Being There

6:00 PM Film Screening & Conversation

5:00 PM VIP Meet & Greet $30 separate ticket - Purchase here

Purchase Raffle tickets - here
Enter to win experiences including Redwoods Inn, Forest Bathing, and Big Sur

Join us for the launch of our new film and conversation series, The Giving Screen, created to support the Presidio Theatre's resident company programming.

For our inaugural The Giving Screen on February 27, we welcome Marin-based filmmaker David Hamburger in conversation with the San Francisco Zen Center's Rev. Victoria Austin to discuss his film - Being There  - the 1979 movie starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine. 

Honored with the BAFTA for Best Screenplay and preserved in the National Film Registry, Being There continues to invite reflection on presence, leadership, and meaning. Hamburger will share his experiences making films in 1970 Hollywood as part of the creative teams for blockbusters Cannonball Run and Smokey and the Bandit.  He will share behind-the-scenes stories, rare production insights, and reflections on working with Hal Ashby, Peter Sellers, and Shirley MacLaine.

About the Film

Being There follows Chance, a man raised in near isolation whose simple observations are mistaken for profound wisdom when he enters public life. What unfolds is a series of humorous and revealing misunderstandings that quietly explore how we assign meaning, authority, and insight and what it truly means to be present. Released in 1979 and starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine, Being There is a cultural touchstone and a masterclass in restraint. Honored with the BAFTA for Best Screenplay and preserved in the National Film Registry, it continues to invite reflection on presence, leadership, and meaning.

VIP Meet & Greet Reception

An intimate pre-screening reception with David Hamburger, Assistant Director of Being There. 

Wine & charcuterie will be served.

The Being There Raffle

Enter to win experiences including Redwoods Inn, Forest Bathing, and Big Sur

As part of The Giving Screen, we invite guests to participate in a charitable raffle featuring experiences that extend the spirit of the film beyond the screen.

Winner drawn February 27 at the screening

Prize #1

$1,000 Requa Inn Gift Card 

A historic, century-old inn nestled among UNESCO-protected redwoods along the Klamath River, an invitation to quiet, beauty, and retreat.

requainn.com

Prize #2

Integral Forest Bathing Experience - $300 value

A guided two-hour forest bathing session in the Bay Area for up to six guests, including a tea ceremony and a copy of Healing Trees.

integralforestbathing.com

Prize #3

Esalen Day Passes - $100 value

Two day passes with access to the baths and lunch at the legendary Big Sur retreat known for restoration, reflection, and creative renewal.

esalen.org