Coming Soon

Wong Kar-Wai Month winds down with the director's neon-soaked dramedy Fallen Angels. The film intertwines two loosely connected stories: a disillusioned hitman who contemplates leaving his dangerous profession and his enigmatic female partner who silently yearns for him, and a mute ex-convict who runs an unconventional business and finds himself entangled with a free-spirited woman searching for her own purpose. Through its fragmented narrative, kinetic cinematography, and surreal atmosphere, the story captures the yearning for human connection amid the alienation of urban life

Fall in love with Anora, the Palme d'Or-winning new film from writer/director Sean Baker (Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket). Now nominated for multiple Oscars! Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

Join us at The Frida Cinema as we continue to celebrate the work of legendary filmmaker David Lynch, presenting his final directorial feature: INLAND EMPIRE. Nikki (Laura Dern), an actress, takes on a role in a new film, and because her husband (Peter J. Lucas) is very jealous, her co-star Devon (Justin Theroux) gets a warning not to make any romantic overtures -- especially since the characters they play are having an affair. Both actors learn that the project is a remake of an unfinished film in which the stars were murdered. Regarded by many as the most cryptic film of Lynch's extensive oeuvre, INLAND EMPIRE was named the second best film of 2007 by Cahiers du cinema.

It’s time to go back. Back to the movies. Come join us Saturday January 25th at The Frida Cinema for the ultimate four-movie marathon, all of ‘em hand-picked by our friends at Super Yaki. And we promise, they’re incredible. It's the return of Yakirama!  The full lineup will be revealed on January 2nd, but until then we’re offering blind early bird tickets at a discount of $20. Every early bird ticket will come with a beautiful and amazing gift, courtesy of your friends at Super Yaki! Doors open at 11 AM, movies start at 12 PM. Super Yaki will be there in-person with a brand new collection and more surprises along the way, all of which will be exclusively available first to the brave patrons of Yakirama 2. See ya there!

Darren Lynn Bousman's 2008 cult classic Repo! The Genetic Opera returns, brought to life with a live shadow cast performance by our resident Repo! performance troupe Addicted To The Knife!

See It On 16mm strikes again with Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock's groundbreaking 1960 thriller! The film follows Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a secretary who impulsively steals $40,000 and goes on the run, seeking refuge at the secluded Bates Motel. There, she meets the shy and peculiar owner, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), who has a disturbing relationship with his domineering mother. A shocking murder sets off an investigation that unveils a chilling series of twists, culminating in a haunting revelation about Norman’s dark psyche.

Our 80s Sword and Sorcery series winds down with The Dark Crystal, Jim Henson and Frank Oz's groundbreaking fantasy epic! Set in the mystical world of Thra, the story follows Jen (voiced by Stephen Garlick), the last of the peaceful Gelfling race, who embarks on a quest to heal the titular Dark Crystal, a powerful artifact corrupted by the malevolent Skeksis. Guided by ancient prophecies, Jen must locate the missing shard of the Crystal and reunite it before a great conjunction of Thra's three suns, which would grant the Skeksis eternal dominion. Along the way, Jen is joined by Kira (voiced by Lisa Maxwell), another surviving Gelfling, and her animal companion Fizzgig, as they face trials of courage and self-discovery.

Frida Cinema Film Club members are invited to join us for two free screenings of the 1953 white-knuckle masterpiece The Wages Of Fear in a brand new, stunning 4K restoration!  In a squalid South American oil town, four desperate men sign on for a suicide mission to drive trucks loaded with nitroglycerin over a treacherous mountain route. As they ferry their explosive cargo to a faraway oil fire, each bump and jolt tests their courage, their friendship, and their nerves. The result is one of the greatest thrillers ever committed to celluloid, from France’s legendary master of suspense, Henri-Georges Clouzot. Not a Frida Cinema Film Club member yet? Sign up here: https://thefridacinema.org/memberships/

Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, The Frida Cinema is proud to present the wondrous animated film Flow for an extended run and matinees and early evening screenings! A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, Flow follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning Gints Zilbalodis (Away) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, Flow is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart. Upon premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the film has received critical acclaim and won numerous film and animation awards, including Best Animated Film at the European Film Awards, the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, the National Board of Review Awards, and many more! The film is selected as the Latvian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards!

Our In Defense of... series returns with Tank Girl, Rachel Talalay's post apocalyptic sci-fi film and our Director of Volunteers and Interns Jill Georgieff's pick! After a comet disrupts the rain cycle of Earth, the planet has become a desolate, barren desert by the year 2033. With resources scarce, Kesslee — head of the powerful and evil Water & Power Corporation, the de facto government — has taken control of the water supply. Unwilling to cower under Kesslee's tyrannical rule, a pair of outlaws known as Tank Girl and Jet Girl rise up, joining the mysterious rebel Rippers to destroy the corrupt system.

Our 80s Sword and Sorcery series opens with Excalibur, John Boorman's 1981 Arthurian retelling. The film follows the rise and fall of King Arthur (Nigel Terry), beginning with the forging of the enchanted sword Excalibur and its role in uniting a fractured England. Guided by the enigmatic wizard Merlin (Nicol Williamson), Arthur ascends to the throne and creates the legendary Round Table, fostering ideals of chivalry and justice. However, internal strife, the forbidden love between Sir Lancelot (Nicholas Clay) and Queen Guinevere (Cherie Lunghi), and the malevolent sorcery of Morgana (Helen Mirren) threaten to destroy Camelot from within.

Join us for The Frida Cinema’s next Trivia Night!

Join us for the inaugural film in a new series we're calling Hallucinations as we present the 1996 cult classic Cannibal! The Musical. Before South Park and The Book Of Mormon, Trey Parker and Matt Stone created an ultra-low budget musical that's been largely lost to time, despite their creators' fame. A new restoration is the perfect way to see this forgotten film that paved the way for two oft he most successful comedy writers of the century. Hosted by Polygon's editor-in-chief Chris Plante, Hallucinations is a monthly event that spotlights movies that challenge our expectations of story, style, and "good taste". Plante will introduce each film with some behind-the-scenes history and critical context. With Hallucinations, The Frida Cinema wants to build a communal space for lovers of Weird Cinema. We invite guests to bond over films that change what we expect from the medium, the world, and themselves. So come early, stay late, make friends, and watch something strange, surprising, or just shamelessly sick.

Our Page To Screen series keeps on rolling into the new year as we present the 2020 rendition of Emma., starring Frida favorites Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, and Josh O'Connor! Make sure to stick around after the screening as we partner with Arvida Book Co in Tustin for a conversation about the original text versus this particular movie version!  In 1800s England, a well-meaning but selfish young woman meddles in the love lives of her friends.

Hot off of its Golden Globe wins for Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Director, and Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama, The Frida Cinema is proud to present Brady Corbet's audacious masterwork The Brutalist! Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Tóth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost. All screenings of The Brutalist will include a 15 minute intermission.

Wong Kar-Wai Month comes to an end the only way we know how: screening the iconic filmmaker's year 2000 masterpiece In The Mood For Love. The story follows Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung) and Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung), neighbors who discover that their spouses are having an affair. As they grapple with this betrayal, they form a bond over their shared pain, reenacting their spouses' infidelity in a bid to understand it. Despite their growing feelings for each other, they remain bound by societal expectations and their own moral codes, creating a story brimming with unspoken emotions and unfulfilled desires.

Up next in our never-ending tribute to David Lynch, we are bringing back the midnight movie experience for his first and most spiritual film: Eraserhead! Join us as we turns the lights down, turn the volume up, and take a journey into the surrealist world of this once-in-a-lifetime filmmaker.  The story follows a first-time father, Henry Spencer, as he tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child. Though initially not a mainstream success, Eraserhead quickly gained a devoted following and became a landmark in experimental cinema. Over time, it has been praised for its surreal, nightmarish visuals, sound design, and atmosphere.

Our 21st Century Cult series marches along as we present the controversial 2002 film Secretary, starring James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal! he film follows Lee Holloway (Gyllenhaal), a socially awkward young woman recently released from a mental health institution, who takes a job as a secretary for the demanding and enigmatic lawyer E. Edward Grey (Spader). As their professional relationship evolves into an unorthodox BDSM dynamic, Lee begins to reclaim her sense of agency and identity, while Edward confronts his own vulnerabilities and desires.

Film Threat’s Award This! is back for another year, and it’s an event with a mission—to champion independent...

Love rains with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, the 1964 musical romance from Jacques Demy! Now in a brand new 4K restoration!  This simple romantic tragedy begins in 1957. Guy Foucher, a 20-year-old French auto mechanic, has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery, an employee in her widowed mother's chic but financially embattled umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève make love. She becomes pregnant and must choose between waiting for Guy's return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant. Winning the Palme d'Or at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is celebrated by many as one of the best musicals of all time.

For the first time ever, The Frida Cinema is proud to present Damien Chazelle's La La Land, starring the incomparable duo of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. This screening is part of our LA Fires Fundraiser series. Ticket proceeds from this special screening will be donated to American Red Cross California Wildfires Disaster Relief Fund. Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart. Earning a record-tying 14 nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, La La Land is the heartful celebration of LA that we all need right now. For more information on the Red Cross' California Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund, please visit: https://www.redcross.org/local/california/los-angeles/about-us/our-work/california-wildfires-response-january-2025.html Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid.

Nicolas Winding Refn's stylish 2011 action drama Drive is finally back at The Frida Cinema! And this time around, we're screening it as part of our LA Fires Fundraiser series. Ticket proceeds from this special screening will be donated to American Red Cross California Wildfires Disaster Relief Fund. Driver (Ryan Gosling) is a skilled Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. Though he projects an icy exterior, lately he's been warming up to a pretty neighbor named Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her young son Benicio (Kaden Leos). When Irene's husband (Oscar Isaac) gets out of jail, he enlists Driver's help in a million-dollar heist. The job goes horribly wrong, and Driver must risk his life to protect Irene and Benicio from the vengeful masterminds behind the robbery. Impressing critics and audiences alike with its potent combination of striking cinematography and graphic violence, Drive is regarded as one of the definitive portrayals of LA of modern cinema. For more information on the Red Cross' California Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund, please visit: https://www.redcross.org/local/california/los-angeles/about-us/our-work/california-wildfires-response-january-2025.html Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid.

Revisit one of the most beloved films of all time with Michael Curtiz's Casablanca, the timeless romantic drama set during World War II. The story unfolds in the titular Moroccan city, a haven for refugees seeking passage to the Americas. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), the jaded owner of a popular nightclub, unexpectedly reunites with his former lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), who arrives with her husband, resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). As Rick grapples with lingering feelings for Ilsa, he must decide whether to help the couple escape the clutches of the Nazis, risking his own safety in the process.

Join us at the Frida Cinema on Thursday, February 6th as we celebrate seventeen years of Rendezvous! To celebrate this milestone, they have partnered with our friends at Severin Films to bring you Jess Franco's 1981 horror/gore classic, Bloody Moon (Die Säge des Todes). Banned in several countries, this film is a wild crowd pleaser that we are excited to experience with all of you. Doors will open at 7:30 with Rendezvous DJs providing the pre-show soundtrack, followed by the film at 8:30. After the movie, stick around for DJs, trailers, and highlight reels. Additionally, there will be a Severin merch table and copies of Gerhard Heinz's iconic soundtrack on a gatefold double LP for sale (courtesy of Mystic Vault Records). It's Franco February at the Frida! Come join us!

Our 21st Century Cult series kicks off February with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Michel Gondry's surrealist sci-fi romance! Gondry and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (who won an Academy Award for his screenplay) capture the mixed emotions of love and loss in a way that no filmmakers have done before or since. Starring Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey in career highlights for both, the film tells the story of a bitter breakup which results in a pair of ex-lovers hiring a radical medical company to erase all memories of each other – and the internal struggle that ensues to try to hold on despite having so many reasons to let go. Upon its release, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind received critical acclaim, with the movie earning the Movie of the Year award from AFI and being frequently cited on Best of 2000s lists to this day.

Silents Synced is back! After a successful pairing of Nosferatu/Radiohead last year, they are unleashing their newest project onto the world: Buster Keaton's Sherlock Jr. Soundtracked w/ R.E.M.! Pairing classic movies with modern soundtracks is always fun—like playing The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wizard of Oz at the same time—and it works especially well with silent films. When one of Buster Keaton’s masterpieces, Sherlock Jr., is re-released in theaters in February, the music will come from R.E.M.'s Monster and New Adventures in Hi-Fi albums. Full details are on producer Blue Starlite Entertainment’s “Silents Synced” series website. A trailer for the release begins with old-timey music before kicking into R.E.M.’s “Star 69” as Keaton’s character, an aspiring detective, trails a suspect. As the trailer notes, the re-release celebrates the film’s 101st anniversary next year.

You've been asking to dance again, so let's party! Stop Making Sense, Jonathan Demme's 1984 masterpiece of sight and sound, is back as part of our all-month February birthday celebration! Stop Making Sense is an iconic concert film documenting Talking Heads at the height of their popularity, while on tour for their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." The band takes the stage one by one and is joined by a cadre of guest musicians for a career-spanning, cinematic performance that features creative choreography and visuals. Featuring masterful performances by David Byrne and photography by Jordan Cronenweth (Blade Runner), Stop Making Sense is a concert experience at its most colorful and life-affirming.

Celebrate Valentine's Day early with our annual screening of Hal Ashby's Harold and Maude, presented on film by our buds at See It On 16mm! The young Harold (Bud Cort) lives in his own world of suicide-attempts and funeral visits to avoid the misery of his current family and home environment. Harold meets an 80-year-old woman named Maude (Ruth Gordon) who also lives in her own world yet one in which she is having the time of her life. When the two opposites meet they realize that their differences don’t matter and they become best friends and love each other. Beloved for its quirky humor and tender tone, Harold and Maude is fondly remembered as a black comedy with heart.

Celebrate Black History Month with our Concrete Dreams: Black Identity in the Urban Frame series, starting off with Barry Jenkins' 2016 coming-of-age drama Moonlight. The film chronicles the life of Chiron, a young Black man, through three transformative chapters: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Growing up in a rough Miami neighborhood, Chiron navigates the challenges of a drug-addicted mother (Naomie Harris), bullying, and his own burgeoning sense of self. Guided by the compassion of a local drug dealer, Juan (Mahershala Ali), and his partner Teresa (Janelle Monáe), Chiron begins to grapple with his sexuality and inner turmoil. As he matures, his journey becomes one of self-acceptance and vulnerability in the face of a world that demands toughness. With its nuanced performances, stunning cinematography, and emotionally resonant storytelling, Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture, cementing its place as a groundbreaking and profoundly human cinematic achievement. Concrete Dreams: Black Identity in the Urban Frame is a series that explores the profound relationship between Black Cinema and the cities that shape its narratives. Each film in the series not only tells a compelling story, but also positions the urban environment as a central character—its streets, culture, and communities influencing the lives, struggles, and triumphs of its inhabitants. By highlighting stories that intertwine identity, culture, and place, this series invites audiences to reflect on the dynamic interplay between people and the environments they call home, showcasing how these cities pulse through the heart of Black storytelling.

Our hearts continue to ache with the passing of visionary filmmaker David Lynch, as we present Wild at Heart, his 1990 romantic black comedy.  After serving prison time for a self-defense killing, Sailor Ripley (Nicolas Cage) reunites with girlfriend Lula Fortune (Laura Dern). Lula's mother, Marietta (Diane Ladd), desperate to keep them apart, hires a hitman (J. E. Freeman) to kill Sailor. But he finds a whole new set of troubles when he and Bobby Peru (Willem Dafoe), an old buddy who's also out to get Sailor, try to rob a store. When Sailor lands in jail yet again, the young lovers appear further than ever from the shared life they covet. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Barry Gifford, Wild at Heart earned a mixed reception upon release but has since been reassessed a key entry in Lynch's filmography.

Continuing to shine a spotlight on our dearly departed David Lynch, we at The Frida Cinema are proud to present his unsung masterpiece Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me in a limited run.  In the town of Twin Peaks, everyone has their secrets—but especially Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). In this prequel to his groundbreaking 1990s television series, David Lynch resurrects the teenager found wrapped in plastic at the beginning of the show, following her through the last week of her life and teasing out the enigmas that surround her murder. Homecoming queen by day and drug-addicted thrill seeker by night, Laura leads a double life that pulls her deeper and deeper into horror as she pieces together the identity of the assailant who has been terrorizing her for years. Nightmarish in its vision of an innocent torn apart by unfathomable forces, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is nevertheless one of Lynch’s most humane films, aching with compassion for its tortured heroine—a character as enthralling in life as she was in death.

The Frida is partnering with Muzeo Museum to present Bonnie and Clyde, Arthur Penn's groundbreaking crime drama. This collaborative series features classic films inspired by the posters on display in “Painted for the Pictures: The Illustrative Art of Classic Movie Posters.” A discussion on this subject will follow each screening.  The film chronicles the infamous exploits of Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) and Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty), two Depression-era lovers turned bank robbers. Disenchanted with their mundane lives, the pair embarks on a spree of robberies across the American South, joined by Clyde's brother Buck (Gene Hackman), his wife Blanche (Estelle Parsons), and a young accomplice, C.W. Moss (Michael J. Pollard). Their daring escapades and celebrity status as outlaws are juxtaposed with the inevitable consequences of their actions, culminating in a violent and tragic finale. Renowned for its bold storytelling, visceral violence, and compelling performances, Bonnie and Clyde won two Academy Awards and is celebrated as a seminal work that ushered in the New Hollywood era. The Muzeo Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00AM-5:00PM. "Painted for the Pictures" runs from Saturday, February 8 through Sunday, April 20 and is in our Main Gallery. For tickets and more information, please visit: https://muzeo.org/

The People's Joker is back at The Frida Cinema hot off of its Gotham and Independent Spirit Awards, and this time we've got a very special treat for you: writer/director Vera Drew is joining us in-person for a Q&A after the film! Set in a dystopian Gotham City, the film follows Vera, played by Drew herself, who aspires to become the first openly trans comedian. Struggling with oppressive societal norms and personal demons, Vera undergoes a transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Infused with dark humor, surreal visuals, and a satirical edge, “The People’s Joker” challenges traditional narratives and delivers a poignant message about authenticity and resilience. Don't miss your chance to see one of 2024's most outrageous (and best) films on the big screen!

Our Wong Kar-Wai Month series continues with Chungking Express, the director's timeless 1994 romance. The film weaves together two distinct yet thematically linked stories of two lovelorn policemen. In the first, He Qiwu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), reeling from a breakup, becomes infatuated with a mysterious woman in a blonde wig (Brigitte Lin), who is entangled in the criminal underworld. The second story follows Cop 663 (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai), whose heartbreak over a flight attendant ex-girlfriend is softened by the quirky and free-spirited Faye (Faye Wong), a café worker who secretly transforms his life.

Our award-winning resident performance troupe K.A.O.S. returns for their celebrated all-costumed, all-choreographed, all-leg-kicking live shadowcast presentation of the 1975 cult classic, performed on stage in front of the film!

Do you love horror movies? Are you sick of all the lovey-dovey films playing around Valentine's Day? Well, The Frida Cinema's got your back! We're presenting an amazing four-film lineup of some of our favorite spooky flicks that we're calling the I <3 Horror Marathon! It Follows, Ready Or Not, Jennifer's Body, and The Love Witch are the films in our murderers row, playing back-to-back-to-back-to-back with breaks between so you can refill on your snacks and take a break! So put on your best hot pink horror attire and join us! The schedule is as follows: Doors - 2:00PM It Follows - 3:00PM Ready Or Not - 5:00PM Jennifer's Body - 7:00PM The Love Witch - 9:00PM All passes to this event will be General Admission and we'll have exclusive merch for sale along with a few other surprises! Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid.

Join us for a very special screening of the new documentary Time Passages with an in-person Q&A with director Kyle Henry after the screening!  A pandemic rages across the globe. In the final months of his mother Elaine's late-stage dementia, gay filmmaker Kyle Henry uses his extensive family archive to travel back in time, exploring the complicated bonds of identity, history, and belonging in his large Texas family. Charting Elaine's promising early life through her years of motherhood and self-sacrifice, finally tracing their relationship to its inevitable end. Time Passages explores Kyle's conflicting feelings of love, grief, guilt, and helplessness. Beneath the Kodachrome smiles and grainy Super-8 home movies lie the difficult truths that so many families hide. With their unearthing, Time Passages becomes a memento mori: a testament to love, legacy and the things that carry us through life's most challenging times.

Preach (Glynn Turman), an aspiring writer, and Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), a talented basketball player with a bright future, navigate the joys and challenges of adolescence in their predominantly Black neighborhood. Their carefree days of mischief, romance, and camaraderie take a tragic turn after a series of poor decisions lead to unforeseen consequences, testing their friendship and shaping their paths. Renowned for its authentic portrayal of youth, the film features a soulful Motown soundtrack and is celebrated as a groundbreaking work in Black cinema. Concrete Dreams: Black Identity in the Urban Frame is a series that explores the profound relationship between Black Cinema and the cities that shape its narratives. Each film in the series not only tells a compelling story, but also positions the urban environment as a central character—its streets, culture, and communities influencing the lives, struggles, and triumphs of its inhabitants. By highlighting stories that intertwine identity, culture, and place, this series invites audiences to reflect on the dynamic interplay between people and the environments they call home, showcasing how these cities pulse through the heart of Black storytelling.

This program is a venue rental engagement. Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. Abstract Milk Productions returns to present The 2nd Annual Abstract Milk Film Festival! In addition to a slate of fantastic films, this event offers the opportunity to network with fellow filmmakers, actors, musicians, and more. Abstract Milk Productions was founded in 2023 by a close-knit group of film students in Southern California. We produce movies and showcase them locally, always working to build a diverse and talented network of performers and crew. Abstract Milk is passionate about developing thoughtful, entertaining media, and above all else, having fun! Doors open at 7:00PM and the films start at 7:30PM! There will be a Q&A with the filmmakers afterwards.

Our Classic Movie Night series keeps on rolling with Ball Of Fire, Howard Hawks' 1941 screwball comedy starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck! A group of academics have spent years shut up in a house working on the definitive encyclopedia. When one of them discovers that his entry on slang is hopelessly outdated, he ventures into the wide world to learn about the evolving language. Here he meets Sugarpuss O’Shea, a nightclub singer, who’s on top of all the slang—and, it just so happens, needs a place to stay.

Wind up the tension with The Monkey, a new horror film from Longlegs' Osgood Perkins! The film follows twin brothers Hal and Bill, portrayed by Theo James and Bill Skarsgård, who reunite to settle their late father’s estate. Among his belongings, they discover an eerie wind-up monkey toy with cymbals, an artifact tied to a series of tragic deaths from their childhood. As the monkey’s sinister influence resurfaces, the brothers are drawn into a horrifying battle to break its curse before it claims more lives.

Fight the power with Spike Lee’s 1989 masterpiece Do the Right Thing, screening as part of our Concrete Dreams series! Salvatore “Sal” Fragione (Danny Aiello) is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn. A neighborhood local, Buggin’ Out (Giancarlo Esposito), becomes upset when he sees that the pizzeria’s Wall of Fame exhibits only Italian actors. Buggin’ Out believes a pizzeria in a Black neighborhood should showcase Black actors, but Sal disagrees. The wall becomes a symbol of racism and hate to Buggin’ Out and to other people in the neighborhood, and tensions rise on the hottest day of the summer. Often listed as Spike Lee’s best as well as one of the greatest films of all time, Do the Right Thing resonates with a scorching sociopolitical fury that proves ever more relevant thirty years onward. Concrete Dreams: Black Identity in the Urban Frame is a series that explores the profound relationship between Black Cinema and the cities that shape its narratives. Each film in the series not only tells a compelling story, but also positions the urban environment as a central character—its streets, culture, and communities influencing the lives, struggles, and triumphs of its inhabitants. By highlighting stories that intertwine identity, culture, and place, this series invites audiences to reflect on the dynamic interplay between people and the environments they call home, showcasing how these cities pulse through the heart of Black storytelling.

A24 presents Sing Sing, Greg Kwedar's 2023 prison drama based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Prison. The film centers on John "Divine G" Whitfield (Colman Domingo), an inmate wrongfully convicted, who finds purpose and redemption by participating in a theater group composed of fellow prisoners. As they collaborate to stage an original comedy, "Breakin' the Mummy's Code," tensions arise with the introduction of a new member, Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin (portraying a version of himself), who challenges the group's dynamics and Divine G's leadership. Through the transformative power of art, the men confront their pasts, forge deep bonds, and rediscover their humanity.

Our second Volunteer of the Month is Alex Alcala, who has chosen Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread as his VOTM pick! Set in 1950s London, the film follows renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his tightly controlled life dedicated to crafting exquisite couture for high society. Reynolds' world is upended when he meets Alma (Vicky Krieps), a headstrong young woman who becomes his muse and lover. As their relationship deepens, a battle of wills emerges, with Alma challenging Reynolds' rigid ways and asserting her own desires. Their dynamic becomes a haunting and unconventional love story, steeped in power struggles and mutual dependence.

Adam Rehmeier's darkly comedic indie favorite Dinner in America returns just in time for our all-month birthday celebration! And this time, we're preceding it with Adam's 2024 film Snack Shack for a double feature for the ages! And stick around after each film for an exclusive Q&A with writer/director Adam Rehmeier, Producer Ross Putnam, and more surprise cast and crew TBA from each film!  Snack Shack is set in Nebraska City, 1991, as two best friends get the chance to run the swimming pool snack shack. Later on, it becomes to be the perfect scenario for transgression, fun, personal discovery and romance. The perfect Summer movie!  Dinner In America follows an unlikely pair—Simon (Kyle Gallner), a punk rocker on the run from the law, and Patty (Emily Skeggs), a socially awkward misfit obsessed with his band. Set in the suburbs of Detroit, the film explores their chaotic journey as they bond over their mutual disdain for societal norms. As their connection grows, Simon and Patty embark on a rebellious adventure that confronts their personal insecurities and helps them discover their own voices.

21st Century Cult takes a dark detour with Crimson Peak, Guillermo del Toro's 2015 gothic romance.  The film follows Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), an aspiring writer haunted by the ghostly warning to "Beware of Crimson Peak." After a whirlwind romance, she marries the enigmatic Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) and moves to his decaying ancestral mansion, Allerdale Hall, alongside his mysterious sister, Lady Lucille (Jessica Chastain). As Edith unravels the sinister history of the Sharpe family and the house itself, she discovers dark truths lurking beneath its beautiful, crumbling facade.

Horror Movie Night presented by HorrorBuzz is back! And this time they’re celebrating 35 years of the Kevin Bacon monster movie masterpiece Tremors! Repairmen Val McKee (Kevin Bacon) and Earl Bassett (Fred Ward) are tired of their dull lives in the small desert town of Perfection, Nev. But just as the two try to skip town, they happen upon a series of mysterious deaths and a concerned seismologist (Finn Carter) studying unnatural readings below the ground. With the help of an eccentric couple (Reba McEntire, Michael Gross), the group fights for survival against giant, worm-like monsters hungry for human flesh. Horror Movie Night takes it to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Preshow, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and pre-show begins promptly at 7:30 pm, so arrive early!

Tommy Wiseau's enduring 2003 cult classic returns to The Frida!

Film Club Members are invited to an exclusive screening of Army of Shadows, Jean-Pierre Melville's gripping depiction of the French Resistance during World War II. The film follows Philippe Gerbier (Lino Ventura), a stoic resistance leader, as he navigates the perilous world of espionage and betrayal while fighting against Nazi occupation. Alongside a dedicated group of comrades, including the fearless Mathilde (Simone Signoret) and the resourceful Jean-François (Jean-Pierre Cassel), Gerbier undertakes covert operations, rescues, and assassinations, all while facing the constant threat of capture and execution.

Our Concrete Dreams series wraps up with The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Joe Talbot's poignant 2019 drama. The film follows Jimmie Fails (playing a semi-fictionalized version of himself) as he dreams of reclaiming his childhood home, a grand Victorian house in San Francisco, which his grandfather supposedly built. With the help of his best friend Montgomery Allen (Jonathan Majors), Jimmie embarks on a heartfelt quest to restore and reclaim the house amidst a city undergoing rapid change. As their journey unfolds, the film delves into the complexities of home, friendship, and the cultural dislocation faced by Black communities in a gentrifying city. Praised for its lyrical storytelling, stunning cinematography, and heartfelt performances, the film won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance and solidified its place as a modern cinematic masterpiece. Concrete Dreams: Black Identity in the Urban Frame is a series that explores the profound relationship between Black Cinema and the cities that shape its narratives. Each film in the series not only tells a compelling story, but also positions the urban environment as a central character—its streets, culture, and communities influencing the lives, struggles, and triumphs of its inhabitants. By highlighting stories that intertwine identity, culture, and place, this series invites audiences to reflect on the dynamic interplay between people and the environments they call home, showcasing how these cities pulse through the heart of Black storytelling.

Our In Defense Of... series continues with Ben Stiller's 1996 black comedy The Cable Guy, our Film Club Manager Bobby Thornson's pick! The film follows Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick), a mild-mannered architect who moves into a new apartment after a breakup. Hoping to set up his cable TV, he encounters Chip Douglas (Jim Carrey), an eccentric and overly friendly cable installer who quickly insinuates himself into Steven's life. Initially amused by Chip's antics, Steven soon realizes that Chip's desire for friendship comes with increasingly invasive and dangerous consequences. As Chip's behavior escalates, Steven finds himself caught in a web of manipulation and chaos.

Our second Volunteer of the Month is Ryan O'Flaherty, who has chosen Bill Duke's 1992 crime thriller Deep Cover! Laurence Fishburne stars as Russell Stevens, an idealistic police officer recruited by a federal agent (Charles Martin Smith) to go undercover in Los Angeles and infiltrate a powerful drug syndicate. Adopting the alias "John Hull," Stevens rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld, forming an uneasy partnership with drug-dealing lawyer David Jason (Jeff Goldblum). As Stevens becomes entangled in the duplicity of his mission, he struggles to reconcile his sense of justice with the seductive power of the world he’s infiltrating. With its intense performances, sharp dialogue, and exploration of systemic corruption, Deep Cover is both a gripping crime saga and a searing critique of the drug war’s ethical complexities.

Our pals at Fleischer Cartoons are back with an event we're calling The Superman Cartoons of Max Fleischer! The most super of all superheroes, these is an hour+ block of newly restored Superman cartoons! And as always, Fleischer Cartoons will be set up in our lobby selling merch from all of your favorite characters! Tickets are only $10 to this all-ages special event!

The second entry into our Hallucinations series is Def By Temptation!  Joel grew up in the church but has recently started questioning his beliefs. After sensing a supernatural presence from his deceased father, Joel becomes compelled to visit his cousin in New York. But shortly after arriving, they become embroiled in a series of mysterious homicides of local men, all of whom were last seen in the company of a mysterious and beautiful woman. Beautifully photographed by Ernest Dickerson (Do The Right Thing) and starring Kadeem Hardison (I'm Gonna Get You Sucka) and Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), this sole directorial effort from child actor James Bond III is a macabre, neon-tinged portrait of late 1980s Brooklyn. The movie blends supernatural horror and religious mysticism, punctuated by an electrifying hip hop and R&B soundtrack. Newly restored from the original 35mm camera negative! Hosted by Polygon's editor-in-chief Chris Plante, Hallucinations is a monthly event that spotlights movies that challenge our expectations of story, style, and "good taste". Plante will introduce each film with some behind-the-scenes history and critical context. With Hallucinations, The Frida Cinema wants to build a communal space for lovers of Weird Cinema. We invite guests to bond over films that change what we expect from the medium, the world, and themselves. So come early, stay late, make friends, and watch something strange, surprising, or just shamelessly sick.

Our Page to Screen series celebrates Valentine's Day with Picnic at Hanging Rock, Peter Weir's penetrating 1975 mystery! Now in a brand new 4K restoration for its 50th anniversary! In the early 1900s, Miranda attends a girls boarding school in Australia. One Valentine's Day, the school's typically strict headmistress treats the girls to a picnic field trip to an unusual but scenic volcanic formation called Hanging Rock. Despite rules against it, Miranda and several other girls venture off. It's not until the end of the day that the faculty realizes the girls and one of the teachers have disappeared mysteriously. After the film, stick around for a discussion about the film and book it's based on with our Staff Writer/Editor Reggie Peralta and our friends from Arvida Book Co!

Come on out for Universal Language, a new absurdist comedy-drama from Matthew Rankin! Winter. Somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg. Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen deep within the sidewalk ice and try to find a way to get it out. Massoud leads a group of befuddled tourists upon an increasingly-strange walking tour of Winnipeg historic sites. Matthew (Matthew Rankin) leaves his job at the Québec government and embarks upon a mysterious journey to visit his estranged mother.

Our all-month birthday celebration wraps up with Hundreds Of Beavers, a new age cult comedy classic! And as an added bonus, stick around after the film as we chat with the man behind the madness, writer/director Mike Cheslik himself, moderated by LA Times film critic Amy Nicholson! In the early 1800’s, Jean Kayak, a drunken applejack salesman, finds himself stranded in a surreal winter landscape with nothing but his dim wits to guide him. Against a backdrop of ruthless elements and forest creatures - all played by actors in full-sized mascot costumes – Kayak develops increasingly complex traps in order to win the hand of a mischievous lover. When he discovers that the Beavers have formed their own secret society, he must infiltrate their lair to uncover their secrets and win the day.

Travel to the fictional town of Pfresno, Texas in RATS!, Maxwell Nalevansky and Carl Fry's new indie comedy! The story follows 19-year-old Raphael Tinski (Luke Wilcox), a graffiti artist whose arrest by the unhinged Officer Williams (Danielle Evon Ploeger) for defacing a dilapidated payphone—a local "monument"—sets off a chain of absurd events. To avoid jail time, Raphael is coerced into spying on his cousin Mateo (Darius Autry), whom Officer Williams irrationally suspects of trafficking nuclear weapons. As Raphael delves deeper into this chaotic mission, he encounters a colorful cast of characters, including the aspiring rapper Flophouse (Ka5sh) and the enigmatic Bernadette (Khali Sykes), all while navigating the tumultuous landscape of small-town life.

The Frida is partnering up with Muzeo Museum to present Raiders Of The Lost Ark, the first film in the Steven Spielberg/George Lucas Indiana Jones trilogy. This collaborative series features classic films inspired by the posters on display in “Painted for the Pictures: The Illustrative Art of Classic Movie Posters.” A discussion on this subject will follow each screening.  When Dr. Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime. The Muzeo Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00AM-5:00PM. "Painted for the Pictures" runs from Saturday, February 8 through Sunday, April 20 and is in our Main Gallery. For tickets and more information, please visit: https://muzeo.org/

Our Classic Movie Nights series goes platinum with Howard Hawks' musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, starring the iconic Marilyn Monroe!  Lorelei Lee is a beautiful showgirl engaged to be married to the wealthy Gus Esmond, much to the disapproval of Gus' rich father, Esmond Sr., who thinks that Lorelei is just after his money. When Lorelei goes on a cruise accompanied only by her best friend, Dorothy Shaw, Esmond Sr. hires Ernie Malone, a private detective, to follow her and report any questionable behavior that would disqualify her from the marriage.

The Frida is partnering up with Muzeo Museum to present Nine To Five, the outrageously fun comedy caper starring the legendary trio of Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolley Parton. This collaborative series features classic films inspired by the posters on display in “Painted for the Pictures: The Illustrative Art of Classic Movie Posters.” A discussion on this subject will follow each screening.  Frank Hart is a pig. He takes advantage of the women who work with him in the grossest manner. When his three assistants manage to trap him in his own house, they assume control of his department, and productivity leaps, but just how long can they keep Hart tied up? The Muzeo Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00AM-5:00PM. “Painted for the Pictures” runs from Saturday, February 8 through Sunday, April 20 and is in our Main Gallery. For tickets and more information, please visit: https://muzeo.org/

Horror Movie Night presented by HorrorBuzz is back! And this time they’re screening the 2001 cult classic Thir13en Ghosts! Arthur and his two children inherit his uncle's estate: a glass house that serves as a prison to twelve ghosts. When the family, accompanied by a nanny and an attorney, enter the house they find themselves trapped inside an evil machine 'designed by the Devil and powered by the dead' to open the Eye of Hell. Aided by a ghost hunter and his rival, a ghost rights activist out to set the ghosts free, the group must do what they can to get out of the house alive. Horror Movie Night takes it to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Preshow, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and pre-show begins promptly at 7:30 pm, so arrive early!

Our Classic Movie Nights series heads West as we screen Howard Hawks' Western masterpiece Rio Bravo, starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Ricky Nelson.  A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy. Disregarded at the time of its release, and still underrated by many critics, Rio Bavo is finally coming into its own as one of director/producer Howard Hawks' final great films.  

Horror Movie Night presented by HorrorBuzz is back! And this time they’re celebrating 40 years of the cult classic sequel A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge! Just in time to celebrate Pride Month!  Jesse Walsh moves with his family into the home of the lone survivor from a series of attacks by dream-stalking monster, Freddy Krueger. There, he is bedeviled by nightmares and inexplicably violent impulses. Horror Movie Night takes it to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Preshow, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and pre-show begins promptly at 7:30 pm, so arrive early!

Horror Movie Night presented by HorrorBuzz is back! And this time they’re celebrating 30 years of David Fincher's serial killer classic Se7en!   Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Sommerset researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer's mind, while his novice partner, Mills, scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case. Horror Movie Night takes it to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Preshow, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and pre-show begins promptly at 7:30 pm, so arrive early!

Horror Movie Night presented by HorrorBuzz is back! And this time they’re screening the gnargly 2013 version of Evil Dead! Mia, a drug addict, is determined to kick the habit. To that end, she asks her brother, David, his girlfriend, Natalie and their friends Olivia and Eric to accompany her to their family's remote forest cabin to help her through withdrawal. Eric finds a mysterious Book of the Dead at the cabin and reads aloud from it, awakening an ancient demon. All hell breaks loose when the malevolent entity possesses Mia. Horror Movie Night takes it to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Preshow, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and pre-show begins promptly at 7:30 pm, so arrive early!

Horror Movie Night presented by HorrorBuzz is back! And this time they're celebrating 45 years of the George C Scott masterpiece The Changeling! After a tragic event happens, composer John Russell moves to Seattle to try to overcome it and build a new and peaceful life in a lonely big house that has been uninhabited for many years. But, soon after, the obscure history of such an old mansion and his own past begin to haunt him. Horror Movie Night takes it to another level with a full night of entertainment, including a themed HMN Video Preshow, Trivia, Games, Prizes, and another outstanding horror short from HorrorBuzz’s The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. Doors open and pre-show begins promptly at 7:30 pm, so arrive early!