HOW TO REGISTER FOR MVFF EDUCATION SCREENINGS:
Check out the list of MVFF Education film programs, and select the in-theater and/or online film screening(s) you would like your class(es) to attend or view.
- Click on the REGISTER NOW button, and fill out the form to let us know your film selections and how many students will take part.
- You may choose more than one film, but you must fill out a separate registration form for each one.
- Once we receive your registration(s), we will contact you to confirm the details of your order, finalize any in-theater screening times, and assist with any additional details or questions.
- Make a note of which theater you will be attending:
Smith Rafael Film Center |1118 4th St, San Rafael, CA 94901
Sequoia Cinema |25 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
AKIKO, THE FLYING MONKEY
Director: Viet Helmer | Germany 2024 | 70 min | Grades 2-6
Key Themes: Animal Rights, Friendship, Adventure, Family, Environmental Responsibility, Empathy
IN THEATER: *SOLD OUT* Monday, October 6 • 10:30am-12:12pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
*ADDED SCREENING*: Monday, October 6 12:30pm-2:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 6-10 | Available to schools anywhere in the US
“How do you do and welcome to the zoo! My name’s Akiko let me share my point of view.”
Young Akiko is tired of zookeepers making a monkey out of him, even though he is, zoologically speaking, a monkey. He also has a hunch that there’s “more to life than lunch.” With the strong support of his simian family, he plans an escape to the wild forest, embarking on an adventurous and joyful journey out of the cage and over the walls. Along the way, there’s some unexpected assistance from an eagle, a raccoon, a ferret, and a chameleon. Together, they will help him achieve his goal: to reunite with his family and help free all of the city’s animals. Veit Helmer (Baikonur, MVFF35)’s delightfully funny and musical mix of real live animals, silly humans, and playful puppetry is anchored by a deeper theme: dignity and freedom for all creatures. —K.D. Davis
VIEW TRAILER
ANIMAL FARM
Director: Andy Serkis | UK, Canada, US 2025 | 95 min | Grades 6-12
Key Themes: Political Systems, Power & Corruption, Propaganda, Social Justice, Revolution, Critical Thinking
Education Notes: political oppression, propaganda, violence among animals
IN THEATER ONLY: *SOLD OUT* Friday, October 3 • 10:00am-11:45am | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
“We all dreamed that one day, animals would be free and run the farm, all of us working together. There was just one thing that stood in the way of our dream: Man.”
In Andy Serkis’ deliciously funny, family friendly update of George Orwell, small farms are foreclosed, overconsumption runs rampant at big-box stores, and Cybertrucks cavort with surveillance drones across the land and sky. When a semi-truck arrives at Farmer Jones’ place, the animals rejoice at the promise of a trip to the “laughterhouse.” But when the letter “S” is revealed in front of “laughterhouse,” their journey from ignorance toward independence begins. With a dream voiceover cast including Seth Rogen as Napoleon (“Notorious P.I.G.”), Laverne Cox, Kieran Culkin, Woody Harrelson, Kathleen Turner, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, and Jim Parsons (as “All the Sheep”), this updated and accessible fable for our time is a four-legs-up must-see for the family. —K.D. Davis
ARCO
Director: Uno Bienvenu | France 2025 | 89 min | Grades 4-8
English Language
Key Themes: Futurism, Technology, Environment, Family Bonds, Time Travel, Resilience
IN THEATER ONLY: Tuesday, October 7 • 10:00am-11:50am | Sequoia Cinema • Mill Valley
In the year 2932, young Arco lives in an idyllic Garden of Eden in the clouds above Earth. He speaks the languages of the birds and can’t wait to soar through time and space like his parents and sister, but he’s too young to fly. Sneaking out of the house one day, he dons a flight suit and leaps into space, leaving rainbow trails in his wake. Transported back in time to 2075, Arco encounters a world of food shortages and wildfires. There, he meets Iris, a lonely girl living with her baby brother and gentle “Nannybot” caregiver, Mikki. The two children share a deep bond, discovering universal secrets—and love.
Produced by actor Natalie Portman, director Ugo Bienvenu’s visionary film, suitable for ages 8-11, evokes the best of Studio Ghibli and features Arnaud Toulon’s gorgeous orchestral score. Following its Cannes premiere, Arco won the top prize at Annecy. Magically unforgettable! —K.D. Davis
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Director: Sarah Goher | Egypt 2025 | 95 min | Grades 10 – College
In Arabic with English subtitles
Key Themes: Family, Memory, Loss & Grief, Healing, Love, Resilience
IN THEATER: Thursday, October 9 • 10:00am-11:55am | Sequoia Cinema • Mill Valley
ONLINE: October 6-10 | Available to schools anywhere in the US
Two delighted eight-year-olds wake up in the middle of the night to excitedly prepare for a birthday party. They might be sisters, or best friends, or cousins. The drama brilliantly demurs in giving us clarity, until the film’s focus settles on Toha (a phenomenal Doha Ramadan), already a maid at such a young age. What unfolds are her poignant experiences as she navigates the dramatic class differences between her own family and that of her employers and their world of privilege. Set in contemporary Cairo, the incomparable Ramadan conveys the force of a little girl’s will to resist the small injustices she does not fully comprehend. Writer-director Sarah Goher’s surprising and heartbreaking film, a beautifully written and photographed story of resilience, will leave you contemplating what it means to grow up too fast when circumstance is the cruelest master of all. —Topiary Landberg
HOLA FRIDA
Directors: Andre Kadi, Karine Vezina | France,Canada 2024 | 82 min | Grades 2-6
Spanish with English subtitles
Key Themes: Disability & Health, Art & Creativity, Mexican Culture, Family, Resilience, Imagination
IN THEATER: Wednesday, October 8 • 10:00am-11:22am | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 6-10 | Available to schools anywhere in the US
Frida is a free-spirited girl whose exuberant presence makes the sun shine a bit brighter wherever she goes in her native Coyoacán, Mexico—from the market stalls to the classroom to the streets where she cavorts with her canine companion, a goofy and good-natured street pup named Chiquita. Frida dreams of becoming a doctor. But when a polio diagnosis forces her out of school, she faces a long, lonely recovery at home. With loving guidance from her mother and unconditional support from her father, Frida finds solace in her imagination. Creativity flows from her fingers onto everything she touches. Surrounding herself with fabrics, flowers, and paints, she emerges from illness into her new life as an artist. Produced under the auspices of the Frida Kahlo Museum, this beautifully animated portrait of the artist in her youth is a testament to the powers of imagination and resilience. —K.D. Davis
VIEW TRAILER
RUNA SIMI
Director: Augusto Andrés Zegarra Pineda-Arce | Peru 2024 | 81 min | Grades 8-12
In Quechua and Spanish with English subtitles
Key Themes: Language Preservation, Storytelling, Identity
IN THEATER ONLY: Tuesday, October 7 • 10:30am-12:11m | Sequoia Cinema • Mill Valley
Filmmaker Augusto Zegarra makes a powerful debut with this engrossing documentary about fatherhood, identity, and the soul of a language. The film follows Fernando, a single father and radio host in Cusco, Peru, who shares a modest yet endearing hobby with his son: dubbing classic animated clips into Quechua, an Indigenous language spoken by a relatively small number of people. When one of their dubs unexpectedly goes viral, a private passion transforms into something far more ambitious and meaningful. What began as a playful bonding activity becomes a remarkable act of cultural preservation—and a compelling journey in its own right.
With a deft and subtle touch, Zegarra allows the emotions to unfold naturally, avoiding grandstanding or dramatic speeches. The winner of the Albert Maysles Award at the Tribeca Film Festival, Runa Simi is a quiet story that speaks volumes, reminding us that language is more than a tool for communication; it is a vessel for memory and identity. —Zaki Hasan
STATE OF FIRSTS
Director: Chase Joynt | US 2025 | 93 min | Grades 11 – College
Key Themes: Gender Identity, LGBTQ+ Rights, Civil Rights, Political Representation, Activism, Social Justice
IN THEATER: Wednesday, October 8 • 10:30am-12:23pm | Sequoia Cinema • Mill Valley
*NEW!* ONLINE: October 6-10 | Available to schools anywhere in the US
In a groundbreaking victory, Sarah McBride became the first transgender person elected to Congress—in the same year Donald Trump returned to power on a campaign that featured a chilling anti-trans platform. This provocative and powerful doc brings us directly into McBride’s experience, following closely as she knocks on doors across Delaware, sharpens her message (and her elbows) to keep the focus on the issues that matter most to her constituents, shares a bittersweet election-night call with Joe Biden, and steps into her first year in office with Republicans banning her from using restrooms in the Capitol before she even arrives. Battling tirelessly on all fronts despite shocking mistreatment, McBride hangs on to her equilibrium as she demonstrates the power of choosing hope, taking action, and making the most of the opportunities for which she will fight like hell, for herself and all who will follow in her fearless footsteps. —Deanna Quinones
STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!
Directors: Tia Lessin, Carl Deal | US 2025 | 100 min | Grades 9 – College
Key Themes: Journalism, Free Speech, Social Justice, Activism, Political Movements, Media Literacy
IN THEATER ONLY: Monday, October 6 • 11:00am-1:00pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
Longtime activist and journalist Amy Goodman and a host of her colleagues tell her story in this intimate profile that doubles as a snapshot of the intertwining of politics and the US news media, along with the antagonism that has grown between the two. This involving documentary traces Goodman’s formative experiences and frontline confrontations worldwide, from the harrowing (including her early career covering militarized genocide in East Timor and Chevron’s brutal oil exploitation in Nigeria) to the celebratory (the release of a wrongfully incarcerated Black American prisoner). Described variously as principled, provocative, combative, and radical, Goodman cuts a commanding figure, inspiring countless others to pursue social justice.
As Steal this Story, Please! demonstrates, she has become a cultural icon whose work provides an alternative to mainstream media with its blackouts, censorship, and market-driven coverage. The film’s astute observation of a consummate shaper of public information provides a rare and valuable perspective in our era of fast-changing news cycles. —Brian Karl
VALENTINA
Director: Tatti Ribeiro | US 2025 | 78 min | Grades 11 – College
Key Themes: Youth Activism, Environmental Justice, Military & Society, Community, Border Communities & Relations
IN THEATER: Friday, October 10 • 12:00pm-1:48pm | Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 6-10 | Available to schools anywhere in the US
In this singular debut, director Tatti Ribeiro leverages the best of hybrid filmmaking to create a comedy-meets-documentary that feels both urgent and slice-of-life all at once. Set against the backdrop of the busiest US-Mexico border crossing, Valentina is, at its core, a coming-of-age story. The titular character, played by the ever-magnetic Keyla Monterroso Mejia (One of Them Days, The Studio), navigates parking tickets, odd jobs, and a perpetually precarious checking account balance. In one moment, Valentina cracks jokes about wanting a cosmetic procedure; in the next, she’s pointing out just how much time gig workers like herself waste dealing with bureaucracy. By blending real-life news clips and political interviews with a cinema vérité-style approach to capturing Valentina’s often-humorous day-to-day circumstances, this wholly original film not only deftly highlights the very real trials of growing up in an American border town, but marks Ribeiro as a talent to watch. —Kate Bove
SHORTS: ANIMATION NATION, A FAMILY FILM COLLEGE SHOWCASE
Total Program 70 min | Grades 3-8
Key Themes: Nature & Transformation, Cosmic & Celestial Exploration, Communication & Creativity, Home & Belonging, Domestic Magic & Whimsy, Chaos & Imagination, Family & Cultural Identity, Urban Community, Cultural Symbolism, Metamorphosis, Reflection & Solitude, Fan Culture & Social Identity, Effort & Empowerment, Friendship & Resilience, Return & Belonging
IN THEATER: Friday, October 10 • 10:00am-11:30am | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael; Wednesday, October 8 • 10:00am-11:30am | Sequoia Cinema • Mill Valley
*ONLY 60 SEATS LEFT* Thursday, October 9 • 10:30am-12:00pm | Sequoia Cinema • Mill Valley
ONLINE: October 6-10 | Available to schools anywhere in the US
THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES:
THE SUN AND THE WIND
Director: Soyeon Kim |US 2025
Two cosmic rivals battle it out, only to realize that even the fiercest power can’t beat a small spark of warmth. Based on a classic Aesop’s fable.
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Director: Zsofia Katona | US 2023
A father and daughter, burdened by loss, find unexpected light and hope as darkness falls during a solar eclipse.
RADIOCATIVE
Director: Damaris Alvarez | US 2023
Lucas’ older brother Ethan always outshines him and gets all the attention and praise. But that ends tonight. Tonight, Lucas is ruining his sibling’s chance of success! But wait…he turns into a cat?
NIDO DE MI VIDA
Director: Ivy Gonzalez | US 2025
A single mom and her child awaken and begin their morning in their small, humble home that encapsulates memories like a locket held close to their hearts, sealed against time.
HOUSE MAGIC AND A TEAPOT
Director: Yanzhang “Jessica” Song | US 2025
A magical house has long waited for the perfect witch—until one stormy night, a traveler knocks on its door and a special enchantment blooms.
CREATURES OF CHAOS
Director: Asavari Kumar | US, Denmark 2025
Four neighbors discover that their emotional struggles take on physical forms—creatures they attempt to conceal. As the creatures grow larger, an unexpected encounter reveals the neighbors are not alone in their experiences.
GIREOGI APPA
Director: So Youn Rebecca Jeon | US 2021
A poetic, experimental story of a boy releasing his bird, inspired by Korean “Gireogi Appa,” honoring fathers’ sacrifice and love, and encouraging storytellers to share their own culture.
TENT CITY
Director: Camille Romero | US 2023
A poetic look at Southern California’s growing homelessness crisis, aiming to raise awareness, spark discussion, and inspire meaningful change in our communities.
CHRYSALLIS DAY
Director: Abigail Alonso | US 2025
When a young fairy is about to get her wings, she becomes worried about the possibilities of failure. With the help of her brother, she learns that in order to grow she needs to be brave.
MOON
Director: Genesis Sosa | US 2024
Bebe journeys to reach the moon, newly discovered to have sprouted cheese. Through her journey, her motivations to reach the cheese moon become clear: the love for her family.
PUSH
Director: Trilina Mai | US 2019
A grandfather and grandson walk life’s winding path together, their bond deepening as they guide and nudge each other through changes great and small.
MY FRIEND THE DANDELION
Director: Athena Greenleaf | US 2024
When a young girl wishes for a friend on a dandelion, a magical lion appears. Together they navigate new friendship and learn how to say goodbye.
HOMECOMING
Director: Yuxin (Cindy) Cheng | US 2024
A young woman walking down the street smells something familiar and recalls a joyful childhood memory with her family, inspiring her to reconnect with her loved ones.
SHORTS: TOMORROW IS FOREVER | YOUTH WORKS
Total Program 93 min | Grades 9-12
Key Themes: Key Themes: Self-discovery, Bullying, Coming-of-Age, Women’s Voices, Creativity & Performance, Digital Culture, Resilience
Education Notes: shorts program includes brief depictions of a firearm prop and some scenes of violence.
IN THEATER: Friday, October 10 • 10:30am-12:30pm | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 6-10 | Available to schools anywhere in the US
From scheming teens and high school daydreams to magical VHS tapes and acts of courage, this youth-produced shorts program celebrates inventive storytelling and imaginative worlds. These shorts explore the humor and heart of their characters, capturing moments both whimsical and profound.
THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES:
THE BUTTERCUP MAFIA
Director: Noam Rignault Clement |US 2025
A trio of childish teens under the name “The Buttercup Mafia” find success in intimidating bullies in exchange for cash.
EGGS BENEDICT
Director: Johnny White | US 2024
A story of love, eggs, and betrayal.
HYPNOS: THE MORPHING
Director: Yilian Ma | China 2025
In Chinese and English with English subtitles
A high school student dozes off in class and enters a dream world to participate in the “Lucky Nap Raffle,” but the three draws leave her with a stiff neck, dizziness, and even more drowsiness.
404: AN INTERNET ARCHIVE DOC
Director: Jacob Stoelting | US 2025
This documentary film explores the mission and impact of the Internet Archive, spotlighting Brewster Kahle and Mark Graham, and their Wayback Machine as a powerful tool for preserving the ever-changing digital landscape.
LUISA
Director: Kiyomi Dallas Kidd | US 2025
Overwhelmed by the discord of her parents’ arguments, a little girl, Luisa, uses her imagination to help heal her fractured family.
HOW IT SHOULD BE
Director: Natalie Yerelekian | US 2025
A determined 17-year-old, dreams of breaking free from her traditional “American housewife” life that is pushed upon her by an omnipotent narrator.
SELF PORTRAIT II
Director: Paula Benu | Romania 2024
Mixed media animation self-portrait of the artist.
SHRIMP WIGGLE
Directors: Mason Barnhardt, Jade Kelly | US 2024
Shrimp Wiggle was your average mediocre garage band, but after a fight regarding the drummer’s lack of commitment to the band leads to his death, a strange VHS tape suggests that necromancy isn’t THAT immoral.
I REMEMBER, I FEEL, I SEE, I AM SEEN
Director: Collective Work | Romania 2024
An animated journey about memories, sensory experiences, and the ways we connect with each other in a world rich with emotion and sensation.
WHITE CROW
Director: Ruslan Khromin | US 2025
A young woman in Stalin’s Russia faces a life-or-death choice after carrying out a daring act of protest.
DANCING IN THE STARS
Director: Lazar Jovanović | Serbia 2025
In Serbian with English subtitles
An unexpected incident reunites two estranged brothers, urging them to revisit their past and rethink their future, in a single day spent together.
FIND ME IN THE VOID
Director: Denver Humphrey | US 2025
A teen Black girl uses astral projection and the support of her childhood best friend to solve her own case.
THE SCENE
Director: Ramina Rezaie | Iran 2025
In Persian with English subtitles
Azadeh is a young girl who loves acting, and in order to get a small role in a movie, she forces herself to do things that jeopardize her daily routine and family tradition.
SHORTS: WILDFLOWERS
Total Program 71 min | Grades 11 – College
Key Themes: Childbirth & Maternal Health, Latinx Identity, Immigration, Environmental Justice, Women’s Health, Community Care, Traditional Knowledge
Education Notes: Childbirth scenes (depictions of labor and delivery)
IN THEATER: Monday, October 6 • 10:00am-11:30am | Smith Rafael Film Center • San Rafael
ONLINE: October 6-10 | Available to schools anywhere in the US
Backyards, farmlands, and coastlines meet in this documentary shorts program, where territory and daily life reveal both the healing bonds of community and the realities we must tend to outside our homes.
THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES:
MY NEIGHBOR’S YARD
Director: Kara Grace Miller | US 2025
In a divided town in Pennsylvania’s Capital Region, neighbors turn their yards into opposing campaign endorsements leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
LEAVING THE POINT
Director: Michael Fearon | US 2024
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
With ranch closures looming in Point Reyes National Seashore, a tight-knit community faces significant changes and a vanishing way of life.
LAS JÍBARAS
Director: Adnelly Marichal | US 2024
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
An intimate portrait of two generations of Puerto Rican women reclaiming their connection to the land and one another through traditional farming practices and community building.
PINE CONES ON DIVISIDERO
Director: Sylvie Lee | US 2024
A filmmaker returns to her neighborhood in San Francisco to solve a mystery: What’s the deal with all these pine cones on Divisadero?
THE LONG LABOR
Directors: Brenda Ávila-Hanna, Consuelo Alba | US 2025
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
After losing her mother in childbirth, a Mexican immigrant grows up to become a certified midwife and nurse practitioner who joins forces with local women to offer dignified care and revive ancestral healing traditions for indigenous farmworker communities in Watsonville, CA.