MVFF41, set for Oct. 4-14, will host on its Opening Night the U.S. premiere for Green Book, director Peter Farrelly’s Viggo Mortensen- and Mahershala Ali-starring film about classically trained Black jazz piano prodigy Dr. Don Shirley and his white chauffeur and bodyguard Tony Lip as they embark on a 1962 concert tour of the American South.
Coupled with the previously announced Opening Night screening of A Private War, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Matthew Heineman‘s first narrative feature film, which stars Rosamund Pike as the late American-born British war reporter Marie Colvin, MVFF looks likely to maintain its reputation as an event with a consistent slate of Academy Award contenders.
Both Farrelly, best known as the director, along with his brother Bob, who helmed comedy classics like There’s Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber, and Ali, who won the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Barry Jenkins’ Oscar Best Picture winner, Moonlight are scheduled to attend to Green Book screenings, as well as the Opening Night Gala at the Marin Country Mart.
The Opening Night Gala, set for 9pm-12am, features food from Belcampo, Big Jim’s BBQ, Fiorello’s Artisan Gelato, Johnny Doughnuts, Pizza Antica, El Huarache Loco, Farmshop, Wise Sons Bagelry, Fisher’s Cheese & Wine, and Sol Food, refreshing beverages provided by BevMo, Bartenders Unlimited, Lagunitas Brewing Company and Equator Coffee, and a chance to dance the night away to live music from Notorious, DJ Rich Factor and the Crackerjack DJs.