Venue
SFSFF annual events take place at San Francisco’s landmark movie palace, the Castro Theatre. Built in 1922, the theater was designed by Timothy L. Pflueger (1894-1946), a celebrated figure in Bay Area architecture whose career originated with the commission for the Castro. The Castro Theatre is located at 429 Castro Street, near the intersection of Castro and Market Street.
Note: The San Francisco Silent Film Festival is a separate entity from the Castro Theatre. If you have questions about the theater’s management, please contact the Castro directly at 415-621-6350.
Getting To the Theater
Public Transportation
For comprehensive regional public transportation information, point-to-point transit or driving directions as well as live traffic reports, please visit 511.org.
MUNI bus lines that run near the theater: 24 Divisadero, 33 Stanyan, 35 Eureka, 37 Corbett
MUNI light rail lines that stop at the Castro Street Station (directly across the street from the theater): K line, L line, M line
The Castro is also served by the F Line, the vintage streetcar line that runs up Market Street from the Embarcadero.
Getting to San Francisco
By Air
San Francisco San Francisco International (SFO) — 15 miles south of the city of San Francisco.
Oakland International Airport (OAK) — 20 miles east of the city of San Francisco.
Both SFO and OAK have easy access to San Francisco via BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), cab, shuttle, or car.
By Train
If you are travelling from outside the Bay Area, both Caltrain and Amtrak have service directly to San Francisco.
Getting Around San Francisco
San Francisco MUNI provides bus, light rail, cable car, and historic streetcar service throughout the city. BART serves downtown San Francisco and the Mission District (just down the hill from the Castro Theatre), and shares downtown stations with Muni light rail lines.
Tip
San Francisco’s climate is mild—the temperature rarely goes above 80° or below 40°. Be advised, though, that the city’s weather is extremely variable—from season to season, hour to hour, and neighborhood to neighborhood. Winter days can be warm, summer days can be frigid and vise versa. Be prepared. Wear sheddable layers—sweaters and warm scarves are just the ticket.
Restrictions
Recording
Filming or recording of any kind is prohibited by law.
Phone Use
Phone use is not permitted in the theatre. Not only is phone use distracting for other audience members, it is also disruptive and disrespectful to our performers. If you use your phone during a program you will be removed from the theater without a refund.
Image credit: Pamela Gentile