exploratorium

The Cinema Arts Program

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.

Daytime Tickets
After Dark Tickets
Plan Your Visit

Upcoming Events
At Home: Prelinger Archives Home Movie Collection

Tuesday, January 7–Sunday, February 2, 2020

These selections showcase personal stories with universal appeal. From families traveling to far-flung landscapes to birthday parties for toddlers, these intimate films made by strangers feel quite familiar.

Feb
1
Cinema Arts: Color Visions

Saturday, February 1, 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. 

Feb
2
Cinema Arts: Color Visions

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. 

Past Events
Saturday Cinema: Glimpses of Love from StoryCorps

Saturday, February 14, 2015 • 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m.

Drawn from StoryCorps’ animation series, this program relates family members’ affection for—and struggles with—one other; life-changing friendships; and a couple considering the power of their relationship in the face of mortality.
Saturday Cinema: Forgotten Nominees

Saturday, February 7, 2015 • 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Watch rarely seen Academy Award–winning and nominated short films from the Academy Film Archive collection.
Language Matters

Saturday, January 24, 2014 • 2:30 p.m.

What do we lose when a language dies? What does it take to save a language? Language Matters with Bob Holman broaches these enormous questions, traveling the world to learn about languages at risk and meet those advocating to save them.
Off the Screen: Orchestra Nostalgico

Thursday, January 15, 2015 • 7:00 p.m.

Featuring brief bursts from extended scores, as well as immediately recognizable themes, Orchestra Nostalgico will elevate the craft of great cinema scores to take center stage.
Saturday Cinema: Math in Motion

Saturday, January 10, 2015 • 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m.

From dancing geometric patterns to studies of math in landscapes, these short works take artist frames to the practical application of math.
Saturday Cinema: Holiday Animation Festival

Saturday, January 3, 2015 • 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m.

Making use of stop-motion, pixelation, and handcrafted techniques, these short works rely on visual prowess to tell simple, jubilant stories of quiet heroism, emotional reactions, and internal conflicts.
Saturday Cinema: Holiday Animation Festival

Saturday, December 27, 2014 • 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m.

Making use of stop-motion, pixelation, and handcrafted techniques, these short works rely on visual prowess to tell simple, jubilant stories of quiet heroism, emotional reactions, and internal conflicts.
Saturday Cinema: Holiday Memories

Saturday, December 20, 2014 • 2:00 p.m.

Colorful animation and black-and-white photographs transform memories of mid-20th century Wales and Canada into winter wonderlands of youthful surprises, disappointments, and holiday play.
Off the Screen: Raw Science Festival

Thursday, December 18, 2014 • 7:00 p.m.

See winning short works from the first annual Raw Science Film Festival. Juried by a group of Academy Award-winning and nominated filmmakers, the Festival celebrates quality science and technology filmmaking from around the globe.
Saturday Cinema: Glow

Saturday, December 13, 2014 • 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m.

From dancing kaleidoscopes and visual tricks to beautiful studies of cities in motion, these films offer fun and fascinating looks at light.
Saturday Cinema: Experiments in Process

Saturday, December 6, 2014
Screening at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
Scratch Animation Workshop from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.

Scratch, or cameraless, animations are made by painstakingly drawing or scratching images onto individual frames of film. Be inspired by some classics of the genre, and join in a scratch animation workshop.
Off the Screen: The Handcrafted Cinema of Richard Tuohy

Saturday, November 22, 2014 • 5:00 p.m.

Made from elaborate experiments in laboratory processes and film mechanics, Richard Tuohy’s dazzling, handmade films highlight time-lapse photography, single-frame filmmaking, multiple exposure photography, extensive printing techniques, alternative chemical processes, direct cameraless filmmaking, and more.

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