San Franciscans love the movies, especially when they are free and on a blanket under the stars. Here is the 2012 summer line-up.
The Bridge on the Big Screen: Movies Starring the Golden Gate Bridge
She’s a lovely senior citizen and cinema star. On May 27, 2012, the Golden Gate Bridge turns 75 years old, so The Presidio Trust and the Walt Disney Family Museum are presenting seven classics starring the bridge herself! The Main Post Lawn across from the museum at 103 Montgomery Street in the Presidio is the perfect spot for the inflatable screen plus a view of the bridge beyond. Just bring a blanket, a picnic, low lawn chairs for music beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by the screening at dusk. Parking nearby.
The free outdoor showings are: May 26 for “It Came From Beneath the Sea” (1955); June 2 for “Homeward Bound II” (1996) and June 9 for “Superman: The Movie” (1978). Four more bridge-related screenings are scheduled indoors. All details are found here.
Film Night in the Park
This is the Bay Area’s free outdoor summer movie series which rotates its venues among three city locations and, for 21 years, in four Marin County locations. The series begins June 8, 2012 in Marin and continues through late September with 8:00 p.m. screenings on Friday and Saturday nights. In the city, the first screening will be on June 16 at Dolores Park.
In a tribute to the tenth anniversary of San Francisco screenings, the organizers are planning to bring back crowd-pleasers of the past: “The Graduate”, “Harold and Maude” and “Sixteen Candles”. Film Night’s website displays the 2012 film schedule, yet to be announced at the time of this writing, but rumor has it that “The Artist” is on the list.
The 2011 season featured 28 evening showings featuring plenty of family favorites and classics, including “National Velvet”, “Toy Story 3″, “National Velvet”, “Roman Holiday”, “Some Like It Hot” and “Casablanca. What to bring: blankets, pillow, low chairs. Tips: The ground can be damp at night, so a waterproof blanket or tarp is best, plus jackets and trash bags for your own clean-up. Bring cash for local vendors selling drinks and things, come early to get a good space.
Waterfront Flicks
Across the bay by the waterfront in Oakland’s Jack London Square, the summer kicks off on July 12, 2012 with “We Bought a Zoo. Free screenings are held at nightfall every other Thursday evening through late September. Come early to enjoy trivia games, cooking demos and fun picnic bites. There’s a little gift from the East Bay Bike Coalition for everyone who arrives on a bicycle. On this summer’s schedule are “Ghost Busters”, “Money Ball”, “Fatal Attraction” and “The Devil Wears Prada”.
Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema
Heading into its ninth year, this neighborhood end-of-summer outdoor film festival scheduled for August 29 through September 2, 2012 showcases local filmmakers for five nights. All screenings are free, but donations and volunteers are most welcome, as are submissions of films and videos by local talent! Just like the international film festivals, there is an opening night, music, a meet-the-filmmakers reception and after-parties. Some of these events are held at venues with a ticket charge to cover drinks. More details are found online.
