In summer, you don’t necessarily want to lock yourself away in a cinema. The good news is that the Bruxelles fait son cinéma festival offers an ideal alternative, with quality outdoor film screenings. Each day, one of the 19 communes in the Brussels-Capital region will host a screening of a recent hit, and you can watch it without paying a single euro. We tell you all about it.
An open-air film festival in atypical Brussels locations
Since its launch in 2001, Bruxelles fait son cinéma has sought to revive the now almost extinct tradition of neighborhood cinemas. By taking over little-known hidden locations in Brusselsto screen films, the organizers offer the public a unique opportunity to rediscover all the richness and diversity of the city.
For its 25thᵉ edition, the festival takes place from Friday June 27 to Tuesday July 15. It offers a veritable cinematic world tour through a selection of committed, moving and sometimes surprising films. Don’t add up all the awards received by this program, you might get dizzy.
The Count of Monte Cristo, Conclave, Vingt Dieux, L’Histoire de Souleymane and more
Are you a fan of historical and political drama? Pierre Niney ‘s epic adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo will blow your mind. You can also immerse yourself in the corridors of the Vatican with Conclave, a political thriller set in the midst of papal elections. Finally, don’t miss L’Histoire de Souleymane, a gripping film about the precarious situation of a young undocumented immigrant in France.
On a lighter note, the scathing HLM Pussy and the family musical En Fanfare should put a smile on your face. And don’t forget À Bicyclette, a humanist tale of solidarity.
Finally, we also recommend the excellent Vingt Dieux, a gripping teenage chronicle of the world of cheese, winner of the César for Best First Film. But the selection doesn’t stop there, as you can see from the program, available in PDF.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfc-hNqh5JA
Une toile sous les étoiles: free, open-air and without reservation
At Bruxelles fait son cinéma, all films are shown free of charge, in their original version, with subtitles in French or sometimes bilingual (FR-NL), so that everyone can enjoy them. There’s no need to lug your own armchair: the communes provide chairs. But if you want to be sure of getting a good seat, especially on busy evenings, a small folding chair can clearly save the day!
Screenings start at dusk, around 10.10pm, the perfect moment when it’s dark enough to immerse yourself in the film. And as you know, in Belgium, the weather can be… surprising. Sessions are still on even if it’s drizzling a bit. In the event of a heavy storm, of course, the organizers will adapt.
In terms of comfort, everything is provided: toilets, refreshments, snacks (thanks to local associations and Carpe Diem!), and the site is accessible to people with reduced mobility. A word of friendly advice: remember to bring a cardigan or blanket, as summer evenings can be cooler than you think! So, what do you say to a night under the stars?