Fresh off its inaugural Ojai Documentary Film Festival co-presented by Hotel El Roblar, Ojai Playhouse is gearing up for a particularly busy November, marking the two-year anniversary of its reopening with a full month of special screenings, filmmaker events and celebrations. The centerpiece of the month is the Ojai Playhouse Film Festival, running November 9–15, bringing a week of acclaimed international cinema, festival-circuit discoveries and anticipated new films to Ojai. This year's selections includes films from celebrated directors Mike Leigh, Werner Herzog, Danny Boyle, James Gray and Pedro Almodóvar.

The month opens with several notable screenings, including the newly restored 4K edition of David Lynch's Wild At Heart (November 6 at 9:15 p.m.); the opening weekend of Wild Horse Nine (November 6-8); and continued screenings of You Can See Everything (November 3,5, and 6). Leading up to the festival, special events also include a free screening of Wildwood with a Q&A with screenwriter Chris Butler (November 7 at 11:30 a.m.); Groundswell with directors Rebecca Tickell and Josh Tickell (November 7 at 4:30 p.m.); Wicker with directors Alex H. Fischer and Eleanor Wilson (Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m.); and Alex Gibney’s documentary Musk (Sunday, November 8 at noon).

The November calendar continues with an additional screening of La Bola Negra (November 10), an FYC screening of Behemoth! (November 18), and screenings of Fatherland (November 19 and 21).

On November 22, the Playhouse will mark its second anniversary with a festive celebration; with more details to follow.

Looking ahead to Thanksgiving, the Playhouse is preparing a special holiday lineup featuring award-contending films and additional FYC screenings; full programming is coming soon.

For the current schedule of screenings and to purchase tickets, visit www.ojaiplayhouse.com.

TENDER LOVING CARE

Show Time: 4:30 PM | Tickets

Director: Mike Leigh

Running Time: 1hr 47min

Starring: Kate O'Flynn, Alice Bailey Johnson, Marion Bailey, Paul Jesson

The acclaimed final film from celebrated British auteur Mike Leigh, starring Kate O’Flynn in the follow up to her Emmy-nominated role in WIDOW’S BAY. When Amy’s (O’Flynn) marriage goes south, she moves back in with her best friend and colleague, Rosie (Alice Bailey Johnson). After dealing with anger and resentment all day as social workers, there’s nothing the two friends enjoy more than winding down together over a bottle of wine. But when Amy’s aging parents take a turn for the worse, they need each other’s support more than ever.

THE DEBUT

Show Time: 7:15 PM | Tickets

Director: Jesse Eisenberg

Running Time: 1hr 45min

Starring: Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Bernadette Peters

When an unassuming housewife is unexpectedly cast in a community theater production, she loses herself in the role under the spell of a strong-willed director.

La Bola Negra

Show Time: 7:30 PM | Tickets

Director: Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo

Running Time: 2hr 40min

Starring: Guitarricadelafuente, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Javier Butler, Penelope Cruz,

Glenn Close

Spain’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards explores with extravagant style what it means to be gay in different eras, focusing on "three existences" that are connected through themes in the work of Federico García Lorca — sexuality, desire, pain, and inheritance.

BUCKING FASTARD

**Post-screening Q&A with editor Marco Capalbo**

Show Time: 7:15 PM | Tickets

Director: Wernor Herzog

Running Time: 1hr 49min

Starring: Kate Mara, Rooney Mara, Orlando Bloom

Jean and Joan Holbrooke are two sisters who are so close they speak in unison, love the same man, and have the same dreams. In search of an imaginary land - where true love is possible - they dig through a mountain range.

PAPER TIGER

Show Time: 7:15 PM | Tickets

Director: James Gray

Running Time: 1hr 55min

Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Miles Teller

Two brothers pursuing the American Dream in 1980s New York City get entangled in a dangerous Russian mafia scheme that terrorizes their family and tests the limits of their bond before betrayal becomes inevitable.

RAY GUNN

Show Time: 12:00 PM | Tickets

Director: Brad Bird

Running Time: 1hr 59min

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Waits

In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.

Monday, November 9

• 4:30 p.m. — Tender Loving Care, directed by Mike Leigh
• 7:15 p.m. — The Debut, directed by Jesse Eisenberg

Tuesday, November 10

• 4:30 p.m. — Everytime, directed by Sandra Wollner
• 7 p.m. — La Bola Negra, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi

Wednesday, November 11

• 2:30 p.m. — Iron Boy, directed by Louis Clichy
• 4:30 p.m. — Diary of a Chambermaid, directed by Radu Jude
• 7:15 p.m. — Bucking Fastard, directed by Werner Herzog

Thursday, November 12

• 2:30 p.m. — Mouse, directed by Alex Thompson and Kelly O'Sullivan
• 4:30 p.m. — Bitter Christmas, directed by Pedro Almodóvar
• 7:15 p.m. — I Play Rocky, directed by Peter Farrelly

Friday, November 13

• 2:30 p.m. — Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern, directed by Mike Mendez
• 4:30 p.m. — Rose, directed by Markus Schleinzer
• 7 p.m. — Paper Tiger, directed by James Gray
• 9:15 p.m. — The Devils (35mm), directed by Ken Russell

Saturday, November 14

• 12 p.m. — Ray Gunn, directed by Brad Bird
• 2:15 p.m. — Coward, directed by Lukas Dhont
• 4:30 p.m. — Carl Sagan: We Are Made of Star Stuff, directed by Nanette Burstein
• 7 p.m. — Club Kid, directed by Jordan Firstman
• 9:15 p.m. — Miami Vice: The Director’s Final Cut, directed by Michael Mann



Sunday, November 15

• 11 a.m. — Julián, directed by Louise Bagnall
• 1 p.m. — All of a Sudden, directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
• 4:30 p.m. — Ink, directed by Danny Boyle
• 7:15 p.m. — Elsinore, directed by Simon Stone

Nestled in the heart of Ojai, California—a renowned destination for arts, entertainment, and nature lovers—the Ojai Playhouse is a historic treasure that has stood since 1914 as one of the state’s earliest single-screen cinemas. After a decade-long closure, this cherished landmark was restored and reopened in November 2024, blending state-of-the-art amenities with its enduring charm. The revitalized 200-seat venue now features cutting-edge audio and visual technology, live performance capabilities, and carefully preserved architectural details that honor its century-long legacy. Offering a curated mix of first-run arthouse films, timeless classics, live events, and community gatherings, the Ojai Playhouse serves as a vibrant hub for film, arts, and connection—proudly celebrating Ojai’s rich artistic spirit and cultural heritage for locals and visitors alike.

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