Open-Air Cinema Extravaganza in Paris
Open-air cinema has been a delightful mainstay of Paris in the summer months. The Louvre has a grand version, Cinéma Paradiso Louvre 2025, co-produced by the film exhibitor MK2. (Part of the Les Etés du Louvre summer program.) The number of attendees is limited. You must enter an online lottery and hope for the best. The event takes place in the museum’s Cour Carrée. The screenings on a giant outdoor screen are accompanied by concerts, bars, food trucks and “surprises”. There will be no less than 7 food trucks and 5 bars. There’s also a parallel exhibit on fashion and objets celebrating the links between the cinema and fashion and decorative arts.
The Louvre program begins July 2, when Sofia Coppola personally presenting her first film Virgin Suicides. That will be followed by Wong Kar-Wai’s Mood for Love and in homage to David Lynch, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. The program closes with the screening of L’Agent Secret (Secret Agent) presented by its director Kleber Mendonça Filho. Here’s the official schedule:
July 2
9 pm DJ set by Piu Piu
10:20 pm Presentation by Sofia Coppola
10:45 pm Virgin Suicides (1999) by Sofia Coppola
July 3
9:15 pm Surprise concert (to be announced)
10: 25 Presentation of film
10:50 In the Mood for Love (2000) by Wong Kar-Wai
July 4
9 pm Concert: Asfar Shamsi, Sam Sauvage, Tuerie
10:40 pm Presentation of film
11:00 pm Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) by David Lynch
July 5
7:45 pm DJ set by Fip Squad
9:00 pm Presentation of film by the director
10:35 pm L’Agent secret (Secret Agent) – by Kleber Mendonça Filho – sneak preview in the presence of the director
Photo: louvre.fr
Parc de La Villette
The free and convivial program at La Villette, the former stockyards transformed into a sprawling science and culture center, is back after a “pause” last year due to the Olympics and Paralympics. It runs from July 17 to August 17. This year’s theme is dance and music.
A new feature being offered this year is “intergenerational” fare at 6 pm. Afterwards (9 pm) come the classics. A new screen means being able to project the films before dark (and thus finish before the last metro).
There are old-time classics like A Star Is Born (the George Cukor version), Singin’ In the Rain, The Band Wagon, and Wizard of Oz., boomer greats like Hair, New York, New York, Annie and All that Jazz, and more recent spectacles like La La Land, Barbie, Joyland and En Corps.
While entry is free, you have to reserve a chair at villette.com. Note: Because of the possibility of very hot weather, the organizers recommend that you come with a fan or container of water, just in case. You may bring a “picnic”, but no animals are permitted (excepting guide dogs and the like). Note that films that are not in English normally do not have English subtitles.
La Villette
211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 19th
Metro: Ourcq
Schedule:
Wednesday July 23
Ballerina – Eric Summer, Eric Warin, 2016 (1 hr. 30 minutes) 6 pm
La La Land – Damien Chazelle, 2017 (2 hr. 8 minutes) 9 pm
Thursday, July 24
Kirikou and the Wild Beast – Michel Ocelot, Bénédicte Galup, 2005 (1 hr. 15 min) 6 pm
Chicago – Bob Marshall, 2003 – (1 hr 53 min) 9 pm
Friday July 25
Samuel – Emilie Tronche, 2023 – (21 5-minute episodes) 6 pm
Barbie – Greta Gerwig, 2023 – (1 hr. 54 minutes) 9 pm
Saturday July 26
Happy Feet – George Miller, Judy Morris, Warren Coleman, 2006 (1 hour 48 minutes) 6 pm
Grease – Randall Kleiser, 1978 (1 hr, 45 min) 9 pm
Sunday July 27
The Wizard of Oz – Victor Fleming, King Vidor, George Cukor, 1946 (1 hr, 41 minutes) 6 pm
A Star is Born – George Cukor, 1955 (2 hrs, 34 minutes) 9 pm
Wednesday July 30
Minuscule 2, Les Mandibules du bout du monde – Thomas Szabo, Hélène Giraud, 2019 (1 hr, 32 minutes) 6 pm
Rize – David LaChapelle, 2005 (1 hr, 24 minutes) 9 pm
Thursday July 31
Annie – John Huston, 1982 (2 hrs, 6 minutes) 6 pm
Elvis – Baz Luhrmann, 2022 (2 hrs 39 minutes) 9 pm
Friday August 1
Mars Attacks! – Tim Burton, 1997 (1 hr, 46 minutes) 6 pm
Hair – Milos Forman, 1979 (2 hrs, 1 min) 9 pm
Saturday August 2
Wallace and Gromit: The Mystery of the Werewolf – Nick Park, Steve Box, 2005 (1 hr, 25 minutes) 6 pm
New York, New York – Martin Scorsese, 1977 (2 hrs, 35 min) 9 pm
Sunday August 3
Jean de la lune – Stephan Schesch, Sarah Clara Weber, 2012 (1 hr 35 minutes) 6 pm
Rocketman – Dexter Fletcher, 2019 (2 hrs, 1 min) 9 pm
Wednesday August 6
Calamity, une enfance de Martha Jane Cannary – Rémi Chayé, 2020 (1 hr, 22 min) 6 pm
All That Jazz – Bob Fosse, 1980 (2 hrs, 5 min) 9 pm
Thursday August 7
Antz – Eric Darnell, Tim Johnson, Lawrence Guterman, 1998 (1 hr, 23 min) 6 pm
Hairspray – John Waters, 1998 (1 hr, 36 min) 9 pm
Friday August 8
Chicken Run – Peter Lord, Nick Park, 2000 (1 hr, 24 min) 6 pm
Les Misérables – Tom Hooper, 2013 (2 hrs, 38 min) 9 pm
Saturday August 9
Ma Vie de Courgette – Claude Barras, 2016 (1 hr, 6 min) 6 pm
Les Choristes – Christophe Barratier, 2004 (1 hr, 37 min) 9 pm
Sunday August 10
Singin’ in the Rain – Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly, 1953 (1 hr, 43 min) 6 pm
The Band Wagon – Vincente Minnelli, 1954 (1 hr, 52 min) 9 pm
Wednesday August 13
Stuart Little – Rob Minkoff, 2000 (1 hr, 32 min) 6 pm
Joyland – Saim Sadiq, 2022 (2 hrs, 6 min) 9 pm
Thursday August 14
Song of the Sea – Tomm Moore, 2014 (1 hr, 33 min) 6 pm
The Party – Blake Edwards, 1969 (1 hr 39 min) 9 pm
Friday August 15
Madagascar – Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, 2005 (1 hr, 26 min) 6 pm
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – Stephan Elliott, 1994 (1 hr, 44 min) 9 pm
Saturday August 16
A Monster in Paris – Bibo Bergeron, 2011 (1 hr, 22 min) 6 pm
Mamma Mia ! – Phyllis Lloyd, 2008 (1 hr 50 min) 9
Sunday August 17
Sing – Garth Jennings, 2016 (1 hr 48 min) 6 pm
En corps – Cédric Klapish, 2022 (1 hr 50 min) 9 pm
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Au Cœur des Arènes: Dolcevita-sur-Seine
July 4 to July 8
The Roman arena in Paris’ 5th arrondissement will fittingly play host to an open-air program of Italian cinema. The Dolcevita On the Seine is placing 450 chairs at the disposal of the public. Screenings take place at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm, always introduced by a presentation. All events are free of charge. There will also be a photo exhibit, Ti Amo, Cinema, dedicated to French-Italian co-productions. In addition to the open-air screenings is a program of films to be shown at the Ecoles Cinéma Club (23 rue des Ecoles). For further info see: www.dolcevitasurseine.com
Schedule:
July 4 Rome, Open City by Roberto Rossellini – 1945 – 9 pm
July 5 The Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio by Agostino Ferrente – 2007 – 6
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Festival Silhouette
August 29 – 6 September
The festival is sponsored by the Association Silhouette, which gathers film professionals and amateurs to promote filmmaking for both young and old. It takes place at the Parc de la Butte du Chapeau-Rouge in the 19th arrondissement, with the help of more than 100 volunteers, and is dedicated to short films. It’s the largest free open-air festival in Paris for shorts. There’s a program of international shorts, hybrid and experimental films, documentaries, film-school samplings, clips, and films by young people. A concert precedes each screening. Free of charge. Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge, 5 Avenue Debidour, Paris 19. Metro Pré St Gervais. For a list of the selection of films and other information, see www.association-silhouette.com.
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Une Toile Sous les Etoiles: A Screen Under the Stars
July 23 to 26.
This event takes place at La Monaie de Paris (the Paris Mint) and will show a slate of classic blockbusters: Amadeus, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Visitors and Inception. The show begins at 7 pm with music and refreshments available from food trucks. The screenings are scheduled for 9:30 pm and cost 8 euros. Free for children under 12. 11 Quai du Conti, 6th arrondissement. Metro Louvre Rivoli.
July 23 Amadeus (1984, by Milos Forman).
July 24 The Count of Monte Cristo (2024 by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte.
July 25 Les Visiteurs (The Visitors, 1993, Jean-Marie Poiré)
July 26 Inception (2010, Christopher Nolan)
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Hotel Paradiso
June 15 to September 14
The MK2 cinema complex on rue Diderot near Nation includes movie theater, gallery, bar, hotel and more. It is holding rooftop screenings every Sunday evening at 9:30 pm. Film plus drink: 18 Euros. Limited seating, reserve online. 135 Boulevard Diderot, 12th arrondissement. Metro Nation.
For more info: www.mk2hotelparadiso.com
Schedule:
Hotel Paradiso’s first two dates (FYI: June 29 Holiday by Guillaume Nicloux, July 6, On the Road by Walter Salles) are already fully booked. I was told that future titles and dates will be announced on the site on a rolling basis, the next sometime in the beginning of July.
Plaza Cinéma Club
June 29 to July 6
The renowned Plaza Athénée hotel is projecting films in its courtyard garden. The program features classics and gourmet cuisine. The films include Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 29), Sabrina (June 30), Casino Royale (July 1), Amélie (July 2), Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (July 3), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (July 4), The Godfather Part II (July 5), Le Sens de la Fête (July 6). The screenings start at 9:30 pm. The price is (gulp!) 290 Euros per person. (“But it’s the Plaza Athénée, baby!”). It is recommended that you reserve your table in advance.
Lead photo credit : Cinema en Plein Air/ courtesy of Parc de la Villette
More in Le Plaza Athénée, Louvre, open-air cinema, Parc de la Villette, summer, summer in Paris
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