Valencia’s Summer Film Festival returns with 26 open-air screenings, offering a vibrant mix of award-winning films and classics—details in the full program below.
In just a few days, Valencia will light up its summer nights with the return of the Summer Film Festival, a beloved cultural highlight organized by the Valencian Film Archive under the Institut Valencià de Cultura (IVC). Running from August 1 to 30, 2025, in the open-air setting of the Jardins del Palau de la Música along the former Turia riverbed, this year’s Summer Film Festival will feature 26 screenings of 12 must-see films in their original versions with subtitles. With screenings every evening except Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. and tickets priced at an affordable €4, the festival promises a collective cinematic experience that celebrates both global and local storytelling.
Paula Tebar, the Regional Secretary for Culture, emphasized the significance of the Summer Film Festival during its recent unveiling. “The Valencian Film Archive continues to enrich Valencia’s cultural landscape in August with the Summer Film Festival’s open-air screenings, a cornerstone of the city’s summer leisure and a vital platform for film lovers,” she said. Tebar praised the curated selection, which balances award-winning contemporary films, restored classics, and local productions, many of which have earned international acclaim.
The festival’s 2025 poster, designed by Picanya artist Diego Mir, captures the essence of summer nights and cinema, blending vibrant imagery with a nod to Valencia’s cultural identity. The Summer Film Festival is structured around three thematic cycles: a tribute to David Lynch, who passed away in January; “Award-Winning Harvest,” showcasing the year’s most celebrated films; and “Cinematic Anniversaries,” commemorating milestones for Dersu Uzala and The Gold Rush.
Full Program for the Summer Film Festival 2025
The Summer Film Festival offers a diverse lineup of 12 films across 26 screenings, blending auteur cinema, restored classics, and recent blockbusters. The program, designed to appeal to varied audiences, includes the following screenings:
- August 1–3: Anora (Sean Baker, 2024)
- August 4–5: Blue Velvet (David Lynch, 1986)
- August 7–8: The House (Álex Montoya, 2024)
- August 9–10: Flow, A World to Save (Gints Zilbalodis, 2024)
- August 11–12: The Infiltrator (Arantxa Echevarría, 2024)
- August 14–15: The 47 (Marcel Barrena, 2024)
- August 16–17: The Elephant Man (David Lynch, 1980)
- August 18–19: The Gold Rush (Charles Chaplin, 1925)
- August 21–22: Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)
- August 23–24: Emilia Pérez (Jacques Audiard, 2024)
- August 25–26: Dersu Uzala (Akira Kurosawa, 1975)
- August 28–30: The Straight Story (David Lynch, 1999)
This thoughtfully curated program ensures the Summer Film Festival appeals to both reflective cinephiles and those seeking entertainment, solidifying its status as a premier cultural event in Valencia.
Where and How to Enjoy the Summer Film Festival
All screenings will take place in the open-air Jardins del Palau de la Música, a picturesque venue in the former Turia riverbed, perfect for summer evening cinema. Sessions begin at 10:30 p.m., with the box office opening at 9:30 p.m. Films are shown in their original language with subtitles, and entry is not permitted once screenings start. Tickets, priced at €4, are available at the box office or through advance purchase. The Summer Film Festival runs daily except Wednesdays, and any weather-related cancellations will be announced via the Valencian Film Archive’s social media channels.
Each evening kicks off with Our Summers, a documentary montage of archival footage celebrating the region’s summer audiovisual heritage, adding a nostalgic touch to the Summer Film Festival experience. With its blend of cinematic excellence and open-air ambiance, the festival invites audiences to immerse themselves in the magic of film under Valencia’s starry skies.
© Summer Film Festival Brings Cinematic Magic to Valencia’s Nights – Valencian.es
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