ArenAniene

An arena in the shadow of the Ponte Nomentano

Every summer, when the heat empties the streets of Rome and the city seeks relief after sunset, the Parco del Ponte Nomentano transforms into an open-air cinema. It is here, at Via Nomentana 416, in the heart of the Montesacro district (Municipio III), that ArenAniene comes to life—one of the most iconic summer arenas in the capital. The screen lights up just steps from the medieval bridge crossing the Aniene, one of Rome's most evocative and least touristy spots, where ancient history coexists with neighborhood life.

Cinema that cares for the community

The philosophy guiding the festival since its inception is clear: cinema that cares for the community. This is more than just a slogan. ArenAniene was born from the idea that quality cultural programming can regenerate public space, return it to the residents, and create opportunities for interaction between generations and diverse local associations. The project is promoted by the Tam Tam cooperative, with artistic direction by Patrizia Di Terlizzi and organizational direction by Giulio Gargia, and is supported by the Municipio Roma III Montesacro.

A prize-winning film every night

The festival's editorial line is summarized by another motto famous among regulars: a prize-winning film every night. The selection draws from the winners of major international festivals—Venice, Cannes, Berlin, Turin, Los Angeles, Taormina—blending auteur films, Italian comedies awarded at the David di Donatello, documentaries, and independent works that rarely find space in commercial summer schedules. The ArenAniene audience is loyal and engaged: directors, screenwriters, and actors often visit the arena to present their work and discuss it with the audience after the screening.

Much more than an outdoor cinema

A typical evening goes beyond the screening. Before the film, the arena hosts a parallel program that has included over the years:

• concerts and acoustic sets by Roman artists, often dedicated to the city's singer-songwriter tradition;
• book presentations and meetings with authors, journalists, and local social workers;
• workshops, yoga classes, and wellness activities outdoors in the park;
• environmental initiatives linked to the enhancement of the Aniene Valley and its natural heritage.

A distinctive feature of the project is the collaboration with local social and health organizations, including the Centro Diurno of Via Monte Tomatico (ASL Roma 1): the arena is designed as a truly inclusive space, where cultural consumption becomes a tool for social connection and care.

Radical Choc, the season's preview

In recent years, the summer festival has been preceded by thematic mini-festivals that anticipate its spirit. In 2026, the event was titled Radical Choc — Times of War, Actions of Peace, featuring three free-entry evenings held between the Auditorium on Via Pelagosa 3 and the ArenAgnini on Viale Adriatico 136, with screenings, theatrical monologues, and book presentations dedicated to contemporary conflicts and peace practices.

Rome, Lazio, and its widespread summer

ArenAniene is part of the dense network of summer arenas that animate the Municipality of Rome every year, within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region. Compared to the large arenas in the historic center, the experience here is intentionally different: no postcard crowds, but a neighborhood evening among the plane trees, with the sound of the Aniene in the background and an audience that knows one another. It is perhaps the most authentic way to experience outdoor cinema in the capital.

A project that lasts

Active continuously for several years—with editions documented since at least 2017—the festival surpassed its seventh edition in 2024 and has continued with new formats, including the live section Scena ArenAniene dedicated to performances, monologues, and workshops. A journey that has made the Parco del Ponte Nomentano a stable cultural outpost in the northern suburbs of Rome.