SFFILM's Anne Lai on the Future of the Castro Theatre

Dec 1, 2022

SFFILM Executive Director Anne Lai’s thoughts on preserving cinema at the Castro Theatre

This past year has been an affirming success for SFFILM, and we could not have done it without you. From our Festival in April through Doc Stories this fall, we joyfully welcomed people back to the movies and into our city’s theaters. We saw energized audiences, filled with movie lovers who were eager to find in-person community again.

In addition to our public programming, we’ve hosted filmmakers from around the world, re-opened FilmHouse in the new SFFILM headquarters in SoMa, provided support to many promising and independent filmmakers, taught students at our Youth Filmmakers Camp this summer, and meaningfully reconnected with our partner organizations. To close out 2022, we will honor four of the year’s singular filmmakers and performers at SFFILM Awards Night: Oakland’s own Ryan Coogler, director Sarah Polley, actor and producer Margot Robbie, and actor Stephanie Hsu. The state of Bay Area filmmaking and moviegoing is strong and we are overjoyed to do our part in keeping the culture of film vibrant and accessible for all.

Photo by Tommy Lau

Audience in the Castro Theatre

Photo by Pamela Gentile

STAY AWAKE, Shrihari Sathe + Albert Jones + Quinn McColgan + Fin Argus + Chrissy Metz + Jamie Sisley + Jessie Fairbanks

Photo by Tommy Lau

Doc Stories Attendees

Photo by Pamela Gentile

FilmHouse College Night

Photo by Pamela Gentile

32 SOUNDS, Castro Theatre

Photo by Pamela Gentile

Youth Filmmaker Camp

Photo by Pamela Gentile

JEANNETTE, Yvens Carrenard + Maris Curran + Jeannette Feliciano

Photo by Pamela Gentile

SFFILM Festival Attendees

With this returned momentum also come real challenges to the filmgoing culture that has been such a vital part of our city. I want to highlight one challenge in particular that has taken center stage this year for film lovers in San Francisco: the loss of movie theaters. Local independent theaters, and even some national chains, have closed their doors here, significantly reducing communal exhibition opportunities. To compound these losses, the proposed changes coming to our beloved movie palace, the Castro Theatre, have been especially concerning.

As many of you know, the Castro Theatre is slated to lose its cinematic-centered design under the current renovation plans. Now managed by Another Planet Entertainment (APE), the theater will undergo changes to address some much-needed updates to an historic building. We feel there is great power and opportunity in having a locally based and highly successful management company like APE both preserve and improve this historic venue. However, after months of listening, talking, and engaging behind the scenes with APE and local organizations we remain deeply concerned about the planned renovations from a number of perspectives. First, the prioritization of multi-use space over raked cinema seating could result in a diminished filmgoing experience. Next, the lack of significant improvement to accessibility, safety, and an equitable, dignified audience experience for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility does not align with SFFILM’s commitment to improving accessibility. Of particular concern is the proposed use of lifts for wheelchair users which brings up serious safety issues in case of evacuation. Finally, potential rental cost increases for nonprofits like ours could significantly impair our ability to utilize the theater at all post-renovation.

We very much want to have a relationship with APE in which we can express our concerns and work together to address them for the benefit of the greater community. We also want a relationship in which there is an appropriate level of sensitivity and consultation regarding programming decisions so that the unique character of the neighborhood and its importance to the LGBTQ+ community is recognized and respected. Obviously, we are not alone in this desire. We applaud all of our colleagues who have been outspoken about their concerns, including those at the Silent Film Festival, Eat Drink Films, the Castro Theatre Conservancy, the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, noteworthy actors and directors, and so many others. They have been quick and consistent to rally the community and highlight the challenges these proposed changes present to filmgoing at the Castro.

Our belief in our city’s identity as a global cultural leader is steadfast. The Castro Theatre has been and remains a vital component of that identity. San Francisco and the greater Bay Area deserve to have its last and greatest cinema palace embody a long-standing commitment to film arts and entertainment. We sincerely hope that the city’s planning authorities and the Historic Preservation Commission set to meet on December 7 understand the value and the opportunity to prioritize cinema as they consider approving any proposed changes to the Castro Theatre. In the meantime, we plan to continue the conversation with both members of the community and APE, with a firm view toward preserving the Castro for an art form that sparks joy, inspiration, and connection for so many people.

Warmly,
Anne Lai
Executive Director, SFFILM

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