With the arrival of summer, the capital is preparing to welcome back one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year: the twelfth edition of Il Cinema in Piazza. From May 28 to July 12, Roman nights will once again be illuminated by the seventh art, thanks to the constant and passionate work of the Piccolo America Foundation.
What’s on the program for this summer
Much more than just a film festival, the event is a true collective ritual that transforms the city into a vast open-air auditorium. The festival will offer audiences a rich and diverse program, designed to satisfy all tastes: from timeless masterpieces that have shaped the history of cinema to international films screened in their original language with subtitles.
In addition to the screenings, there will be plenty of opportunities for socializing and discussion, making every evening a unique chance to experience urban spaces in the spirit of sharing and quality entertainment.
The Arenas: Dates and Locations
The festival will spread throughout the city, taking place at three locations that have become iconic for the event. From historic squares to the city’s large green spaces, here’s when the various venues will come to life:
- Piazza San Cosimato: the curtain rises in the beating heart of Trastevere, the historic birthplace of the initiative, starting May 28.
- Cervelletta Park: the charming nature reserve will turn on its projector starting June 4.
- Monte Ciocci Park: this picturesque setting with a panoramic view of Rome will kick off its evenings on June 6.
📍 Piazza San Cosimato (Trastevere)
In the vibrant heart of Trastevere, Wednesday screenings explore the delusions of power and the political cinema of the great Elio Petri ( in the original language with English subtitles). On Thursdays, the atmosphere becomes more compulsive and neurotic as we dive into the streets of New York as told by the Safdie brothers (in the original language with Italian subtitles).
The weekend gives way to emotion and magic: on Saturday, we’ll fly into the enchanted worlds of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli (dubbed in Italian, perfect for children too), while Sunday wraps up by exploring family bonds and fragility as portrayed by Gabriele Muccino ( in the original language with English subtitles).
📍 Monte Ciocci Park
The lineup ranges from pop to animation and extreme cinema. It kicks off on Wednesday with the frenetic editing and visionary parodies of Edgar Wright ( in the original language with Italian subtitles). On Thursday, a fascinating dialogue between cities takes center stage, with a program curated by Bruce Goldstein that contrasts the raw realities of New York and Rome.
Fridays are dedicated to entertainment for all generations with contemporary fairy tales from DreamWorks Animation (in Italian-dubbed versions). On Sundays, however, the tone shifts dramatically: get ready to be swept away by the unclassifiable, ironic, and violent films of the provocative Japanese director Takashi Miike (in the original language with Italian subtitles).
📍 Casale della Cervelletta
On Wednesdays, the focus is on the American avant-garde and the esoteric neon aesthetics of Kenneth Anger ( in the original language with Italian subtitles). Fridays are a must-see for fans of television mysteries: David Lynch’s dreamlike imagery returns, dedicated entirely to the universe of Twin Peaks ( in the original language with Italian subtitles).
Saturday is dedicated to rebellious childhoods and the unique vision of Alice Rohrwacher ( in the original language with English subtitles), before wrapping up in style on Sunday with a retrospective designed for children featuring Steven Spielberg ’s great classics of adventure and friendship (in the original language with Italian subtitles).
All evenings start at 9:15 PM, and there’s no need to make a reservation: just show up and take a seat!
