Cinefamily
Cinefamily was a nonprofit Los Angeles cinematheque known for adventurous film programming, community-based ticketing, live events, and its home at the historic Silent Movie Theatre.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Cinefamily was a nonprofit cinematheque and film-cultural organization based at the historic Silent Movie Theatre in the Beverly Grove area of Los Angeles. It operated from 2007 until 2017, presenting repertory cinema, independent films, cult movies, animation, silent films, documentaries, live performances, filmmaker retrospectives, and unconventional community events. Its stated purpose was to renew the movie-going experience by encouraging discovery and creating a sense of community around film. The organization was founded by Hadrian Belove, a co-founder of the specialty video store Cinefile Video, together with bookstore owners Sammy Harkham and Dan Harkham. Cinefamily officially opened at the Silent Movie Theatre on Halloween in 2007. The venue itself had a long and unusual history. John Hampton and his wife Dorothy had opened the original Silent Movie Theater in 1942, and Hampton used it to exhibit material from his extensive private collection of silent films. The theater closed in 1979 after attendance declined, reopened in 1991 after Hampton's death, and later became associated with another period of uncertainty after owner Lawrence Austin was murdered in 1997. Cinefamily developed a distinctive access model. Members made a tax-deductible donation that provided broad access to screenings and events, while nonmembers and people who did not make a pledge could purchase individual tickets. This structure combined elements of a nonprofit membership organization, repertory cinema, and cultural clubhouse. Its programming moved between canonical and obscure material rather than following a narrowly commercial release schedule. Programs included early silent films, contemporary features, found footage, mixed-media presentations, live comedy, live music, special guests, post-screening discussions, and filmmaker retrospectives. The organization became particularly recognized for creating contexts around films. It mounted retrospectives devoted to figures including Jim Henson, Jerry Lewis, John Cassavetes, and Andrzej Zulawski, and commissioned live scores from musicians such as No Age, Stephin Merritt, and Espers. Its calendar also included genre and subculture-oriented events such as Animation Breakdown, Don't Knock the Rock, Everything Is Festival!, reunion tributes connected with The Adventures of Pete and Pete and Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast, and women-only pajama-party screenings. A 2010 presentation of Neil Breen's Double Down helped the film acquire a small cult following. Cinefamily also served as a launch point for critically discussed independent cinema. Its early 2011 exhibition of the Greek film Dogtooth sold out and preceded the film's Academy Award nomination. Other notable screenings and appearances involved films such as We Need to Talk About Kevin, Margaret, Bullhead, Michael, Battle Royale, and Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht. The venue hosted SpectreFest beginning in 2013, worked with SpectreVision and Cinelicious Pics on a restoration of the animated Japanese film Belladonna of Sadness, and welcomed guests including Quentin Tarantino, Mel Brooks, Werner Herzog, Kris Kristofferson, Robert Blake, and members of the Downey family. Fundraising was part of the organization's operating model. Beginning in 2011, Cinefamily organized an annual 24-hour holiday telethon. An appearance by Robert Downey Jr. at the second telethon helped support a campaign for digital projection and restoration work; the campaign reportedly raised approximately $144,000. In 2014, Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Downey Sr. appeared in a retrospective devoted to the elder Downey instead of the regular telethon format. Cinefamily's existence ended amid sexual-misconduct allegations in 2017. An anonymous email circulated to members in August described a prior sexual-harassment allegation against Belove and accused board vice president Shadie Elnashai of serious sexual misconduct. Belove and Elnashai resigned on August 22, 2017, and the organization suspended operations several days later. Former employees and volunteers subsequently described what they characterized as a longstanding sexist culture and alleged abusive behavior. The board announced the organization's formal end in November 2017 after an independent inquiry. Subsequent online investigations also raised allegations of financial misconduct, while Elnashai later acknowledged inappropriate conduct at one Cinefamily party but denied other allegations. The building continued under different identities. Dan and Sammy Harkham reopened the refurbished theater as Fairfax Cinema on December 25, 2019. In 2020, clothing company Brain Dead announced a lease for the space and introduced Brain Dead Studios, a venue focused on cult cinema and a broader, more inclusive community around film. Cinefamily therefore remains defunct as an organization and brand, although its former physical home continued to function as a cinema and cultural venue under successor names.
History
The building associated with Cinefamily began as the Silent Movie Theatre, opened in 1942 by silent-film collector John Hampton and his wife, Dorothy. Hampton used the theater to show films from his substantial private collection. The venue closed in 1979 after attendance declined. Following Hampton's death, it reopened in 1991 and continued operating until January 1997, when its owner, Lawrence Austin, was murdered. In 2007, Hadrian Belove, Sammy Harkham, and Dan Harkham established Cinefamily. Belove had co-founded Cinefile Video, while the Harkhams were connected with the nearby Family Bookstore. Cinefamily opened at the historic theater on Halloween 2007 as a nonprofit cinematheque built around film discovery and community participation. Its membership system used tax-deductible donations to provide access to screenings and events, although individual tickets remained available to nonmembers. The organization programmed an unusually broad range of material. Its calendar included silent films, contemporary independent features, animation, found footage, live comedy, live music, mixed-media events, retrospectives, festivals, marathons, and extended question-and-answer sessions. Cinefamily developed retrospectives on Jim Henson, Jerry Lewis, John Cassavetes, and Andrzej Zulawski, and commissioned live scores from artists including No Age, Stephin Merritt, and Espers. It also hosted events connected with Everything Is Terrible!, including a 2014 installation made from thousands of Jerry Maguire VHS tapes. The venue's reputation grew through distinctive presentations and guest appearances. Its 2010 screening of Neil Breen's Double Down helped the film find a cult audience. A sold-out 2011 run of Dogtooth took place before the Greek film received an Academy Award nomination. Cinefamily later presented or hosted programs involving films such as We Need to Talk About Kevin, Margaret, Bullhead, Michael, Battle Royale, and Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht. SpectreFest began at the venue in 2013. Other appearances and collaborations included Quentin Tarantino, Mel Brooks, Werner Herzog, Kris Kristofferson, Robert Blake, Robert Downey Jr., and Robert Downey Sr. In 2015, Cinefamily worked with SpectreVision and Cinelicious Pics on a restoration of Belladonna of Sadness. Fundraising complemented the programming operation. From 2011, Cinefamily held a yearly 24-hour holiday telethon. A subsequent appearance by Robert Downey Jr. supported fundraising for digital projection and restoration work, with reported proceeds of about $144,000. In 2014, Downey and his father appeared in a Robert Downey Sr. retrospective in place of the telethon. Cinefamily closed in 2017 after allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct became public. An anonymous message sent to members in August referred to a 2014 harassment allegation against Belove that had resulted in a settlement and accused board vice president Shadie Elnashai of raping multiple women. Belove and Elnashai resigned on August 22. Cinefamily suspended operations on August 26, and former volunteers and employees described an allegedly sexist institutional culture and alleged misconduct by both men. The board announced the organization's formal dissolution on November 14 after an independent inquiry. A later website created by a former member continued investigating alleged wrongdoing and reported apparent financial irregularities. Elnashai later acknowledged inappropriate conduct at one Cinefamily party while denying the other allegations. The venue survived the organization's closure under new names. It reopened as Fairfax Cinema on December 25, 2019, after refurbishment. In October 2020, Brain Dead announced a lease and introduced Brain Dead Studios, a cult-cinema venue with an outdoor cafe. Brain Dead co-founder Kyle Ng, who had previously been a Cinefamily member, said the new operation was intended to broaden the audience and create a more welcoming culture rather than reproduce Cinefamily's former management or programming structure.
- 2020
Brain Dead Studios announced
[1]Brain Dead announced a lease and a new identity for the venue as Brain Dead Studios.
- 2019
Venue reopens as Fairfax Cinema
[1]The refurbished theater reopened under the Fairfax Cinema name.
- 2017
Cinefamily closes
[1]The organization suspended operations after misconduct allegations and formally ended later that year.
- 2015
Belladonna of Sadness restoration collaboration
[1]Cinefamily collaborated with SpectreVision and Cinelicious Pics on a restoration of the 1973 animated film Belladonna of Sadness.
- 2013
SpectreFest begins at the theater
[1]The venue began hosting SpectreFest, associated with the independent horror company SpectreVision.
- 2011
Holiday telethon begins
[1]Cinefamily began its annual 24-hour holiday telethon and presented a notable run of Dogtooth.
- 2007
Cinefamily is founded and opens
[1]Hadrian Belove, Sammy Harkham, and Dan Harkham founded Cinefamily, which opened on Halloween at the Silent Movie Theatre.
- 1997
Owner Lawrence Austin is murdered
[1]The theater's operation was disrupted after owner Lawrence Austin was murdered in January.
- 1991
Silent Movie Theatre reopens
[1]The venue reopened after the death of founder John Hampton.
- 1979
Original theater closes
[1]The Silent Movie Theatre closed after attendance declined.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit, discovery-oriented cinematheque that combined repertory film culture with live performance, unusual special events, and a community-based membership model.
Membership and ticketing · 2007
Member-based cinema access
Cinefamily operated a donation-supported access system in which a tax-deductible membership contribution provided universal access to screenings and events. Individual tickets were also available to nonmembers and to people who did not make a pledge commitment.
Film exhibition · 2007
Repertory and independent film programming
The core offering was a curated program spanning silent cinema, international and independent features, cult films, animation, documentaries, found footage, and contemporary releases. Cinefamily emphasized discovery and often presented films with contextual introductions, discussions, or guest appearances.
Cultural events · 2007
Live cinema and special events
The venue supplemented screenings with live scores, music, comedy, mixed-media presentations, festivals, marathons, themed parties, reunions, and post-screening question-and-answer sessions. This event-driven format was central to Cinefamily's identity as a cinematheque rather than a conventional multiplex.
Fundraising event · 2011
Holiday telethon
Beginning in 2011, Cinefamily staged an annual 24-hour holiday telethon combining entertainment and fundraising. The event supported venue improvements, including a reported campaign for digital projection and restoration work.
Controversies
2018
Later allegations of financial misconduct
A website created by a former Cinefamily member continued examining alleged wrongdoing and reported apparent financial irregularities. In a statement issued later in 2018, Elnashai acknowledged inappropriate conduct at one Cinefamily party but denied the other allegations and disputed the evidentiary basis of the investigation.
2017
Sexual-misconduct allegations and organizational closure
In August 2017, an anonymous message to members described a prior sexual-harassment allegation against co-founder Hadrian Belove and accused board vice president Shadie Elnashai of serious sexual misconduct. Both men resigned on August 22, and Cinefamily suspended operations. Former employees and volunteers later alleged that sexism and abusive behavior had been embedded in the organization's culture. The board announced the end of Cinefamily after an independent inquiry in November.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Belladonna of Sadness restoration
United States
Cinefamily partnered with SpectreVision and Cinelicious Pics on a restoration of the 1973 Japanese animated film Belladonna of Sadness.
Outcome. The project brought a restored version of the film into renewed circulation.
- 2011Annual 24-hour holiday telethon
Los Angeles, United States
Cinefamily launched a recurring 24-hour holiday telethon to raise money for theater operations, equipment, and restoration projects.
Outcome. The campaign generated reported proceeds of approximately $144,000 for digital projection and restoration work, although the available reference does not identify a complete campaign total across all years.
Brand decisions
2020
Brain Dead Studios rebrandStrategyBackground
Brain Dead sought to use the former Cinefamily theater for a new generation of film and fashion audiences while acknowledging the venue's troubled history.
Action taken
Brain Dead announced a lease and rebranded the venue as Brain Dead Studios, focusing on cult cinema and an outdoor cafe.
Aftermath
The venue continued as a cultural cinema space with an explicitly broader and more inclusive community ambition.
2019
Reopen the venue as Fairfax CinemaStrategyBackground
After Cinefamily's closure, the Harkhams undertook a year-long refurbishment of the theater.
Action taken
Dan and Sammy Harkham reopened the venue on December 25 under the Fairfax Cinema name.
Aftermath
The building continued as a cinema but no longer operated under the Cinefamily identity.
2017
Suspend and end Cinefamily operationsStrategyBackground
Sexual-misconduct allegations involving senior figures led to resignations, an operational suspension, and an independent inquiry.
Action taken
The organization suspended operations on August 26 and its board formally announced the end of Cinefamily in November.
Aftermath
The brand became defunct, while the physical theater later reopened under successor identities.
Sources1 sources
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