Matthias Fest in Santa Ana: How a 22-Year-Old Movie Fan is Hosting a Community Film Festival for His Birthday
On Sept. 19, former theater employee Matthias Avina will host “Matthias Fest” at Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, California. The 22-year-old movie fanatic is transforming his birthday celebration into a free public film festival featuring five beloved titles, physical media swaps, and community activities to give back to local moviegoers.
The Bottom Line
- The Event: Matthias Fest takes place on Sept. 19 at Frida Cinema, Orange County’s only non-profit arthouse theater.
- The Lineup: Screenings include “Dog Man,” “Muppets From Space,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” and “Seed of Chucky.”
- The Motivation: After initially booking an auditorium for a private gathering with friends, Avina decided to open the doors to the public for free to share his love of the big screen.
From Private Birthday Bash to Community Screening at Frida Cinema
For those who know Matthias Avina, choosing a movie theater as a birthday party venue was a natural choice. But it is what the 22-year-old decided after that initial booking that has local film enthusiasts cheering. Avina originally booked an auditorium to binge-watch favorite films with his friends.
Here is the kicker. Instead of sitting in a half-empty room, Avina shifted gears entirely. As he told ABC7, “I was like, ‘Well, why would I have, like, kind of an empty theater? You know, what if I just let people kind of crash my own party?'”
That generous impulse found a willing partner in Frida Cinema. Bekah Phillips, marketing director for the venue, noted that the concept caught on instantly. “We kind of pride ourselves on being more than just, like, a movie theater, more of, like, a community space,” Phillips explained. “So, it’s one of those things where it just totally made sense.”
Inside the Matthias Fest Lineup and Activities
The free community screenings begin at 2 p.m. on Sept. 19, catering to a wide spectrum of cinematic tastes. Audiences can catch daytime and evening screenings of “Dog Man,” “Muppets From Space,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” and “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” before the schedule pivots to a late-night screening of the horror flick “Seed of Chucky” at 10 p.m.
Beyond the silver screen, the festival doubles as an interactive community fair. Families with children can grab free “Dog Man” books during the 2 p.m. showing. Meanwhile, attendees can participate in a raffle, browse a free physical media swap table, and take part in hands-on craft activities.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Matthias Avina (Age 22, former theater employee) |
| Location | Frida Cinema, Santa Ana, CA (Orange County’s only non-profit arthouse) |
| Date | September 19 |
| Featured Films | “Dog Man,” “Muppets From Space,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” “Seed of Chucky” |
| Cost | Free community admission |
Why Community-Driven Screenings Matter in Orange County
Phillips emphasized that offering free access arrives at a crucial time when many in Orange County are looking for ways to stretch their dollars.
“They’re all these movies that are, like, huge hits for us, usually, so being able to, like have, that free to our community is just… it’s just the best,” Phillips said. “There’s nothing more fun than sitting in a theater with a crowd full of people watching a movie you love.”
By championing physical media swaps and free repertory screenings, Matthias Fest transforms a private birthday milestone into a shared public celebration of the theatrical experience.
What are your favorite childhood movies you would love to experience back on the big screen with a crowd? Let us know your dream festival lineup in the comments below.
