FAQS

Cinema Napa Valley (CNV) is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and the proud presenter of the Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF). Our mission is to celebrate the cinematic arts and enrich the community by presenting an annual world-class film festival and year-round education and outreach programs.

The Napa Valley Film Festival was founded in 2009 by Brenda and Marc Lhormer. Brenda and Marc previously served as co-directors of the Sonoma Valley Film Festival from 2001 – 2008. They also produced the feature film Bottle Shock, which tells the story of Napa Valley’s triumph at the 1976 wine-tasting competition in Paris. After Bottle Shock’s world premiere at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Brenda and Marc turned their attention to creating a world-class film festival in the Napa Valley. Brenda and Marc envisioned a fall film festival that would exhibit the year’s best new independent films and likely awards season contenders, while simultaneously leveraging Napa Valley’s outstanding food, wine, and hospitality. They created a cultural arts organization that would support the art of cinematic storytelling, while also providing educational and career opportunities for local youth. Brenda and Marc presided over the growth and development of the festival as Co-Director and Executive + Artistic Director (respectively) from 2009 – 2018.

CNV was founded in 2009, and the first annual NVFF was held in 2010.

Napa Valley Film Festival does not issue refunds under any circumstances, including “failure to use credentials due to illness, acts of God, travel-related problems, acts of terrorism, loss of employment and/or duplicate purchases.”