Guide to Underground Cinemas:
A “microcinema” is a small, alternative screening space, typically with seating for under 50 people, which screens material that is generally not commercially available or mainstream. The venues are non-traditional, and advertising is typically through fliers, word-of-mouth and specific websites or blogs.
These venues are places you only want to tell your coolest friends about, as seating is limited and relies on smart audiences, quality-over-quantity. Best to attend either alone or with one or two friends max, large groups will have difficulty finding seating and can definitely ruin the vibe. Typically you can BYOB (bring-your-own-booze), but best to be somewhat discrete and use your best judgement. Marijuana use is not uncommon in these circles, but never openly or within general public view. It is always in poor form to drink, smoke or loiter directly outside the establishment.
Bay Area summary:
The San Francisco area remains one of the world’s premiere destinations for avant-garde and underground film, stemming from a vibrant era of art films made during the 1960s. George Kuchar, Bruce Conner , Robert Nelson and Bruce Baillie were all long-time residents and considered leaders of the movement.
Today, the “scene” is lead by longtime-but-still-thriving programers such as Craig Baldwin (Other Cinema), Steve Polta (San Francisco Cinematheque), Stephen Parr (Oddball Cinema) and Dominic Angerame (Canyon Cinema), while home to many noted filmmakers such as Larry Jordan, Nathaniel Dorsky and Sam Green.
San Francisco Venues----------------------
Artist’s Television Access- 992 Valencia Street, SF
(Occasional Cash Bar- BYOB questionable, $6-15 Admission)
One of the longest-standing microcinemas in the nation, ATA is a non-profit that opens its doors to a variety of traveling filmmakers and various alternative film programs. It is also a rare underground venue that runs publicly and openly, meaning no RSVP, crazy codes, secret handshakes, etc etc to attend. Their programing can also appear in newsprint or other popular media outlets. www.atasite.org
Other Cinema- held seasonally at ATA
(Cash Bar- BYOB questionable, $6-9 Admission)
One of the area’s most well-known programs is Other Cinema, programed by the tireless Craig Baldwin, who has been a key member of the SF film scene for over three decades. Part of the show is Baldwin’s ultra-enthusiastic presentation, which comes across as a bizarre cinephilic blend between Walt Whitman and Beakman’s World. Long-time attendees call themselves “Other Cinema Students,” and privileged out-of-town filmmakers or special attendees may be rewarded by visiting Baldwin’s secret film lair below the cinema, or partake in the occasional after-hours bonus screening. All shows are relatively cheap, generally around $6. www.othercinema.com
Oddball Cinema- 275 Capp Street, SF
(Mystery Bar, BYOB accepted, $10 Admission)
Definitely a must-see for cinema junkies, Oddball is a 16mm film archive that provides stock footage for documentaries, television programs and feature films (such as Milk.) However on most Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Oddball opens up to a revolving door of curators that program eclectic shows out of the archive’s vast collection of forgotten films. Expect a hodgepodge array of industrial, educational and other found films, perhaps not originally made for artistic purposes.
Attendees enter on an unassuming Mission side-street and venture up a long flight of stairs in an industrial building, eventually leading to a large metal door that requires a buzz-in. Due to limited seating, Oddball requests an RSVP, although if you come on a whim they’ll likely be easy on you. oddballfilms.blogspot.com
New Nothing Cinema
(Free Bar- donations and BYOB accepted, Free Admission)
This is the reincarnation of the long-running “No Nothing Cinema,” founded by the late Dean Snider and others. Currently, the series is irregular, always free, and mainly curated by filmmaker Douglas Katelus. Entrance is on a quiet sidestreet, with a small sign on the door instructing visitors to enter the unlocked door and proceed up the stairs. Attendees are mainly long-time regulars, many of whom provide drinks and snacks to share. Mailing list only, email: eastshorefilms@hotmail.com
The Vortex Room- 1082 Howard Street, SF
(Cash Bar- BYOB not encouraged, $7-10 Admission)
A purely San Franciscan experience, entrance to the cinema is unmarked and on the edge of the notorious Tenderloin district. The neighborhood can be a bit of an adventure, so definitely proceed with some caution and common sense. (My car window got smashed out my first time here!) Typically there will be a tattoo-clad hipster ruffian milling around the front door to take your admission, and a long hallway will lead to a psychedelic back-room theater space, with a bar and mostly lounge seating. This venue mainly screens bizarre Sci-Fi and forgotten Acid-trip films on 16mm, and attracts a very unusual crowd. Find The Vortex Room on Facebook for updates and schedules.
The Lab- 2948 16th Street, SF
(Cash Bar- BYOB not encouraged, $8-12 Admission)
The Lab is an experimental music venue, conveniently located within a couple blocks of the 16th/Mission BART stop. While this is not a microcinema or regular screening venue, it is a large white performance space that occasionally projects video art and other imagery during shows. www.thelab.org
San Francisco Cinematheque
(Varied Locations, Bar/BYOB questionable, $10 Admission)
The Cinematheque is a long-running SF experimental film series, currently curated by Steve Polta. The programing is nomadic, screening at a variety of venues throughout the SF Bay area. Much of the programing is derived from the archives of Canyon Cinema, an experimental distribution outlet that is known for it’s vast collection of 16mm art films. In addition to other venues on this list, the Cinematheque regularly screens at more well-known venues such as the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF) and Pacific Film Archives (Berkeley). www.sfcinematheque.org
Oakland/East Bay----------------------
Black Hole Cinematheque- 1038 24th Street, Oakland
(No bar- BYOB acceptable, Free Admission/Donations accepted)
The Black Hole epitomizes DIY culture, hosting free or low-cost showings at a converted church in a low-income section of Oakland. Black Hole hosts a variety of mainly experimental and documentary programs from traveling filmmakers and local programers, and is also organizing a “Free Film School” as a means for communal teaching, critique and collaboration. blackholecinema.wordpress.com
Liminal Space- 950 54th Street, Oakland
(Occasional bar, BYOB questionable, $7-12 Admission)
Liminal Space is a collective of experimental music lovers, who also realize the importance of avant-garde film and performance. It is a large white industrial space, ideal for multi-projection or other visual mayhem. Often times they will collaborate with other film organizations such as Black Hole or the SF Cinematheque to present classic avant-garde films. This is a relatively new space that attracts very large crowds by avant-garde film standards. www.liminal-space.org
Krowswork Gallery- 480 23rd Street. Oakland
(No Bar, BYOB questionable, Donations accepted.)
Krowswork is a video art gallery that hosts video installation exhibitions. It is right in the heart of the Oakland MurMur district, and a must-hit stop during 1st Friday Art Walks. www.krowswork.com
Berkeley Underground Film Society
(Bar/BYOB questionable, Free Admission)
BUFS is a film club for collectors and enthusiasts that shows forgotten or rediscovered 8mm and 16mm films. Lots of silent films and feature films once released on small-gauge formats. Currently, screenings are held most Sundays at the Tannery, 708 Gilman Street, Berkeley. berkeleyundergroundfilms.blogspot.com
South Bay---------------------
Psychotronix Film Society- San Jose/Los Altos
(No Bar, No BYOB, Kid-friendly, $5 Admission)
Radio station KFJC 89.7FM hosts occasional screenings of bizarre 16mm films from a collective of serious collectors. Wonder who buys up all those old 16mm films on eBay? These are the guys. Showings take place on a community college campus, and there are always very generous and peculiar door prizes and typically a very large crowd (100+). www.kfjc.org
**Information presented on this page is for personal use only, and not to be printed or publicized without the consent of the venue. Many DIY venues have been closed or forced to move due to high visibility or newsprint articles.**
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d.anderson 2012
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