Three-screen movie theater opening in Healdsburg, led by former Sundance director
North Bay movie buffs will soon have a new venue to enjoy films on the big screen when a nonprofit’s yearslong effort to build a theater in Healdsburg comes to fruition next month.
The three-screen Cinemas at True West, operated by the True West Film Center, will officially open to the public Oct. 17. The center will host a VIP event for high-level donors Oct. 24 and a grand opening block party for the public Oct. 25, the organization announced Wednesday.
The cinema, located at the former Bear Republic Brewing facility, is part of the James Redford Campus. It marks the return of a movie theater to Healdsburg, five years after the Raven Film Center closed and two years after The Clover in Cloverdale shut down. Since then, residents in northern Sonoma County have had to travel to the Lakeport Cinema 5 in Lakeport or the Airport Stadium 12 in northern Santa Rosa to catch a film.
The 8,000-square-foot campus, funded by a multiyear $5.6 million capital campaign, is named in honor of the late documentary filmmaker James Redford, son of the late actor and Sundance Film Festival founder Robert Redford. In addition to the theater, the campus includes multi-use spaces for the nonprofit’s educational programs, as well as administrative offices. The theaters will also be available for private events.
A desire for cinematic experience
For True West Film Center Executive Director Kathryn Philip, the new theater is a testament to the community’s desire for a cinematic and cultural hub in Healdsburg.
“A big part of it is people letting us know, ‘we are excited to go to the movies again,’” Philip said. “Especially when people are more divided … and isolated than ever, to have gathering places that are filled with joy, and thought, and friendliness and belonging – those things are so important for the health of our communities. It tells me people are excited to move forward and have that again.”
Under the artistic direction of former Sundance Film Festival director John Cooper, the new venue will screen first-run films alongside classic movies, documentaries, family programs and Spanish-language films. It will feature state-of-the-art sound and picture, luxury seating, and local food and wine for purchase.
Cooper, whose family hails in part from Sonoma and Sebastopol, said he is working to transform Healdsburg and its surrounding area into a “cinema-loving, movie-going community” once more, following the loss of local theaters.
“The passion and the romance of watching cinema in a theater – I want to keep that alive and make that part of what we’re doing,” he said.
Cooper also emphasized his commitment to making the theater inclusive.
“What I love about cinema is that it’s for everyone; it’s not elite,” he said.
Arthouse films, classic movies
When the Cinemas at True West opens Oct. 17, it will screen two highly anticipated releases: Academy Award-winner Katherine Bigelow’s political thriller “A House of Dynamite” and Luca Guadagnino’s campus drama “After the Hunt,” starring Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield. Other films coming soon include Guillermo del Toro’s reimaging of “Frankenstein” and Scarlett Johansson’s feature directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great.”
Two classic films with local connections – Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and Wes Craven’s “Scream” – will also screen in the week leading up to Halloween.
Tickets will go on sale early next month, Philip said, with a membership program launching Oct. 31, offering discounts on concessions and online ticket purchases.
The free opening block party, which kicks off at 2 p.m. Oct. 25, will include short film screenings, samples of concessions, live music and games.
Cooper said he is programming a wide selection of short films to screen every half hour across the three theaters during the event. The cinema will also offer two free screenings of the 2017 animated film “Coco,” both in Spanish and English. Free tickets will be required for these showings.
“Hopefully, people will come by and stay longer than they thought they would,” he said.
If You Go
Oct. 17: Cinemas at True West Opens to the Public: Screenings of Katherine Bigelow’s political thriller “A House of Dynamite” and Luca Guadagnino’s campus drama “After the Hunt,” starring Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield. Tickets go on sale early October. 371 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.
Oct. 25: Cinemas at True West Grand Opening Celebration: Free block party includes free short film screenings, samples of concessions, live music and games. From 2 p.m., Oct. 25. 371 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.
For more information, visit truewestfilmcenter.org