For Immediate Release
August 5-9, 2026 – CinemaSFbay welcomes Actor and Director ROBERT TOWNSEND as non-profit CinemaSFbay’s first ever ARTIST IN RESIDENCE to both The Balboa and 4-Star Theaters. Townsend will host nine films, with introductions and Q&A sessions to follow each screening, four of which he directed and starred in, and five of which inspired his artistic career and he feels are essential films in the American film canon. Townsend says, “In times like these, we need movies more than ever. As CinemaSFbay’s first Artist In Residence, I want you to experience some of the classic movies that have changed my life, and I know will change yours as well. I’m sharing some of my favorite classic films that need to be seen on the big screen. So come and be my movie date for nine wonderful films, with me moderating a discussion after every film. You won’t want to miss this.”
Robert Townsend is a writer, actor, director, comedian, and has created some of the most fundamental films of the last 40 years, including Hollywood Shuffle, Eddie Murphy: Raw, The Meteor Man, The Parent ‘Hood, Holiday Heart, Jackie’s Back, A Soldier’s Story, and currently can be seen on the emmy-winning series The Bear. He is widely considered a pioneer of independent Black Cinema, and one of the greatest living movie makers.
The CinemaSFbay ARTIST IN RESIDENCE series will showcase important directors, actors, producers, cinematographers, and other filmmaking professionals to educate the San Francisco bay area cinematic audience about their art form and approach to storytelling, as well as the history and process of motion pictures.
The schedule of events is as follows:
Balboa Theater
Wednesday August 5: At Balboa at 7:30pm
HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE (1987) Dir. Robert Townsend (on 35mm film!)
Thursday August 6: At Balboa at 4:30 and 7:30pm
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967) Dir. Norman Jewison, with Sidney Poitier
THE GREAT WHITE HOPE (1970) Dir. Martin Ritt, with James Earl Jones
Purchase Ticket4-Star Theater
Friday August 7: At 4Star at 4:30 and 8pm
A FACE IN THE CROWD (1957) Dir. Elia Kazan
NETWORK (1976) Dir. Sidney Lumet, with Faye Dunaway and William Holden
Purchase TicketSaturday August 8: At 4Star at 4:30 and 7:30pm
CLAUDINE (1974) Dir. John Berry, with Diahann Caroll and James Earl Jones
THE FIVE HEARTBEATS (1991) Dir. Robert Townsend
Purchase TicketSunday August 9: At 4Star at 4 and 7pm
B*A*P*S* (1997) Dir. Robert Townsend, with Halle Berry
THE METEOR MAN (1993) Dir. Robert Townsend
Purchase TicketTickets to all shows will be available through www.cinemasfbay.org
Please direct all press and interview inquiries to Adam Bergeron at adam@cinemasfbay.org, 415-309-9240, or Lydia Nicole at poppi@aol.com.
About CinemaSFbay
CinemaSFbay is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the goal of bringing movies to the people, providing opportunities to see significant films from throughout cinematic history, presenting educational opportunities to folks of all ages, and offering gathering places for community. It is our plan to continue this ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Program in an ongoing basis at the Balboa, Vogue and 4Star Theaters, giving San Franciscans the prospect of enriching their cinematic horizons and humanizing the movie going experience for all.
