Peephole Cinema
The Verdict
"A peephole in a storefront door in Bernal Heights showing curated short films on a 24/7 loop, one viewer at a time. Started by artist Laurie O'Brien in 2013, with sibling peepholes in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Free, takes about two minutes."
What you need to know
What’s There
A peephole built into a wall in the Mission District, off 26th Street between Mission and Valencia. Looking through it shows curated short films projected on a loop inside. The films rotate regularly: experimental, animated, and art-house shorts ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes long. Only one viewer at a time.
The Peephole Cinema is one location of a small chain started by artist Laurie O’Brien, with sibling installations in Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
Visiting
Hours: 24/7. The peephole is always accessible from the alley.
Cost: Free
Best time to go: After dark, when the projected image is brighter through the peephole. Daytime works too.
What to know: It’s a peephole in a wall in a quiet residential alley. Look for the small sign.
Getting There
Transit: BART to 24th St Mission, then walk two blocks south on Mission to 26th Street; Orange Alley is just off 26th, between Mission and Valencia. The 14-Mission and 49-Van Ness/Mission buses also stop nearby.
Parking: Street parking in the surrounding blocks. Tight on weekends.
Walking: A short walk from the Mission’s 24th Street corridor; easy to combine with the murals of Balmy Alley a few blocks east.
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