Thanks to the creative minds behind projects such as the Secret Cinema Club, which have made us think twice about how we experience our films, it seems a lot of us are no longer content with a trip to our trusty local multiplex.
And while you may have missed the boat for the Bristol leg of the Hot Tub Cinema and the Floating Cinema earlier this year, here are some slices of great alternative cinema for you to chow down on this summer.
Sunset Cinema
The stunning Blaise Castle estate becomes an outdoor cinema this summer thanks to the Sunset Cinema group (also the minds behind Bristol Bad Film Club, but we'll get to that later), who are kicking things off with one of the few family films that seems to get better and better as you get older, ‘The Princess Bride’. Pack a picnic and make your way to the lawn, kick back and enjoy some fine cinema as the sun sets. And later this summer they're also hosting a screening of 1980's 'Flash Gordon' at Clifton Observatory just in time to celebrate the film's 35th anniversary! Find out more about the September event here.
Cannoli and Gun
Cannoli and Gun (a ‘Godfather’ reference, by the way) take food-related films and screen them in a Bristol venue befitting of the foodie elements. This summer they’ve already lined up ‘When Harry Met Sally’ at the City Deli in July, complete with deli sandwiches and pecan pie, and yet to come are showings of ‘Aladdin’ at Falafel King, with Middle Eastern mezze, and ‘Goodfellas’ at Vincenzo's on Park Street, serving up spaghetti and meatballs just like-a-mama-used-to-make.
The Cube
Bristol's most treasured independent cinema, The Cube is celebrated for its roster of weird, wonderful and far-flung cinema screenings. Over the summer months they're putting on gems such as 'The Salt Of The Earth' and 'The Devil Rides Out', starring the late, great Christopher Lee.
The Lanes Courtyard Cinema Club
With a summer roster featuring the likes of ‘Amelie’, ‘The Big Lebowski’, ‘Spirited Away’ and more, The Lanes have opened up their courtyard for a sturdy series of al fresco film screenings. The large outdoor space leaves plenty of room, but if you're eager to snag a table just contact them ahead of the screening and they'll reserve one for you.
The Two Wheeled Drive In
The Two Wheeled Drive In brings the people of Bristol a bike ride with a difference, letting you finish your two-wheeled work-out and roll straight into a film screening en plein air. Earlier this year they hosted a nautical double bill of 'The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou' and 'Jaws', in the very apt setting of Luke Jerram's boat-themed 'Withdrawn' exhibition at Leigh Woods. Fingers crossed they have something else in the pipeline for before we demount our bikes for winter.
Bristol Bad Film Club
These guys have been paving the way for the city’s alt film scene for some time now, and with their years of experience they’ve simply gone from strength to strength with so-bad-it’s-good film fodder including 'Robot Jox', 'Gymkata', 'Black Samurai' and 'Shark Attack 3: Megalodon'. This summer you can catch 'The Valley Of Gwangi' at Victoria Park and 'Roar' at Windmill Hill City Farm.
Read more about the Bristol film clubs taking movies out of the cinema.