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.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the next movie on our list of the Top 25 Outdoor Movies of All Time. The film is an action packed adventure that will definitely bring out a big crowd in just about any community. But before we tell you why, here’s the theatrical release trailer:

The film is the third stop in the Indiana Jones saga, and begins with the young Indiana getting into a scuffle on a scout trip in Utah with some grave robbers after he steals a jeweled cross out from under them. He eventually gives it back, but the leader of the robbers gives Indiana his hat, something that Indiana will keep as his trademark (along with his whip). Then, we fast forward to the adult Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), who is told his father Henry (Sean Connery) mysteriously disappeared when doing research for the holy grail. Of course, Indiana begins to search for his father, and is led through a series of clues that takes him on a nonstop ride of classic Indiana Jones adventure as he encounters ancient relics, Nazi enemies, and enemies that are right under his nose.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a classic film that is entertaining in ways that contemporary adventure films can’t compete with. The film doesn’t rely too heavily on CGI graphics or massive explosions or violence, but rather on quick paced mystery and adventure that makes Indiana Jones unique. The film was a difficult one to make and included filming locations in Spain, Italy, England, and Jordan. The movie is PG-13, and we wouldn’t recommend it for small children, but would be great for teenagers and young adults, or for a date-night outdoor cinema event! It is also a great selection for school groups and colleges, and will bring out plenty of people. This is a great pick because many will not have seen the film for some time, and will come watch it under the stars for nostalgia’s sake!

As with many of the films on our Top 25 list, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a great selection in part for the possibilities it brings for pre-movie activities. You could have a look-alike Indiana Jones contest, with audience members voting on the best dressed and best posed contestant! You could even have a “holy grail”, or other faux-treasure for the winner, along with sponsored prized from your nearby local businesses. In fact, getting sponsors for your events is a great way to pay for movie licensing, equipment upgrade, and for staff support! It is a way for local businesses to show that they care about their community, and there is no better opportunity to get in front of thousands of their potential customers.

As usual, if anyone at all has shown this film as an outdoor movie, we’d love to see your images and hear your story! Send us a note at community@openaircinema.us, and we’ll share your story with the global outdoor cinema community!

As Azura leaves Southampton behind and heads for Malaga, the first port of call on her maiden voyage, it’s time to take a considered view of what P&O’s newest ship has to offer, and how it compares with sister ship Ventura.

Designed to appeal more to P&O’s traditional customers, the 3,100-passenger Azura promises “classical touches with contemporary style,” whereas Ventura made a big thing about being a family-friendly ship, complete with circus skills classes and a rock school.

Structurally, the two ships are almost identical although Azura – which cost £380 million – has what is known as a ducktail stern to improve stability and fuel consumption. There are other differences: up top, the new ship has an open-air cinema screen above the midships swimming pool; on her older sister the pool can be covered by a sliding glass roof – perfect for chilly days in northern waters.

John Honeywell

Read More…

Roll Out The Red Carpet

FILM-BUFFS all along the Costa are in for a treat this month as Alfaz del Pi’s famous cinema festival kicked off on Sunday.

But they will have to move quickly, since the festival will only run until Sunday, July 12.

Now in its 21st year, the festival will feature 40 films with actors from all over the world taking centre stage.

And with short films making up the numbers, the total comes to 131.

These include unseen footage, experimental film, independent and art-house cinema as well as more mainstream projections.

Among the better-known productions are Pedro Almodovar’s latest work, Los abrazos rotos (literally, ‘broken hugs’); The reader, starring Kate Winslet, and Slumdog millionaire.

Classics like A Christmas carol and the life story of Coco Chanel are also on the programme.

They are shown in Spanish in the Casa de Cultura, on an open-air screen on the beach, and the Cinema Roma.

Up-and-coming national actors make up the bulk of the star-studded guests.

Alfaz del Pi’s film festival has been given the coveted title of Event of Regional Tourist Interest.

Along the seafront esplanade, Paseo de las Estrellas (‘boulevard of the stars’), world-famous actors have left their footprints and signatures during earlier editions of the festival.

Source: http://www.euroweeklynews.com/2009070659846/news/costa-blanca/roll-out-the-red-carpet.html

Just a few months ago, an outdoor movie film festival premiered at Palma, in Mallorca, Spain. The Casal Solleric, a stunning baroque palace built in the 18th century, was transformed into an open air cinema. The outdoor films featured selections from all over the world, especially those that did not make it into the Spanish multi-plexes. The American indie “Brick”, a Sundance favorite, was one of those included. The film follows a classic film noir pattern yet placed in the unsuspecting backdrop of a modern California high-school, making for a most unusual combination. The following is a review of “Brick” from Film Journal International. You can read about the outdoor movie event in Mallorca in our original blog post here.

It’s not hard to understand why Brick grabbed the Sundance Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision. In his riveting first feature (six years in assembling), Rian Johnson has wittily transplanted a hard-boiled noir mystery into fresh territory: a modern-day Southern California neighborhood and high school. This conceit could have been simply a one-joke gimmick. Instead, Brick, shot in color in San Clemente, California, and anchored by hot Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is an innovative ride that carries the viewer into a world familiar from genre films and the novels of Dashiell Hammett, yet quite unlike anything we’ve seen before.

The set-up revolves around a quest. Brendan Frye (Gordon-Levitt), a tough loner who knows all the angles, receives a plea for help from old girlfriend Emily (Emilie de Ravin). Shortly after, she vanishes. Brendan, who still has feelings for the troubled Em, is determined to discover her fate. He’s aided in his search by The Brain (Matt O’Leary), a geek with Coke-bottle glasses, who dispenses cryptic clues while hunkered down on the pavement against a school wall. Eventually Brendan-fearless even when confronting drug-fueled bruisers-penetrates the inner circle of The Pin (Lukas Haas), a club-footed dude with a swan-headed cane, who’s in heroin instead of college. (Amusingly, The Pin operates out of a cheesy tract house, where his mom serves the guys fruit and cookies when they emerge from the basement.) Brendan uncovers some dark truths about Emily, and closes in on her assailant.

Open Air Cinema at the Casal Solleric

The film’s early moments, before you get with the program, verge dangerously on ludicrous: When do these kids study calculus? Plus the dialogue might as well be Greek-the press notes include a glossary; subtitles would be preferable. The convoluted plot, peppered with time shifts and double-crosses, is hard to follow. (Syriana, anyone?) Recent filmmakers seem to think it’s cool to present stories resembling codes that the viewer must crack, maybe in emulation of Christopher Nolan’s Memento.

That said, Brick brilliantly succeeds on its own weird terms. Much of the credit belongs to Gordon-Levitt’s myopic gumshoe, who walks with a neo-Jimmy Cagney gait, and uncorks the lingo without ever breaking faith with the material (“What are you doing here?” Brendan: “Leaving.”). Nora Zehetner as the femme fatale is silkily dangerous, and de Ravin a haunting little girl lost. Taking visual cues from Chinatown, gifted DP Steve Yedlin favors shots from below, and stark under-populated exteriors that convey menace even in California sunshine. The score, seemingly culled from a thousand noir thrillers, creates a broken-down junkyard sound to echo off Rian’s characters. Along with its novelty, Brick works as a stunning ensemble piece, all its elements in sync. Here’s a case where a long gestation paid off handsomely. But maybe Gordon-Levitt, with his noir cred in place, should try a romantic comedy next.

Source: “Brick” by Erica Abeel -Film Journal International. Read the full review at: http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/reviews/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002157001.

The open air cinema festival at Palma is running throughout the summer in the city.

The outdoor movie showings, at the Casal Solleric, which are organised by the local council, started on July 5th, and continue until September 6th.

Still going strong after a decade, the festival always shows an eclectic and varied selection of films, specifically chosen for not having been picked up by the big Spanish cinema chains.

They are all in their original language, an unusual move in a country where most foreign films are dubbed.

Australian comedy Looking for Alibrandi kicked off the festival, with the Dogme-style Danish film Brode, the Uruguayan adventure La Perrera (The Dog Pound) and American indie Brick are all to come. The tender French family drama Holy Lola will close the festival in September.

All films will be shown on Thursday at 10pm.

The Casal Solleric, a stunning baroque palace built in the 18th century, also provides a great backdrop for film-goers at the open air cinema.

Spend a warm summer evening in Madrid’s Parque de Bombilla watching an outdoor movie under the stars. Fescinal’s open-air cinema programme is a great chance to catch that movie you missed on the big screen the first time around.

2008′s films include cult favourite Juno, No Country for Old Men starring Javier Bardém and the silver screen adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement. As well as two screens, there is also an on-site bar and restaurant.

General Information

When:
Jun – Aug 2009 (annual)
Where:
Parque de La Bombilla
Cost:
€5; concessions €4; under 4s free
10 film pass €45
Opening Hours:
Jun-Jul: daily 10.30pm; Aug: daily 10pm

In BCN (as local expats call it) I’ve experienced some of the hottest, stickiest Summer nights. That kind of weather doesn’t stop Spanish partiers, but sometimes the best way to cope is to do nothing but lounge outdoors screen-side. Cine Sin Techo is a free alfresco outdoor film series held in Barri Gótic, a section of narrow streets and tall, crumbling buildings that is part of Barcelona’s “old town.” Most every Thursday through September 1st, a bar and seating for 400 are set up for filmgoers to watch outdoor movies projected on the walls of Plaza Isidre Nonell. The films, screened in their original language with Spanish subtitles, are indie 90s breakout hit-heavy, including Wayne Wang’s Smoke, Jim Jarmusch’s Night On Earth, and and Tom DiCillo’s meta-Indie, Living in Oblivion.

For a dramatic setting (next to a castle on a hill), live music, a three-euro pricetag, and some classic picks, Sala Montjuïc kicks-off this Wednesday and Friday and every week thereafter through August at Castillo de Montjuïc. Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (laughably translated to Spanish as “Forget About Me”) inaugarates the event and is followed by other English language films like Joshua Marsten’s Maria Full of Grace, Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, and Billy Wilder’s The Apartment.

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