Running an independent cinema in San Francisco takes a lot of work…
Aside from just the changes in how people watch movies these days, there’s the constant upkeep that 100-year-old buildings require. Roofs, projectors, electrical systems, and every other complicated facet of these historic venues which require our maintenance in order to continue running for the public. There’s the cost of booking events, which remains particularly difficult in a market where we’re always going up against the fees designed for giant theatrical conglomerates. There’s our incredible staff that keeps these cinemas together, that we’re committed to always paying for their labor. And there’s the ever-present fear of rent, in a city with some of the highest rent in the country. Every year always runs the risk of being the one where the costs become too much and we have to close our doors for good.
In the face of all this, and as the Balboa in 2026 becomes the last of the three cinemas to celebrate a century of cinema, we are asking for your help. As we move into our nonprofit status, we require our community’s support so that we can ensure that these venues have a place in the future of San Francisco, offering the magic they were built to provide for generations of movie lovers.
You can do this in the classic ways like coming out for events and ordering concessions. You can also purchase our 5-pack loyalty cards to receive discounted ticket prices for you and your loved ones. If you really want to show your love for CinemaSFBay, you can buy one of our annual passes that offer up a free year of movies and popcorn on different tiers. Or, you can keep it simple and make one-time, monthly, or yearly tax deductible donations through our nonprofit.
Any of these options go a long way towards assisting with the daily support these theaters demand, and working towards larger goals like improving our seating and sound systems that will keep pushing these cinemas forward in order to give our audiences the cultural and artistic hubs they deserve.
Whatever our place is in this rapidly changing city we call home, we guarantee that you will be at the heart of it.
