Frameline50, the 50th edition of the world's longest-running LGBTQ+ Film Festival, officially kicks off June 17 in San Francisco, and filmgoers will have a new place to hang out before and after each show.
Last month, Frameline opened a pop-up festival hub at the former Hamburger Mary's space at 531 Castro Street.
Frameline attendees can already pop into the space before the festival kicks off to pick up tickets, schedules, and festival swag.
Along with celebrating Frameline's 50th anniversary, the festival is also celebrating its grand return to the Castro Theatre after a three-year absence while the venue underwent extensive renovations.
Frameline Film Festival has opened a pop-up festival hub at 531 Castro St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
The festival hub will be open Thursday and Friday from 3-7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 1-7 p.m. before the festival starts next week. Once the festival gets going, the hours will vary. From June 18-21, it will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1:30 to 6 p.m. on June 22, and finally from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 23-26.
"We envision attendees using the festival hub as a post office to pick up guides and select films," Frameline executive director Allegra Madsen tells Hoodline.
Madsen explained that festival employees will be present to provide attendees with an in-person touchpoint.
Inside the Frameline festival hub. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
"It's a way for us to connect back to our roots as a [communications] organization," said Madsen. "It's important to talk to the people who come to the festival and feel like it's a human experience."
When Hoodline stopped by the festival hub last week, a handful of attendees were purchasing tickets and browsing the merchandise. The festival hub is currently confined to a limited space at the front of the restaurant. The back enclosed patio space was not open at the time.
Madsen tells Hoodline that a handful of screenings, film conversations, talks, and panels will be held in the back patio space during the festival. Frameline is also planning to host a trivia night and hold film receptions at the hub.
Depending on the day, food will be provided by local San Francisco businesses, including The Sausage Factory, Teeth Bar, and Curryous. Frameline has partnered with a handful of companies to provide drinks, including Supergay Spirits, Equality Vines, Griffo Distillery, J. Lohr Vineyards & More, Full Proof Bottle Shop, and Avivo Wines.
Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
In the past, the festival hub was held in the parking lot behind the theater, but this year, Madsen explained they wanted to choose something special this year. "It's an iconic space, and it's one block away from the Castro Theatre."
Madsen added, "The location offers the flexibility that we need."
The former restaurant's landlord, Les Natali, is notorious in the Castro for keeping many of his storefronts vacant. The once-famous The Patio Cafe was closed by Natali in 1999, and the space sat vacant for nearly two decades until Hamburger Mary's opened in 2018. The restaurant closed amidst the pandemic in 2020 and has not reopened.
The Patio Cafe can be seen on the right (1993). | Photo: Max Kirkeberg/SFSU
Madsen tells Hoodline that Frameline had been discussing this idea for nearly a year and got connected with real estate agent Cheryl Maloney. Madsen said that former District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty was also integral in the negotiation process.
Looking at the 50th Anniversary, Madsen pointed to a few highlights for festival attendees, including the opening night event, Lady Champagne on June 17. The film is written, directed, and stars SoMa LGBTQ+ nightclub Oasis owner and former San Francisco Drag Laureate D'Arcy Drollinger.
Other highlights include the documentary film Hunky Jesus, about the annual Dolores Park Easter resurrection tradition, nostalgic look back shorts films, Frameline From The Beginning: It's All Coming Back to Me Now, and Barbara Forever, a documentary film about lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer.
Tickets to Frameline Film Festival can be purchased online or in person at the festival hub.
