Drum Roll, Please: Movie Theater Under Construction In Healdsburg

HEALDSBURG, CA — Big drums heralded big news in Healdsburg with the opening of…drum roll please... the new movie theater and film education center, True West.

Construction on the venue at 375 Healdsburg Ave. got underway earlier this month and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2025. The 6,300-square-foot True West Film Center will house three screening rooms, space for the nonprofit organization’s media arts education programs, and its annual True West Film Festival.

Donors have committed a total of $3.1 million toward the theater's $5.6 million capital campaign.

"This is truly a milestone moment," said True West Film Center Executive Director Kathryn Philip. “Ten years ago, a group of friends in Cloverdale and Healdsburg set out to bring film culture and educational opportunities to Sonoma County. When we open our doors next summer, we will welcome residents and visitors to a single, year-round destination for first-run movies, art house films, educational programs for all ages, and our annual festival. The Campus reflects the communities’ generosity and investment in our mission. We are deeply grateful."

The campus is named for James Redford, the late documentary filmmaker and environmentalist who embodied True West’s commitment to community, collaboration, and championing artists. The naming signifies a new alignment with The Redford Center, a nonprofit that uses storytelling through film to advance environmental solutions. The organization was founded by James and his father, Robert, and is now chaired by James’ son, Dylan. When True West Film Center opens next summer, its programming will reflect James’ legacy with biannual artist residencies that showcase the work of filmmakers supported by The Redford Center.

Two of the three cinemas will screen first-run movies, and the third theater will show independent and art-house films.

Within one year of opening, the campus is projected to generate $2 million in new economic activity for Sonoma County.

"True West Film Center represents the entrepreneurial, innovative spirit of Sonoma County," said Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore. "We are resilient and resourceful, and our natural beauty, ecological diversity, wine, and hospitality are second to none. The new film center will elevate the area’s cultural offerings, and stand as a reflection of the grit and soul of our shared land and community."