Aside from the Oscar contenders and big-buzz entries, the Mill Valley Film Fest serves up some sterling efforts you might not know about. Here are some of the best (for more information, go to . “Monday Nights at Seven”: Moving and personal, Marty Sader’s sexy love song to wounded people starting over again is as intimate as it is soulful. Sader, who also stars, has charisma and talent to spare. It receives a world premiere Oct. 8. “Christine”: Rebecca Hall gives a so-real-it-hurts performance as tragic Florida TV journalist Christine Chubbuck in director Antonio Campos’s detailed dramatization that ambitiously intelligently tackles issues of ambition, sexism and newsroom pursuits for viewers. One of 2016’s finest features (Oct. 15-16). Opens Oct. 21 in San Francisco and Berkeley. “Love Is Thicker Than Water”: Prepare to swoon over this romantic comedy about  mismatched lovers — she comes from a rich family, he from a working class one — as they tussle with each other and family in England.

Leads Johnny Flynn and Lydia Wilson are adorable. Co-directors Emily Harris and Ate de Jong (“Drop Dead Fred”) have made a delightful genre picture (Oct. 15-16).swans handyman service “The Salesman”: Brilliant Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi plumbs the complexities of contemporary relationships in another shake-you-up drama about a couple dealing with the fallout of an assault, and how a relentless insistence to gain vengeance can strip us of our humanity. business for sale pismo beach caRiveting and wise (Oct. 7, 12).business for sale hervey bay “Fire at Sea”: This award-winning documentary elliptically illustrates the European refugee crisis as it documents — often wordlessly — what’s happening on the island of Lampedusa, in Sicily. reliable handyman services philadelphia

You’ll be haunted days afterwards (Oct. 14-15). “Miss Hokusai”: Billed as family fare, this beautifully crafted animated tale is best suited for the young adult and adult crowd as it chronicles the life/career of the daughter of acclaimed 19th-century artist Hokusai. business for sale jekyll islandO-Ei was a remarkable talent herself, and her story and the unconventional relationship with her dad along with the one with her blind sister make this a moving experience (Oct. 8).business for sale lorne “The Eagle Huntress”: A 13-year-old girl in Mongolia upsets the male-dominated status quo as she sets her sights on becoming an accomplished eagle huntress. Director Otto Bell’s visually breathtaking documentary will appeal to families and has a welcome message about girls shattering gender roles (Oct. 9-10).

HOUSTON — When it comes to star power, the Patriots have plenty of marquee talent. But quite often, one of the secrets to their success is the emergence of the unheralded role players in the big moments. Think Malcolm Butler two years ago, and Chris Hogan in the AFC title game. With that in mind, here are our five picks for guys who aren’t necessarily on the radar screen right now, but based on past performance and matchups heading into Sunday’s game, could have a sizable impact on the outcome of Super Bowl LI. Defensive lineman Trey Flowers: As far as team leaders when it comes to sacks, Flowers is as under-the-radar as they come. The 23-year-old, who played multiple spots up and down the defensive line this season for the Patriots, stepped nicely into the void vacated by the likes of Chandler Jones and gave New England a reasonable facsimile of Jones’ pressure at a fraction of the price. The former Arkansas product, who modeled his game after Bobby “The Waterboy” Boucher, finished the year with seven sacks, and is capable of bringing pressure from more than one spot.

After spending most of last season on the sidelines, the 6-foot-2, 268-pounder is suddenly taking on double teams. “It’s understandable,” he shrugged. “Anytime you make your plays out there or whatever, they’re going to focus in on you and try to shut you down. That’s part of football. It’s just up to me to make the plays. Sometimes I go through drills and kind of work on how to beat a double team and any opportunity I can get to go out there and make a play. I don’t really shut down and say, ‘Oh, if I’m getting doubled, somebody else can make a play.’ I still want to be disruptive, even if they have two guys on me.” Running back James White: The Falcons have struggled to defend backs in the passing game this season, as the likes of Fozzy Whittaker (9 catches, 86 yards), Melvin Gordon (six catches, 53 yards, 1 TD) and Latavius Murray (6 catches, 44 yards) all had good outings against the Atlanta pass defense. And while some of White’s reps have gone to the Dion Lewis since he returned roughly midway through the 2016 season, White remains a potent part of the New England passing attack.

The Wisconsin product, who finished second on the team in catches with a career-high 60 to go along with 551 receiving yards and five touchdowns, is a 5-foot-9, 204-pounder capable of making defenders miss. The last time the Patriots went to the Super Bowl, he was a rookie and scout teamer tasked with giving starters a look and getting them ready for their title clash with the Seahawks. This time around, he’s on the other side of things. “I’m happy that I get a chance to contribute this year,” White said. “I was glad to have the experience [two years ago]. And if I ever got an opportunity to play and find a role on this team, I would just work hard and try and help this team get back to this point. I’m just happy to be back here and be contributing, and I’m not going to take it for granted.” Left guard Joe Thuney: The rookie, a third-round pick out of North Carolina State, was the most impactful first-year player on the team this season for a few reasons, not the least of which he came within one snap of going wire-to-wire in his first season in the NFL.

A physical guard who stepped in nicely next to center David Andrews and left tackle Nate Solder, the Patriots did not miss a beat with him in the lineup. While he showed a little wear and tear late in the season and into the playoffs (he had some issues with a few different looks provided by Houston in the divisional playoff game), he’s a smart, hard-nosed worker who has followed in the traditional of preternaturally talented offensive linemen in New England. “We’ve kind of developed a camaraderie in our group,” said Solder, who has spent the entire season with Thuney lined up on his right hip. “We’re all very dedicated to getting better. And all willing to do what it takes to get better — to put in the time and put in the effort. We’re all getting better. We’re all in this together. “[Thuney] has followed that standard and followed that suit and come right along. He’s improved every week. It’s so hard to be a rookie because everything is so new and everything can be so overwhelming.

And he just continues to trust in the coaches to continue to do what he needs to do to keep getting better.” Punter Ryan Allen: Allen, who delivered a Super Bowl-record 64-yard punt two years ago, has done an excellent job all season long when it comes to tilting the field in New England’s favor. The AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in September, Allen will be tasked with making sure the Falcons have to go as long as possible when it comes to putting points on the board. (You can also add coverage demons Matthew Slater and Jonathan Jones here, two guys who have done a terrific job limiting returns all season long.) Linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Shea McClellin: Since the Patriots dealt Jamie Collins to the Browns midway through the season, these two have fundamentally split the role of “coverage linebacker” for New England. Van Noy, a midseason pickup via Detroit, has emerged as a key defensive figure for the Patriots. finishing the AFC title game with four tackles and a forced fumble along the way.