Appuntamenti in Terrazza – Institut français Palermo Cinema

Cinema under the stars at the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa

Appuntamenti in Terrazza is the summer film series hosted by the Institut français Palermo, which turns its terrace into an open-air cinema arena every year. Located at Via Paolo Gili 4, within the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa in the Zisa district of Palermo, the venue is a former industrial complex converted into one of the city's most vibrant cultural hubs in the heart of Sicily. Here, on summer evenings, the public gathers under the open sky for free screenings of French films, always presented in their original language with Italian subtitles.

Auteur programming

The series focuses on French cinema in its many forms: debut works by young directors, contemporary auteur films, Nouvelle Vague classics, and restored masterpieces of French cinematic heritage. Alongside feature films, there is also space for short films, often gathered into themed evenings. Each edition follows a central theme: female identity, adolescence, the body and transformation, memory, and the desire for emancipation are among the recurring topics that shape the selection.

A place, an atmosphere

What makes "Appuntamenti in Terrazza" special is the blend of high-quality cultural offerings and the setting in which it takes place. The terrace at the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa offers an intimate and evocative space, away from the heat of the day, where the audience can experience film as a collective and relaxed event. Free admission (subject to availability) makes the series accessible to everyone and has turned it into a highly anticipated date in Palermo's summer cultural calendar.

A Franco-Italian cultural bridge

Promoted by the Institut français, an institution dedicated to spreading French language and culture, the series is part of a broader program that engages with other local entities. Over the years, the terrace has also hosted cycles created with the Kultur Ensemble (the Franco-German program shared with the Goethe-Institut) and the Instituto Cervantes, broadening the perspective to a pluralistic European cinema. Every summer, "Appuntamenti in Terrazza" is an opportunity to discover the best of French cinema in the heart of the Municipality of Palermo.