Founded more than two decades ago, Bay Area Film Events has spent 22 years creating unforgettable cinematic experiences for audiences throughout Northern California. In 2024, BAFE officially became an LLC and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, further expanding its mission to celebrate film, fandom, and community through live events.
Over the years, BAFE has produced nearly 40 screenings and film festivals, along with two full-scale conventions and even special collaborations with the San Francisco Giants featuring movies shown on the giant outfield scoreboard screen at AT&T Park (now Oracle Park).
From giant monsters to music legends, cult classics to comedy icons, BAFE programming spans generations and genres. Events have celebrated everything from Godzilla and The Beatles to James Bond, The Three Stooges, Ray Harryhausen, and Bruce Lee — blending film screenings with live music, special guests, exhibits, and interactive experiences.
BAFE has also welcomed an impressive roster of guests over the years, including Richard Kiel, Judith O'Dea, Julie Adams, Ben Chapman, Russ Tamblyn, Marta Kristen, and acclaimed Japanese film artists including Hiroshi Koizumi, Akira Kubo, Tsutomu Kitagawa, Shinichi Wakasa, and Hiroshi Maruyama.
BAFE events have been hosted at many beloved Northern California venues, including The Castro Theatre, Balboa Theater, 4 Star Theater, Grand Lake Theatre, Historic BAL Theatre, Del Mar Theatre, Crest Theatre, and Cerrito Theatre.
At its core, BAFE believes moviegoing should be more than simply watching a film — it should be an event, an experience, and a memory shared with fellow fans. By combining classic and cult cinema, independent films, live presentations, celebrity guests, displays, and multimedia elements, BAFE continues to create immersive theatrical experiences for longtime movie lovers and new generations alike.
As Bay Area Film Events looks toward the future, the organization remains committed to bringing audiences together to celebrate movies the way they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in a theater, surrounded by fellow fans.