'Saving Mr. Banks' Captivates Napa Valley Film Festival

"Saving Mr. Banks," the story of Walt Disney's 20-year quest to turn the book "Mary Poppins" into a musical film, took the Napa Valley Film Festival by storm Thursday.

"I don't mean to be biased, but I think this is my favorite film in the festival," said festival co-founder Brenda Llormer to the audience before the film's screening Thursday night at the Napa Valley Opera House.

One of the film's actors, Colin Farrell, and the director, John Lee Hancock, will be receiving special tributes Friday night at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville.

The film also stars Tom Hanks (as Walt Disney) and Emma Thompson (as the author of "Mary Poppins.")

Farrell, who plays the father of the "Mary Poppins" author in flashbacks to when she was a child, and Hancock rubbed shoulders with VIPs and gave media interviews Thursday at two Red Carpet events at the Opera House and later at the former Copia Building in downtown Napa.

After the Red Carpet reception, film patrons were treated to a full-scale gala with live music, dancing, food and wine.

Producer Allison Owens was also present for the Red Carpet events for the film, which attendees said brought tears to their eyes.

"I loved it," said Jasmine Madatian of Los Angeles. "It has such a huge heart."

Madatian said she saw the premier of the film earlier this fall at Grauman's  Chinese Theater in LA -- the same venue where the original "Mary Poppins" premiered.

"I was sitting there watching the premiere (in "Saving Mr. Banks"), in the same theater where 'Mary Poppins' premiered 50 years ago," Madatian said. "It was amazing."

Madatian's friend, Lauren Ackerman of Napa, was equally moved.

"It was so poignant and well-done," said Ackerman, of Ackerman Family Vineyards and a board member of the Napa Valley Film Festival.

 "It picks up the sense of what I remember from the original ("Mary Poppins") movie," she added. "It really brings the story behind the story to life."

To see a full festival schedule, go to http://www.2013.napavalleyfilmfest.org/

A full festival guide is at http://napavalleyfilmfest.org/

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