CREATING A COMMUNITY THEATER

For more than two years, the foundation has been researching the possibility of purchasing an existing theater in San Francisco. We are currently in negotiations with the owners of the perfect venue, and awaiting their response to our first offer to purchase the theater now under discussion. It is our intention to fully renovate, restore, upgrade, and equip the theater with modern conveniences while at the same time respecting and perserving the architectural integrity of the building.



*Photo used is for illustrative purposes only.


THE RESTORATION

The restoration will be supervised by architect, Jes Slavik, who was the principal designer of the Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, California. The theater will be returned to the splendor that once graced all classic movie palaces, while at the same time adding the modern equipment necessary to meet the needs of 21st Century technology and the expectations of today's audience. This will include film and digital projection, surround sound, and other technical and staging equipment required for presenting live performances.

INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING

Our programming mandate will be to expand the audience to both the neighborhood and city-wide demographics, with a special emphasis on cultivating the younger audiences not presently attending film festival and live theater events as part of their normal entertainment activities.

The theater will be programmed by a team of seasoned professionals, to create an exciting combination of live entertainment and film events, and become the most innovative multi-purpose theater venue developed specifically for the presentation of contemporary filmmakers, performers, and special events in the City of San Francisco.


NEW FILM FESTIVALS

Our programming department will create number of genre festivals which will be added to the unique line-up already being presented in San Francisco. These will be three-day weekend festivals, allowing patrons to attend morning, afternoon and evening presentations. The festivals currently being planned include an International Children's Film Festival, a Sci-Fi Festival, a competitive International Animation Festival, and a Festival of Preservation, highlighting films that have recently been restored and preserved.

PREMIERES OF NEW WORKS

The theater will support the efforts of creative people by identifying the works of independent film and live event producers, with a strong focus on the local industry and presenting the San Francisco premieres of new works. Works from other parts of the country and the rest of the world will be also identified through our varied and wide-spread contacts at film festivals around the world.

DISTRIBUTION

Our in-house distribution unit will then arrange for exhibition of these works with theaters, video and television companies around the country. These hidden treasures, overlooked by mainstream distributors, but which have substantial earning power in the U.S. marketplace, will be launched by our organization into the broader marketplace after a first-class San Francisco premiere at our theater. This will provide income to both our facility, the filmmakers or producers, and at the same time make it possible for important projects to have meaningful United States exposure and distribution.

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH OUTREACH

Young people are the film-goers of tomorrow, and we plan to insure future audiences for the theater by creating a special film literacy program for Jr. High and High School Students from around the Bay Area. The Ten Best American Films will be presented, with introductions and follow-up discussions by noted film authorities and teachers, to demonstrate to young people why it's important to know how a film made many years ago is still important, why it continues to resonate with audiences today. Films are part of and preserve our history. Other programs in the series are the Ten Best Foreign Films, Spanish Films, etc. All screenings, course material, and transportation will be supplied free of charge to students by means of sponsorships from business and individuals from our community.

ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE

The San Francisco Center for Motion Pictures and the Performing Arts, through its programming, will be committed to engaging the public in exploring the esthetic, cultural and social issues of our times.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Building community involves an exchange of ideas between the programs we present and the public. Based on citywide and neighborhood audience response, our programming will evolve to better serve the community's needs and interests. This ongoing outreach effort will continually seek to improve the San Francisco and Bay Area cultural scene, which is already one of the richest in the nation.