Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe

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Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe

Indie cinema and event space in Santa Fe, New Mexico and owned by author George RR Martin! A few years later Kliewer, sold it to Blue Pearl Corporation in 1986.

The Jean Cocteau Cinema opened as the Collective Fantasy Cinema in 1976. Brent Kliewer, programmer for the Collective Fantasy, bought the theatre in 1983 and renamed it the Jean Cocteau in reverence to the French filmmaker and artist. Later in 1989, Trans-Lux Corporation purchased the venue and ran the cinema, which at the time had a single screen and 120 seats. Seventeen years later, Trans-Lux Corporation closed the Jean Cocteau Cinema in April 2006. The state of New Mexico used the opportunity to lease the second floor offices of the building and planned to create the cinema below as the official home for the state film office. The state developed plans to make the main hall auditorium into a film museum, however, the funding for that project never came to fruition and the film office left the offices and cinema in 2010. During that time, Trans-Lux still owned the cinema, which unfortunately stood vacant until it was purchased by author George RR Martin. After renovations and upgrades, the Jean Cocteau Cinema reopened the theatre doors on August 9 2013. Now, the cinema has 128 seats in the main hall auditorium and a separate VIP booth with seating for 4. With 132 seats, a single screen, and the best popcorn in town, the Jean Cocteau Cinema prides itself on becoming Santa Fe’s most eclectic movie house. The cinema continues to show film on both 35 mm and digital, combining the best of the old with the best of the new. In addition to showing a variety of films, the Jean Cocteau Cinema hosts live music events, invites authors for readings and book signings, serves drinks from our full liquor licensed bar, and sells books and merchandise from the in-house bookstore. Between April – November, the cinema hosts Santa Fe’s only “Midnight Movie” series on Fridays and Saturdays nights at 11:00 pm. You don’t want to miss out – we are your hometown theater!

10/12/2026

Before 'A Nightmare on Elm Street,' before 'Scream,' there was THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972), Wes Craven's FIRST feature film and the October pick for SINEMA, a monthly series showcasing films of a darker persuasion.

Based on Ingmar Bergman's 'The Virgin Spring,' LAST HOUSE is a disturbing revenge story featuring innumerable horror film tropes before they were considered cliché. Audiences were shocked at the blatant brutality of LAST HOUSE which Craven has stated was a response to the proliferation of violence seen daily during the Vietnam War. To shock viewers even more, Craven chose an uncomfortably upbeat soundtrack to accompany the depravity.

See where the "Master of Horror" got his start on Friday, October 23 at the Jean Cocteau Cinema. To avoid fainting, keep repeating "It's only a movie... It's only a movie..." Chase down your tickets at www.jeancocteaucinema.com.

10/07/2026

Returning this October to the Jean Cocteau Cinema...

The Academy Award®-qualifying is a spectacular event for film enthusiasts and industry professionals alike, taking place October 14-19, 2026. Boasting more than 160 new films and more than 150 visiting filmmakers and industry members, the festival will present an outstanding selection of independent and international films.

Filmmakers and moviegoers can anticipate special receptions, industry panels, and discussions with film professionals throughout Santa Fe, as well as Albuquerque.

To see the amazing films screening at Jean Cocteau Cinema, visit sfiff.eventive.org/schedule and filter by venue.

10/04/2026

To prepare our minds and bodies for the Halloween weekend presentation of the greatest cult movie ever made, we're taking a trip down memory lane with 'Rocky Horror' creator Richard O'Brien & friends in the documentary STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR (2025). Some films mean more than the sum of their parts, and their impact goes far beyond the box office. Learn about that legacy and where it all began this weekend at the Jean Cocteau Cinema.

As we mourn the loss of our dear Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Mr. Timothy James Curry, we take abundant comfort in being able to revisit him in all the roles he has gifted us. In STRANGE JOURNEY, he plays himself.

You'll be amongst friends, and maybe a few sane persons, when you jump to the left and grab your tickets at www.jeancocteaucinema.com.

09/30/2026

Indie-Q is back this Thursday, October 1 at the Jean Cocteau Cinema. Presented by , Indie-Q is a free event for anyone to attend where local filmmakers present their projects to an audience for collaborative feedback. A crucial part of the creative process!

Learn more about submitting your project or RSVP at www.nmfilmfoundation.org/indieq. Thank you for supporting independent filmmakers and independent cinema!

Please check out our October calendar for the rest of this month's programming.

09/29/2026

Craving a new take on the traditional vampire story? Then THE VOURDALAK (2023) might just be what you're seeking. This feature film debut from French director Adrien Beau is based on the 1839 gothic vampire novella, "The Family of the Vourdalak" which predates "Dracula" by almost 60 years.

In this fantastical tale, "the Marquis d’Urfé finds refuge in the home of a strange family after becoming lost in a hostile forest while working as an emissary for the King of France." When the patriarch of the household returns, things get très weird. If you like puppets, then hold on to your bout.

This Saturday at 7:00 pm presents THE VOURDALAK at the Jean Cocteau Cinema. We will not refuse you entry. Dear friends, find your tickets at www.jeancocteaucinema.com.

And check out the new calendar to see the rest of our spooky October offerings! 👻

09/28/2026

THE WOLF MAN (1941) is a beloved classic, and for good reason! Made during the "heyday" of Universal monster movies, the cast, the set design, and the special effects are top-notch and impactful, influencing werewolf films to this day. Lon Chaney Jr. and Evelyn Ankers lead an all-star cast, including Bela Lugosi and Claude Rains. Come see the story of Larry Talbot, who finds himself the victim of mystical circumstances and under the command of the Autumn moon. 🌝 🐺

Your fortune has been told - you will visit the Jean Cocteau Cinema this weekend with your pals to see THE WOLF MAN! Transform into a supporter of independent cinema and hunt down your tickets at www.jeancocteaucinema.com. Don't say no, we'll be here at 7!

And check out the new calendar to see the rest of our spooky October offerings! 👻

09/21/2026

THE FALL (2006) clawed its way into existence - can you relate? Premiering in 2006 at TIFF, the film didn't make it into theaters for two years, and even then, few people managed to see it. Trying to find any physical media was almost impossible, and it alluded streaming platforms. THE FALL fell off the planet.

Twenty years later, we're celebrating the beautiful and interesting mystery that is THE FALL this weekend at the Jean Cocteau Cinema. "In... 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman (Lee Pace) begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm (Catinca Untaru), a fantastic story about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur as the tale advances."

By implementing practical effects and on location shooting, and avoiding overt and over use of CGI that can make similar films of the early 2000s look very dated by today's standards, THE FALL remains a timeless piece of filmmaking. Take a break from your reality, and come into the Jean Cocteau Cinema to give your imagination a good streeeeeeeetch. Get your tickets at www.jeancocteaucinema.com. Mwah! Mwah! Mwah! Thank you!

09/15/2026

On the next, very special edition of SINEMA - the brand new, 4K restoration of KWAIDAN (1964). Be among the first to see this stunning re-release in theaters!

KWAIDAN is a surreal and supernatural feast for the eyes that depicts four ghostly Japanese folk tales of "what goes around, comes around." KWAIDAN will call you in like a siren, then scare you into making the right choice. Renowned for its haunting beauty and sound, KWAIDAN has the distinction of being the only horror film nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

An influential piece of cinema that has both inspired and frightened many. See it again or for the first time in big screen, 4K glory! Get your tickets at www.jeancocteaucinema.com. Consider this your warning.

09/14/2026

You won't want to miss this important conversation about how our city operates...or doesn't? hosts "The Living Room: Upgrading Santa Fe" on Thursday, September 17 at 6:00 pm.

The Living Room is a free community event sponsored by Century Bank - Providing banking services to New Mexico since 1887. Donations to 505omatic are welcome and appreciated, and directly support their grassroots news initiatives.

09/12/2026

The wait is over! We’re so excited to be screening COYOTE VS. ACME (2026) September 18, 19, and 20 at Jean Cocteau Cinema.

“After Acme products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation.”

For an extra treat, in collaboration with our friends in Santa Fe we’ll be showing a classic Roadrunner and Coyote cartoon each night before the film.

An underdog story in so many ways! Come support New Mexico filmmaking and independent cinema. Get your tickets without fail at www.jeancocteaucinema.com.

Address

418 Montezuma Avenue
Santa Fe, NM
87501

Telephone

+15054665528

Website

http://www.jeancocteaucinema.com/

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