Shapeshifters
Cinema

About Us

SHAPESHIFTERS CINEMA is an experimental microcinema located in Oakland, CA. We provide a venue and support for contemporary artists working with experimental and artist-made film, video, sound, music and other types of mediated performance. We host regular, live events, offer workshops on experimental moving image and sound production and operate a storefront shop specializing in print publications, DVDs, sound recordings and other artist-made media.

SHAPESHIFTERS BREWERY makes a variety of small-batch, seasonal, hand-crafted beers, brewed on-site in a space right behind the cinema. These are served (to 21+) at all our events as well as some off-site events. Find out more at shapeshiftersbrewery.com

SHAPESHIFTERS CAFÉ, is right next door to our cinema! We offer freshly-made salads, sandwiches, coffee, tea, pastries and more. Open M-F, 6am-3pm. Starting on Saturday, April 6, 2024, we will be open for brunch on the first Saturday of every month, from 11am-3pm. Find out more at shapeshifterscafe.com

Staff

Gilbert Guerrero - Operations Director & A/V Tech
Kathleen Quillian - Programming Director
Ellie Vanderlip - Education Director

The Shapeshifters Membership program provides crucial, sustaining support for our small, DIY, volunteer-run organization. By joining the membership program, you become part of an engaged, diverse, creative community working in and around experimental moving image, sound and time-based art. Each level offers a range of access to members-only resources and events, discounts, comps and more. Find out more and join now!

Cinema

Upcoming Programs & Events

STUDIO 8 Film Festival - Opening Night Shorts Program
Organized by the SF Artists Alumni Association
Friday, June 14, 2024
7pm
Admission: $20 (Discount for Shapeshifters members)

The STUDIO 8 Film Festival is a 3-day event organized by the SF Artists Alumni Association to showcase the work of filmmakers who honed their craft while students at the legendary (and now-closed) San Francisco Art Institute. The opening night program features short films by Jibz Cameron aka Dynasty Handbag, Deborah Fort, Dean Snider, Kerry Laitala, Minoosh Zomorodinia, Dimitra Skandali, Liz Miller Kovacs, Lynne Sachs, Mark Street, Yin-Ju Chen, Dicky Bahto, Tommy Becker, Anne McGuire, Malic Amalya and Marian Wallace.

The festival also includes screenings of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon + a Juneteenth-themed shorts program at the Balboa Theatre on Saturday, 6/15 and a Kuchar Brothers bonanza screening w/Mike Kuchar and V.Vale in person at Roxie Theatre on Sunday, 6/16. For more information about the event, visit: https://www.sfartistsalumni.org/studio8filmfestival

Workshops

Build Your Own Synthesizer
Instructor: Kirk Pearson
Saturday, July 13, 2024
12-4pm
In-person at Shapeshifters Cinema
Admission: $80 (Discount for Shapeshifters members; Children under 18 are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult)

Ever wanted to build a synthesizer? In this beginner's workshop led by Kirk Pearson (founder and director of the Berkeley-based audio laboratory Dogbotic) participants will be led through the process step-by-step, demystifying the horrible world of electrical engineering at every turn. You'll learn how to build basic oscillators, filters, LFOs, and amplifiers, how to rig up your circuit to be light-sensitive, and oh-so-much more. Each participant will make their own working synth prototype, which we'll tune together to form a delicious sound bath. You'll then get to take your prototype home and use it to impress and irritate your friends and loved ones. All parts are included, no prior circuitry experience or musical ability needed.

Intro to Animation
Instructor: Jeremy Rourke
Sunday, July 14, 2024
10am-4pm
In-person at Shapeshifters Cinema
Admission: $75 (Discount for Shapeshifters members)

Join us for a one-day, introductory animation workshop bonanza with the multi-dimensional artist and animator, Jeremy Rourke. By the end of this 6-hour session he promises that you will leave with a pixillation of yourself, a claymation, a cut paper collage animation, a flipbook and maybe most importantly, a deeper understanding of time. Participants will need to bring an iphone, ipad or computer (with the Stop Motion Studio app on it) and a tripod or clamp to secure the recording device.