Virtual Cinema Series

Welcome to the Mendocino Film Festival virtual cinema! We have partnered with some of our favorite distributors to bring you new, engaging independent film. The Mendocino Film Festival receives a percentage of every ticket sold – by purchasing a ticket you can help the festival through this challenging time. We know that there are many ways to watch films these days, thank you for choosing to support MFF!

This series is ongoing, so be sure to check this page and the MFF Facebook for updates and more film selections. Make movie night special with take-out from one of our wonderful culinary partners.

If you are having trouble connecting your phone, tablet, or computer to your television (all films deserve a big screen!), please use the guides at the bottom of this page.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: 2020/21 MFF Members may use their membership benefits for The Dog Doc and Driveways. To become a 2021 Member, click here. 

Now Playing

The *asterisks* denote films that were originally selected by the programming team for the 15th Annual Mendocino Film Festival (which was postponed until June 2021).

CREEM

*John Lewis

*The Fight

Short Films

Driveways

Gordon Lightfoot

*Diana Kennedy

*The Dog Doc

The Booksellers

*Out Stealing Horses

Synopsis & Trailers

Documentaries

The Booksellers – D.W. Young’s elegant and absorbing documentary is a lively tour of New York’s book world, populated by an assortment of obsessives, intellects, eccentrics and dreamers, past and present: from the Park Avenue Armory’s annual Antiquarian Book Fair, where original editions can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars; to the Strand and Argosy bookstores, still standing against all odds; to the beautifully crammed apartments of collectors and buyers. The film, executive produced by Parker Posey, features a range of commentators, including Fran Lebowitz, Susan Orlean, Gay Talese, and a community of dedicated book dealers and collectors who strongly believe in the wonder of the object and what it holds within. 99 min. Trailer

The rental is $4.99 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film.

CREEM: America’s Only Rock n’ Roll Magazine – Capturing the messy upheaval of the ’70s just as rock was re-inventing itself, the film explores CREEM Magazine’s humble beginnings in post-riot Detroit, follows its upward trajectory from underground paper to national powerhouse, then bears witness to its imminent demise following the tragic and untimely deaths of its visionary publisher, Barry Kramer, and its most famous alum and genius clown prince, Lester Bangs, a year later. Fifty years after publishing its first issue, “America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine” remains a seditious spirit in music and culture. 75 min.

The rental is $9.99 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film and view the trailer.

 

*Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy explores Diana’s vibrant, unconventional life, blending vérité with archival footage, photographs and interviews. Viewers accompany her in intimate settings at home cooking, gardening, and traveling to accept awards and speak to audiences. The film features interviews with notable chefs and friends including Alice Waters, José Andrés, Rick Bayless, and Gabriela Cámara, along with footage from Diana’s TLC cooking show, “The Art of Mexican Cooking.” Whether she is instructing chefs at her in famous “Boot Camp” cooking school, blazing her truck over the cobblestone roads of Zitácuaro or sunbathing with a scotch on her balcony, Diana is captivatingly bold, spirited, and unapologetically herself. 82 min. Trailer

The rental is $4.99 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film.

*The Dog Doc – A founding father of integrative veterinary medicine, Dr. Marty Goldstein and his colleagues in South Salem, NY have created a mecca for holistic care, offering hope to scores of previously hopeless animals (and their owners). Combining conventional medical training with cutting edge alternative therapies, Dr. Marty’s deeply empathetic philosophy offers a vital example of how improving overall health rather than merely treating disease is transformative for all living things. The Dog Doc poses a serious question about whether we are over medicating our pets, our children, and ourselves, while offering an immersive view into a seldom-seen world to paint a complete picture of the dedication and joy of being a veterinarian. 101 min. Trailer. Proudly Sponsored by Village Veterinary, thank you, Dr. Novack!

The rental is $5 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film. 2020/21 Members may rent the film for $3 and VIP pass holders may view the film for free – you must be signed into the Eventive account associated with your membership account. The last day to rent this film is 8/14/20.

 

*The Fight is an inspiring, emotional insider look at how  important battles are fought and the legal gladiators on the front lines fighting them.  When a mother is separated from her child, a soldier is threatened to lose his career, a young woman’s right to choose is imperiled at the pleasure of a government official, and the ability to exercise our basic right to vote is threatened, the consequences can be devastating to us and to future generations. The Fight celebrates the unsung heroes who fiercely work to protect our freedom. 97 min. Trailer.

The rental is $12 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film.

 

Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind is an exploration of the career, music and influence of legendary Canadian musical icon, Gordon Lightfoot. With unprecedented access to the artist, the film takes audiences from high school auditoriums in straight-laced, small town Ontario in the 50s to the coffee houses of Yorkville and Greenwich Village in the 60s, through Lightfoot’s turbulent, substance- fueled arena shows of the 70s, and finally to the artist in present day. 90 min. Trailer.

The rental is $9.99 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film.

 

*John Lewis: Good Trouble chronicles the life and career of the legendary civil rights activist and Democratic Representative from Georgia. Using interviews and rare archival footage, the documentary chronicles John Robert Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. Using present-day interviews with Lewis, now 80 years old, Porter explores his childhood experiences, his inspiring family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. In addition to her interviews with Lewis and his family, Porter’s primarily cinéma verité film also includes interviews with political leaders, Congressional colleagues, and other people who figure prominently in his life. 96 min. Trailer

The rental is $12 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film.

Narratives/Drama

Driveways – Kathy (Golden Globe Nominee Hong Chau), a single mother, travels with her shy eight-year-old son Cody (newcomer Lucas Jaye), to Kathy’s late sister’s house which they plan to clean and sell. As Kathy realizes how little she knew about her sister, Cody develops an unlikely friendship with Del (Golden Globe, Tony winner and longtime acting legend Brian Dennehy) the Korean War vet and widower who lives next door. Over the course of a summer and with Del’s encouragement, Cody develops the courage to come out of his shell and, along with his mother, finds a new place to call home. 83 min. Trailer. Proudly sponsored by Kaye Handley and William Patterson, thank you!

The rental is $5 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film. 2020/21 Members may rent the film for $3 and VIP pass holders may view the film for free – you must be signed into the Eventive account associated with your membership account. The last day to rent this film is 8/14/20.

One Small Step Shorts Program- Embark on a roller coaster of imagination and possibility in this ShortsTV presented compilation of new and acclaimed, family- friendly animated short films. On this heart-warming ride, audiences will befriend the kookiest animals, experience the fast paced thrills of the Wild West and a cablecar chase through the San Francisco streets before embarking on a journey to the far reaches of outer-space, all from the comfort of their living rooms.

Featuring the OSCAR® winning Bear Story and OSCAR® nominees One Small Step, Gopher Broke and Borrowed Time together with Maestro, After The Rain, The Green Bird, Jubilee, Achoo, Outdoors, Voyagers, O28 and more. 81 min. Trailer

The rental is $7.99 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film.

*Out Stealing Horses – November 1999: 67-year-old Trond (Stellan Skarsgård), lives in self-imposed isolation and looks forward to welcoming in the new millennium alone. As winter arrives he meets one of his few neighbors, Lars (Bjørn Floberg), and realizes he knew him back in the summer of 1948. 1948 – the year Trond turned 15. The summer Trond grew up. Out Stealing Horses is based on the bestselling novel by Norwegian author Per Petterson. Immediately following the film there will be a pre-recorded discussion between Stellan Skarsgard and director Hans Peter Moller. 122 min.

The rental is $12 and active for 72 hours after the time of purchase. CLICK HERE to rent the film and view the trailer.

 

Coming Soon

Sept. 11

*Our Time Machine Trailer

Frequently Asked Questions & Tech Guide

Why do I have to register for new platforms to watch these films?
You need to have a login/id to create a secure viewing session for Eventive or Vimeo (the underlying platforms powering the virtual screenings). The viewing of each film is account-based and limits the time available and limits streams for personal viewing. That’s all to say, it’s for the security of the film.

Why are these films on various platforms and why are they different prices?
Film distributors are teaming up with local theaters and festivals to provide access to new independent films and each distributor has its own unique platform and pricing. When you select a film, you’ll be taken to the distributor’s website to purchase and watch the film. You will be sent an email after your purchase with a streaming link for the film.

How does this help the Mendocino Film Festival?
Nonprofit film organizations, such as the Mendocino Film Festival, need your support now more than ever. By buying a virtual “ticket” to watch these films, you’ll be directly supporting the Mendocino Film Festival. All revenue is being shared between distributor and exhibitor (us) just as if you bought your ticket at the Mendocino Film Festival box office.

After I purchase the film, how long do I have to watch it?
Please review the rental period before making a purchase. Most films are available for 3 days after the time of purchase. You can start, stop, and rewind within the availability window.

If you are having technical issues, please check these resources and email the film’s appropriate contact: 

Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy, The Booksellers, and One Small Step – Vimeo Help Guide

The Dog Doc, Driveways, John Lewis, The Fight, Gordon Lightfoot, CREEM, Out Stealing Horses – Eventive Help Guide

MFF User Guide & How to Watch on Your TV

If you have any questions, please email info@mendocinofilmfestival.org

Major Sponsors