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George Clooney stars as Ryan Bingham in “Up in the Air.”
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Clive Owen. Uma Thurman. Woody Harrelson. The guest list of the 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival reads more like a Hollywood Oscar party's. But there's much more to the festival than big names. So much, in fact, that you might not know where to begin.

This year's festival, which opens tonight and runs through Oct. 18, will screen more than 80 films in five categories: World cinema, U.S. cinema, documentaries or Valley of the Docs, Children's FilmFest, and the festival's 5@5 shorts. Among the films, 24 are premieres and 35 have Bay Area ties. During a few special screenings, Owen, Thurman, Harrelson, and other stars will engage attendees in conversation.

There is truly something for

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everyone, from high profile American films such as Owen's "The Boys are Back" to a documentary on bottled water and the North American premiere of "Victoria," French actress Anna Karina's first directorial effort in three decades.

"It's the breadth and depth of the festival that makes it great," says the festival's director, Mark Fishkin, founder and executive director of the California Film Institute. "While the festival has a reputation for showing art house and indie films, it is also well-known for films that do well in the fall (at the awards shows)."

This year, the Oscar buzz is around opening night's "Precious," the story of an illiterate and abused teenager who finds hope and determination despite horrifying odds. The

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film won the audience awards at the Sundance and Toronto film festivals.

Ultimately, however, what's great about any film is when it resonates with a person, Fishkin says.

In an effort to help you navigate the list, here are eight picks.

  • "Eat the Sun": Mill Valley director Peter Sorcher's documentary follows Mason Dwinell on his spiritual journey to become a sun gazer, one who draws nourishment from the sun rather than from food. (8:30 p.m. Oct. 9; noon, Oct. 17)

  • "Happy Tears": In this humorous tale, Demi Moore and Parker Posey play sisters who return home to help their widowed and ailing father (Rip Torn) as he continues to deteriorate. Don't miss Ellen Barkin as a crackhead gold digger. (9:15 p.m. Oct. 16)

  • "The Young Victoria": Emily Blunt portrays youthful Queen Victoria, who ascended the British throne at age 18. The film chronicles her early reign and romance with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend). (5:15 p.m. Oct. 18, closing night party to follow).

  • "Race to Nowhere": Director Vicki Abeles documents the pressure to succeed that is exerted on schoolchildren at a time when test scores continue to drop, and cheating, stress-related illnesses and suicide are on the rise. (3:30 p.m. Oct. 10; 5:45 p.m. Oct. 18)

  • "Superstar": Iranian director and screenwriter Tahmineh Milani usually focuses on the struggles of contemporary women in Iran. Here, she shows a lighter side through the developing relationship of a movie star and a mystery woman. (8:30 p.m. Oct. 10; 9 p.m. Oct. 13)

  • "Miracle in a Box: A Piano Reborn": Academy-Award winning filmmaker John Korty follows the restoration of a Steinway piano at Oakland's Callahan Piano Service in this documentary about following the heart's true passion. (3 p.m. Oct. 10; 2:30 p.m. Oct. 17)

  • "Up in the Air": The U.S. premiere of director Jason Reitman's dramatic comedy starring George Clooney as a corporate downsizing expert whose life changes just as he's about to reach 10 million frequent flier miles. (6:30 p.m. Oct. 14)

  • "Reach for Me": Director LeVar Burton explores the process of facing one's mortality through Alvin, a hospice patient portrayed by Seymour Cassel. Cast also includes Alfre Woodard, Adrienne Barbeau and Lacey Chabert. (4:30 p.m. Oct. 15; 7:15 pm. Oct. 17)

  • "Sweet Rush": Famed Polish director Andrzej Wajda's unusual film about a lonely wife (Krystyna Janda) of a small-town doctor who begins a relationship with a young laborer while coming to terms with the loss of her sons. (4 p.m. Oct. 16)

    Mill valley film festival
    The 32nd festival runs Oct. 8 to 18 at various locations in Marin County. Tickets are $12.50, general admission; $11, seniors; $10, Children's FilmFest; $10, members; and $30-$125, tributes and spotlights with talent. All tickets can be purchased online at www.mvff.com, by phone at 877-874-6833, or at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael. For a complete list of screenings, visit www.mvff.com.
    At press time, the spotlights on Clive Owen and Jason Reitman and the Tributes to Uma Thurman, Woody Harrelson and Anna Karina were sold out. If a screening is sold out, try the rush line, which forms up to one hour before showtime. Available tickets will be sold 10 minutes before the screening on a first-come basis for cash only. For the latest information, follow MVFF/CFI on Facebook and Twitter.