FAQS

What is the admission or ticket price to attend an event?

All screenings and events are free, although donations are always accepted. Some events require Eventbrite registration due to limited capacity.

Film Submissions, Awards, Voting

How can I submit my film or video?

Submissions for the 2026 season open February, 15, 2026 via Film Freeway. In addition to the submission, you will be asked for a short bio, headshot and film stills (300 dpi, JPEG) and a trailer (high-res quicktime file) if you have one. Deadline is June 30, 2026.

For the selection process, online links are required.

NOTE: Your submission confirms that you own the rights or have permission from the rights owner to share this work.

How are films and videos selected?

Entries are previewed and selected by a separate Submissions & Selection Committee and are chosen based on the following considerations:

production values
themes
intended audience
length
association with Bernal (not a requirement for selection)

The Committee reviews approximately 75 submissions over a five-week period. Filmmakers are notified by early August if their film has been chosen as a title to be shown in the late summer Outdoor Cinema season.

What types of awards are given?

Best of Bernal Award — Awarded to a local Bernal filmmaker for the Best of this year’s submissions by the Submissions & Selection Committee
Spirit of Bernal Award — Awarded to a non-Bernal filmmaker for the film that best resonates with the sentiment/sensibility (political, social, physical locale) of Bernal Heights by the Submission & Selection Committee
Bright Star, Emerging Filmmaker Award — Awarded by the Submission & Selection Committee to a member of the future generation of storytellers with the expectation that the winner will make a significant contribution to the art of film and video in the course of her/his/their filmmaking career.
Good Life Audience Award — Awarded by vote of the at-large Outdoor Cinema audience following the conclusion of the season.

Community Involvement

Can I vote for my favorite film of the season?

Ballots for the Good Life Audience Award are distributed at all the screenings of the season. The winner along with the Best of Bernal, Spirit of Bernal and Emerging Filmmaker awarded films will screen at Best of Bernal Night.

I want to get involved! How?

We need volunteers to help with a variety of tasks:

OUTREACH: Distribute posters/flyers to local businesses, cafes, libraries, bulletin boards, public announcement boards, and other legal posting areas. Drop announcements to businesses/residents located adjacent to screening sites.
DAY-OF SUPPORT: Set-up, welcome duties, assisting at Information table, passing out programs/surveys, audience direction, light break-down.
HOSPITALITY: Organize all aspects of the Meet-the-Filmmaker receptions including planning, staging, overseeing food and beverage and site logistics.
AD SALES: For the official program, website, credits and mobile app.
PUBLICITY: Placement of postings, website listings, announcements in local media outlets.

You can volunteer for any of the above tasks, by responding on our Contact Us page or emailing volunteer@bhoutdoorcine.org.

Volunteers will have access to Reserved Seating at all outdoors venues and will be invited to the season Wrap party with filmmakers, sponsors and advertisers.

Learn about Outdoor Cinema screenings and volunteer opportunities

Sign up for our Enews.! We can then keep you informed of opportunities to help us produce, promote and publicize the free screenings.

The screenings are organized and staged by a completely volunteer staff. Join the team, meet some new neighbors! To sign up for the email newsletter, to volunteer, or to provide feedback, go to the Contact Us page.

Help support the free Outdoor Cinema screenings

Another way to be involved with little physical effort is to simply help support the free screenings by donating. There are a couple of ways to donate:

Click the Donate button at the top of the page. Your credit card donation to our fiscal sponsor, Independent Arts & Media, is tax deductible.

If you prefer to give us a donation in the form of a check, write it
Payable to: Independent Arts & Media
Include Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema in the Memo line
Mail to: Independent Arts & Media
P. O. Box 420442, San Francisco, CA 94142

Become a sponsor of Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema?

Be acknowledged on the screen, in the printed program and advertisements, on bus shelters and banners, posters, the website and enews.

There are a number of different levels of sponsorship and advertising through the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema — from print ads in our official program to full screen exposure at each screening. Please contact info@bhoutdoorcine.org