Central Park

NYC PARKS WELCOMES 13TH ANNUAL FILMS ON THE GREEN FESTIVAL

Free French screenings in Manhattan parks this summer

Films on the Green, the free outdoor French film festival, is back this year after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival is produced annually by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, FACE Foundation and NYC Parks.

This year’s theme will be “Music and Cinema.” From July 9 to 30, Films on the Green will bring a world music tour to the New York City area with free screenings in four different Manhattan parks. For the first time, this year’s program will offer free online screenings available on the French Embassy’s virtual film screening platform.

The 13th edition of Films on the Green will illustrate the diversity of French and Francophone cinema and feature movies from Tunisia (Satin Rouge), Japan (Interstella 5555), Brazil (Black Orpheus), and Spain (Vengo). The Festival will also shine a light on strong female portraits played by stunning actresses: Sophie Marceau in La Boum, Hiam Abbass in Satin Rouge, Marpessa Menor in Black Orpheus, Jeanne Moreau in Elevator to the Gallows and musicians Chavela Vargas and Les Amazones d’Afrique.

On July 8, the French Embassy will award NYC Parks Manhattan Borough Commissioner William Castro with the medal of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, celebrating the longstanding partnership between the Cultural Services and NYC Parks.

“This year more than ever, we feel a need to connect––connect with our audience, connect with our beautiful parks, connect with France, New York, and the rest of the world. We created this edition of Films on the Green to build a connection that we want to maintain and grow.” said Gaëtan Bruel, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy. “By focusing on music and cinema, we hope to bring joy and excitement to NYC parks and for more people to be able to discover the great breadth and diversity of Francophone cinema through our online screenings.”

“I am honored by the French Embassy’s recognition of our longstanding partnership in bringing Francophone films to some of Manhattan’s most iconic parks,” said Borough Commissioner Castro. “This year’s Films on the Green lineup will invite New Yorkers to reconnect with summertime in the city through thought-provoking music and screenings.”

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy, FACE Foundation and NYC Parks thank Films on the Green’s 2021 official sponsors, BNP Paribas and TV5 Monde.

Films on the Green 2021 Schedule:

July 9 - Central Park (79th St & Fifth Ave) & Virtual Cinema: La Boum by Claude Pinoteau
July 12 - Virtual Cinema: Elevator to the Gallows by Louis Malle
July 16 - Washington Square Park & Virtual Cinema: Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem by Daisuke Nishio, Hirotoshi Rissen, Leiji Matsumoto, Kazuhisa Takenouchi
July 19 - Virtual Cinema: Chavela by Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi
July 21 - Virtual Cinema: Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai by Christopher Kirkley
July 23 - Seward Park (Lower East Side) & Virtual Cinema: Satin Rouge by Raja Amari
July 26 - Virtual Cinema: Concert: Les Amazones d’Afrique
July 28 - Virtual Cinema: Vengo by Tony Gatlif
July 30 - Riverside Park, Pier I (at 70th St) & Virtual Cinema: Black Orpheus by Marcel Camus

All screenings will be subtitled in English, free and open to the public. Capacity and tickets availability will be limited due to COVID-19 safety and capacity guidelines. Screenings begin at 8:30PM. For more information, visit www.frenchculture.org.

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Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center