"After losing an anticipated $45,000 in federal funding, an institution of the Bay Area film scene is in financial trouble. San Francisco Cinematheque, a longtime champion of avant-garde film, is at risk of laying off and drastically cutting its programming, director Steve Polta told SFGATE. For years, Cinematheque has relied on a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, which makes up approximately one quarter of its annual budget of $200,000."
"Cinematheque, which was founded in 1961 by filmmaker Bruce Baillie, hosts film screenings at spots like Gray Area and the Lab and also organizes the long-running Crossroads film festival. The nonprofit has hosted 45 screenings in 2025. Those films are distinct from the fare at most art house movie theaters; in Polta's words, Cinematheque boosts "non-narrative, noncommercial, nondocumentary work," like the found footage films of Craig Baldwin. Cinematheque also maintains an impressive archive of files on artists and filmmakers dating back to the 1960s."
San Francisco Cinematheque lost an anticipated $45,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, representing about one quarter of its $200,000 annual budget. The funding loss threatens layoffs and drastic cuts to programming. The organization was founded in 1961 by filmmaker Bruce Baillie and programs avant-garde, non-narrative, noncommercial, nondocumentary work, including found-footage films. Cinematheque hosts screenings at venues such as Gray Area and the Lab and runs the Crossroads film festival. The nonprofit has two paid staff members, relies heavily on volunteers, and maintains an archive of artist and filmmaker materials dating to the 1960s. Other Bay Area arts groups also lost NEA grants.
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