The Petaluma Cinema Series will offer a pre-show dinner to accompany this semester’s hand-picked films, ranging from cherished classics to hidden gems, on Wednesday evenings this fall in the Carole L. Ellis Auditorium at the Santa Rosa Junior College Petaluma Campus.
The series runs from Sept. 17 to Dec. 3, with most films beginning at 7 p.m. A pre-film program starts at 6 p.m. and post-film discussion goes until 10 p.m.
New to this fall’s Cinema Series, the Petaluma Campus Courtyard Café will be open from 5-7 p.m. offering the full Dinner & a Movie package as well as classic movie snacks.
Screenings will kick off with the musical blockbuster “Sinners,” which plays at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17. “I always like to start and end with popular crowd pleasers,” said Mike Traina, SRJC film and media studies instructor and Cinema Series founder.
From beloved films like “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to fascinating and widely underrecognized works like “Checkpoint Zoo,” the series taps into both the pulse of popular culture and curiosity for new cinema experiences, Traina said.
Besides entertainment, Traina organized the Cinema Series to educate attendants on the art of film production.
“Some films have been selected to highlight production design, cinematography, editing or sound design,” Traina said. “The accompanying lecture and introduction will discuss how these techniques will be featured.”
He also hopes to expose the audience to films they likely wouldn’t see otherwise.
“‘Mr. K’ still hasn’t been released in the U.S. so we’ll be one of the very first places it can be seen,” Traina said. “I work hard at building an interesting program each season that offers our campus community and Sonoma County the opportunity to see great films that might not be available at the local movie theatre.”
The lesser known “Checkpoint Zoo,” gives viewers a heart-pounding look into the war in Ukraine.
“It’s powerful and suspenseful storytelling and explores how far-reaching the impacts of the war are beyond the battlefields,” Traina said.
The series includes a screening of the original 1925 “Phantom of the Opera,” just eight days before its 100th anniversary. The legendary silent film will have live piano accompaniment from pianist Greg Pane. “Most people are blown away by the craft of silent film accompaniment so it’s a real treat,” Traina said.
The Cinema Series costs $7 for general admission, $6 for students and is free for Cub Card Premium members. The Dinner & Movie package costs $20 and includes a cinema ticket, sandwich or salad, chips, and a drink. A series pass costs $50.
Parking passes will be required on the Petaluma Campus and available for purchase from machines on entry.
Fall 2025 Cinema Series line-up:
September 17: Sinners – An explosively popular and genre-bending film detailing African American resilience in the supernatural American south.
September 24: The Life of Chuck – Mike Flannagan’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novella on the fleeting wonders of life.
October 1: The Phantom of the Opera – The groundbreaking tale of a disfigured composer falling in love with a young singer which has resonated with audiences for nearly a century.
October 8: The Assessment – Fluer Fortuné’s psychological thriller exploring a speculative future where having children is gatekept by the government.
October 15: Magazine Dreams – A devastating look into the interconnection between loneliness, fitness culture and toxic masculinity.
October 22: All of Us Strangers – A dreamlike cinematic experience of queer love between a lonely writer and his mysterious neighbor.
October 29: Bring Her Back – A horror film about two step-siblings placed into foster care under a strange new guardian.
November 5: Mr. K – A Dutch film about a traveling magician who checks into a surreal supernatural hotel with no escape.
November 12: Checkpoint Zoo – A documentary featuring a group of Ukrainian zookeepers risking their lives to evacuate thousands of animals in the crossfire of war with Russia.
November 19: A Normal Family – A story of privilege, family dynamics and the moral rivalry between two brothers.
December 3: The Nightmare Before Christmas– The renowned stop motion film by Tim Burton featuring Danny Elfman’s incredible score. It mixes gothic aesthetics with a whimsy beloved by people of all ages.
For more information including, visit petalumafilmalliance.org
