Staying in Paris during the summer isn’t necessarily a punishment, provided you know how to enjoy it, as there are plenty of free events to go around during this summer period.
I wanted to put together a little guide to the free outdoor cinema screenings that you can discover in the capital this summer.
Cinema under the Moonlight
For its 12th edition, the Forum des Images is taking up summer residence from August 1st to August 12th, 2012, bringing cinema throughout Paris, from Montmartre to Montsouris, from Place des Fêtes to Place des Vosges, with the goal of watching or re-watching some of the films—classic or more contemporary—that have used the City of Light as their backdrop.
Wednesday, August 1st at 9:30 PM: La Belle Équipe by Julien Duvivier – Butte Montmartre, Square Louise-Michel – Entrance Place Saint-Pierre / Metro Anvers
Thursday, August 2nd at 9:30 PM : Les Diaboliques by Henri-Georges Clouzot – Place des Vosges, Square Louis XIII – Metro Chemin-Vert or Saint-Paul
Friday, August 3rd at 9:30 PM : The Kite from the End of the World by Roger Pigaut and Wang Kia-yi – Parc Montsouris, entrance at the corner of Rue Nansouty and Avenue Reille – RER Cité-Universitaire
Saturday, August 4th at 9:30 PM : The Perfect Furlough by Blake Edwards – Trocadéro Gardens, facing the fountains – Metro Trocadéro
Sunday, August 5th at 9:30 PM : César and Rosalie by Claude Sautet – Parc André Citroën, on the forecourt between the two large greenhouses – Metro Balard
Thursday, August 09th at 9:30 PM: Private Fears in Public Places by Alain Resnais – Parc de Choisy, main entrance on Avenue de Choisy – Metro Tolbiac or Place d’Italie
Friday, August 10th at 9:30 PM : The Apprentis by Pierre Salvadori – Place des Fêtes – Metro Place des Fêtes
Saturday, August 11th at 9:30 PM: Ridicule by Patrice Leconte – Pelouse de Reuilly, Metro Porte de Charenton
Sunday, August 12th at 9:30 PM : The Young Girls of Rochefort by Jacques Demy and Agnès Varda – Esplanade des Invalides – Metro Invalides
Ciné Quartier 13
In the 13th arrondissement, the City Hall offers a program of outdoor cinema screenings every Saturday evening from July 7th to August 4th, 2012 in various neighborhoods of the district. The screenings take place at nightfall and lounge chairs are available on-site, subject to availability.
Saturday, July 21st: Offside by Jafar Panahi – Square Rosny Aîné, 1 Rue du Docteur-Bourneville
Saturday, July 28th: Short Film Evening – Parc de Choisy, 128/160 Avenue de Choisy
Saturday, August 4th : The NeverEnding Story by Wolfgang Petersen – 6 Rue Joseph Bédier
La Chaise et l’Ecran – Outdoor cinema in the 11th arr.
From June 16th to August 31st, 2012, the 11th arrondissement City Hall invites you to attend free outdoor film screenings, featuring popular cinema classics. Note: each screening will begin with the showing of a short film.
Important: you must bring your own chair for each screening, otherwise you might end up watching the film while sitting on the ground!
Friday, July 20th at 10:30 PM : The Big Lebowski by Joel and Ethan Coen – Jardin de la Folie Titon, 17 Rue Titon – 75011 Paris
Friday, August 17th at 9:30 PM: Fanny and Alexander by Ingmar Bergman – Courtyard of the 11th district City Hall, 12 Place Léon Blum
Friday, August 31st at 9 PM: In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-wai – Jardin de la Folie Titon, access at 17 Rue Titon – Attention: chairs are prohibited in the garden, bring your blankets!
La Villette Outdoor Cinema
From Wednesday, July 25th to Sunday, August 26th, 2012 (Tuesday through Sunday), you can enjoy free screenings at nightfall in the capital’s largest open-air cinema!
You can choose to settle into the sun loungers with blankets available for rent, or bring your own setup to be comfortably installed.
This year, as a little bonus, the Outdoor Cinema offers films that are audio-described by the Valentin Haüy Association, thanks to the support of the Orange Foundation. This service is free upon request.
Below, MelleBonPlan’s little film selection.
Thursday, July 26th: The Science of Sleep by Michel Gondry
Thursday, August 2nd: Good Bye, Lenin! by Wolfgang Becker
Friday, August 3rd: A History of Violence by David Cronenberg
Thursday, August 16th: Poetry by Lee Chang-dong
Friday, August 17th: The Virgin Suicides by Sofia Coppola
Sunday, August 26th: Hair by Milos Forman
To see the full film program, visit the festival’s website: http://www.villette.com/fr/agenda/Cinema-en-plein-air-2012.htm
Free and open access
Rental of sun loungers and blankets (on-site): €7 / 5-lounger package: €20 / Villette Card: free sun loungers every night
Prairie du Triangle next to the Grande Halle de La Villette / 75019 Paris / Metro: Porte de Pantin
