Open-Air Cinema

Cinema under the stars in Bagnolo in Piano

Open-Air Cinema is the summer film festival of the Municipality of Bagnolo in Piano, in the plain of the province of Reggio Emilia, in Emilia-Romagna. From June to August, the big screen returns to the squares and courtyards of the town with a series of free evening screenings, designed to accompany citizens and families throughout the summer. Promoted by the Municipal Administration in collaboration with Live Events Agenzia, the festival transforms public spaces into open-air arenas for evening gatherings, when the day's heat gives way to coolness.

A distributed program across three venues

The unique feature of Open-Air Cinema is its distributed formula: screenings are not held in a single location but move between the center and the hamlets, bringing cinema closer to all residents. The three venues for the festival are Piazza Garibaldi, in the heart of the town, the former schools of Pieve Rossa, and the former schools of San Tomaso. All evenings begin at 9:00 PM, and admission is free until available seats are filled.

Films for all ages

The program offers titles suitable for every audience: comedies, animated films, musicals, and fantasy films alternate throughout the season, providing entertainment but also opportunities for reflection. Some evenings are dedicated to themes important to the community—from mental health to historical memory, and raising awareness about neurodegenerative diseases—thanks to collaboration with local associations. It is popular cinema in the best sense of the word: accessible, free, and capable of uniting different generations around the same screen.

A summer of community

More than just a film program, Open-Air Cinema is an opportunity for social interaction in Bagnolo in Piano. The evenings become meeting points for the neighborhoods and hamlets, where families, the elderly, and children gather outdoors in an informal and convivial atmosphere. The festival is part of the rich summer calendar of the towns in the Bassa Reggiana area, where local festivals, village feasts, and cultural events liven up the hottest months of the year. For those visiting this corner of Emilia, it's an authentic way to experience the slow and welcoming rhythm of the Emilian plain.