Robert Townsend ~ Artist in Residence at Balboa & 4 Star (8/5 - 8/9)

 

ROBERT TOWNSEND ARTIST IN RESIDENCE FILM SERIES AT THE BALBOA AND 4STAR THEATERS

August 5-9, 2026 we welcome Actor and Director ROBERT TOWNSEND as non-profit CinemaSFbay's first ever ARTIST IN RESIDENCE to both the Balboa and 4 Star theaters.  Robert will host 9 films, with introductions and Q&A sessions to follow each screening, 4 which he directed and starred in, and 5 of which he feels are essential films in the American canon. 

ROBERT TOWNSEND is a writer, actor, director, comedian, and has created some of the most fundamental films of the last 40 years.  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, costume designers, cinematographers, and many other movie making professionals as we highlight the magic of the industry and offer a glimpse behind the curtain for the San Francisco cinematic audience.

 

Balboa 8/5 & 8/6

Hollywood shuffle (1987, on 35mm)

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Townsend in conversation with Robert Mailer Anderson

7 PM

In the heat of the night (1967)

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Townsend in conversation with director Carl Franklin

4:30 PM

The great white hope (1970, on 35mm)

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Townsend in conversation with actor Jane Alexander (via video)

7:30 PM

 

4 Star 8/7 - 8/9

A Face in the crowd (1957)

Friday, August 7, 2026

Townsend in conversation with Adam Bergeron

4:30 PM

Network (1976)

Friday, August 7, 2026

Townsend in conversation with journalist G. Allen Johnson

8 PM

Claudine (1974)

Saturday, August 8

Townsend in conversation with actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs

4:30 PM

The Five Heartbeats (1991)

Saturday, August 8

7:30 PM

B*A*P*S (1997)

Sunday, August 9

Townsend in conversation with screenwriter Troy Byer

4 PM

The meteor man (1993)

Sunday, August 9

Townsend in conversation with Boots Riley

7 PM