Fantastic Family Films at the 48th Mill Valley Film Festival
Akiko, the Flying Monkey is just one of the family-friendly offerings at the 48th annual Mill Valley Film Festival.
The Mill Valley Film Festival returns to Marin this October with a full program of fun family films (as well as occasional celebrity sightings). The festival takes place from October 2 through 12, 2025.
The MVFF's Family Film series kicks off on Sunday, October 5 with a screening of Akiko, the Flying Monkey at 11 am (with an appearance by director Veit Helmer) followed by the MVFF48 Hoopla! at Marin Country Mart from 1 to 3 pm, featuring pony rides, a petting zoo, balloon sculptures, face painting, and treats from Shake Shack. All the fun is included in your morning movie ticket!
MVFF’s Family Films roster features movies for all ages that nurture everyone's love of film. Feature films and shorts from a variety of countries will be showcased. The 2025 schedule features:
Akiko, the Flying Monkey
Akiko is tired of zookeepers making a monkey out of him, even though he is a monkey. With support from his family, he escapes to the wild forest, embarking on an adventurous journey to freedom. For ages 7+.
Animal Farm
In this family friendly update of Orwell, overconsumption runs rampant and only the animals can save us. With voiceover cast Seth Rogen, Woody Harrelson, Kathleen Turner, and Glenn Close, Animal Farm is a must-see fable for our time. For ages 9+.
Arco
Produced by actor Natalie Portman, Ugo Bienvenu’s visionary animated tale of time-space travel, suitable for ages 8–118, evokes the best of Studio Ghibli and features Arnaud Toulon’s gorgeous orchestral score. This year’s top prize at Annecy. For ages 7+.
Hola Frida
Frida is a free-spirited girl in Coyoacán, Mexico. When polio strikes, she finds solace in her creativity. Hola Frida beautifully recreates the childhood of artist Frida Kahlo, highlighting the powers of imagination and resilience. For ages 7+.
Additionally, there will be two programs of short films: Animation Nation, a family-friendly selection of animated films produced in conjunction with UCLA and CSU Long Beach and Tomorrow Is Forever, a youth-produced program that celebrates storytelling and imaginative worlds. Animation Nation is suitable for ages 7+ and Tomorrow Is Forever is indended for teens 15+.
For a full schedule of family screenings and events, visit www.mvff.com/family-films. Screenings take place at Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley, the Rafael Film Center in downtown San Rafael, and the Lark Theater in Larkspur.
To learn more about the 48th annual Mill Valley Film Festival and its stellar array of cinematic screenings and events, visit www.mvff.com.
