Masks are required for all visitors 2+. Vaccines recommended. Plan your visit
Approaching movies as an active viewing experience, staff in the Cinema Arts Program view the projection screen as a portal to investigation. We engage with filmmakers who create works that inspire the imagination and instigate conversation. Animation, documentary, poetic observations, and abstract visuals serve a broad spectrum of curious audiences while blending the methods and aesthetics of artists and scientists. Through our programming, we aim to provide an opportunity for visitors to explore the compelling people, places, and ideas that extend through the museum and beyond. Our collection of films and events offer a rich resource for public audiences, and also provide an important research collection for both our teaching programs and exhibit development teams.
There's always something interesting happening here—check out our upcoming events calendar.
Saturday, April 23, 2022 • 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. PT
Ecological restoration methods are progressing in new directions thanks to modern observational tools, which allow scientists to see, study, and protect the environment. Join the Science Communication Lab's team and guests for a screening and discussion of their award-winning short film.
Saturday, March 12, 2022 • 1:00 p.m.
Explore the visual and poetic language of fractals, pi, and the square root of love.
Saturday, February 5–Sunday, April 3, 2022
This remarkable story of a legendary Berkeley social activist Mable “Mama” Howard and her daughter, renowned artist Mildred Howard, threads together multiple Bay Area stories centered on social and economic justice and examines the fragile nature of change over two generations.
Saturday, January 15, 2022 • 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
We present an eclectic mix of animated and documentary short films exploring luminous aspects of both our natural world and one creatively made of fabricated elements.
Saturday, December 11, 2021 • 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
In recognition of Glow: Discover the Art of Light and in celebration of the holidays, these animations capture winter’s cool gleam and the heart’s warm glow.
Saturday, November 20, 2021 • 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
In celebration of the opening of Glow: Discover the Art of Light, we put a spotlight on short, kinetic films that dance! These exuberant films express joyful movement in luminous and colorful ways.
Through Sunday, January 30, 2022
Bask in the glow of the screen with this selection of artist-made movies. Drawing inspiration from nature and optical effects, these imaginative light studies offer a landscape of visual impressions.
Saturday, September 18 • 7:15–7:35 p.m. PT
Come view a floating media arts installation that will activate and animate the San Francisco Bay to raise awareness around issues of immigration and the need for safe harbor for political asylum seekers.
Thursday, July 1–Sunday, October 31, 2021
Visual delights, ingenious craft, and luminous phenomena. Something wonderful awaits you in this collection of artist-made films.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 • 4:00 p.m.
Nowhere are the consequences of a warming climate more pronounced and observable than the polar regions of our planet. Frozen Obsession follows a 2,000-mile Northwest Passage Project expedition in search of the effects of climate change.
Sunday, November 1, 2020 • 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Pull up for a one-night, artist-driven extravaganza. The Exploratorium, KADIST, the Institute of Contemporary Art San José, and the San José Museum of Art present a screening of artist videos at the drive-in.
Sunday, February 2, 2020 • Noon and 2:00 p.m.
In this collection of shorts, watch vibrant colors pop off the screen that reflect the pigments of the natural world, conjure saturated landscapes, and creatively display the rainbow spectrum.