Founded in 2004 by two neighbors, Leslie Lombre and Anne Batmale, with significant backgrounds in film, video production, promotion, and distribution, Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema (BHOC) began as an idea to celebrate local filmmakers and artists and to activate neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and communal spaces. The initiative evolved from collaboration in the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center’s annual Fiesta on the Hill 2001.
Over two decades, BHOC has grown from free screenings in neighborhood parks to a major community event that includes the winter quarterly series, “Face to Face with The Filmmaker,” which airs in venues around the neighborhood.
Mission & Impact: BHOC’s mission revolves around free screenings that showcase local filmmakers in open neighborhood spaces. The intent is to heighten the appreciation of Bernal artists, bring the community together, and shine a light on Bernal’s vast talent and resources.
Film Line-up & Engagement: BHOC primarily showcases independent films, ranging from short features to docs, fiction, and music videos. Each year, filmmakers are invited to submit their works through various media channels. There is a deep and personal connection with the artists, enhanced by a selection committee of neighbors. The committee also recognizes filmmakers with four distinct awards.
Venues & Adaptation: Despite changes over the years and challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, BHOC has showcased in various venues such as Precita Park, Holly Park, and Bernal Heights Playground. Innovative pop-up drive-in screenings occurred at Alemany Farmers Market and South Slope Cinema during the pandemic.
20th Anniversary & Beyond: The 20th Anniversary includes special events like the Film Crawl on Cortland and “Under the Stars.” Additional plans include salsa lessons, picnics, community map-making, live music, and more.
Recognition & Awards: BHOC has been acknowledged by Avenue Greenlight, Civic Joy, and numerous local funders for its profound impact on the community.
Quotes: Co-founder Leslie Lombre shared the excitement, calling the 20th season a “homecoming.” Anne Batmale, co-founder and art director, emphasized the inclusion of emerging talents and established filmmakers in the season’s film line-up.
Feedback from filmmakers like Samantha Berlanga, Ramiro Cairo, and Jessica Heidt has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the event’s community-centric nature and its role in celebrating local talent.
Neighbor and audience quote further reinforce BHOC’s pivotal role in the community, with Valerie Reichert, Media Manager, and Bernal Neighbor noting the festival’s importance in revitalizing the neighborhood post-pandemic.
Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema: Two Decades of Community and Creativity.
When was the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema established?
Two neighbors, Leslie Lombre and Anne Batmale, with backgrounds in film/video production, promotion, and distribution, founded Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema in 2004 with the goals to:
- Celebrate the talent of the many local filmmakers and artists residing in the neighborhood
- Bring the community together from all corners of the socially, racially, and economically diverse neighborhood
- Provide free and accessible film screenings to resident film lovers and citywide friends
- Activate the under-utilized neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and local common spaces. Although Bernal Heights has become more homogeneous today, the founders’ original goals remain the guiding.
How did the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema come into existence?
Co-founders Leslie Lombre and Anne Batmale met in 2001 while working on the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center’s annual street fair and fundraiser, Fiesta on the Hill. They clicked! Leslie proposed the idea for Outdoor Cinema to Anne, as she knew there were many locals in film production. They decided to create a film series that would showcase the work of resident artists and filmmakers. Fortunately, Leslie had a TV syndication and promotion background, which gave them a leg up. Anne, a graphic designer by trade, was key in generating promotional materials. Both women are deeply embedded in Bernal Heights.
Both Anne and Leslie knew a lot of filmmakers in Bernal. For example, Leslie’s adjoining neighbors on Montezuma Street were filmmakers or film-related specialists.
What is the mission or goal of the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema?
Bernal Heights Outdoor CinemaTM presents free screenings, showcasing local filmmakers’ works in neighborhood parks and open spaces to increase the exposure and recognition of Bernal artists, heighten their appreciation by neighborhood and citywide residents, and bring the community together for the enjoyment of our neighborhood’s talent and resources.
What types of films are typically shown at the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema?
Line-ups offer independent short features, docs, fiction, narratives, animation, art/experimental, and music videos.
See the press release for event listings and descriptions
Where are the outdoor screenings usually held?
Screening locations vary each season, but previous venues include Precita Park, Holly Park, Bernal Heights Park, Bernal Heights Playground, St. Mary’s Park, Cortland Avenue, and Mission Street businesses and organizations. During the two years of COVID, the screenings were created as pop-up drives in Alemany Farmers Market, South Slope Cinema.
How has the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema grown or evolved over the past 20 years?
Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema is a volunteer-driven organization. Over the years, our volunteer base has continued to grow and remain consistent. Many of the same individuals show up each year, creating an invaluable esprit de corps. Our events have become more ambitious, and we have added a winter quarterly series called Face to Face with The Filmmaker, which airs indoors at rotating venues around the neighborhood. Our most recent screening was held at the Mission Cultural Center – Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriquez.
Are any special events or activities planned for the 20th-anniversary celebration?
Friday, Sept 8 Film Crawl on Cortland
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- Pub Crawl after the Film Crawl
Saturday, Sept 9, Under the Stars
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- Salsa lesson in the park
- Picnic basket drawings and coloring books distributed by a site sponsor, Mason Kirby Architect
- I Love Bernal (community map making)
- Community Partners information tables and activities (last year: Bernal Library book giveaway, SF Safe smoothie giveaway, BHNC merchandise, BBAA film snacks, Precita Eyes Muralists, SF Parks Alliance lawn games)
Thursday, Sept 14 Best of Bernal, Season Finale, and 20th Anniversary Party
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- Best of Bernal Award presentations
- 20th Anniversary after party and reunion
- live music
- food, beverage
- toast
Has the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema received any recognition or awards for its contributions to the community?
BHOC was recognized for its work as a community partner by both Avenue Greenlight and Civic Joy. Our work is also recognized repeatedly by local funders who have backed us throughout the years: Good Life Grocery; Architect Mason Kirby; Michael Minson; LevelUp Group (Rita Roti and Jane Mermelstein); The Corcoran Icon Properties Group; Jeff Salgado (Compass); The Shagley Team, Legacy Real Estate; San Francisco Parks Alliance; San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks; Bare Bottle Brewery.
How does the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema engage with local filmmakers and artists?
Earlier each year, we reached out to local filmmakers to submit their work. We have various media channels, our website, word of mouth, and personal contacts that we have built over 20 years. Our connections are very personal; we have built quite a community during our two decades. We have a selection committee that’s a cross-section of neighbors who screen all the submissions and vote. We distribute four awards: Best of Bernal, Spirit of Bernal, Good Life Audience Award, and the Emerging Filmmakers Award.
- The Best of Bernal is designated for locals. Someone on the crew has to be a Bernal resident.
- The Spirit of Bernal is given to a film that resonates with the values of the neighborhood, like activism, inclusiveness, diversity, and a sense of the common good.
- The Good Life Audience Award is what it sounds like the audience chooses a
- The Emerging Artist Award. We want to recognize younger filmmakers to encourage the next generation of
What can attendees expect from the upcoming 20th-anniversary event?
See the press release for event listings and descriptions
Co-founders quotes:
This 20th season is truly a homecoming — returning to one of our early screening nights of creating a film crawl in pop-up venues inside Cortland Avenue cafes, studios, and the library. Seeing our neighbors on the street and steaming in and out of familiar storefronts for an evening of local films is a joy.
Leslie Lombre, Co-founder and Director of Exhibitions
This season’s film line-up is full of the work of young emerging talent and established filmmakers, including a stellar group of local film festivals who are co-presenting and treating our audience to one night of films from Black, Latino, Queer, young, and community-building filmmakers and artists.
Anne Batmale, Co-founder and Art Director
Filmmaker quotes:
Great community festival experience! It was great to see what people in my area are creating and get to know like-minded filmmakers.
September 2022 Samantha Berlanga
Thank you so much to BHOC for selecting our short film Distant Observer! It’s been a real pleasure to be part of it. Your neighbors will always be grateful for bringing us together and adding value to our community. When something is made with passion, love, and respect, nothing can beat that! Thank you.
September 2022 Ramiro Cairo
This is a wonderful local festival with an engaged and enthusiastic audience. Communication with the organizers was great, and they followed up with thoughtful notes and gestures. Highly recommend!
October 2019 Jessica Heidt
Neighbor Quotes
We’re celebrating not just our 20th Anniversary but the revival of a neighborhood bouncing back from the pandemic blues and our neighbors’ dormant creativity and energy!
Valerie Reichert, Media Manager, and Bernal Neighbor
Quotes from Audience members on Yelp
“It’s like the academy awards for local filmmakers.” “I will come back next year for this!”
“Hooray for supporting local filmmakers and also for free screenings! This is a series of Sat night screenings in Sept/Oct, and you get to sit outdoors (bring blankets to ward off the chilly SF nights!!!) and prove what an indie film fan you are.”