OUTDOOR CINEMA WITH KINOSOMMER VILLACH
Every summer the courtyard of the Villach Music School transforms into an outdoor cinema during "Kinosommer Villach." Underneath the stars and open sky, film lovers join together to watch some of the best films from recent years.
The Kinosommer program features top winning films from renowned festivals, audience favorites, as well as films from across Europe and Austria. Since Kinosommer shows international films, the program includes films in "original version" with German subtitles. This year, there were films in English, Italian, French, and of course German. Since Villach is a city with an international community, the variety of languages is a perfect option. Every Tuesday a classic film is shown and on every Thursday a documentary film is featured. Whether you are interested in the most recent award winner or an old Charlie Chaplin film to watch with the family, there is something for everyone.
With every film, there is a showing of a 5 minute short in cooperation with the K3 Film Festival. The shorts are a fun part of the program, showcasing the creativity of filmmakers in the Alpen-Adria region. The K3 Film Festival takes place every winter in Villach and features short films from creatives from Austria, Slovenia, and Italy.
No cinema would be complete without refreshments. One of my favorite local cafes, Herr Vincent, staffs the refreshment area with beer, sweets, and savory snacks. Beer + Popcorn + Film = Excellent summer evening.
I went to see Born to be Blue, an American film about the jazz musician Chet Baker. Prior to the film, the short 1180 and More by Italian artist Riccardo de Simone was shown. I loved how the rhythmic dancing of the short film complimented the jazz music in Born to be Blue. It was exciting to be able to watch a film in the old courtyard of the Music School. The beautiful arches of the historic courtyard and night sky above made for a perfect cinema setting.
After a nine year break, Kinosommer Villach has returned and is in its third year of film screenings. Since I have lived in Villach for two years now, the Kinosommer program has become a summer tradition. It is exciting to review the film line-up for the year and plan out which evenings I want to attend. Due to the eclectic mix of films, it is great to be able to see films that I typically would not have otherwise seen. A documentary about farming accompanied with a tasting of regional farm products from Carinthia? Yes, please. A classic Buster Keaton film accompanied by a live orchestra? Definitely, a summer evening to remember.
Interested in Kinosommer? Information can be found on the Kinosommer website or on the Kinosommer Facebook page.