You can catch up to 40 free movie screenings in Montreal parks this summer

Watching a movie under the stars hits different — especially when it's free.

Cinéma sous les étoiles is back for its 16th edition, bringing more than 40 free documentary screenings to parks across Montreal from June 25 to August 30.

Organized by Funambules Médias, the summer festival will host screenings in over 20 public spaces, including Parc Molson, Parc Laurier, Parc des Faubourgs, and Place Shamrock. A few films will even be shown in Cowansville, Westmount, and Montreal West.

This year's lineup includes films like No Other Land (winner of Best Documentary at the Academy Awards), Union (about union organizing at Amazon), Les perdants (a critical look at Canada’s electoral system), and Dahomey by Mati Diop.

The festival opens June 25 at Théâtre de Verdure in Parc La Fontaine with The Pickers, a doc exploring the struggles of migrant farm workers in Europe.The films cover timely issues like social justice, the environment, labour rights, and systemic inequality. While most of the films are in French, several are in English and many include subtitles. Screenings begin at sunset and are often followed by discussions with filmmakers and invited guests.

Two special programming blocks are also planned: an Environment Week from July 14 to 20 and a short film competition from July 21 to 27, with $30,000 in prizes awarded at a closing event on August 5.

So grab a blanket, find a park near you, and get ready for a summer of thought-provoking flicks under the stars.

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