From June 15 to 29, the Berlinale presented festival highlights from the February 2022 programme in a summery outdoor atmosphere.

In cooperation with five Berlin outdoor cinemas and the films’ distributors, films from various Berlinale sections were shown over the course of 15 evenings. Berlinale Goes Open Air combined the tradition of the Summer Berlinale (since 2003) with the concept for Berlinale Goes Kiez, an audience favourite. The films were introduced by the festival directors or the Berlinale section heads. Guests from film teams also attended some screenings.

Local nurses and doctors were invited to attend Berlinale Goes Open Air screenings free of charge as a gesture of gratitude for their tireless work during the pandemic, an initiative suggested by Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media Claudia Roth.

The 2022 Berlinale took place in February as an on-site event despite the challenges of the pandemic. The festival’s success was a positive sign for the film industry and an encouraging one for all culture fans.

Now in June 2022, Berlinale Goes Open Air could again promote awareness of the films and of the cinema as a community-building place, as well as support German film distributors and cinemas in their work towards creating a vibrant film culture and connecting to a wide audience. The Berlinale, the cinemas and the distributors were very pleased with the warm reception by audiences, which attests to the cinema’s potential as a place to experience community.