Desperate Living
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
Flickerhead Friday Night Features - John Waters
1977 91m Director: John Waters
Cast: Mink Stole, Jean Hill, Susan Lowe
John Waters pushes the boundaries of bad taste even further in Desperate Living, a deliriously unhinged tale of crime, exile, and total anarchy. After murdering her husband, neurotic housewife Peggy Gravel and her devoted, homicidal maid Grizelda seek refuge in Mortville—a trash-strewn kingdom ruled by the tyrannical Queen Carlotta. A gloriously filthy fever dream of camp, chaos, and revolution, this is Waters at his most unapologetically outrageous.
Fire of Love
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
2022 93m Director: Sara Dosa Cast: Katia Krafft, Maurice Krafft, Alka Balbir
Come watch last year’s SLO Film Festival opening night selection before diving into the 2025 festival! Katia and Maurice Krafft loved two things—each other and volcanoes. For two decades, the daring French volcanologist couple roamed the planet, chasing eruptions and documenting their discoveries, leaving behind a breathtaking archive of footage. Ultimately, they lost their lives in a 1991 volcanic explosion, but their legacy forever enriched our understanding of the natural world. Director Sara Dosa crafts a lyrical celebration of their spirit of adventure, drawing from their extraordinary visual records.
Fire of Love
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
2022 93m Director: Sara Dosa Cast: Katia Krafft, Maurice Krafft, Alka Balbir
Come watch last year’s SLO Film Festival opening night selection before diving into the 2025 festival! Katia and Maurice Krafft loved two things—each other and volcanoes. For two decades, the daring French volcanologist couple roamed the planet, chasing eruptions and documenting their discoveries, leaving behind a breathtaking archive of footage. Ultimately, they lost their lives in a 1991 volcanic explosion, but their legacy forever enriched our understanding of the natural world. Director Sara Dosa crafts a lyrical celebration of their spirit of adventure, drawing from their extraordinary visual records.
Unforgiven
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1992 Director: Clint Eastwood Cast: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman
The late Gene Hackman delivers an Oscar-winning performance as a ruthless sheriff in Clint Eastwood’s masterful deconstruction of the Western myth. William Munny, a retired gunslinger turned widowed hog farmer, is drawn back into violence when he takes on one last bounty mission to support his children. Joined by his former partner and a cocky greenhorn, he sets out to confront the men who brutalized a prostitute—only to find himself facing Hackman’s brutal lawman in a final, unforgettable showdown.
420 Fest: Cheech & Chong's Next Movie
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1980 Director: Tommy Chong Cast: Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Evelyn Guerrero
Perennially stoned Cheech and Chong tear through the city of Los Angeles, causing trouble wherever they go. After Cheech loses his job, the two pot enthusiasts head to the welfare offices where Cheech's girlfriend, Donna, works. Instead of collecting unemployment, they find themselves thrown back on the streets, searching for a way to earn new income. But when Cheech's cousin, "Red" Mendoza, arrives, things get even crazier.
420 Fest: Half Baked
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1998 Director: Tamra Davis Cast: Dave Chappelle, Jim Breuer, Harland Williams
A cult classic of stoner comedy, Half Baked follows three lovable party buds on a mission to bail their friend out of jail—by selling a whole lot of weed. Just when their plan seems foolproof, they run into trouble with a rival dealer, the law, and their own questionable decision-making. Packed with quotable lines, outrageous antics, and an unforgettable Dave Chappelle performance, this high-flying comedy still delivers the laughs.
420 Fest: Dazed and Confused
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1993 Director: Richard Linklater Cast: Jason London, Matthew McConaughey, Joey Lauren Adams
Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused is a hazy, nostalgic ride through the last day of school in 1976, following a group of Texas teens as they party, rebel, and navigate the pressures of growing up. At the center is Randall "Pink" Floyd, a star athlete torn between his love for weed and his coach’s demand that he sign a “no drugs” pledge. Packed with an iconic soundtrack, breakout performances, and Linklater’s signature naturalism, this cult classic perfectly captures the thrill and aimlessness of teenage freedom.
Fire of Love
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
2022 93m Director: Sara Dosa Cast: Katia Krafft, Maurice Krafft, Alka Balbir
Come watch last year’s SLO Film Festival opening night selection before diving into the 2025 festival! Katia and Maurice Krafft loved two things—each other and volcanoes. For two decades, the daring French volcanologist couple roamed the planet, chasing eruptions and documenting their discoveries, leaving behind a breathtaking archive of footage. Ultimately, they lost their lives in a 1991 volcanic explosion, but their legacy forever enriched our understanding of the natural world. Director Sara Dosa crafts a lyrical celebration of their spirit of adventure, drawing from their extraordinary visual records.
The Insomniac Cinema - Secret Screening
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
Bob Whiteford, co-owner of the beloved Insomniac Video video store, is back with THE INSOMNIAC CINEMA! Join us for a secret screening.
Koyaanisqatsi
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1983 Directed By: Godfrey Reggio
Starring: Ed Asner, Pat Benatar, Jerry Brown
A stunning meditation on the fragile relationship between humanity, technology, and nature. With no dialogue or narration, this groundbreaking visual tone poem juxtaposes breathtaking landscapes with the chaos of industrialization, all set to Philip Glass’s mesmerizing score. A hypnotic, thought-provoking experience, Koyaanisqatsi remains one of the most powerful environmental films ever made.
A Woman Under the Influence
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
In Memoriam 1974 155m Director: John Cassavetes
Starring: Gena Rowlands, Peter Falk, Fred Draper
In one of the greatest performances ever captured on film, the late Gena Rowlands delivers a raw, heartbreaking portrayal of Mabel Longhetti, a housewife struggling with mental instability and a world that refuses to understand her. Directed by her husband and longtime collaborator John Cassavetes, this landmark of independent cinema is an unflinching look at love, control, and the fragility of human connection. Screening in tribute to Rowlands’ recent passing, A Woman Under the Influence remains a towering achievement in acting and filmmaking.
A Woman Under the Influence
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
In Memoriam 1974 155m Director: John Cassavetes
Starring: Gena Rowlands, Peter Falk, Fred Draper
In one of the greatest performances ever captured on film, the late Gena Rowlands delivers a raw, heartbreaking portrayal of Mabel Longhetti, a housewife struggling with mental instability and a world that refuses to understand her. Directed by her husband and longtime collaborator John Cassavetes, this landmark of independent cinema is an unflinching look at love, control, and the fragility of human connection. Screening in tribute to Rowlands’ recent passing, A Woman Under the Influence remains a towering achievement in acting and filmmaking.
Koyaanisqatsi
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1983 Directed By: Godfrey Reggio
Starring: Ed Asner, Pat Benatar, Jerry Brown
A stunning meditation on the fragile relationship between humanity, technology, and nature. With no dialogue or narration, this groundbreaking visual tone poem juxtaposes breathtaking landscapes with the chaos of industrialization, all set to Philip Glass’s mesmerizing score. A hypnotic, thought-provoking experience, Koyaanisqatsi remains one of the most powerful environmental films ever made.
Koyaanisqatsi
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1983 Directed By: Godfrey Reggio
Starring: Ed Asner, Pat Benatar, Jerry Brown
A stunning meditation on the fragile relationship between humanity, technology, and nature. With no dialogue or narration, this groundbreaking visual tone poem juxtaposes breathtaking landscapes with the chaos of industrialization, all set to Philip Glass’s mesmerizing score. A hypnotic, thought-provoking experience, Koyaanisqatsi remains one of the most powerful environmental films ever made.
Polyester
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
Flickerhead Friday Night Features - John Waters
1981 86m Directed By: John Waters
Starring: Divine, Tab Hunter, Edith Massey
View all films tagged "Flickerhead Friday Night Features - John Waters"
John Waters’ subversive suburban melodrama follows Francine Fishpaw, a long-suffering housewife with a hypersensitive nose and a spectacularly dysfunctional family. As her life crumbles—thanks to a cheating pornographer husband, a parasitic mother, and delinquent children—she finds unexpected hope in the arms of the mysterious Todd Tomorrow. Originally released with Odorama scratch-and-sniff cards, Polyester is a hilariously campy send-up of ‘50s melodramas, starring the legendary Divine alongside Hollywood heartthrob Tab Hunter.
KCPR Presents: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
2010 113m Directed By: Edgar Wright
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ellen Wong
As bass guitarist for a garage-rock band, Scott Pilgrim has never had trouble getting a girlfriend; usually, the problem is getting rid of them. But when Ramona Flowers skates into his heart, he finds she has the most troublesome baggage of all: an army of ex-boyfriends who will stop at nothing to eliminate him from her list of suitors.
March of the Penguins
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
2005 80m Directed By: Luc Jacquet Starring: Charles Berling, Romane Bohringer, Jules Sitruk
Every year, thousands of Antarctica's emperor penguins make an astonishing journey to breed their young. They walk, marching day and night in single file 70 miles into the darkest, driest and coldest continent on Earth. This amazing, true-life tale is touched with humour and alive with thrills. Breathtaking photography captures the transcendent beauty and staggering drama of devoted parent penguins who, in the fierce polar winter, take turns guarding their egg and trekking to the ocean in search of food. Predators hunt them, storms lash them. But the safety of their adorable chicks makes it all worthwhile. So follow the leader... to adventure!!
Harriet the Spy
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1996 100m Directed By: Bronwen Hughes Starring: Michelle Trachtenberg, Rosie O'Donnell, J. Smith-Cameron
When the secret notebook of an aspiring young spy is discovered by her friends, Harriet’s sharp observations make her the most unpopular kid in school. Based on the beloved novel by Louise Fitzhugh, this 1996 adaptation was a childhood favorite for a generation, marking the first-ever Nickelodeon Movies release. Screening in honor of the late Michelle Trachtenberg, who recently passed away, we celebrate her iconic performance as the fiercely curious and unforgettable Harriet.
Howl
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
Poetry Month
View all films tagged "Poetry Month"
Hosted by Caleb Nichols, Poet Laureate of San Luis Obispo County
2010 84m Directed By: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Starring: James Franco, Todd Rotondi, Jon Prescott
It's San Francisco in 1957, and an American masterpiece is put on trial. Howl, the film, recounts this dark moment using three interwoven threads: the tumultuous life events that led a young Allen Ginsberg to find his true voice as an artist, society's reaction (the obscenity trial), and mind-expanding animation that echoes the startling originality of the poem itself. All three coalesce in a genre-bending hybrid that brilliantly captures a pivotal moment-the birth of a counterculture.
Harriet the Spy
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1996 100m Directed By: Bronwen Hughes Starring: Michelle Trachtenberg, Rosie O'Donnell, J. Smith-Cameron
When the secret notebook of an aspiring young spy is discovered by her friends, Harriet’s sharp observations make her the most unpopular kid in school. Based on the beloved novel by Louise Fitzhugh, this 1996 adaptation was a childhood favorite for a generation, marking the first-ever Nickelodeon Movies release. Screening in honor of the late Michelle Trachtenberg, who recently passed away, we celebrate her iconic performance as the fiercely curious and unforgettable Harriet.
March of the Penguins
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
2005 80m Directed By: Luc Jacquet Starring: Charles Berling, Romane Bohringer, Jules Sitruk
Every year, thousands of Antarctica's emperor penguins make an astonishing journey to breed their young. They walk, marching day and night in single file 70 miles into the darkest, driest and coldest continent on Earth. This amazing, true-life tale is touched with humour and alive with thrills. Breathtaking photography captures the transcendent beauty and staggering drama of devoted parent penguins who, in the fierce polar winter, take turns guarding their egg and trekking to the ocean in search of food. Predators hunt them, storms lash them. But the safety of their adorable chicks makes it all worthwhile. So follow the leader... to adventure!!
March of the Penguins
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
2005 80m Directed By: Luc Jacquet Starring: Charles Berling, Romane Bohringer, Jules Sitruk
Every year, thousands of Antarctica's emperor penguins make an astonishing journey to breed their young. They walk, marching day and night in single file 70 miles into the darkest, driest and coldest continent on Earth. This amazing, true-life tale is touched with humour and alive with thrills. Breathtaking photography captures the transcendent beauty and staggering drama of devoted parent penguins who, in the fierce polar winter, take turns guarding their egg and trekking to the ocean in search of food. Predators hunt them, storms lash them. But the safety of their adorable chicks makes it all worthwhile. So follow the leader... to adventure!!
Pink Flamingos
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1972 93 m Directed By: John Waters Starring: Divine, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce
Flickerhead Friday Night Features - John Waters
View all films tagged "Flickerhead Friday Night Features - John Waters"
John Waters' infamous midnight movie classic follows Divine, Baltimore’s most notorious criminal, as she wages a grotesque war against the sleazy, fame-hungry Marbles, who are determined to steal her title as “The Filthiest Person Alive.” Outrageous, transgressive, and gleefully offensive, Pink Flamingos became a cult sensation, shocking audiences upon its 1972 release and cementing Waters as the Pope of Trash. Still as shocking and hilarious as ever, this is underground cinema at its most gloriously depraved—viewer discretion (and a strong stomach) advised.
9 to 5
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
1980 Rated PG 1h 49m
Directed By: Colin Higgins Starring: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton
In Partnership with Lumina Alliance, join us for a special Sexual Assault Awareness Month screening! Your $25 ticket includes the film + a glass of wine, with proceeds supporting survivors of sexual violence in our community and the SLO Film Center.
FILM SYNOPSIS
Frank Hart is a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot—and his three fed-up assistants have had enough. When they accidentally trap their awful boss in his own home, they take over the office, proving that the workplace runs better without him. Starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton, this sharp, hilarious feminist comedy remains as relevant (and satisfying) as ever.
Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision
Palm Theatre - SLO Film Center
2024 90 minutes
Director: John McDermott Cast: Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, Mitch Mitchell
This feature-length documentary chronicles the creation of Electric Lady Studios, the legendary recording space born from Jimi Hendrix’s groundbreaking vision. Rising from the ashes of a bankrupt Greenwich Village nightclub in 1970, it became the first-ever artist-owned commercial studio, setting a new precedent for creative control in the music industry. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with iconic musicians, the film explores how Electric Lady shaped the sound of Hendrix’s final recordings and went on to host generations of legendary artists, cementing its place in rock history.
Dolores - Free Screening
Palm Theatre
RSVP (2017) Runtime: 95 minutes Language: English
Director: Peter Bratt Producer: Brian Benson Executive Producer: Regina K. Scully, Carlos Santana, Tom Steyer
Cinematographer: Jesse Dana Editor: Jessica Congdon
In partnership with Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County, and in celebration of Women's History Month and Cesar Chavez Day, we bring you the documentary: DOLORES.
Dolores Huerta bucks 1950s gender conventions by starting the country's first farm worker's union with fellow organizer Cesar Chavez. What starts out as a struggle for racial and labor justice, soon becomes a fight for gender equality within the same union she is eventually forced to leave. As she wrestles with raising 11 children, three marriages, and is nearly beaten to death by a San Francisco tactical police squad, Dolores emerges with a vision that connects her new found feminism with racial and class justice.
Kneecap
Palm Theatre
105 minutes | 2024 Language: English, Irish
Director: Rich Peppiatt Cast: Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, DJ Próvaí
When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed 'low life scum' Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.
Marie Antoinette
Palm Theatre
(2006) Runtime: 123 minutes Language: English, French, Latin
Director: Sofia Coppola Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Steve Coogan
The retelling of France’s iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette. From her betrothal and marriage to Louis XVI at 15 to her reign as queen at 19 and ultimately the fall of Versailles.
Marie Antoinette
Palm Theatre
(2006) Runtime: 123 minutes Language: English, French, Latin
Director: Sofia Coppola Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Steve Coogan
The retelling of France’s iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette. From her betrothal and marriage to Louis XVI at 15 to her reign as queen at 19 and ultimately the fall of Versailles.
Mother
Palm Theatre
Starring: Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin
In this gripping psychological thriller from acclaimed director Bong Joon Ho (Parasite, Memories of Murder), a fiercely devoted mother (Kim Hye-ja) goes to extraordinary lengths to prove the innocence of her son, a young man with an intellectual disability who is accused of murder. As she navigates a corrupt justice system and a town quick to judge, her relentless quest for the truth leads her down a dark and twisting path—one that forces her to confront the depths of love, sacrifice, and morality.
Blending mystery, suspense, and dark humor, Mother is a masterfully crafted film that showcases Bong’s signature storytelling and a powerhouse performance from Kim Hye-ja.
Hoosiers
Palm Theatre
1986 Runtime: 114 minutes Language: English
Director: David Anspaugh Cast: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper
Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to coach a high school basketball team in a tiny Indiana town. After a teacher persuades star player Jimmy Chitwood to quit and focus on his long-neglected studies, Dale struggles to develop a winning team in the face of community criticism for his temper and his unconventional choice of assistant coach: Shooter, a notorious alcoholic.
Hoosiers
Palm Theatre
1986 Runtime: 114 minutes Language: English
Director: David Anspaugh Cast: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper
Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to coach a high school basketball team in a tiny Indiana town. After a teacher persuades star player Jimmy Chitwood to quit and focus on his long-neglected studies, Dale struggles to develop a winning team in the face of community criticism for his temper and his unconventional choice of assistant coach: Shooter, a notorious alcoholic.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Palm Theatre
Director: Peter Jackson Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.
Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. with R.E.M.’s Monster and New Adventures in Hi Fi – A Silents Synced Film
Palm Theatre
Silents Synced pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music. Created by an independent cinema owner for independent cinemas! Silents Synced will be available to book exclusively for independents and drive-ins only! This is the second film of the Silents Synced series and will feature R.E.M.’s MONSTER (1994) / NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI (1996), paired with Buster Keaton’s SHERLOCK JR.
Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. with R.E.M.’s Monster and New Adventures in Hi Fi – A Silents Synced Film
Palm Theatre
Silents Synced pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music. Created by an independent cinema owner for independent cinemas! Silents Synced will be available to book exclusively for independents and drive-ins only! This is the second film of the Silents Synced series and will feature R.E.M.’s MONSTER (1994) / NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI (1996), paired with Buster Keaton’s SHERLOCK JR.
The Quiet Man
Palm Theatre
1952 129 minutes English, Irish
Director: John Ford Cast: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglen
Step into the rolling green hills of Ireland with The Quiet Man, John Ford’s beloved romantic drama starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. This Oscar-winning classic follows Sean Thornton, an Irish-American boxer who returns to his homeland seeking peace, only to find himself entangled in a fiery romance with the strong-willed Mary Kate Danaher—and a long-standing village feud that refuses to stay quiet.
With breathtaking Technicolor landscapes, unforgettable performances, and a perfect blend of humor, passion, and tradition, The Quiet Man is a timeless cinematic treasure.
The Secret Garden
Palm Theatre
102 minutes
Director: Agnieszka Holland Cast: Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott
A young British girl born and reared in India loses her neglectful parents in an earthquake. She is returned to England to live at her uncle's castle. Her uncle is very distant due to the loss of his wife ten years before. Neglected once again, she begins exploring the estate and discovers a garden that has been locked and forgotten. Aided by one of the servants' boys, she begins restoring the garden, and eventually discovers some other secrets of the manor.
The Secret Garden
Palm Theatre
102 minutes
Director: Agnieszka Holland Cast: Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott
A young British girl born and reared in India loses her neglectful parents in an earthquake. She is returned to England to live at her uncle's castle. Her uncle is very distant due to the loss of his wife ten years before. Neglected once again, she begins exploring the estate and discovers a garden that has been locked and forgotten. Aided by one of the servants' boys, she begins restoring the garden, and eventually discovers some other secrets of the manor.