Film & Video

YBCA curates a series of monthly film/video screenings with a focus on experimental and alternative films and documentaries. YBCA also hosts screenings for a select group of community partner organizations. Click the link at left for a list of our current partners.

Seating in the YBCA Screening Room is limited. Guarantee your seats by purchasing in advance online or by calling 415.978.2787.


YBCA presents Something From Nothing: Films on Design and Architecture

Jul 11–Sep 5

In conjunction with our TechnoCRAFT gallery exhibition, we present these eight matinee screenings, covering not only design, but architecture, motion graphics, and craft.

Sun, Aug 15 – Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner
Infinite Space traces the quest of quintessential Southern California architect John Lautner to create timeless, free, joyous spaces for all activities in life …

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Sun, Aug 22 – Rem Koolhaas: A Kind of Architect
An engaging portrait of architect Rem Koolhaas, whose buidings are working examples of his visionary theories about architecture and urban society …

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Sun, Aug 29 – The Visual Language of Herbert Matter
Special sneak preview!
An exploration of the social and cultural impact of the personal visual language of Swiss designer Herbert Matter that influenced a generation of designers and artists …

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Sun, Sept 5 – Handmade Nation
This charmingly low-fi film documents contemporary artists, crafters and designers marrying traditional technique with punk and D.I.Y. ethos in their work …

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YBCA presents Dark In August: Rare Vampire Films

Aug 26–Aug 29

The appeal of the vampire myth never dies. Get out of the deadly August sunlight, and creep down to YBCA for this weekend series of rarely-screened films.

Thu, Aug 26 – Near Dark
Long before The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow burst onto the scene with this wicked spin on the vampire genre …

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Fri, Aug 27 – Vampire Hookers
Shot for about ten pesos in the Philippines, this oft-retitled mess stars John Carradine as a vampire pimp in a white linen suit and Panama hat …

The print of the previously announced film Daughters of Darkness turned out to be too damaged to screen. We are substituting Vampire Hookers in its place.

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Sat, Aug 28 & Sun, Aug 29 – Vampyr
With austere, deliberately obscured imagery and an unsettling, unstable narrative, 1932's Vampyr is unquestionably one of the greatest vampire films …

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A Brighter Summer Day

Sep 16 & Sep 19

Impossible to see until now, we present the long-awaited restoration of the uncut version of Edward Yang's masterful epic portrait of everyday life in 1960s Taiwan. During this time the country was undergoing massive changes after Japanese occupation, and looked toward an uncertain future. The story of the struggle of one boy's struggle to grow up amidst the turbulence …

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YBCA presents Others/Ourselves: The Cinema of Robert Gardner

Newly restored 35mm prints!

Sep 23, 26, & 30

Robert Gardner's vision—situated in a sometimes uneasy place between ethnographic and artistic traditions—has made him one of the most original, as well as controversial, filmmakers of the last half century.

Thu, Sep 23 – Dead Birds
Made during a particularly tense period of the Cold War, Dead Birds stemmed from Gardner's feelings about human involvement in waging war …

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Sun, Sep 26 – Rivers of Sand
Here Gardner focuses on the Hamar, a people dwelling in the thorny scrubland of southwestern Ethiopia, about one hundred miles north of Lake Rudolph, Africa's great inland sea. Their geographical isolation resulted in their having retained a highly traditional way of life, one that exemplified the worst in male behavior with regard to women …

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Thu, Sep 30 – Forest of Bliss
Forest of Bliss is an unsparing yet redemptive account of the inevitable griefs, religious passions and frequent joys that punctuate daily life in Varanasi (Benares), India's most holy city …

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YBCA presents Totally Ridiculous: The Lost Films of Charles Ludlam

Sep 24–Sep 26

Charles Ludlam was the visionary behind the notorious Ridiculous Theatrical Company from 1967-1987. From his midnight camp extravaganzas Big Hotel and Turds in Hell to his celebrated gothic horror play The Mysteries of Irma Vep, Ludlam's densely-layered queer satires embraced the ridiculousness of high culture and the seriousness of the low with drag pastiche and literary verve.

Fri, Sep 24 & Sat, Sep 25 – The Sorrows of Dolores
The Sorrows of Dolores recounts the madcap tale of sweet Dolores who, after being tortured by her sadistic mother, is thrown into the harsh city environs, innocent and alone …

Preceded by the gender-bending short Museum of Wax, starring Ludlam himself as a bisexual convict on the lam.

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Sun, Sep 26 – The Impostors
Not available on dvd, this rarely-seen absurdist melodrama from 1980 stars Ludlam as a gay magician, and is widely considered his best film performance. By the director of the cult hit Rock Hudson's Home Movies

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YBCA presents Sesame Street: A Celebration

Oct 1–Oct 30

Having recently reached its 40th year, we celebrate Sesame Street with this series of films and clips from the beloved TV show, which includes some of the most memorable moments as well as never-before-seen footage.

Fri, Oct 1 & Sat, Oct 2 – Sesame Street at 40: Milestones on the Street
This "best-of" compilation features dozens of classic moments in the forty-year history of the show, including excerpts from the first episode, celebrity guests, and some of the best bits from Ernie and Bert, Big Bird, Snuffy, and the rest of the gang.

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Fri, Oct 14 & Sat, Oct 16 – Jim Henson & Friends: Inside the Sesame Street Vault
This super entertaining program highlights the contributions of Jim Henson and his early Sesame Street collaborators, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Fran Brill and Caroll Spinney.

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Fri, Oct 21 & Sat, Oct 23 – Sing! The Music of Sesame Street
A joyous, sometimes hilarious and poignant salute to forty years of Sesame Street music, featuring the original show classics, parodies and special visits from some of the music industry's biggest names.

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Fri, Oct 28 & Sat, Oct 30 – Muppets History 201: Rarities from the Henson Vault
A sequel to the wildly popular Muppets History 101 program from the Muppets series wepresented in 2007, this new program features rare shorts and TV segments featuring everyone's favorite furry friends.

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YBCA's programs are made possible in part by:

The San Francisco Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
Koret Foundation
Adobe Foundation Fund
Novellus

YBCA Film/Video media sponsor:

SF Weekly

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Best of the Bay

YBCA has tied for "Best Performance Space" in SF Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay 2010 Readers Poll. Check out our performance programs to find out why!

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New gallery hours

Our gallery hours have been extended: Thursday - Saturday from 12 noon to 8pm, and Sundays from 12 noon to 6pm. Spend your lunch break with us!

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Free & Cheap

Freebies and cheap thrills are always available at YBCA! Get free and discounted gallery, performance & film tickets, discount memberships and more.

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