San Francisco Dance Film Festival

Name

San Francisco Dance Film Festival

Legal name

Dance Film SF

Website

https://sfdancefilmfest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Film Festival

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGADAJ

Dance Festivals & Dance Series

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Dance & Ballet Performances

SECONDARYMPADAKAD

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

Keywords

• Dance film festival
• Screendance programming
• Dance film screenings
• Film festival workshops
• Arts nonprofit events

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatrical screenings and special event tickets. Includes premium VIP and Arts Patron ticket tiers for special events like Dirty Dancing screening.
2. Advertising & Sponsorship: Digital and print advertising packages for festival programs. Premium package at $1,500 offering presence at all 2026 events, digital ads at $375, and various print ad sizes.
3. Donations: Donations through support page, tax-deductible contributions (Federal ID# 45-5001060).
4. Workshop Fees: Fees for workshops and masterclasses including virtual filmmaking masterclass, ballet master classes, and screendance workshops ranging from $225-$305.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

San Francisco Dance Film Festival (SFDFF) is a nonprofit arts organization that produces an annual dance film festival with theatrical screenings in San Francisco theaters combined with worldwide online streaming through Marquee TV. Year-round programming includes special event screenings with industry guests, workshops and masterclasses in screendance filmmaking, a touring reel rental program for educational institutions, and the Co-Laboratory program that pairs filmmakers with choreographers to create new short dance films.

Product overview

San Francisco Dance Film Festival operates as an arts organization presenting dance through film and related programming. The core offering is the annual San Francisco Dance Film Festival (now in its 17th edition), complemented by year-round special screenings (such as Dirty Dancing with Kenny Ortega), educational workshops and masterclasses (filmmaking, dance, acting), a Touring Reels rental program for educational institutions, streaming content via Marquee TV, the bimonthly Hear the Dance Podcast, and the Co-Laboratory collaborative film creation program. The organization also co-presents programming with other film festivals and cultural institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• San Francisco Dance Film Festival (Annual) The organization's flagship annual event featuring dance film screenings in theaters across San Francisco, typically held October-November, showcasing international and local dance films with Q&As, panels, and special guests.
• Dirty Dancing Special Screening Special screening of iconic dance films with live Q&A sessions featuring industry guests such as choreographers and directors. The Dirty Dancing event features Kenny Ortega, Emmy Award-winning choreographer of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, High School Musical, and Michael Jackson's This Is It.
• Workshops & Masterclasses Educational programs including filmmaking masterclasses, dance workshops, and skill-building sessions led by industry professionals. Includes topics such as cinematography, editing, choreography, and acting for dancers.
• Touring Reels (SFDFF On The Road) Annual highlight reels of curated shorts from previous festivals available for rental to educational institutions, libraries, and smaller film festivals worldwide for non-commercial educational use.
• Streaming on Marquee TV Festival content available for streaming worldwide through Marquee TV partnership, allowing global access to dance films outside the theatrical run.
• Hear the Dance Podcast Bimonthly podcast featuring guests from the festival's dance and filmmaking communities, offering insights into how artists use film to create work and connect with audiences.
• Co-Laboratory Program Laboratory program pairing filmmakers with choreographers and composers to create short dance films in intensive sessions, with resulting films screened at the festival.

Quantifiable outcome

• 83 films from 25 countries showcased at 2019 festival
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Herbst Theatre (War Memorial and Performing Arts Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2026Venue partner for special screening events including Dirty Dancing with Kenny Ortega on September 17, 2026.
• Bi-Rite MarketminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Sponsor for Dirty Dancing special event screening.
• The Marker HotelminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Sponsor for Dirty Dancing special event screening.
• WaymominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Sponsor for Dirty Dancing special event screening.
• KCBS RadiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2026Media sponsor for Dirty Dancing special event screening.
• Prix de LausannecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2026Partnership with San Francisco Ballet School for The Prix documentary screening.
• Prix de LausannecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Partnership with Prix de Lausanne and San Francisco Ballet School for The Prix documentary screening on April 23, 2026.
• Baryshnikov ArtsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 April 2025Fiscal sponsorship for SISSY production by Celia Rowlson-Hall, written, choreographed, and directed for Jerome Robbins Theater.
• Dance Camera WestminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 January 2025Co-presentation partnership for Centerpiece Program: LA POPS UP and Waiting Places screening.
• Bangarra Dance TheatreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2021Co-presented Firestarter documentary at SF DocFest 2021.
• San Francisco ChronicleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTony Bravo, SF Chronicle Arts & Culture columnist, serves as Q&A moderator for special events.
• San Francisco BalletcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for co-presentations, screenings, and support. SFDFF co-presents with SF Ballet and SF Ballet School for various programs.
• Alonzo King LINES BalletcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership for workshops and special events including Screendance Workshop series held at LINES Dance Center.
• San Francisco Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for Dances for Camera programs and Audience Favorites touring reel screenings.
• Marquee TVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming partner for SFDFF content, offering worldwide access to curated dance films.
• FramelineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter for WICKET documentary at world's largest LGBTQ+ film festival.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cinedans: Amsterdam-based international dance film festival presenting dance on screen with screenings, masterclasses, and an awards program. Closest international peer to SFDFF in scale, format, and mission as a dedicated dance film festival.
• Dance Camera West: Los Angeles-based dance film festival that presents curated dance cinema with workshops and special events. Direct peer to SFDFF in the dance film festival category; SFDFF and Dance Camera West actively co-present programming (e.g., LA POPS UP), confirming direct comparability.
• Dance Films Association: U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to producing, distributing, and showcasing dance on film. Closest U.S. organizational peer in mission, programming catalog, and educational/community focus on dance cinema.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center Dance Programs: Programming arm of Lincoln Center presenting major dance performances and dance-on-film screenings in New York. Broad incumbent that includes dance film within a much larger performing arts portfolio; comparable in that it presents dance-on-screen content at scale.
• Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival: Historic U.S. dance festival in Becket, MA presenting live dance with growing dance-on-film programming. Broad incumbent in the U.S. dance festival ecosystem; comparable mission and audience overlap with SFDFF despite live-performance orientation.
• San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM): Major San Francisco-based generalist film festival presenting a wide program including dance-related cinema. Broad incumbent in the same city; overlaps with SFDFF on dance film screenings but operates at a much larger scale and broader programming mandate.

Others

• Marquee TV: Global streaming platform dedicated to dance, opera, and arts content. Channel/distribution partner to SFDFF; comparable as a complementary player serving the same niche audience, and a relevant ecosystem peer given the partnership-based revenue model.
• Alonzo King LINES Ballet: Bay Area contemporary dance company that is a long-standing SFDFF programming partner, co-hosting Screendance Workshops at LINES Dance Center. Adjacent ecosystem participant; comparable as a peer Bay Area dance organization rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Prix de Lausanne: International ballet competition held in Lausanne with associated documentary screenings and global partner programming. SFDFF has an active partnership with Prix de Lausanne for documentary screenings, placing it within the same dance film ecosystem; operates primarily in Europe.
• Frameline: San Francisco-based LGBTQ+ film festival and one of the largest such festivals in the world. Regional peer; SFDFF actively co-presents documentaries with Frameline (e.g., WICKET), placing them in an overlapping Bay Area independent film ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sfdancefilmfest/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/SFDanceFilmFest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dance-film-sf-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfdancefilmfest
• TikToktiktok.com/@sfdancefilmfest
• Xx.com/SFdancefilmfest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about San Francisco Dance Film Festival