Shapeshifters Cinema

About Us

SHAPESHIFTERS CINEMA provides a venue and support for contemporary artists working with experimental and artist-made film, video, sound, music and other types of mediated performance. We host screenings and performances by local and visiting artists in our intimate 40-seat theatre and offer workshops on a variety of experimental and DIY moving image and sound production. Our storefront shop specializes in print publications, DVDs, sound recordings and other kinds of media made by artists who have screened or performed in our venue.

SHAPESHIFTERS BREWERY makes a variety of small-batch, seasonal, hand-crafted beers, brewed on-site in a space right behind the cinema. These are served (to 21+) at all our events as well as some off-site events. Find out more at shapeshiftersbrewery.com

SHAPESHIFTERS CAFÉ, is right next door to our cinema! We offer freshly-made salads, sandwiches, coffee, tea, pastries and more. Open Monday-Friday 6am-2pm and every Saturday 10am-2pm. Find out more at shapeshifterscafe.com

Staff

Gilbert Guerrero - Operations Director & A/V Tech
Kathleen Quillian - Programming Director
Ellie Vanderlip - Education & Outreach Director

The Shapeshifters Membership program provides crucial, sustaining support for our small, DIY, volunteer-run organization. By joining the membership program, you become part of an engaged, diverse, creative community working in and around experimental moving image, sound and time-based art. Each level offers a range of access to members-only resources and events, discounts, comps and more. Find out more and join now!

Cinema

Gravitational Lensing: Feminist Film Dialogues is a series curated by Amy Reid and Kathleen Quillian that is dedicated to exploring the visions, voices, concerns and lineage of women, non-binary, genderqueer and trans filmmakers through public film screenings, workshops, conversations and presentations. New programs are presented monthly at Shapeshifters. Find out more.

Upcoming Programs & Events

Do-Over Music Series - Stephens / Goldberg / Street / Feygina / Glenn
Thursday, February 5, 2025
7pm
Admission: $10 (discount for members)

The Do-Over Music Series at Shapeshifters Cinema, organized by Lisa Mezzacappa and Jordan Glenn, is a monthly series of sound performances presented by a rotating cast of local luminaries and special guests. The first set features performances of creative - improvised - composed - electronic - acoustic - music. The second set opens up to a live improvised collaboration of sound and visuals made using images culled from the Shapeshifters 16mm film collection.

Set 1 (7pm): Marcus Stephens - saxophone and electronics

Set 2 (8pm): expanded cinema + improvised music with:

Marcus Stephens (saxophone and electronics)
Ben Goldberg (clarinet)
Indigo Street (guitar)
Mayya Feygina (bass)
Jordan Glenn (drums)
Films, film loops and other visual interventions by the Shapeshifters Performance Group (Ellie, Kathleen & Gilbert)

Workshops

Upcoming Workshops

Shadow Puppets! Shadow Film! Shadow Animation! Workshop
Instructor: Lydia Greer
Sunday, Frebruary 22, 2026
12-5pm
In-person at Shapeshifters Cinema
Admission: $65 + $10 materials fee (Discount for Shapeshifters members)

This workshop is an exploration of shadow puppets, props, masks, and performing objects for film, animation, performance, and immersive environments. All levels are welcome, and everyone participating in the workshop is encouraged to play with shadow! This is a hands-on workshop, and participants will have the opportunity to create a puppet, set, mask, and/or experiment with shadows with support from instructor Lydia Greer, artistic director of Facing West Shadows Art Collective. At the end of this workshop, participants will have learned to improvise and play with light and shadow and will have discovered its interdisciplinary possibilities for film, animation, media installation, and performance. Technical, conceptual and logistical information and support will be provided.