Toronto’s summertime tradition of free, open-air movie screenings is coming back this summer as the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS) gears up for its 15th annual season.
Could there be anything more magical than spending a summer night congregating in a Toronto park at sunset with hundreds of fellow film lovers to watch a screening of one of your favourite movies under the stars?
I may be biased, because I love movies almost as much as I love being outdoors, but I’d say few things come anywhere close.
Lucky for all open-air film fanatics, Toronto Outdoor Picture Show, the city’s longest and largest outdoor film screening series, is coming back for the season on June 12, bringing 20 nights of free public screenings spread across three months.
This year, the festival will be taking over Fort York, Christie Pits and Corktown Commons at various dates over the summer.
While the entire schedule has yet to be announced, the organization has already revealed the details for opening weekend, and this milestone year is already shaping up to be a great one.
In honour of the 15th anniversary, the organization is circling back to its first-ever curatorial theme, coming of age. Rebranded as “When We Were Young,” this year’s film selection explores themes of youth and what it means to grow up, while peppering in some nostalgic favourites from years gone by.
It all kicks off at Fort York with a screening of Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet on June 12, followed by showings of Steve McQueen’s Lovers Rock, Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw The TV Glow and a 30th anniversary presentation of Clueless.
In honour of TOPS’ 15th year, they’ve also added a brand-new element to the festival lineup this year.
From now until the end of the festival, anyone who makes a charitable donation of $15 or more to TOPS will be invited to vote on the festival’s closing night film in August.
The complete festival lineup is set to be announced on May 15, so be sure to keep an eye out for that and stock up on popcorn for another summer of free movie screenings under the stars. I know I will!
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