Such fabulous news from the San Francisco Silent Film Festival! The fest has been without a regular home base. The Castro Theatre’s ongoing renovation to become a multi-use, live venue displaced it. The festival was looking for “a theater with a sizable movie screen, room to set up musicians, a large number of seats, and a vibrant neighborhood easily accessible by public transportation.” Now comes news the search is over. The San Francisco Silent Film Festival selected its 2025 venue, the Orinda Theatre!
The Orinda Theatre is a hidden gem of the East Bay. It’s a vintage, neighborhood theatre. Its past and current owners preserved many of its original Art Deco elements from its marquee to the lobby’s hand-painted ceiling mural. It will be a beautiful place to see silents. The management has long supported classic films, including screenings hosted by my friend Matías Antonio Bombal. Food will be an easy option for festgoers. The theatre offers a small, pub style menu. Those willing to take a short walk will find a number of restaurants in the theatre’s immediate vicinity.
I’m happy that the fest’s choice will help promote the theatre! It’s my impression it gets overlooked. Even though it’s walkable from the Orinda train stop, some San Franciso Bay Area cinephiles don’t frequent it. I suspect a psychological block prevents exploration of the other side of the hill. The city’s layout doesn’t help. Orinda has two downtowns because the freeway splits the business district in half. When I moonlighted at Orinda Books, some customers didn’t know another half of downtown with the theatre existed. As every movie theatre needs patrons in this entertainment economy, I hope the festival boosts business beyond the one-off event!
