Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actors Clive Owen and Uma Thurman, Oscar-nominated director Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You for Smoking)--along with wildly eclectic and popular Emmy-winning actor/activist Woody Harrelson (No Country for Old Men, the People vs. Larry Flynt, Cheers)--will be honored at special Tribute and Spotlight events during the 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival and given Mill Valley Film Festival Awards for their remarkable work in cinema.

Also, an intimate evening at 142 Throckmorton features seminal character actor Seymour Cassel in conversation with independent filmmaker Rob Nilsson about Cassel's early work with John Cassavetes and the myriad studio and independent films since. The fest opens with two films celebrating the power of the human spirit: Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire, about a resilient African-American high school student; and The Boys are Back, starring Clive Owen as a sports-writing, suddenly-single dad. Plus, 143 films from 41 countries, along with concerts, comedy and galas.

Presented by the California Film Institute, the 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival runs October 8-18, 2009 at the CineArts@Sequoia, Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center and other venues throughout the Bay Area. For info or tickets, visit online at mvff.com or call (877) 874-MVFF.

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