Joel Pickard settles in for a summer of outdoor cinema

The outdoor cinema season is taking Oxford by storm this year with an overflow of filmmakers and film lovers putting their ever so creative brains together to give us an unmissable experience this summer.

Outdoor cinemas always add something special to the films that you see. By swapping your movie theatre seat for a beanbag or deckchair, and losing the roof for a seat under the stars, the encapsulating atmosphere makes what you’re seeing extra memorable and even more engrossing.

The upcoming months will be packed to the brim with a variety of outdoor locations showing some of the most entertaining and captivating films ever made thanks to Cult Screens.

Kicking off the season this weekend in The Old Prison Exercise Yard, this unlikely, but very creepy venue, will be showing three classics, Great Budapest Hotel, Life is Beautiful and The Breakfast Club.

Later on in the season it will also be the perfect backdrop for films such as Kubrick’s mind-bending The Shining, and the classic horror An American Werewolf in London.

The venue will also be showing a variety of truly incredible films including the likes of The Goonies and Back to the Future right up until August 28.

Oxford Castle Unlocked hosts more classics outdoors, from June 17-21.

Over four-days, film buffs can enjoy such blockbusters as Quentin Tarantino’s big break Reservoir Dogs, the endlessly entertaining Top Gun and the fun-loving Dirty Dancing.

The fun doesn’t end there; outdoor cinemas can be spotted in an array of different locations around Oxford this summer, the one day showing of Jaws in the rather ironic venue of Hinksey Outdoor Pool is not one to be passed by, nor are the showings of the stunning Imitation Game, and the very quirky and certainly unforgettable Labyrinth at Pitt Rivers Museum.

The outdoor trend sweeping the county has also sparked the Flickerama film festival, a brand new outdoor British summer festival all about film.

Taking place from August 14- 16 at the Great Tew Estate, near Chipping Norton, Flickerama seems to be destined to set new standards for film fanatics’ summer fix.

With a mix of brand new and classic films, the festival will involve an assortment of events including live music, workshops, balls and parties.

Of course the main attraction will be the films screened throughout the festival, which will be shown on a huge, specially-designed outdoor screen.

Movies to be shown include the ever-cool Blues Brothers, cult favourite The Big Lebowski and the entertaining classic John Williams. Dressing up in character is encouraged!

CHECK IT OUT
For details see cultscreens.co.uk
Tickets for Flickerama can be bought at ticketmaster.co.uk/flickerama