S EDGE” AWARD – Liberty Salon, 74 Throckmorton
4. THE “GOSFORD PARK” AWARD – Sofia Jewelry, 80 Throckmorton
5. THE “DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES” AWARD – Vintage Wine & Spirits, 82 Throckmorton
6. THE “SUNSET BOULEVARD” AWARD – EO Exchange, 84 Throckmorton
7. “THE BIRDS” AWARD – Room Art Gallery, 86 Throckmorton
8. THE “LOVE ACTUALLY” AWARD – Famous 4, 96 Throckmorton
9. “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW” AWARD – Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton
10. THE “LA DOLCE VITA” AWARD – La Ginestra, 127 Throckmorton
11. THE “OLD YELLER” AWARD – Mt. Tam Dog Company, 6 Miller
12. THE “A STAR IS BORN” AWARD – Margaret O’Leary, 14 Miller
13. THE “WOMEN ON THE VERGE” AWARD – Alix & Company, 55 Throckmorton
14. “THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY” AWARD – Monarch, 27 Throckmorton
15. “THE BIG SLEEP” AWARD – Chadwick’s of London, 9 Throckmorton
16. THE “ROOM AT THE TOP” AWARD – At the Top Salon & Gallery – 10 East Blithedale
17. THE “A ROOM WITH A VIEW’” AWARD – Coldwell Banker, 12 East Blithedale
18. THE “BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S” AWARD – Jaylina’s, 19 East Blithedale
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