Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas
cinema intro“Cinema weather” used to be shorthand for conditions that require indoor entertainment, but today we’re checking the forecast to find out if it’s nice enough to catch a film under starry skies, as open-air film events pop up all over the globe.
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
sun pictureSun Picture Gardens (Broome, Australia): The (Guinness Book of Records-certified) oldest open-air cinema still in operation doesn’t just provide a welcome distraction in remote Broome, it’s also one of the most popular tourist attractions, thanks to its lovingly preserved heritage-listed exterior. .broomemovies.com.au
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
moonlightMoonlight Cinema (Australia): Of course, Australia doesn’t just have nostalgic open-air cinemas brimming with history, but also modern events in stunning settings, such as the Moonlight Cinema series in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Port Douglas and Sydney. moonlight.com.au
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
cine thisioCine Thisio (Athens): As the open-air season comes to an end in most locations Down Under, preparations are under way on the other side of the globe. Kicking off early is Athens, where cinephiles can already enjoy sophisticated programming in May, presented in a beautiful setting with Acropolis views. cine-thisio.gr
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
taorminaTaormina Film Fest (Sicily): For a similarly ancient backdrop, head for this Sicilian film festival. The star-studded event, which was launched in 1955, takes place in a classical amphitheatre. taorminafilmfest.net
4/21
Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
pingingPGNiG Transatlantyk Film Festival (Łódź, Poland): This Polish festival doesn’t just do cinema under the stars, instead offering a free programme of open-air screenings in unusual settings, such as a city square filled with four-poster beds, or in the middle of a bridge. transatlantyk.org
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
sarajevoSarajevo Film Festival: This festival offers two distinct al fresco programmes: Screenings at the 3,000-seat open-air cinema are often premieres attended by producers, actors and directors. The smaller Summer Screen only seats 150 and offers a selection of films beyond the competition. sff.ba
6/21
Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
five lakesFive Lakes Film Festival (Bavaria): Between Munich and the Alps, this charmingly laid-back festival screens a curated selection of independent films in cinemas and on lakeside screens in the Upper Bavarian Five Lakes District. fsff.de [Photo: FSFF/Broz, Reuther]
7/21
Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
summer nightsSummer Nights and The Luna Cinema (UK): Considering its notoriously changeable weather and short summers, Britain sure has a lot of open-air cinemas. Film fans across the island can choose between two series of events bringing blockbuster cinema to heritage estates, castles and other beautiful locations. summernightsfilm.co.uk, thelunacinema.com
8/21
Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
hot tubHot Tub Cinema (Various Locations): City dwellers feeling pessimistic about the weather can ensure they take a dip and stay warm all at once, at the weirdly appealing Hot Tub Cinema. From the first public screening in London, the concept has expanded to six locations in the UK, USA and Ibiza. hottubcinema.com [Photo: Hot Tub Cinema]
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
secretSecret Cinema (New York): The fully immersive series of cinematic events that pioneered the concept of “method watching” (encouraging patrons to dress the part, get in the mood and play along) is lightening the mood with outdoor screenings of Dirty Dancing this summer. secretcinema.org [Photo: Secret Cinema/Olivia Weetch]
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
cinespiaCinespia (Los Angeles): When you hear “open-air cinema,” your first association is probably not “in a graveyard”, but projecting cinema classics on the wall of a mausoleum just makes sense – at least when the graveyard in question is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. After all, for actors, death is the final step on the road to immortality. cinespia.org [Kelly Lee Barrett © Cinespia.org]
11/21
Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
film on the rocksFilm on the Rocks (Colorado): A different kind of amphitheatre – less antique, more natural, and just as suitable a stage for great tragedies and dramas as any Greek theatre. Red Rocks Amphitheatre shows a small series of blockbusters, accompanied by live music and comedy programming. film.redrocksonline.com [Photo: Kyle Manikowski]
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
rooftopRooftop Films (New York City): For a more urban experience, head for the rooftops – for example the original big city summer cinema, which started as a private (and illegal) event almost 20 years ago and is still going strong on rooftops across New York. rooftopfilms.com
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
rivieraRiviera Maya Film Festival (Mexico): This relatively young festival is all about the destination, with screenings taking place in dreamy beach resorts like Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cancún. The promise of a Caribbean cinema experience draws visitors and Hollywood stars alike. rmff.mx
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
ecoEcocinema (South America): You’ve heard of a mobile library, but a mobile cinema? The solar-powered Ecocinema bus brings international films to remote locations across South America. ecocinema.net
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
vivoVivo Open-Air (Brazil): The self-proclaimed “largest outdoor film festival in the world” travels between Brazilian cities, this year returning to Brasília with cinema classics and the most recent Oscar winners. openairbrasil.com.br
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
galileoThe Galileo (South Africa): A series of open-air cinemas across South Africa, with locations including vineyards, a quarry and arguably the most spectacular venue, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. thegalileo.co.za
17/21
Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
hkHong Kong Open-Air Cinema Club: These monthly screenings are a great chance to catch up on some Hollywood classics, as well as an excellent opportunity to rub shoulders with Hong Kong creatives. The screenings take place at coworking space the Hive, so you can network while you watch.
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
mirageMirage City Cinema (Sharjah, UAE): A true mirage in a desert city, this unique cinema screens art films, curated by the adjacent Sharjah Art Foundation. The cinema itself is also a work of art, commissioned as part of the Sharjah Biennial 11 Film Programme. sharjahart.org, buro-os.com
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
cine splashCine Splash (Dubai): Elsewhere in the UAE, Dubai Polo Club offers the ultimate in family-friendly summer entertainment. A poolside screen shows films that keep the kids entertained while they splash about in the water. poloclubdubai.com, facebook.com
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Summer’s Best Open-Air Cinemas.
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