San Francisco Dance Film Festival

San Francisco Dance Film Festival Celebrating international dance film through our festival and year-round programming. “An impressive program of locally made and imported works.
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The sheer number of perspectives that these dance/film artists brought to their work was inspiring.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“A wild, beautiful ride” – San Francisco Examiner

08/18/2026

Remembering the one and only Patrick Swayze on his birthday today. ❤️‍🔥

Did you know Patrick studied classical ballet years before Dirty Dancing? He grew up training in his mother’s dance studio in Houston, then moved to NYC to train with Harkness and Joffrey ballet schools. He was hired as a principal dancer with the Eliot Feld Ballet Company, where he performed professionally until an old football injury required knee surgery and ended his ballet career early. He reportedly held back his full dance ability in Dirty Dancing to keep the film realistic, since Johnny Castle’s character never had formal training.

Catch Patrick’s double tour en l’air on the big screen at our special screening of DIRTY DANCING on September 17 at the Herbst Theatre - https://sfdancefilmfest.org/dirtydancing/

08/14/2026

If going back to school has you feeling like this… we see you.

“Kielo” by Sinem Kayacan & Janina Rajakangas follows a schoolgirl who escapes the rigidity of the classroom by stepping into her own interior world.

With a poetic and affirming tone, “Kielo” reminds us that every body holds a dance, if only it’s given the space to move freely.

08/10/2026

“That was the summer of 1963, when everyone called me ‘Baby’ and it didn’t occur to me to mind.”

Dirty Dancing tickets are now live! We invite you to an unforgettable evening celebrating one of the most beloved dance films ever made, on Thursday, September 17 at the Herbst Theatre.

Join us for a special one-night only screening followed by a live Q&A with Kenny Ortega, the Emmy Award-winning choreographer who shaped every move of the film. Don’t miss out on the fun - get your ticket today!

https://sfdancefilmfest.org/dirtydancing/

What’s your favorite iconic Dirty Dancing quote?

08/07/2026

Some more dancing on rooftops for your Friday☀️

“Summer” is a short dance film shot in downtown San Francisco that juxtaposes the wind, sunshine, and clouds of summer with the hot, industrial environment of a city, exploring our relationship with the seasons in the 21st century.

Sailing through Robin Dekkers’ contemporary ballet choreography are Babatunji Johnson and Adji Cissoko. Stay tuned for more information on our latest SIGHTLINE project with Adji, to premiere at our fall festival!

08/03/2026

Final cut vs. behind the scenes 🤩

Chair Deconstruction, our commissioned Co-Labratory project by Amanda Beane and the Embodiment Project, premiered online on our YouTube channel last week. Check out the full result of this hard work at the link in bio!

07/31/2026

Dancers embodying the power and urgency of ecological repair 🏞️

“A Return to Movement” is a vertical dance film celebrating the environmental restoration of the Klamath River - the world’s largest dam removal project.

The film, an SFDFF 2025 selection, is screening at Zaccho Dance Theatre’s SF Aerial Arts Film Festival, running this August 7-9. Find more info and get tickets at the link in their bio!

Directed by Jessica Swanson
Choreographed by Lauren Godla and Kara Starkweather

07/28/2026

Reflecting on World Nature Conservation Day with “Branché”, a poetic exploration of the climate crisis.

The film by Janique L Robillard & Eric Bates, with choreography by Nathan Biggs-Penton uses circus and movement art to traverse time and lush natural landscapes, imagining potential harmonies with nature in the face of rising conflicts and chaos. 🌱

07/24/2026

“In a dance world that continues to operate in a binary way, driven by heteronormative stories, iconography, and esthetics, “Intimité Révélée” intends to… normalize what q***r love could look like in dance film.”
– Lorris Eichinger, choreographer

Watch our Co-Laboratory film with Ballet22 in full here: https://youtu.be/qt_JC4QdDqI

You can also catch more of in their summer season this weekend - July 25th and 26th at the Cowell Theater. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ballet22-42226781743

“Intimité Révélée” directed by Natasha Adorlee, choreographed by Lorris Eichinger, Hope Mohr, Olivia Evans

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