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Tuesday, October 13, 2026

All are invited to the 5th and last screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In summer season! Friday October 23rd!

All are invited to the 5th and last screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In summer season! Friday October 23rd - 7pm!

 “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” (2016) - Ricky, a defiant foster kid shuffled from home to home, is sent to live with a reclusive couple on the edge of the New Zealand bush. When tragedy strikes, Ricky and his gruff guardian Hector find themselves on the run, the subject of a nationwide manhunt that quickly spirals into myth. What starts as a survival story turns into a look at how systems label kids like Ricky as problems, and how the real danger might not be the wilderness, but the people and institutions trying to control them.

URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION (ACTUALLY ALONG THE RIVER MORE LIKE AN OASIS): from downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the Sandy area under the bridge.

NOTE: let’s take care of the spot and pack it in pack it out. When the film is over please be respectful of the neighbors when leaving and use library voices.

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company, and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable (consider a low folding chair that does not block others from seeing the screen), friends, snacks, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome but no one turned away for lack of funds (NOTAFLOF for real!).

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theater under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great free movies and bring a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment.

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Report back on shut down / retry - Friday October 2 at 7:30, under the Soquel Avenue bridge

 

Report back: On Friday, we attempted to show Wolfwalkers downtown in a parking lot, projecting on the back of the multiplex.

We worked with a downtown business owner who rents the parking lot for use as a staff parking lot. He thought it would be fun to support Guerilla Drive-In by inviting us to use the space. We were all under the impression that we were allowed to be there. We usually just show up and joyfully reclaim public space, but in this case we thought we had permission, so it made sense to have a family screening with a kid-friendly movie. Our biggest concern was logistics around light pollution.

Though our partner in the showing rents the lot, the actual owner of the lot was not happy with the gathering of about 50, including families with kids. Halfway through, the police showed up citing the owner’s concern about liability. Workers at the supportive business insisted that since they pay rent there, and they invited us, we should be allowed to stay and finish the movie, but the cops sided with the owner and shut us down, inviting boos and some tears from members of the audience.

The timing was unfortunate and ironic, as we were at the climax of the movie. The “Lord Protector”, the ruler of the town of Kilkenny, has trapped and chained the magical wolfwalker, parading her around to show off his power over her. Young Mebh fights back to free her fellow wolfwalker, but she is outnumbered and faces a powerfully armed troop of guardsmen.

What will happen?

If you are excited to find out, please join us on Friday October 2 at 7:30, under the Soquel Avenue bridge, on the east side of the river, below the Royal Taj. This showing will just be a showing of Wolfwalkers. We will start it from the beginning for anyone who missed the first half this past Friday. We will not have shorts, we will just hit “play” on Wolfwalkers at 7:30. See you then!

p.s. There have been a lot of rumors about the person responsible for shutting us down and people asking what business he owns so they can boycott. As far as we can tell he is just a landlord. He owns the parking lot and the building next to it, but he does not own a business.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

This Friday, September 25th, at sunset- all are invited to the fourth screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In season!

 

This Friday, September 25th, at sunset- all are invited to the fourth screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In season! 

We are doing something a little different this month. Besides a new location, the shorts are actually part of the feature. Read on for more details. 

This month we want to highlight the animations of Frédéric Back, a French-Canadian artist and film director of short animated films. Instead of shorts, beginning at sunset, we will screen the following Back short films:

- Crac! (1981) 15min - The long life of a hand carved rocking chair

- Tout~Rien (All~Nothing) (1978) 11min - The long & restless life of human desire & consumption.

After intermission, we are excited to present Wolfwalkers (2020) - In an Irish forest at the edge of an English-occupied town, two girls become unlikely friends — one a wolf hunter's daughter, the other a wild spirit who can transform into a wolf beneath the moon. Together they must protect the ancient woods from those who would tame it, and discover a magic that links their fates forever.

NEW LOCATION: This screening will be at the corner of Locust & Cedar St, in downtown Santa Cruz (a block from Pacific Ave). We will reclaim a parking lot, and project onto a large wall, on the backside of the downtown multi-plex.

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable in the great outdoors with early cool weather and fog, friends, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome - and notaflof* so not expected!. (*no one turned away for lack of funds).

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great free movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment.

Monday, August 24, 2026

Reminder: Friday August 28th at sunset


Reminder: Friday August 28th at sunset under the Soquel Avenue bridge on the sandy bank of the river: all are invited to the third screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In season!

Imagine a first-contact movie where the stakes aren't about surviving a war, but surviving our own instinct to destroy what we don't understand. _Arrival_ (adapted from Ted Chiang's "Story of Your Life") is a masterclass in intellectual sci-fi. Instead of lasers, Dr. Louise Banks uses grammar and syntax to save the world. It’s a quiet, visually stunning, and emotionally devastating masterpiece that proves language might just be the most powerful tool we have. If you haven't seen it yet, prepare to look at time and memory completely differently.

URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION (ACTUALLY ALONG THE RIVER MORE LIKE AN OASIS): from downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the Sandy area under the bridge.

NOTE: let's take care of the spot and pack it in pack it out. When the film is over please be respectful of the neighbors when leaving and use library voices.

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company, and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable (consider a low folding chair that does not block others from seeing the screen), friends, snacks, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome but no one turned away for lack of funds (NOTAFLOF for real!).

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theater under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great free movies and bring a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Friday August 28th at sunset!

 

Friday August 28th at sunset under the Soquel Avenue bridge on the sandy bank of the river: all are invited to the third screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In season!!!

“Arrival” - Twelve massive vessels appear without warning at sites around the globe — silent, motionless, unexplained. While governments scramble for weapons, and nations posture toward war, linguist, Dr. Louise Banks, is given the task of trying to communicate.

Based on the 1998 novella "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang, this Oscar nominated film isn't the alien movie you're expecting. There's no countdown to an invasion. No hero with a gun. The enemy, if there is one, might be us — our instinct to assume the worst about anything we don't understand yet.

URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION (ACTUALLY ALONG THE RIVER MORE LIKE AN OASIS): from downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the Sandy area under the bridge.

NOTE: let's take care of the spot and pack it in pack it out. When the film is over please be respectful of the neighbors when leaving and use library voices. 

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company, and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable (consider a low folding chair that does not block others from seeing the screen), friends, snacks, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome but no one turned away for lack of funds (NOTAFLOF for real!).

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theater under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great free movies and bring a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment.

Friday, July 31, 2026

Our 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In schedule!

Hooray! For the first time in over a decade here is our Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In summer series schedule! And you can download a copy for yourself (and share with a friend). Print it out on an actual piece of paper and post on your fridge. 


Download 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In schedule!


★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★


 


     2026 Summer Schedule 

    (Mostly) Last Fridays! 


An outdoor movie theater under the stars

that springs up unexpectedly in the fields

and industrial wastelands. We do this to

reclaim public space and give a broad

community a reason to gather.


ALWAYS FREE! BRING blankets, friends, snacks


——————————————————————-


We Are The Best (2013) Sunset, June 26

Misfits Bobo, Klara, and the more reserved Hedvig 

navigate adolescence and punk culture, creating

 music as an outlet for their energy and anger, 

even when told punk is dead.


——————————————————————-


Summer Wars (2009) Sunset, July 31

In this animated film, a rogue AI threatens to take 

over and dismantle a virtual reality world that the 

entire real world heavily depends on. A family bands

 together to combat the AI but it takes the support 

of an entire populace to fight back.


——————————————————————-


 Arrival (2016) Sunset, Aug 28


12 massive vessels appear without warning at

sites around the globe. While governments

scramble for weapons, and nations posture

toward war, a linguist is given the task of

trying to communicate. The enemy, if there is

one, might be us — our instinct to assume the

worst about anything we don't understand yet.


——————————————————————-


Wolfwalkers (2020) + Frédéric Back Shorts

Sunset, Sept 25


In a forest at the edge of an English-occupied town, 

2 girls become unlikely friends - one a wolf hunter's 

daughter, the other a wild spirit who can transform into 

a wolf beneath the moon.Together they must protect 

the ancient woods from those who would tame it, 

and discover a magic that links their fates forever.


——————————————————————-


Hunt For The Wilderpeople (2016) Sunset, Oct 23 


Ricky, a defiant foster kid, is sent to live with a reclusive

 couple on the edge of the New Zealand bush. When

 tragedy strikes, Ricky and his gruff guardian Hector 

find themselves on the run, the subject of a nationwide 

manhunt that quickly spirals into myth. The film explores 

how the real danger might not be the wilderness, 

but the people and institutions trying to control them.

       

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★



Friday, July 24, 2026

Friday July 31st at sunset under the Soquel Ave bridge on the sandy bank of the river - all are invited to the second screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In season!

 

Friday July 31st at sunset under the Soquel Ave bridge on the sandy bank of the river - all are invited to the second screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In season! 

“Summer Wars” - In this 2009 animated film, a rogue AI threatens to take over and dismantle OZ: a virtual reality world that the entire real world heavily depends on. When the threat becomes existential for humanity, a family bands together to combat the AI but it takes the support of an entire populace to fight back. 

SAME URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION: From downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the sandy area under the bridge. 

Note: Let’s take care of the spot and pack-it-in-pack-it-out. When the film is over please be respectful of the neighbors when leaving and use library voices.

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable in foldy metal chairs indoors, friends, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome - and notaflof* so not expected!. (*no one turned away for lack of funds).

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great free movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment.  Find out more at website   https://www.guerilladrivein.org/ 

Info from https://www.instagram.com/p/DbNDkFPPYN3/ 

Friday, July 17, 2026

2nd screening of the 2026 SC GDI season! Last Friday July 31st at dusk.

All are invited to the second screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In season! Friday July 31st at dusk.

“Summer Wars” - In this 2009 animated film, a rogue AI threatens to take over and dismantle OZ: a virtual reality world that the entire real world heavily depends on. When the threat becomes existential for humanity, a family bands together to combat the AI but it takes the support of an entire populace to fight back. 

SAME URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION: From downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the sandy area under the bridge. 

Note: Let’s take care of the spot and pack-it-in-pack-it-out. When the film is over please be respectful of the neighbors when leaving and use library voices.

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable in foldy metal chairs indoors, friends, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome - and notaflof* so not expected!. (*no one turned away for lack of funds).

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great free movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment.

Friday, July 10, 2026

SAVE THE DATE - FRIDAY JULY 31st

 

SAVE THE DATE - FRIDAY JULY 31st for our second screening of the Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In 2026 Summer Season! What film? Well, more information coming soon!

SAME URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION: From downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the sandy area under the bridge. Note: Let’s take care of the spot and pack-it-in-pack-it-out. When the film is over please be respectful of the neighbors when leaving and use library voices.

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable in foldy metal chairs indoors, friends, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome - and notaflof* so not expected!. (*no one turned away for lack of funds).

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great free movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment.  Find out more at website - link in bio @sc_gdi 

From https://www.instagram.com/p/DaodjPDvWAy/

Monday, June 29, 2026

Report back on Friday night’s Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In screening


Report back on Friday night’s Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In screening (the first movie in our summer series after a brief break of about a decade or so).

Some of the many highlights and memorable moments: 


- When we arrived to set up we needed a crate to hold projector and found a broken yet functional crate by the edge of the water - perfect! Everything is working out nicely! (And we later took crate away as part of ethos to leave area cleaner than we found it).


- Friends greeting friends - seeing dear ones as planned and unexpectedly and meeting others for the first time (partly GDI is about the films and also about the gathering together in public spaces). 


- GDI collective member asking an early gathering of amassed folk if they wanted any used popcorn (quickly clarified that someone donated popcorn not previously eaten). Contribution so appreciated and enjoyed and in the spirit of GDI - which is also an invitation to contribute to each other (and person had to work Friday night and just wanted to add to the event - success!).


- Night sky with shifting clouds as a soon to be full moon shone brightly.


- In the film a teenaged band in the film set in 1982 sang a chorus the gathered along the river took it up with a rousing - “Brezhnev and Reagan – Fuck Off!”


- And many more!


More to the story: 3 of us in the GDI collective (5 of us who work together collaboratively to facilitate the showings) and collective member’s partner, arrived along the bank of the river around 8pm. Ah, a pause to appreciate the space - the sandy shore gently sloping down to the water and slight breeze cooling the warmth of the day. 3 ducks float past. Yes, our first screening in a decade (or so). So, nice to be together. The river was higher then last time we were there a few weeks ago to test the equipment, and we figured out where to position the projector and speakers. The big bag of donated popcorn (more on that later) rested on a spread out blanket.


Soon after folk began to trickle in and settle in the sand with more blankets and beach chairs. An area of the beach became the bike parking area. Our projectionist extraordinaire played a compilation of music of British punk bands from the 1970s to greet people as they arrived. A bit after 8:40pm we began a short film before the feature. Although not fully dark yet, the short film from 1994 “Alternative Girls” could still be clearly seen (and heard courtesy of our new wireless speakers - a change from a decade ago when we would roll out yards of speaker cables from THE BOX to our thrift store speakers).


After that, the standard GDI greeting (with a bit of an update) we asked who had been to GDI in past and for whom was the first time - and surprisingly (and wonderfully) a majority of the 60 or so gathered had not been to a Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In event before! Then community announcements beginning with a moving tribute to Oliver Tree (kindred spirit) and someone else voiced looking for collaborators for a music project… and lots about Free Skool Santa Cruz and SubRosa. 


Then the intermission! We encouraged folk to talk about what it means to them to be in and share public spaces even when there are legalistic prohibitions against that. In the spirit of the long time GDI theme of joyfully reclaiming public spaces without asking for permission to act freely (we also acknowledge more severe consequences for some depending on their circumstances).


And after a brief intermission our main feature “We Are the Best” - uninterrupted by any outside interference (if you know what I mean) - and of course, we were just enjoying the evening by the river watching a movie in the company of friends and community.


A wonderful evening and we look forward to seeing you next month! We will be back Friday July 31st (last Friday of the month) for a SURPRISE film that we will announce before. Thanks to everyone that came out to contribute to such a wonderful Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In return and to you who didn’t make it we’ll see you next time!


SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment.  

Monday, June 22, 2026

This Friday! With a short film before main feature!

This Friday! All are invited to the first screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In 2026 season! Back after an extended hiatus! Yeah, this Friday June 26th a bit before dusk.

Before our main feature we will begin with the short 1994 film by Tamara Davis - “No Alternative Girls” - which has been described as is a gritty, unfiltered 6-minute documentary exploring identity and sexuality among female alternative musicians. Featuring candid interviews with icons like Kim Gordon, Kathleen Hanna, and Courtney Love, the film cuts through mainstream media misrepresentations to highlight authentic riot grrrl perspectives.”

After a brief intermission our feature - “We Are the Best” - Three teenage girls in 1980s Stockholm form a punk band despite having no instruments or musical talent. The movie follows the misfits Bobo, Klara, and the more reserved Hedvig as they navigate adolescence and punk culture, creating music as an outlet for their energy and anger, even when told punk is dead. The film captures the spirit of youthful rebellion and friendship. 

URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION: From downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the sandy area under the bridge (and let’s take care of the spot and pack-it-in-pack-it-out and especially when film over after dark please be respectful of neighbors when leaving and use library voices). 

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable in foldy metal chairs indoors, friends, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome.

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment.  

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Join us on the sandy bank of the river Friday June 26

All are invited to the first screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In 2026 season! Back after an extended hiatus! Friday June 26th at dusk. PHOTO: here is some of the GDI collective testing our equipment and having a peek of 2 films - in image is “Linda Linda Linda” which perhaps we’ll show another time but for our upcoming showing come for the other film we watched a bit of…

“We Are the Best” - Three teenage girls in 1980s Stockholm form a punk band despite having no instruments or musical talent. The movie follows the misfits Bobo, Klara, and the more reserved Hedvig as they navigate adolescence and punk culture, creating music as an outlet for their energy and anger, even when told punk is dead. The film captures the spirit of youthful rebellion and friendship. 

URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION: From downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the sandy area under the bridge.

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable in foldy metal chairs indoors, friends, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome.

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment. 

Friday, June 12, 2026

Info about 1st film of GDI 2026 season!

All are invited to the first screening of the Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In 2026 season! Back after an extended hiatus! Friday June 26th - gather a bit before dusk to watch… 

“We Are the Best” - Three teenage girls in 1980s Stockholm form a punk band despite having no instruments or musical talent. The movie follows the misfits Bobo, Klara, and the more reserved Hedvig as they navigate adolescence and punk culture, creating music as an outlet for their energy and anger, even when told punk is dead. The film captures the spirit of youthful rebellion and friendship. 

URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION: From downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the sandy area under the bridge.

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable in foldy metal chairs indoors, friends, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome.

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment. 

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Into the digital age! (From GDI Instagram)

 

We're testing out our new equipment. Back in the day, we had hundreds of meters of extension cords, big speakers with speaker cables, and a giant box with an amplifier connected to both DVD and VHS. We are excited to be moving into the digital age.

Information about our summer series coming so soon! 

From GDI’s IG page - https://www.instagram.com/sc_gdi  

—@@@@@—

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theater under the stars that springs up unexpectedly in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great free movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is reclaiming public space and transforming our urban environment.