Cinema photo via Felix Mooneeram on unsplash.com

A new film series is coming to Fresno thanks to money from a local arts fund.

Cen Cal Cinema, created by the team behind the local film festival, Swede Fest, announced they will be providing “elevated film experiences” to communities throughout the Central Valley beginning next year.

Swede Fest, a film festival for homemade, low-budget recreations of popular Hollywood movies or television shows, launched in Fresno in 2008 and hosted its final program in November.

Cen Cal Cinema, which received $37,690 in grant funding, aims to organize free movie screenings that provide attendees with different film experiences, inclusive of neighborhoods around Fresno that might otherwise lack access to the cinematic arts.

The series was made possible after Cen Cal Cinema was awarded a 2024 Expanded Access to Arts and Culture grant, which is funded by Measure P and administrated by the Fresno Arts Council.

To kick off the Cen Cal Cinema film series, there will be an inaugural screening of the 1989 comedy “UHF,” starring Weird Al Yankovic, Michael Richards and Fran Drescher, hosted at CMAC at 1555 Van Ness Avenue on Friday, Jan. 24.

To commemorate the event, a Weird Al look-alike contest will be held to give fans an opportunity to be recognized for their fandom.

Roque Rodriguez, founder of Cen Cal Cinema, said he grew up in a small town 45 minutes away from the nearest movie theater, lacking easy access to film culture.

“The idea for Cen Cal Cinema came about as a way to bridge the gap of my community steeped in agriculture with my love of film, and give families an opportunity to have a communal movie viewing experience with no barriers to attend the event.” said Rodriguez.

He said Cen Cal Cinema has been a long-held passion project for him, and hopes to bring film viewing experiences to overlooked parts of Fresno.

Cen Cal Cinema will be free to attend, with four additional screenings planned through June 2025.

To date, Expanded Access to Arts and Culture grants totaling $9.4 million have been awarded to 112 art and culture organizations and projects in Fresno.

For more information on the Cen Cal Cinema event, or other activities at the screening in the near future follow @CenCalCinema on social media.