James Gray to Receive Director Award From Mill Valley Film Festival | Exclusive

James Gray, the director of "Paper Tiger," has been awarded the Director Award at the Mill Valley Film Festival. The festival organizers revealed this on Wednesday. The award ceremony is scheduled for October 5th, coinciding with a screening of "Paper Tiger" followed by a discussion moderated by "Knives Out" director Rian Johnson.

The film, a family drama starring Miles Teller, Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Gavi Goudey, follows the story of a construction worker whose ex-cop brother entices him into a lucrative but dangerous job that spirals out of control, leading to Russian mob threats against the family.

In a review from TheWrap, "Paper Tiger" was described as a tense exploration of suspense, featuring a few breathtaking sequences that heighten the tension to its limits as hubris and wishful thinking lead the family into unforeseen dangers. However, it also presents a tender portrayal of family members who may argue and seem at odds but ultimately maintain a bond, often concluding their exchanges with the words, "I love you."

Apart from "Paper Tiger," Gray is recognized for directing films such as "Little Odessa," "The Yards," "We Own the Night," "Two Lovers," "The Immigrant," "The Lost City of Z," "Ad Astra," and "Armageddon Time."

Rose Kuo, the artistic director of the Mill Valley Film Festival, expressed that Gray has spent over three decades delving into the myths of the American family and the culture that shapes it. With "Paper Tiger," Gray returns to one of the most significant relationships in his films: the complex bond between brothers. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and will open the New York Film Festival on September 25th.

It will be released by Neon in the fall. The 2026 Mill Valley Film Festival will take place from October 1st to October 11th in Marin County and the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California.