Free cinema returns to the beaches and parks of Malaga: these are the movies and the settings

Summer cinema is here. The latest releases for all audiences, auteur films, and a cycle of Spanish productions are the main content of the new edition of 'Open Cinema', which will fill the city with free screenings, from morning shows at the Albéniz cinema to evening events on beaches, parks, and other unique spaces, such as historical cemeteries. The program will kick off this coming Thursday, June 26, with two national films: the comedy 'Eight Moroccan Surnames' at the children's venue Camino de Salas (Campanillas) and the latest from cult director Víctor Erice, 'Close Your Eyes', at Tabacalera Square. In total, there will be 120 sessions across 22 venues, which this year include two new outdoor 'rooms' that promise to be special: the neighborhood of Cueva de El Palo and the English Cemetery, joining the historic San Miguel cemetery which debuted last year.

In addition to programming by the sea (La Misericordia, La Malagueta, and El Palo) and in central public spaces of each district, the lineup includes a series of cycles and special sessions. This is the case for the Cuevas del Palo (Fuente de Leganitos Street), which will premiere in this program on Tuesday, July 1, with the screening of two short documentaries filmed in the neighborhood itself: 'Between Streets and Caves' by Antonio Jesús García González, a journey into the everyday life and customs of this unique corner; and 'The Sky of the Caves' by Lucas Alcántara Luján, in which murals serve to delve into this corner of Málaga.

In the cemetery section, the English Cemetery will conduct a pilot test with a screening in original version with subtitles -as the site requires- of 'Living' (July 17), the twilight story of a civil servant and a playground. Meanwhile, at the Historic Cemetery of San Miguel, the cycle 'Education and Teaching in Cinema' will be projected, which pays tribute to Teresa Aspiazu and Paul, director of the Normal School of Teaching between 1914 and 1927 and the first female councilor of Málaga, with the nocturnal screening (10 PM) of three films: the Latin American Biznaga de Oro winner at the Málaga Festival, 'Radical', by Christopher Zalla (July 3); 'Puan', by María Alché and Benjamín Naishtat (July 24), and 'The Teacher Who Promised the Sea', by Patricia Font (August 14).

Additionally, 'Open Cinema' renews the 'Signature Cinema' cycle at the Eduardo Ocón Auditorium, where unleashed international films in original version will be shown, such as the Cannes winner 'Anatomy of a Fall', by Justine Triet; 'Fallen Leaves', by Aki Kaurismaki; 'Perfect Days', by Wim Wenders; 'The Zone of Interest', by Jonathan Glazer; and 'There Is No Evil', by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi. Meanwhile, Tabacalera Square repeats with Spanish cinema and, in addition to the mentioned 'Close Your Eyes', will show 'The Abbess', by Antonio Chavarrías; 'The House', by Álex Montoya; 'The Blue Star', by Javier Mancipe; 'Little Loves', by Celia Rico; 'Nina', by Andrea Jaurrieta; 'Birds', by Pau Durá, and last year's Spanish Biznaga de Oro, 'Second Prize', by Isaki Lacuesta.

Animation cinema will arrive daily in the mornings (11 AM) at the Albéniz with its 'Family Mornings', which includes 13 different titles, while evening screenings will start, depending on the venue, between 10 and 10:30 PM. The program organized by the municipal company Málaga Procultura has the collaboration of the 'la Caixa' Foundation and the sponsorship of Victoria Beers, Repsol, and Idealista.