It’s that glamorous red carpet and green(isn) grass time of year, Citizens of Bernalwood! It’s time for the 2014 Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema festival! Starting TONIGHT!
As you know, BHOC is exactly like Sundance or Telluride or Cannes — only without so many people wearing sheepskin and Prada. The basic drill: Free films. Most are short. Some are shown outside. Emphasis on local topics and local filmmakers. Bring seating. Dress warmly. BYO snacks. Sip from a flask. Snuggle as necessary. Enjoy.
Here’s the schedule for 2014, starting with the star-studded opening night screening and party happening TONIGHT at the beloved El Rio:
Thursday, September 4
7 to 9:30 pm
OPENING NIGHT
El Rio
3158 Mission St.
Must be 21 yearsFriday, September 5
Progressive screenings at 7, 8 and 9 pm
FILM CRAWL ON CORTLAND
— Progressive Grounds, 400 Cortland
— Bernal Star, 410 Cortland
— Kingmond Young Photography, 416 Cortland
— Bernal Branch Library, 500 Cortland ** 7 and 8 pm, only
— Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, 515 Cortland
— Inclusions Gallery, 627 CortlandSaturday, September 6
6:30 to 9:30 pm
UNDER THE STARS
Precita Park
Folsom St. at Precita Ave.9:30 to 10:30 pm
AFTER PARTY
Precita Park Café
500 Precita Avenue
Scope out the full 2014 BHOC schedule for additional details on each night’s film selections.
In addition, BHOC co-founder Leslie Lombre wrote to Bernalwood to share these late-breaking, insidery notes:
1) We’re adding comedy for the first time to the Opening Night line-up, Thursday, 9/4. Comedian Johnny Steele will perform following an excerpt of 3 STILL STANDING, a locally produced documentary profiling three recognizable names including Steele along with Will Durst and Larry Brown through a 30-year journey. It’s especially relevant given Robin William’s recent passing.
2) We’ve added some new co-presenters for Film Crawl on Cortland, Friday, 9/5:
New
SF International Women’s Festival at Inclusions Gallery
14 Black Poppies at Bernal Heights Neighborhood CenterReturning
Bay Area Video Coalition at Progressive Grounds
Cine Mas+ / SF Latino Film Festival at Kingmond Young Photography
And here’s the bumper reel:
See you there, cinephiles!
PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics
Bernalwood 
I always preferred the original format: a film or two a night for several nights in Precita Park or in the school yard. No fancy schmancy pub crawls or other indoor events, just movies by and/or about Bernal folks. That was the essence of this festival and why it was so different from other festivals.
Also, I absolutely hate stand-up comedy. Most comics are terrible, and especially if they’ve been on Comedy Central is reason enough to avoid them (singular exception, Demitri Martin).