2010 Outdoor Film Festival Roundup
The fate of D.C.'s best known outdoor film festival, Screen on the Green, is still uncertain. Jesse Rauch from the D.C. Film Alliance is once again attempting to save it with a fundraising push, as sponsors HBO and Comcast say they need an additional $75,000 to $100,000 to keep it going.
Whether that show will go on or not, there are a plethora of other free outdoor film fests in the D.C. metro area that are definitely happening, both now and in the coming months. Pick your favorite theme and your favorite day of the week (or just catch them all). Below the jump, you'll find a list of as many venues as we could find, and their remaining schedules for 2010.
NoMa Summer Screen: NoMa (L St. NE between 2nd and 3rd NE) is embracing all things future and time-related with their "The Future is Now" film series. Every Wednesday at 7 p.m. (May 12 - July 28) pull up a lawn chair, purchase some BBQ or Italian ice from one of the on-site vendors, and ponder the meaning of existence and our place in the universe.
May 26 - Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
June 2 - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
June 9 - Donnie Darko
June 16 - Back to the Future
June 23 - The Fifth Element
June 30 - E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
July 7 - Sleeper
July 14 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
July 21 - Logan's Run
July 28 - Groundhog Day
U Street Movie Series: Celebrate music through a diverse selection of documentaries and films at the Harrison Field Under the Stars U Street Film Series (V St. between 13th and 14th). From Michael Jackson's This is It to PBS's documentary on Duke Ellington, a range of musical styles will be represented. Get there early (gates open at 7 p.m., movies begin at 8:30 p.m.) for a good seat and free popcorn (first 100 people).
June 8 - This Is It
July 13 - Buena Vista Social Club
August 10 - The Soloist
Sept 14 - Soul Power & Duke Ellington's Washington
Capitol River Front Front Row Films: For anyone who has ever been beaten up, picked on, or just felt out of place, the Capitol River Front (Canal Park - 200 M St SE) "Ultimate Underdogs" film series goes out to you. On Thursdays (June 3 - August 5) at 8:45 p.m., cheer as bullies get what they deserve in The Karate Kid, a good guy wins the day in Slumdog Millionaire, and a guy with a funny voice saves the day for his grandma in Happy Gilmore.
June 3 - Hoosiers
June 10 - Forrest Gump
June 17 - Finding Nemo Shrek
June 24 - The Karate Kid
July 1 - To Kill a Mockingbird
July 8 - Star Wars Legally Blonde
July 15 - Slumdog Millionaire Rudy
July 22 - Seabiscuit
July 29 - Happy Gilmore
August 5 - Rocky
Divas Outdoors at the Hillwood Museum: The Hillwood Museum (4155 Linnean Ave. NW) returns with another year of classic films that celebrate the LGBT community. While this movie fest isn't free (admission is $15), the price also allows you entrance to other special exhibitions at the mansion. On June 19 catch What's Up Doc? starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal, and on June 25 see My Little Chickadee with Mae West and W.C. Fields. Both films play from from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
June 19 - What's Up Doc?
June 25 - My Little Chickadee
Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival: Following last year's selection of '80s movies, this year's Rosslyn film fest at Gateway Park (base of Key Bridge - 1300 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA) shows its love for the '90s. On Fridays (April 30 - September 3, 2010) at 8 p.m. sit under the stars and celebrate Rex Manning Day in Empire Records, groan at the jokes of Dumb and Dumber, and rekindle your crush on Leonardo in Romeo + Juliet.
May 21 - Edward Scissorhands
May 28 - Happy Gilmore
June 4 - Office Space
June 11 - Cry-Baby
June 18 - Mrs. Doubtfire
June 25 - Bio-Dome
July 2 - Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
July 9 - Home Alone
July 16 - What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
July 23 - Empire Records
July 30 - Dumb and Dumber
Aug. 6 - Romeo + Juliet
Aug. 13 - Airheads
Aug. 20 - The Wedding Singer
Aug. 27 - The Birdcage
Sept. 3 - Billy Madison
Crystal Screen: Love Star Trek? The organizers of Crystal City's film fest clearly do. Every Monday (June 7 - August 16, 2010) at sundown make your way to 8th 18th and Bell Streets and go boldly where no other outdoor film fest has ever gone before. Begin your voyage on June 7 with Star Trek: The Motion Picture, continue on through more Star Trek movies than you remembered them making all the way to Star Trek Generations, and finally end with the most recent Star Trek iteration.
June 7 - Star Trek: The Motion Picture
June 14 - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
June 21 - Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
June 28 - Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
July 5 - Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
July 12 - Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
July 19 - Star Trek Generations
July 26 - Star Trek: First Contact
August 2 - Star Trek: Insurrection
August 9 - Star Trek Nemesis
August 16 - Star Trek
Bethesda Outdoor Movies: Stars on the Avenue: Bethesda embraces no theme for its movie lineup, and instead has put together a grouping of popular films. From July 27-31 at 9 p.m. in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle (corner of Norfolk and Auburn Ave) catch the quirky romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally, the classic thriller Maltese Falcon, and the recent hit The Blind Side.
July 27 - When Harry Met Sally
July 28 - Maltese Falcon
July 29 - Sherlock Homes
July 30 - The Blind Side
July 31 - Chicago
Cox Movies Under the Moon: Venture a bit further out to Van Dyck Park (3730 Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax VA 22030) in June and Dixon Park (1300 Dixon Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401) in July for classic films and family friendly fare. Films begin at dusk.
June 24 (Fairfax) - Casablanca
June 25 (Fairfax) - Dear John
June 26 (Fairfax) - Avatar
June 27 (Fairfax) - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
July 16 (Fredericksburg) - Jaws
July 17 (Fredericksburg) - Shark Tale