Documentary Screenings San Francisco

Free Screening: Bernal Heights Cinema Film Crawl

Join us as we roam down Cortland Avenue from one indoor screening location to the next to enjoy free screenings of new short films, brought to you by San Francisco’s annual Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema festival. We begin our crawl at the Bernal Heights library where a selection of six short films is screening. We will then cross the street to watch ten films at the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center. Afterwards, we will walk to the Bare Bottle brewery for refreshments and conversation. **Bernal Heights library 7 pm** *Tough Love.* Dir\. Thisbe Weld\*\.\* Comedy \| 3:43 *The Skyluck.* Dir \. Katelyn Wong\. Documentary \| 7:48 *Lost World*\. Dir\. Lillie Elliott\. Drama \| 5:27 *Edward and the Light Dragon.* Dirs\. Benjamin Couoh Menendez\, Cosmos Bernal Rosas\. Animation \| 8:50 *Reset.* Dirs\. Jaziah Jamora\, Antonio Moore\, Cade Rohan\. Documentary \| 9:48 *Yosemite Slough.* Dir\. Deidre Locklear\. Documentary \| 4:06 **Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center 8 pm** *Miau Mau.* Dir\. Luisa Bel Cardoso Head\. Animation \| 1:35 *Never Say Die.* Dir\. Tom Donald\. Music Video \| 3:32 *Sticky Fingers.* Dirs\. Melanie Mendoza\, Andrea Esmaeil\. Animation \| 6:56 *Guardian’s Lament.* Dir\. Phoebe Chou\. Animation \| 8:00 *Blind Box.* Dir\. Steven Gong\. Comedy\-Drama \| 11:11 *The Middle of Everywhere.* Dirs\. Zoe Hertz\, Ellie Hall\. Documentary \| 15:37 **Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center 9 pm** *Born to Live.* Dir\. Romain Thomassin\. Sci\-Fi\, Comedy \| 7:42 *Betty St. Clair.* Dirs\. Kyle Chu\, Syra McCarthy\. Drama \| 11:33 *Freckle.* Dir\. David Usner\. Drama \| 13:59 *Comfort Food.* Dir\. Reena Dutt\. Dramedy \| 14:37 More info about Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema’s “Film Crawl on Cortland”: [https://bhoutdoorcine.org/outdoor-cinema-season/film-crawl-on-cortland-2026/#Progressive](https://bhoutdoorcine.org/outdoor-cinema-season/film-crawl-on-cortland-2026/#Progressive) 6:30 Meet at the Bernal Heights branch library (500 Cortland Ave.) to take our seats. 7:00 Bernal Heights film program starts 7:55 We cross the street to watch two film programs at the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center (515 Cortland Ave). 8:00 Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center film program I starts 9:00 Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center film program II starts 10:00 We will walk down the street to the Bare Bottle brewery (1525 Cortland Ave.) for refreshments and conversation.

Outsider Film Night

**OPEN CALL for short films 15 mins and under⚠️** **[Submit films HERE](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Ns9Xm8PoEtroysiheFtrk46rMbfJZp8MFj3iLlqiQV0/edit?usp=drivesdk)** **DEADLINE to submit is Sep 18 ⌚️⏱👀** **SCREENING takes place Sep 24❣️❤️‍🔥💞** **ADDRESS is [@clarion_sf](https://www.instagram.com/clarion_sf/) 2 waverly place 🙈** **5$ notaflof 7-9 PM🤷🏽‍♂️** **Come one come allllllllllll🙇🏽‍♂️**

The American Astronaut in 35 mm !!

**The Roxie is showing one of my all time favorite weird movies - Cory McAbee's The American Astronaut (2001), in 35mm!** If you have a tiny soft spot for weird off-the-wall films do not miss this! It's an utterly unique experience. Showtime is 6 pm - we'll get in line at 5.30. **It is likely that this screening will sell out so get your tickets EARLY here:** https://roxie.com/film/the-american-astronaut/ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uujG1ADn2zk **The American Astronaut** Samuel Curtis, an interplanetary trader, deals in rare goods -- living or dead. After getting a device which will clone the extremely rare "Real Live Girl," this sets off a series of strange trades throughout the universe which grabs the attention of his nemesis, Professor Hess (Rocco Sisto). Determined to find Samuel, Hess systematically kills every person who has come in contact with Samuel.

Don't Let Them Out - Screening & Filmmaker Q&A!

And now for some excellent, truly independent, psychological horror. Out in limited release now, and we have the opportunity to see it followed by a cast & crew Q&A. Tickets: https://www.fandango.com/marina-theatre-aauvr/theater-page?date=2026-09-10 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vorOWQeXbhg Showtime is 8 pm, we'll meet around 7.30 pm at the Marina Theater. **Don't Let Them Out** A struggling woman journeys to a property she's inherited in hopes of selling it to pay off her mounting debts. But once there, she uncovers sinister family secrets and is lured into a desperate and terrifying scavenger hunt where every find pulls her deeper into an inescapable nightmare.

Special Event: "Yourself and Yours" (Hong Sang-Soo, 2016)

The Yerba Buena Canter for the Arts invites us to another special event as part of their series "Through an Open Window", a series of film screenings inspired by GaHee Park's exhibition at the YBCA. "Yourself and Yours" is a film of doppelgangers, mistaken identity, and the shifting ambiguities of desire. When painter Youngsoo (Kim Joo-hyuk) learns that his girlfriend, Minjung (Lee Yoo-young), was recently seen having drinks with another man, he confronts her—and they part badly. The next day, he goes looking for her, but she is nowhere to be found. As Youngsoo wanders and frets, Minjung moves through a series of encounters with other men—but to them, it seems she’s not herself. We have discounted tickets, and the ticket admission includes access to GaHee's exhibition "Behind the Curtain". We can go and enjoy the exhibition together after the screening. Tickets: https://ybca.ticketing.veevartapp.com/tickets/view/list/yourself-and-yours **Please use code MEETUP for a 50% discount!** Showtime is 2 pm, we'll meet no later than 1.45 pm at the screening room in the YBCA. You can find the full series of films here: https://ybca.org/event/through-an-open-window-film-series/ - we might schedule more from this series, let me know if you're particularly interested in any one of these. Hope to see you at the YBCA screening room!

Bollywood Nights - Salesforce Park - Free

**Bollywood Nights at Salesforce Park 🎉** Join Rang De Bollywood for some high-energy, outdoor, bollywood fun! This event is sure to leave you feeling loved, lighter, and delighted in excitement after every session. 🌈 Open to all ages, all levels, all backgrounds. ✨ Come casual or dressed, no pressure! 🎁 Free to attend – just bring your joy, your people, and your dancing feet! 🚶🏼‍♂️‍➡️Register for free so we can prepare at rang.eventbrite.com 🕔 5:30 – 7:00 PM – we’ll start with a beginner friendly dance lesson, followed by an open dance party! 💫 This is a repeating event, happening every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, May through October and you can register for as many dates as you like. Register now: [rang.eventbrite.com](http://rang.eventbrite.com) **About Rang De Bollywood** Hailing from the dream dance city of Mumbai and Amritsar, which is also home to Bollywood and Holy Vibes, our energetic, charismatic, and fun dance instructors-performers-entertainers, Manpreet (Certified in Indian Folk by India's Best and also an author) and Amit (percussionist, actor, dancer), have spread Indian dance music and moves across the length and breadth of India, USA, and Europe. Their recent performances were at National Center of Performing Arts in Mumbai and Herbst Theater in San Francisco. **Important Notes:** * Enter through transit center building and take the elevator to rooftop. We will be close to the elevator. * No solicitors allowed. * Classes might be video taped for marketing purposes. * All choreographies are Copyrighted and Original Works of Manpreet Komal/Rang De Bollywood. *"I recently had the pleasure of attending Manpreet’s Bollywood dance class, and I must say, it was an absolute blast! Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced dancer, this class caters to everyone's skill level. The highlight of the class was undoubtedly her teaching style. With a knack for breaking down complex steps into manageable chunks, even the most intricate routines felt attainable. The pacing was just right, ensuring that beginners didn't feel overwhelmed while keeping experts engaged. Highly recommend!" — Kavneet Bindra* **We can't wait to dance together, see you soon!**

SF Science Fiction Short Film Showcase

**Join us for the San Francisco SCIENCE FICTION SHORT FILM SHOWCASE on September 13th at the Marina Theatre in San Francisco** Celebrate some of the most year’s fascinating, creative and entertaining short films, online videos, streaming & television episodes. The program runs from 1pm - 5pm. Discounted tickets are available for our group - use discount code STEFAN Tickets & more info: [https://www.tastetv.com/scifi-awards-events/](https://www.tastetv.com/scifi-awards-events/) Hope to see you there!

Discover SF -- Road to Autumn Moon Festival, Chinatown

**"海上生明月，天涯共此时"** === **"As the bright moon rises above the ocean, we share this very moment from all corners."** === \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- There is a way to **marvel** at the beauty of the city, and that of life. There is a way to turn a group of strangers, into a group that have sweated and laughed with you **together**, sharing the bread. We started this "**Road to**" format in North Beach festival, improved it for the Japantown Nihonmachi (thanks Tony), now we are doing it again for the Autumn Moon Festival, Chinatown, on Sat. Sep 19th. It involves a walk through city landmarks, then visit the festival in small groups, then regather for a group coffee/tea/dinner together. Autumn Moon Festival is the Chinese **Thanksgiving**, a time for family gatherings. Its iconic food is the moon cake. It would be celebrated for two days in Chinatown, starting with a parade at 11am Sat.. https://www.moonfestival.org/ Chinatown sits in a bowl underneath two of the best hills in San Francisco. So we're not going to show up at the Moon Festival. We're going to walk down into it from above. We start with coffee on Polk. We climb a hidden wooden lane that most people who live in this city have never found. Twenty minutes later you're standing on a terrace looking at Coit Tower, Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge — and straight below you, the rooftops of Chinatown. That's the destination. You get to look at it before you walk into it. Then we cross the ridge to Nob Hill, stop at the winding house where the actual cable car cables turn, cut through Grace Cathedral's courtyard, and come out at the corner where California Street drops away toward the bay with cable cars grinding up it. We descend into Chinatown, stop inside a church built in 1854 by Chinese laborers out of granite shipped across the Pacific, and then walk under the Dragon Gate into a street closed to cars, packed with lion dancers, mooncakes, and several thousand people. By the time we get there you'll know the people standing next to you. That's the actual product. The festival is the reward. And needless to say, that Chinatown itself is a district rich in culture and SF history. *** ## The arc **11:30 — Fueling Station Cafe, 2436 Polk St** (Polk & Union). Coffee, introductions, nobody left standing alone at the counter. Grab something — we're on our feet for a while. **12:00 — Step off.** Ten minutes of real climb east up Union. **12:15 — Macondray Lane.** A hidden wooden-plank lane between the buildings. Single file, so you talk to whoever's next to you. **12:35 — Ina Coolbrith Park.** The view, and our Friend Circle — a short structured round on the terrace so you leave knowing the people you walked with, not just their faces. Group photo. Then we point at Chinatown down below and go get it. **1:00 — Cable Car Museum.** Free, indoors, and genuinely great. The machines that run the whole system are right there spinning. **1:15 — Huntington Park & Grace Cathedral.** Nob Hill's front lawn. Second join point lands here. **1:40 — Mason & California.** The postcard corner. Look east and the whole city drops toward the Bay Bridge. **2:05 — Old St. Mary's.** Cool, quiet, and older than almost everything around it. **2:15 — The Dragon Gate.** We gather under it, take the photo, and walk in together. **2:25 — Grant Avenue.** Lion dancing, mooncakes, food stalls, six blocks of closed street. **3:45 — Regroup at Portsmouth Square**, one block off the noise. **4:00 — The alleys.** Waverly Place, the temple balconies, Ross Alley and the fortune cookie factory. Ninety seconds off Grant and it's a completely different city. **4:30 — Dinner in Chinatown.** Big round tables. Optional but strongly encouraged — this is where the day actually lands. *** ## Three ways to join You can't be late to this event. You can only be early for the next door. 1. **The Full Road** — 11:30 AM, Fueling Station Cafe, 2436 Polk St. The whole arc: the lane, the terrace, both hills, the descent, the gate. 2. **Mid-Join** — 1:15 PM, Huntington Park (California & Taylor, by the fountain). Skip the climb, catch the second half and the walk into Chinatown. Look for the TownFlame marker. 3. **The Gate** — 2:15 PM, the Dragon Gate at Grant & Bush. Join for the festival, the alleys, and dinner. Each door has a hard clock. We move on time. *** ## What you're actually getting Every TownFlame event comes with three things, and this one is no exception: * **A welcome buddy.** Someone whose job that day is you. If you're coming alone and you don't know anyone, you will not be standing by yourself. * **Friend Circle.** A short structured round partway through, so the walk produces names and stories instead of six strangers looking at a view. * **A social after, and a crew chat.** Dinner in Chinatown, and a group chat spun up afterward so the day doesn't evaporate on Sunday morning. *** ## The honest part About 2.2 miles with two real hill climbs, including roughly 130 steps on the Russian Hill segment. Good shoes. This is a hike, not a stroll, and the views are the reason it's worth it. If that's not your day, the 1:15 mid-join at Huntington Park skips every stair and drops you straight into the good part. No apology needed, no explanation required — that's why the door exists. Layers. It's warm on Polk and cold on the ridge, always. *** ## Getting there **To the 11:30 staging cafe (Polk & Union):** the 45 Union-Stockton runs from Caltrain up through Chinatown and along Union Street — get off at Union & Polk and you're at the door. From Civic Center BART, the 19 Polk goes straight up Polk. **To the 1:15 mid-join (Huntington Park):** the 1 California bus or the California Street cable car stops at the corner. **To the 2:15 gate:** five minutes' walk uphill from Powell Street BART. Driving is a bad idea. Grant Avenue is closed between California and Broadway all day and the whole neighborhood is a parking dead zone. If you must, the Portsmouth Square Garage at 733 Kearny is the closest option. We are **growing**, talk with our hosts, if you are interested in being a walk captain, or regional anchor, of our Golden Hour Sunset walks. **Join [TownFlame](http://www.townflame.org/), Make Life Happen.** **Liability Waiver:** Participation in TownFlame events is voluntary and involves social interaction in public spaces. Activities are designed to be inclusive and respectful. Participants assume all risks and release TownFlame, its organizers, volunteers, and affiliates from liability for injury, illness, or damages, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. By attending, participants acknowledge that photographs, audio, and video recordings may be taken during events, and grant TownFlame the right to use such media for promotional and marketing purposes, in any format or platform, without further consent or compensation.

Bollywood Nights at Salesforce Park - Free

Monthly Movie Happy Hour

**We are hosting a Monthly Movie Discussion Happy Hour at the Flying Pig Bistro in the Mission every 3rd THURSDAY of the month!** Join us for an evening of movie talk with your fellow movie lovers. We'll start by forming groups where people will take turns sharing 1-2 quick movie reviews of what they've watched recently (no spoilers unless the group decides it's ok). After group sharing is done we'll mix and mingle for general discussion. Please come prepared to share at least one movie review with your group. The Flying Pig has a great selection of beverages (including non-alcoholic) as well as food for dinner or snacking. Please consider purchasing something to support the Flying Pig since we are not paying for the venue. Let me know if you have any questions!

Phantom Thread (2018)

Let's Meetup to discuss "Phantom Thread" (2018). Paul Thomas Anderson ("There Will Be Blood"; "Magnolia") directs the legendary actor Daniel Day-Lewis. Drama about an obsessive dress designer and bachelor, and his complex relationships. OUTDOOR EVENT: DRESS FOR THE WEATHER.

DVD Swap at Dolores Park

It's a picnic at the park, but with physical media! Come with DVDs you'd like to share with others and leave with new movies to watch at home. Bring DVDs you may have laying around that you think others would enjoy. Don't really have DVDs? Stop by your neighborhood used book store or thrift store and pick up a movie you recommend. After the event, I will donate leftover DVDs to the SF Public Library. The event will be pretty casual: chat about the DVD you brought, trade DVDs to find something new to watch, and enjoy an afternoon at the park with other movie lovers. I'll bring some blankets, snacks, and utensils, but would appreciate others bringing more as well! In terms of location, I'll find a spot on the day of and will comment with a photo when I've set up. Keep an eye out for a Nicole Kidman flag to mark the spot and see you \*outside of\* the movies! Note: If there are DVDs that you are interested in showing to others, but not swapping, **you are responsible for keeping track of your items**.