Rain fell softly over downtown Healdsburg on Saturday afternoon, the type of silvery drizzle that appears to belong to a day spent in a movie show. Beneath a parade of umbrellas, tons of of visitors made their option to the 8,000-square-foot James Redford Campus, house to True West, the North Bay’s new, three-screen cinema and the centerpiece of a budding cultural hub.
Inside, the scent of recent paint mingled with the buttery promise of popcorn. Donors gathered at midday for a jazz brunch, hosted by the True West Movie Middle, the nonprofit group that operates the campus. The identify honors James Redford, the late documentary filmmaker and son of Robert Redford, who based the Sundance Movie Pageant and whose shadow, in one of the simplest ways, nonetheless lingers in any dialog about American impartial movie.
The dream of a contemporary artwork home in Healdsburg has been years within the making. A capital marketing campaign, which has reached the $5 million mark and continues by means of 2025, reworked what was as soon as an thought right into a modern, wood-and-concrete advanced that homes not solely the theaters but in addition lecture rooms, workplaces and areas for training and neighborhood occasions.
“The cinemas have turn out to be a actuality because of a unprecedented group of people that contributed inspiration, imaginative and prescient, concepts and monetary sources as a result of they perceive how a vibrant movie middle elevates a neighborhood’s high quality of life,” mentioned Kathryn Philip, government director of True West, in an announcement.
‘A cinema-loving, moviegoing neighborhood’
After brunch, the doorways opened to the general public for a block celebration that blurred the road between a grand opening and a neighborhood gathering. Friends toured the cinemas, sampled concessions, listened to dwell music within the courtyard and watched a collection of quick movies curated by John Cooper, True West’s creative director and longtime former head of Sundance.
Later within the night, there have been two screenings of Pixar’s “Coco,” first in Spanish, then in English with Spanish subtitles; a delicate nod to the bilingual neighborhood that True West hopes to serve.
Cooper, whose household roots wind by means of Sonoma and Sebastopol, has got down to rekindle what he calls a “cinema-loving, moviegoing neighborhood.” For him, the aim is much less about novelty than about restoration — bringing again the ritual of gathering at midnight, of experiencing one thing new at scale.
“The eagerness and the romance of watching cinema in a theater – I wish to hold that alive and make that a part of what we’re doing,” he advised The Press Democrat earlier this month.
Curated movies, curated meals
The brand new venue is intimate — three theaters with 102 seats in complete, plus seven wheelchair areas — however intentionally so. The projection and sound methods are state-of-the-art; the seating is opulent. And since that is Sonoma County, the wine checklist is its personal small curation. Award-winning sommelier Alexandria Sarovich has assembled a roster drawn completely from close by vineyards — Amista, Cartograph, Williams Selyem, Ramey, Senses and others — spanning the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys.
Practically 1,000 folks attended the grand opening, which kicked off Friday night with a VIP preview of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and a personal reception. True West expects to welcome 45,000 guests in 2026 and to generate about $2 million in new financial exercise for Sonoma County inside its first yr. But, for all of the monetary forecasts, the temper on opening day was nearer to reverie than enterprise.
“We consider films are supposed to be skilled collectively and our objective is to create a welcoming area the place everybody can take pleasure in nice movies in consolation and magnificence,” mentioned Hillary Kambour, chair of True West Movie Middle’s board of administrators. “This grand opening marks the start of a brand new cultural hub in Healdsburg for North Bay audiences to take pleasure in cinema one year a yr.”
True West Movie Middle, 371 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. truewestfilmcenter.org/cinemas
What’s enjoying at True West in Healdsburg
True West opened with an eclectic lineup: Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein”; Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt,” starring Julia Roberts; and “Blue Moon,” Richard Linklater’s portrait of lyricist Lorenz Hart, that includes Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley. On Oct. 31, Yorgos Lanthimos’s new movie, “Bugonia,” starring Emma Stone, will premiere.
All through its inaugural yr, True West Cinemas will current a curated mixture of first-run and repertory programming throughout a number of collection:
Icons: Movies showcasing legendary performances, usually in lesser-known roles that reveal an actor’s vary. Screenings happen on Mondays and Tuesdays.
From the Vault: Traditional movies from any period, introduced on the large display.
Movie 101: A month-to-month collection designed to deepen understanding of cinema and seminal filmmakers. Hosted by creative director John Cooper or a visitor, every session options three movies by a famend director.
Movie Church: A Sunday afternoon program of inspiring and uplifting documentaries, held each different Sunday.
Cinema en Español: Spanish-language and subtitled movies for Spanish-speaking audiences, proven each different Sunday.
Cine-Child: Choose first-run screenings designed for fogeys with infants below two, with decreased sound, dimmed lights and stroller parking.
Sensory Sensitivity Screenings: Periodic showings in theaters tailored for neurodiverse audiences.
