Enjoy a Summer of Cinéma En Plein Air with Cinémathèque de Nice

IARLA BYRNE20 June, 20263 Mins read252

Photo by Corina Rainer on Unsplash, licenced under the Unsplash License

The Cinémathèque de Nice once again goes hors les murs with a series of free open-air screenings in the Port de Nice this summer.

Taking place on four Wednesday evenings between 22 July and 26 August, each screening begins at 9:30 pm, offering film lovers the chance to enjoy cinema in a relaxed outdoor setting during the warm summer nights.

While this year’s programme is somewhat more concise than in previous editions, it more than compensates with the exceptional quality of the films on offer, with something for everyone.

2026 Film Schedule

TO CATCH A THIEF (La Main au Collet)
Wednesday, 22 July, 2026

Alfred Hitchcock | USA – 1955 – 1h46 | Romance, Comedy | VOSTFR

^{Video via MovieclipsPROMO on YouTube}

Starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, To Catch A Thief was filmed in Nice and at the Victorine Studios. The film is being shown on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier’s wedding.

GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (Les Hommes préfèrent les Blondes)
Wednesday, 29 July, 2026

Howard Hawks | USA – 1953 – 1h31 | Musical, Comedy | VOSTFR

Starring Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid. A vivacious blonde with a taste for wealthy suitors and a glamorous brunette drawn to athletic charm set sail for France aboard a luxury ocean liner. Among their fellow passengers are the fabulously rich Piggie and members of the American Olympic team, setting the stage for a sparkling comedy of romance, misunderstandings, and adventure on the high seas.

^{Video via thecoolidge on YouTube}

PERSEPOLIS
Wednesday, 19 August, 2026

Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud | USA, France – 2006 – 1h35 | Animation | VF

Voiced by Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux. Based on the comic by Marjane Satrapi. Prix du jury in the Festival de Cannes 2007 and winner of César for Best Film in 2007.

Marjane grows up in Tehran during one of the most turbulent periods in Iran’s history. Just eight years old when the Shah falls in 1979, she witnesses revolution, war, and sweeping social change. Intelligent and fiercely independent, her rebellious spirit soon places her at odds with the regime. Concerned for her future, her parents make the difficult decision to send her to Vienna, where she must navigate adolescence, identity, and exile far from home.

Please note that this screening is in French without subtitles.

^{Video via STUDIOCANAL France on YouTube}

L’HOMME DE RIO
Wednesday, 26 August, 2026

Philipe de Broca | France, Italy – 1964 – 1h54 | Comedy | VFST

Starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, Françoise Dorléac, Jean Servais, Roger Dumas, and Daniel Ceccaldi

While on leave in Paris, Private Adrien Dufourquet plans to spend time with his fiancée, Agnès. However, his visit takes an unexpected turn when a priceless Amazonian statuette is stolen from the Musée de l’Homme. The artefact is part of a mysterious collection linked to three explorers, including Agnès’s father, who vanished years earlier under unexplained circumstances.

When one of the remaining explorers is kidnapped and Agnès herself is abducted shortly afterwards, Adrien finds himself plunged into a thrilling adventure. Determined to rescue her, he embarks on a perilous pursuit that takes him from Paris to the heart of the Amazon, uncovering secrets, conspiracies, and hidden treasures along the way.

^{Video via FURY on YouTube}

About Cinémathèque de Nice

Founded in 1976 by Odile Chapel with the support of Cinémathèque Française co-founder Henri Langlois, the Cinémathèque de Nice was inaugurated in the presence of actor and director Dennis Hopper. Originally a branch of the Cinémathèque Française, it became a municipal cultural institution in 1991 and has been directed by Maryam Rousta-Giroud since 2021.

Today, the Cinémathèque screens nearly 400 films each year, welcomes around 50,000 visitors, and regularly hosts discussions with filmmakers, actors, critics, and historians. Alongside its varied programme, it remains dedicated to preserving and promoting cinematic heritage.