20th Annual Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema

Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema presents free screenings of diverse, local filmmakers' works in neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and other community-friendly spaces to increase the exposure and recognition of local artists and to heighten appreciation by neighborhood and citywide residents while bringing community together.

The Submissions & Selection Committee seeks short films or videos in which local residents have participated in any aspect of production, promotion or distribution. The Committee strongly encourages San Francisco filmmakers of all backgrounds and lived experiences to submit their work representing the breadth and diversity of San Francisco and Bernal Heights, specifically. Submissions of all genres including narrative, documentary, comedy, art, experimental, animation and music videos will be considered.

In its 20th season, BHOC features an end-of-summer 3-day festival of free screenings. With all consideration given to the Health Department's guidance on health and safety in this time of COVID-19, our hope is to stage three evenings of screenings — in-person — both outdoors and indoors. For indoor events, the wearing of masks is not required, but encouraged.

The Outdoor Season is followed in the Winter with the quarterly "Face-to-Face with the Filmmaker" screenings — dates TBA

NOTE: Should any of these events be cancelled due to weather or other impediments, we will schedule virtual presentations at a later date. Your submission gives Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema permission to make your film accessible on Vimeo for a limited time to be determined.

The BHOC line-up features short films or videos — up to 20 minutes in length— in all genres, in which: 1) local Bay Area residents have participated in any aspect of production or distribution; and 2) the subject matter or theme resonates with current sentiments, issues and challenges facing the neighborhood and residents of Bernal Heights. Special consideration is given to films or videos on which a resident of Bernal Heights participated in any aspect of promotion, production or distribution.