Summer Cinema Under the Stars
Barcelona hosts an array of annual film festivals, all of which aim to nurture local and international filmmaking talent. The city’s summer film festivals invite viewers to spend a balmy evening on the beach or in a courtyard watching an assortment of classic and contemporary flicks. They provide the perfect excuse to spend an afternoon out of the heat or a night enjoying a film under the stars.
Open Air Cinema at L’illa Diagonal
2024 Dates to be announced. L'illa Diagonal, Avinguda Diagonal 557, 08029 Barcelona
Summer brings with it “Cinema a la Fresca” at L’illa Diagonal! On Thursday nights the L'illa Diagonal shopping center transforms its Jardins de Sant Joan de Déu into an outdoor movie theater. What better plan for a summer night than to watch a movie in the open air?
This year's schedule has not been announced, but last year films screened included Living, Argentina 1985, Cinco lobitos, Licorice Pizza and Palm Springs.
Pack your own picnic to enjoy during the showing, or if you're short on time you can pick up take-away at one of L'illa restaurants and settle in for a summer evening with family and friends. Tickets must be purchased in advance online at the L'illa website. All films are projected in original version, with Spanish subtitles. General admission is €4.00 and if you would like a lawn chair it's an additional €2.00.
Sala Montjuïc
June 28 to August 2, 2024 (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays), Castell de Montjuïc, Carretera de Montjuïc 66, 08038 Barcelona
Sala Montjuïc is one of the city’s favorite summertime festivals. A range of classic and contemporary films are showcased in the former moat of Montjuïc castle, preceded by live music and a short film screening.
This year's films have not been announced, but last year saw screenings of Ruben Östlund's black comedy Triangle of Sadness (Sweeden, 2022), Spike Jonze's science-fiction romantic drama Her (USA, 2013), Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' American tragicomedy road film Little Miss Sunshine (USA, 2006) and David Fincher's classic crime thriller Seven (USA, 1995) to name but a few.
Showings are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. All films are projected in original version, with Spanish subtitles. Doors open at 20:30 and the music starts at 20:45 to get your evening grooving. Standard tickets are available for €8, tickets with deck chairs are €11. Tickets must be purchased in advance via the website. You are welcome to bring your own picnic and there is a bar on site as well. salamontjuic.org
Pantalla Pavelló Film Series
July 1, August 5, September 2, 2024, Pavelló Mies van der Rohe, Avenida de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 7, 08038 Barcelona
Pantalla Pavelló delves into the relationship between the built environment, its limits and its borders, the people who inhabit it, and how this relationship is accentuated and revealed in its maximum expression. Directly projected on the travertine of the beautiful Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, this annual summer cinema series features films and documentaries that challenge the way we think about architecture and promote critical thinking. They are inspiring and engaging, and seek to raise public awareness of how architecture and urbanism shape our lives and the world, and vice versa: how our cultures, ideologies and immaterial practices affect space. miesbcn.com
Cinema Lliure a la Platja
2024 Dates to be announced (Thursdays), Platja de Sant Sebastià, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 2, 08003 Barcelona
Cinema Lliure a la Platja is an independent film festival offering free film screenings on the beach. Now in its 13th year, the festival has expanded to offer screenings in Barcelona, El Prat, Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Palamós and Tossa de Mar. Hundreds of film aficionados gather at sunset to enjoy a selection of alternative and avant-garde films not available at conventional cinemas, reflecting the urban and contemporary spirit of the festival.
The 2024 schedule will soon be announced. Films screened last year included Aftersun by Charlotte Wells (UK, 2022), Cinco lobitos by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa (Spain, 2022), Petit mal by Ruth Caudeli (Colombia, 2022) and Los demonios de barro by Nuno Beato (Portugal, 2022).
In Barcelona, screenings are held every Thursday on San Sebastián Beach. Keep in mind that food and chairs will not be provided, so make sure to pack something tasty and a blanket for a lovely beach picnic under the stars. You are encouraged to arrive early for a good seat closest to the screen!
Admission is free, films start after sunset, some time between 21:30 and 22:00. cinemalliure.com
CosmoNits at CosmoCaixa
2024 Dates to be announced, CosmoCaixa, Carrer de Isaac Newton 26, 08022 Barcelona
Science and film have gone hand-in-hand since the inception of the seventh art. Throughout history, thousands of films have been made using science as a plot point, creating extraordinary fictional universes. CosmoCaixa's summer film series CosmoNits features classic blockbuster science fiction films and newer releases too.
This year's roster is still in the works, but to get an idea of what to expect, last year's films included Interstellar, Christopher Nolan (USA, 2013), Princess Mononoke, Hayao Miyazaki (Japan, 1997), Hidden Figures, Theodore Melfi (USA, 2016) and Demain, Mélanie Laurent, (France, 2015).
Evenings include entry to the museum’s exhibits, workshops, games, scientific talks, family activities, live music and the film screening. Films are shown in the courtyard in original version with subtitles in Spanish. We recommend that you get your tickets in advance because they sell out fast! Tickets are €9.00 and will be available for purchase on the website at cosmocaixa.org.
Mecal Air
2024 Dates to be announced (Fridays), Museo Can Framis, Carrer Roc Boronat 116-126, 08018 Barcelona
The arrival of summer means the kids get their long-awaited holidays, the tourists wear flip-flops even when it is raining and Mecal Air returns to screen a selection of the best recently-released short films. It's a wonderful way to kick-off the weekend and enjoy a summer evening to the fullest.
Mecal Air has been organizing outdoor summer film screenings for over ten years and it's back again this year with a striking compilation of short films. Friday nights will dazzle with evenings devoted to universal themes such as comedy, horror, sci-fi and animation, to name a few. This year the festival has moved to the Can Framis Museum; make sure you get there in plenty of time to get a good spot!
Admission is free. Doors open at 20:00; films start at 21:30. No food or beverages can be brought in, but there will be a designated area with bar service. mecalbcn.org
Updated April 23, 2024.