SALA News:
The Oppenheimer Festival, recipient of New Mexico’s 2024 Top HAT Award for Best New Experience, returns for its third and most immersive year yet, transforming Los Alamos into a cinematic, cultural, and historical destination from Aug. 16-31.
With the 2025 theme “Peace, Legacy & Explore”, the festival invites locals and visitors to walk in the footsteps of J. Robert Oppenheimer, uncover hidden chapters of atomic history, and engage with the vibrant modern community that emerged from the once-secret “Hill”.
Highlights include:
- Daily free screenings of The Manhattan Series, short films, and VR experiences;
- Opening Day Walk to the Oppenheimer House (Aug. 16) and Special Tribute to Nancy Bartlit;
- Peace Week (Aug. 21-24): Richland, Dr. Strangelove, First We Bombed New Mexico;
- Legacy Week (Aug. 28-31): The Cosmic Trigger premiere, LANL lectures, and Nolan’s Oppenheimer;
- Guided tours & Self-guided tours via app: Legacy Walk, and Road to The Hill; and
- Free Visitor Badge with rewards system, redeemable for concessions and collectibles;
Explore Los Alamos through augmented reality, film locations, museums, and living history—all while supporting local businesses.
Timed alongside Santa Fe Indian Market (Aug. 21-24) and Zozobra (Aug. 29), the festival positions Los Alamos as a must-visit stop between Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve.
“Learn more and get your badge, plan your visit at oppenheimerfestival.com.”
About the Oppenheimer Festival
Founded in 2023, the community-powered Oppenheimer Festival uses film, VR, tours, and dialogue to examine the atomic legacy of Los Alamos.
About SALA Los Alamos Event Center
A revitalized four-screen cinema and cultural hub in downtown Los Alamos, SALA offers films, events, and immersive programming year-round.