Centocelle City Movies
Great cinema on the big screen, under the stars of Centocelle
About Centocelle City Movies
A summer arena inside a 19th-century fort
Centocelle City Movies is the open-air film festival organized by the CinemaForte laboratory at the C.S.O.A. Forte Prenestino, located in the Centocelle district in eastern Rome, within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region. The venue itself is reason enough to visit: Forte Prenestino is a late 19th-century military fortification, part of the defensive system of the Entrenched Camp of Rome, featuring moats, tunnels, and brick walkways. Today, it is a self-managed space and one of the city's longest-running cultural hubs.
Two arenas, one night
The festival's format has remained unchanged over the years, making it instantly recognizable: every Thursday, from early July to early August, two screens light up simultaneously. The Park Arena, located in the green space surrounding the fort, typically hosts the blockbuster hits of the past season; the Internal Arena, carved out within the fort's walls, is dedicated to auteur cinema, documentaries, and films in their original language with subtitles. Viewers choose where to sit each time, and the choice is never simple.
A program that doesn't chase easy consensus
The lineup blends the year's most discussed films with documentaries focused on current events and civil engagement, often presented during evenings featuring guests and introductions. It is an editorial line consistent with the history of the space itself: cinema as an opportunity for collective viewing and discussion, rather than just summer entertainment. Alongside international titles, the program features recent Italian works, auteur animation, and independent productions rarely seen in the capital's commercial arenas.
The atmosphere of the evenings
- Screenings start after sunset, generally at 9:30 PM, when the Roman July heat finally begins to subside.
- Free admission to all evenings: this is one of the festival's hallmarks compared to other Roman summer arenas.
- Bars and refreshment points are located inside the fort, active before and after the screenings.
- A diverse audience, deeply connected to the neighborhood but extending beyond: students, families from the Prenestino area, and film enthusiasts arriving from all over Rome.
- Limited seating: it is advisable to arrive early, especially on nights with highly anticipated titles.
Centocelle, a neighborhood that tells its story through cinema
Centocelle is one of the densest and most vibrant neighborhoods in Rome's historical suburbs, having grown around the airport of the same name and the Via Casilina. In recent years, it has become one of the city's most active cultural laboratories, characterized by independent spaces, neighborhood associations, and grassroots initiatives. Centocelle City Movies is an integral part of this fabric: a festival that does not just screen films, but brings hundreds of people every summer into a common good that has been reclaimed and returned to the city.
A staple of the Roman summer calendar
In the Roman summer, where open-air cinema is a well-established tradition, Centocelle City Movies occupies a precise niche: that of the free, popular, and non-commercial arena. It is one of the most frequently cited proposals among the Arenas of Rome and one of the best ways to discover, alongside a film, a piece of military architecture that few tourists know about.
Centocelle City Movies — edition 2026
Centocelle City Movies 2026
From July 9th to August 6th, 2026, the CinemaForte laboratory at the C.S.O.A. Forte Prenestino presents five evenings of open-air cinema in Centocelle, every Thursday with free admission. Each evening, from 9:30 PM, two films are screened simultaneously on two separate screens: the Park Arena, in the greenery surrounding the fortification, and the Internal Arena, in the spaces enclosed by the 19th-century walls.
The 2026 lineup alternates between major international productions and auteur cinema, with significant space reserved for documentaries and films in their original language with subtitles. As every year, the festival is one of the most followed free events of the Roman cinematic summer.
Programme Centocelle City Movies 2026
Thursday, July 9, 2026
- Park Arena - Una battaglia dopo l'altra by Paul Thomas Anderson (USA 2025, 161')
- Internal Arena - Un film fatto per bene by Franco Maresco (Italy 2025, 100')
Thursday, July 16, 2026
- Park Arena - Sinners by Ryan Coogler (USA 2025, 137')
- Internal Arena - Presentation of 181 giorni contro il 41 bis (Italy 2026, 52'), a documentary on the hunger strike of Alfredo Cospito
Thursday, July 23, 2026
- Park Arena - The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia/France 2025, 89', original language with subtitles)
- Internal Arena - Bugonia by Yorgos Lanthimos (Great Britain 2025, 120')
Thursday, July 30, 2026
- Park Arena - Honey Don't! by Ethan Coen (USA/Great Britain 2025, 90')
- Internal Arena - Kneecap by Rich Peppiatt (Ireland 2024, 105', original language with subtitles)
Thursday, August 6, 2026
- Park Arena - Dracula - L'amore perduto by Luc Besson (France 2025, 129')
- Internal Arena - Un semplice incidente by Jafar Panahi (Iran/France/Luxembourg 2025, 101')
All screenings start at approximately 9:30 PM. The program is subject to change: it is recommended to check the Forte Prenestino website before each evening.
Highlights Centocelle City Movies 2026
- Una battaglia dopo l'altra by Paul Thomas Anderson opens the festival on July 9th in the Park Arena.
- On July 16th, in the Internal Arena, the presentation of the documentary 181 giorni contro il 41 bis, one of the most political moments of the lineup.
- On July 23rd, a double auteur feature: The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania and Bugonia by Yorgos Lanthimos.
- Closing night on August 6th with Un semplice incidente by Jafar Panahi, Palme d'Or winner, and Luc Besson's Dracula.
- Two simultaneous arenas every Thursday: choose on-site between blockbuster hits and arthouse cinema.
Prices Centocelle City Movies 2026
Practical information — Centocelle City Movies
How to get there
The C.S.O.A. Forte Prenestino is located at Via Federico Delpino 187, in Centocelle (East Rome). From the Metro Line C, get off at the Gardenie or Mirti stops; it is just a few minutes' walk away. Alternatively, numerous surface bus lines serve Via Prenestina and the Piazza dei Mirti area. Parking in the surrounding streets is possible but difficult on screening nights: public transport remains the most convenient option.
Hours and admission
Screenings take place every Thursday starting at approximately 9:30 PM, across two simultaneous arenas (Park Arena and Internal Arena). Admission is free and open to all, with no reservation required. Arriving early is recommended to secure a seat.
Tips
Bring a light sweater: the internal spaces of the fort remain cool even in the height of summer. Bars and refreshment points are available inside. The full program is published on the Forte Prenestino website at the beginning of July.
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Where does it take place — Centocelle City Movies
C.S.O.A. Forte Prenestino
Via Federico Delpino 187, 00171 Roma