Spotted By Locals has posted an interesting article highlighting the best outdoor cinemas in Europe. With their permission we post the following list of the best 10 (in alphabetical order):

1. Athens – Outdoor cinema Zefyros (by Lambros Papadopoulos)
“Its location is a serious advantage. Petralona is one of the most beautiful areas of Athens…”

2. Barcelona -Sala Montjuic open air cinema (by Yolanda Molinero)
“Time to open the wine bottle! You didn’t bring any food with you? No worries!”

3. Geneva – Ciné Transat Parc la Perle du Lac (by Lorcan Meyfarth)
“The scenery is beautiful, the movie is free, and deckchairs are available to borrow… ”

4. Hamburg – Freiluftkino in 4 different venues (by Valeska Bolze)
“…have fun to hear the funny German voices in one of your favourite movies…”

5. Helsinki outdoor movies at Helsinki Festival (by Nea Barman)
“This free open-air cinema is best that the city can offer in my opinion…”

6. Munich Open Air Kino (by Emily Rasch)
“It’s a great place to take a date – or a romantic place to be surprised with one…”

7. Paris – Cinéma au Clair de Lune outside cinema (by Fred Moussaïan)
“…. even if you don’t understand the language, it is worth going there, for the friendly and laid-back atmosphere…”

8. Zagreb – Summer Festival open air cinema (by Karla Lončar)
“It’s pretty secluded, which usually makes it very special among younger couples or people…”

9. Zurich – Orange Cinema (by Roman Rey)
” …you sit on the shore, watching a popcorn flick and have the whole beautiful view of the lake surrounding the screen. Isn’t that something?”

10. And one of Holland’s favorite outdoor cinema festivals – currently on in Amsterdam, is Pluk de nacht.

So Sunday night and the lights are low, as Bjorn and Benny almost wrote, turned out to be a tremendous evening, and I speak as someone who attended the world’s smallest-ever Abba event -

the world premiere of Mamma Mia! The Movie on the tiny Greek island of Skopelos.

How did this David and Goliath of Abba entertainment compare? On the island in the western Aegean, where most of the film was shot, none of the movie’s big names turned up for the charming, low-key event in 2008.

In fact, the only stars there were the ones that glittered in the inky sky.

At the tiny open-air Orpheus cinema in Skopelos town, we sat on canvas garden chairs and watched the film on a much more humble screen than the O2 monster.

In fact, it was a rather makeshift affair, strung between two houses. You could see clothes flapping on the washing lines behind.

You could even make out the plastic pegs.

Back then, the only preshow entertainment was a turn from the local mayor, who made a speech which was nearly drowned out by wailing feedback and the thrash of cicadas in the plum trees.

The film had to be stopped halfway through to change reels, but enthusiasm did not dim. Afterwards there was hot spinach pie and cocktails and questions from the locals.

‘This man, Pierce Brosnan. Is he a singer?’ they wondered.

Well, we are all still wondering about that. In the meantime, the Mamma Mia! Phenomenon has rolled on to conquer the world.

The stage show has been seen by more than 40 million people around the globe, while the film has grossed £69.16 million at the UK box office alone.

Jan Moir

Excerpt from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1246089/Screeching-Spandex-Super-Troupers-Jan-Moir-joins-worlds-biggest-Abba-singalong.html

During your stay in Greece, do not fail to go at least once to one of the hundreds summer open air cinemas that are scattered all over the country. It is a unique experience, as summer outdoor movies are one of the Greek people’s most popular forms of entertainment during spring and summer. At the same time, they are an inextricable part of the cultural identity of the country and have left their traces in the memory of many generations. They provide outdoor movies that may feature Greek films or American blockbusters.

There are open air cinemas in all the Greek cities and many holiday resorts. They operate in open-air areas, roofs, empty lots, parks etc, are usually surrounded by small natural or artificial gardens where plants such as honeysuckle, bougainvilleas and jasmine prevail, and their floor is covered with pebbles. Traditionally, cinephiles have the opportunity to enjoy a refreshment or a drink under the starry sky while watching a film, as next to the easy director’s style chairs there are small tables, giving you the impression of sitting in an open-air bar.

In recent years, more and more summer cinemas have opened that differ from the older ones in architectural and stylistic terms, as they have more comfortable chairs, state-of-the-art equipment, a wider range of products offered in their cantinas and wooden floors instead of pebbles.

Outdoor movie shows usually start around 9 p.m., as it has to be dark first. In Greece films are not dubbed, with the exception of certain children’s films, but have Greek subtitles. Among the many summer open air cinemas in Athens, try a visit at Aegli cinema near the Zappeion Palace at the National Gardens, or Cine Paris in Plaka with an excellent night view of the Acropolis.

Read full article at: http://grhomeboy.wordpress.com/2007/07/25/summer-open-air-cinemas-in-greece/

Nothing compares to a night out with friends to an open-air cinema and under the stars, cooled by the summer breeze; see Cary Grant running away from an airplane or enchanting Rita Hayworth throwing a glove at you. The Athens centre has at least 15 open-air cinemas that usually open in June and close in September or with the first rains. Some of them operate also in the winter, since they have a retractable roof that opens and closes depending on the weather.

Open-air cinemas are the trademark of Greek summer and we are all waiting for them to open with eagerness. The beginning of summer projections is the signal for us to leave our houses and fill the terraces and backyards enjoying a lemon drink and popcorn.

Open air cinemas first opened in Greece in the beginning of 1900 and their most prolific period was between 1958-1974. They are usually on a terrace of a block of flats or in a backyard; their screen and walls around are surrounded by a floral decor to give as much as possible the impression of a traditional backyard. Jasmine is nostalgically connected to open-air cinemas, imagine there is a song dedicated to that, but jasmine has gradually disappeared together with the open-air cinemas institution.

The outdoor movies that are usually projected are reruns of first-run films from the winter period and remakes of classical movies of the world cinema that attract the wider public. Many movies have a second round success in open-air cinemas, after their projection in the winter in indoor cinemas.

Seldom one can see a first screening film or a Greek movie. Usually, one cannot see thrillers in open-air cinemas, nor splatter films and science fiction and generally movies with many effects, and this is for “technical reasons”. Various effects create a lot of noise and disturb the neighbors. If the sound is lower, the viewers will not like the movie and there will be complaints. So, a mean solution in selected. Social movies, comedies, police movies, cinephile, something particularly enjoyable that fits the spirit and disposition of the viewer during the summer period. The public’s attention is every year drawn to remakes of classic black and white movies. And believe me, black and white movies are ideal for open-air cinemas. Hitchcock is the public’s preferred director.

The experience to see an outdoor movie under the star-filled sky is unique. You get the feeling that you enjoy something forbidden and you feel very lucky. You are of course very jealous of those who live in a block of flats nearby and see the movies for free. It is also fun to sit in the dark and see lights turn on and off from the nearby block of flats.

The plastic or director’s chairs, the little table in the middle, a refreshing drink, classic popcorns or nachos, and enjoy! Generally bars in Greek open-air movies are fully equipped while they don’t offer the same things. However all have: beers, coffees, soft drinks, lemon ice, popcorn, nachos, potato crisps, chocolates, ice creams and some others cheese pies, sandwiches and appetizers.

After a movie in an open-air cinema you can stroll in Athens’ small streets or go to a tavern or to a bar for a drink. Everyone leaves with a feeling of satisfaction.

We propose you some cinemas and directions to get there:

• One of the oldest open-air cinemas in Athens is Zefyros in Thiseio, which is especially for cinephiles. Close by, one can find the cinema Thisseio. Nearest metro station, Thisseio.

• Stepping down the Psirri square, one can find the homonym cinema which has a small bar where you can get a drink after the end of the film. Of course, it is imperative to stroll around the area.

• In the area of Exarheia and around, one can find the most open-air cinemas, that is where the open-air cinema’s heart beats. In Exarheia square on a terrace there is the VOX cinema, while on Valtetsiou street, there is Riviera in a magnificent backyard. The area is very welcoming and full of life with many cafes, taverns and restaurants.

• Up Mavromichali street to Alexandra street you’ll find ALFAVIL and Panathinaia and at the same level but on Zoodochou Pigis Street, Ecran. From Panepistimio metro station, you can reach all these on foot. You will walk more to get to Mavromichali, except if you go via Alexandra avenue which is closer by. Of course, you can take any bus goes up Ch. Trikoupi, which is parallel to Mavromichali, and get off two stops before Alexandra avenue.

• In Kolonaki, the most classy area of Athens, you can find one of the oldest cinemas in Athens, if not the oldest, that of Dexameni, in the homonymous square. There is a long walking distance, and a bit uphill.

• In the center of Zappeio you will find Aigli cinema. It is at the end of the planted with trees road, by the restaurant. Closest metro station, Syntagma.

• On the other side of the city, at Kodringtonos road, Patision side-road, there is Trianon, classic cinephil meeting place for summer-winter.

• Alternatively, there is the bar 45 mires in the area of Gazi, on the terrace of which with view over the Acropolis you can see any film you like, without however listening to the music or the dialogs of the movie, but to the rock music of the café while enjoying your drink.

Excerpt from “Open Air Cinemas” by Stella Stylianou. Read full article at: http://www.igogreece.com/en/GreeceReviews.asp?revCateg=4&id=65

Open Air Cinemas have been established in Greece for decades and have become an ideal place for relaxing and entertaining evenings of outdoor movies during the summer months.

In Santorini (an island that is within the first decade of the most popular holiday destinations throughout the world), the Open Air Cinema Kamari continues for over 20 years to offer visitors and locals unique evenings at the movies in an ideal environment.

With modern sound and projection, A’ class movies, it’s garden like atmosphere, discrete lighting and the respect to the traditional architecture of Santorini, the cinema has developed into a popular and successful business.

Aware of it’s role in the local society, the cinema tries to contribute (with the support of the local authorities) being the home to various cultural events (Theatrics, Concerts) during the summer months.

History of Open Air Cinemas

From ancient times the theatres in Greece were open roofed; with the development of the cinema, films were shown in the local “Kafeneion’s” and central squares of the towns and villages throughout the country, as well as in the theatres. In time many of the older theatres were remodeled to cater for the cinema.

In the 1920’s films shown were still without sound, and were shown with background music from gramophones, pianos or even orchestras, depending on the type of film.

Due to the popularity of this new type of entertainment, open air cinemas started being created all over the country, with a unique type of architecture (some of which were designed by famous architects of the time) needing enough space for the screen and audience, toilets, and a bar for refreshments, and the projector room.

In the 1930’s the use of tickets became compulsory.

From this time onwards the cinema, especially open air cinema, became a part of Greek life, and has remained one of the most popular types of entertainment, charming its audience throughout the warm summer evenings.

Visit the official Open Air Cinema Kamari site at: http://www.cinekamari.gr/enframe.htm

Outdoor movies and inflatable movie screens have been appearing in locations all around the world. Over time we will be adding links to articles about outdoor movies and open air cinema events. These articles are listed according to the country where the inflatable movie screen has been set up or the country where the outdoor movie event takes place.

A

• Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
• Afghanistan – Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
• Akrotiri and Dhekelia – Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK overseas territory)
• Åland – Åland Islands (Autonomous province of Finland)
• Albania – Republic of Albania
• Algeria – People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
• American Samoa – Territory of American Samoa (US territory)
• Andorra – Principality of Andorra
• Angola – Republic of Angola
• Anguilla (UK overseas territory)
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina – Argentine Republic
• Armenia – Republic of Armenia
• Aruba (Self-governing country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
• Ascension Island (Dependency of the UK overseas territory of Saint Helena)
• Australia – Commonwealth of Australia
• Austria – Republic of Austria
• Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan

B

• Bahamas, The – Commonwealth of The Bahamas
• Bahrain – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Bangladesh – People’s Republic of Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belarus – Republic of Belarus
• Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium
• Belize
• Benin – Republic of Benin
• Bermuda (UK overseas territory)
• Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan
• Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana – Republic of Botswana
• Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil
• Brunei – Negara Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria
• Burkina Faso
• Burma – Union of Myanmar
• Burundi – Republic of Burundi

C

• Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia
• Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon
• Canada
• Cape Verde – Republic of Cape Verde
• Cayman Islands (UK overseas territory)
• Central African Republic
• Chad – Republic of Chad
• Chile – Republic of Chile
• China – People’s Republic of China
• For “China, Republic of”, see Taiwan
• Christmas Island – Territory of Christmas Island (Australian overseas territory)
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australian overseas territory)
• Colombia – Republic of Colombia
• Comoros – Union of the Comoros
• Congo – Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Congo – Republic of the Congo
• Cook Islands (Associated state of New Zealand)
• Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica
• Côte d’Ivoire – Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
• Croatia – Republic of Croatia
• Cuba – Republic of Cuba
• Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus
• Czech Republic

D

• Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark
• For “Dhekelia”, see Akrotiri and Dhekelia
• Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti
• Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica
• Dominican Republic

E

• East Timor – Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
• Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador
• Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt
• El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea – State of Eritrea
• Estonia – Republic of Estonia
• Ethiopia – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

F

• Falkland Islands (UK overseas territory)
• Faroe Islands (Self-governing country in the Kingdom of Denmark)
• Fiji – Republic of the Fiji Islands
• Finland – Republic of Finland
• France – French Republic
• French Polynesia (French overseas collectivity)

G

• Gabon – Gabonese Republic
• Gambia, The – Republic of The Gambia
• Georgia
• Germany – Federal Republic of Germany
• Ghana – Republic of Ghana
• Gibraltar (UK overseas territory)
• Greece – Hellenic Republic
• Greenland (Self-governing country in the Kingdom of Denmark)
• Grenada
• Guam – Territory of Guam (US organized territory)
• Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala
• Guernsey – Bailiwick of Guernsey (British Crown dependency)
• Guinea – Republic of Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana

H

• Haiti – Republic of Haiti
• Honduras – Republic of Honduras
• Hong Kong – Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (Area of special sovereignty)
• Hungary – Republic of Hungary

I

• Iceland – Republic of Iceland
• India – Republic of India
• Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia
• Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran
• Iraq – Republic of Iraq
• Ireland – Ireland
• Isle of Man (British Crown dependency)
• Israel – State of Israel
• Italy – Italian Republic
• For “Ivory Coast”, see Côte d’Ivoire

J

• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jersey – Bailiwick of Jersey (British Crown dependency)
• Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

K

• Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan
• Kenya – Republic of Kenya
• Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati
• Korea, North – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
• Korea, South – Republic of Korea
• Kosovo – Republic of Kosovo
• Kuwait – State of Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz Republic

L

• Laos – Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Latvia – Republic of Latvia
• Lebanon – Republic of Lebanon
• Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho
• Liberia – Republic of Liberia
• Libya – Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
• Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein
• Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania
• Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

M

• Macao – Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (Area of special sovereignty)
• Macedonia – Republic of Macedonia
• Madagascar – Republic of Madagascar
• Malawi – Republic of Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives – Republic of Maldives
• Mali – Republic of Mali
• Malta – Republic of Malta
• Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania
• Mauritius – Republic of Mauritius
• Mayotte – Departmental Collectivity of Mayotte (French overseas collectivity)
• Mexico – United Mexican States
• Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia
• Moldova – Republic of Moldova
• Monaco – Principality of Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Montserrat (UK overseas territory)
• Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco
• Mozambique – Republic of Mozambique
• For “Myanmar”, see Burma

N

• Nagorno-Karabakh – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh)
• Namibia – Republic of Namibia
• Nauru – Republic of Nauru
• Nepal – Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
• Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands
• Netherlands Antilles (Self-governing country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
• New Caledonia – Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies (French community sui generis)
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua
• Niger – Republic of Niger
• Nigeria – Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Niue (Associated state of New Zealand)
• Norfolk Island – Territory of Norfolk Island (Australian overseas territory)
• Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
• Northern Mariana Islands – Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US commonwealth)
• For “North Korea”, see Korea, North
• Norway – Kingdom of Norway

O

• Oman – Sultanate of Oman

P

• Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• Palau – Republic of Palau
• Palestine – Palestinian Territories
• Panama – Republic of Panama
• Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay
• For “People’s Republic of China”, see China
• Peru – Republic of Peru
• Philippines – Republic of the Philippines
• Pitcairn Islands – Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands (UK overseas territory)
• Poland – Republic of Poland
• Portugal – Portuguese Republic
• For “Pridnestrovie”, see Transnistria
• Puerto Rico – Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (US commonwealth)

Q

• Qatar – State of Qatar

R

• Romania
• Russia – Russian Federation
• Rwanda – Republic of Rwanda

S

• Saint Barthélemy – Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy (French overseas collectivity)
• Saint Helena (UK overseas territory)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Martin – Collectivity of Saint Martin (French overseas collectivity)
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon – Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (French overseas collectivity)
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa – Independent State of Samoa
• San Marino – Most Serene Republic of San Marino
• São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
• Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Senegal – Republic of Senegal
• Serbia – Republic of Serbia
• Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles
• Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone
• Singapore – Republic of Singapore
• Slovakia – Slovak Republic
• Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia – Somali Republic
• Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland
• South Africa – Republic of South Africa
• For “South Korea”, see Korea, South
• South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia
• Spain – Kingdom of Spain
• Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
• Sudan – Republic of the Sudan
• Suriname – Republic of Suriname
• Svalbard (Territory of Norway)
• Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland
• Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden
• Switzerland – Swiss Confederation
• Syria – Syrian Arab Republic

T

• Taiwan – Republic of China
• Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan
• Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania
• Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand
• For “Timor-Leste”, see East Timor
• Togo – Togolese Republic
• Tokelau (Overseas territory of New Zealand)
• Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga
• Transnistria – Transnistrian Moldovan Republic
• Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
• Tristan da Cunha (Dependency of the UK overseas territory of Saint Helena)
• Tunisia – Tunisian Republic
• Turkey – Republic of Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands (UK overseas territory)
• Tuvalu

U

• Uganda – Republic of Uganda
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• United States – United States of America
• Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay
• Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan

V

• Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu
• Vatican City – State of the Vatican City
• Venezuela – Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
• Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam
• Virgin Islands, British – British Virgin Islands (UK overseas territory)
• Virgin Islands, United States – United States Virgin Islands (US organized territory)

W

• Wallis and Futuna – Territory of Wallis and Futuna Islands (French overseas collectivity)
• Western Sahara – Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

Y

• Yemen – Republic of Yemen

Z

• For “Zaire”, see Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Zambia – Republic of Zambia
• Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe