San Francisco is a wonderful city for movie lovers, boasting several independent theaters that regularly show recent releases alongside classic films, and even a theater equipped to screen the rare 70mm IMAX format. Now, a new arthouse theater is set to open in San Francisco this fall.
The Portal Cinema
The new theater, The Portal, is a nonprofit theater with one screen and 45 seats. The theater will show new releases and a variety of global cinema and will have DCP, 35mm, and 16mm projection. San Franciscans can expect at least 11 screenings a week from the small theater. The Portal is being built at 3293 Mission Street.
The theater is expected to open in October 2026 and is currently raising funds to support its opening costs. So far, over $50,000 has been raised, although the nonprofit is still looking for donations via a Kickstarter campaign. The total goal to open the theater this fall is $250,000.
Along with the single-screen theater, the cinema will include an in-house cafe where guests can grab a drink and discuss films with fellow viewers. The theater was founded by Nellie Killian, who has programmed series for Criterion Channel, the British Film Institute, and the Museum of the Moving Image.
The news of the art house theater opening is very welcome news for San Francisco film fans, especially with the closure of the Embarcadero Center complex in 2022. In the meantime, there are still several historic, independent theaters operating in San Francisco. We recommend checking out the iconic Roxie in the Mission, which is currently hosting the SF Queer Film Fest. In the Richmond, Balboa Theater is another popular independent cinema, showing a mix of new releases and iconic films, including a monthly screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.