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Autocine Madrid returns this summer with pedestrian-only access
Autocine Madrid launches a new open-air cinema season this Monday, 20 July, changing one of its hallmarks: this time it will not be possible to enter by car. The public will enter on foot to enjoy films, live music, food and night-time activities until 28 August.
The venue on Isla de Java street, in Fuencarral-El Pardo and near Paseo de la Castellana, will offer around 500 places per session. The proposal seeks to recover the atmosphere of the great summer nights, but with a layout closer to that of a terrace or a conventional open-air cinema.
Around 300 tickets will form part of the Experiencia Premium, equipped with tables, beanbags and food service throughout the evening. The rest will be distributed in the general area, intended for those who prefer to focus on the film and the activities before the screening.
The programme will mix musicals, family films, Spanish comedies and recent classics. Announced titles include ‘Grease’, ‘Interstellar’, ‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘High School Musical’ and ‘Ocho apellidos vascos’, a combination that makes it possible for viewers of very different ages to share a session.
The films will be only one part of the plan. Each day will have its own atmosphere, with offerings such as karaoke, competitions, entertainment, face painting and spaces to take photographs. Some sessions will even include Las Vegas-style express weddings, with Elvis Presley as an improvised master of ceremonies.
The space has also renewed the projection and sound system, several areas of the venue and part of the furniture. The changes are designed to make the experience more comfortable, especially on evenings when the audience may spend several hours between dinner, performances and the film.
The programme also keeps areas adapted for families with babies and allows entry with pets. The format thus opens the venue to groups of friends, couples and families looking for a night-time plan without relying on the usual circuits in the centre.
The exclusively pedestrian access completely transforms the traditional image of the drive-in cinema: rows of vehicles in front of the screen disappear, and tables, beanbags and movement between the different areas gain space. The night leaves an image closer to an urban festival than to the drive-in cinema of American films.