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PART II ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
film
Taking you through Amsterdam’s movie scene, one cinema at a time.
Driving North, and four more open air film-fests
Who says summer is over?
text Bregtje Schudel
I ON THE ROOF FILM FESTIVAL Until 4 September On the roof of the VU, De Boelelaan 1105 www.ontheroofff.nl WEST’IVAL 12-14 September Mercatorplein www.westival-amsterdam.com WESTBEACH OPEN AIR 10-20 September Hotel Buiten, Th. J. Lammerslaan 1 www.amsterdam.nl BOLLYWOOD (NOT) AT THE PARK Third weekend of September Somewhere in Amsterdam-Oost www.bollywoodatthepark.nl DRIVING NORTH 1-11 October NDSM-werf www.drivingnorth.nl
f anything, the number of outdoors festivities only seems to be growing. And it does make more sense. The sooner the sun is down, the sooner the film can start. Even if you’re afraid of bad after-summer weather, there’s one festival that has it all covered: Driving North, an old school drive-in cinema at NSDM-werf in Amsterdam Noord, where you can watch a movie from your car (cost is €25 per car) and where your snacks and drinks are delivered right to your window. Had one too many? Not a problem. The Rent-a-BOB will get you home safely! But of course you are also welcome on foot, with seats in the lounge at €10. Fittingly, cars play a leading role in most films. Doc’s trusty DeLorean in Back to the Future (1985) will open the third edition of Driving North. To
commemorate its thirtieth anniversary, a local brewer has even made a special beer, aptly called Bock to the Future. Stuntman Mike’s Chevy Nova and Dodge Charger will make an appearance in Quentin Tarrantino’s Death Proof (inevitably followed by Robert Rodriguez’s, Planet Terror – don’t miss Tarantino’s melting testicles!), as will the lavender Greyhound – and titular character – of Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (presented by EYE) and Carl Casper’s taco truck from Chef! So start your engines, and may the best movie win! MORE OPEN-AIR FILM FARE: FROM EAST TO WEST The good news: there will be a new edition of Bollywood at the Park this year. The bad: it
won’t be at the park. Due to extensive renovations no festivals are allowed in Oosterpark. So keep your eyes peeled! For even more world cinema, go south – and up – for the On the Roof Film Festival on the roof of the Vrije Universiteit. All movies are accompanied by a discussion (in English) with guest speakers on their main topics and themes. You will have to pay for the view, though (film: €12.50, film+food:€19). For free film fare, go west to the West’ival at Mercatorplein with screenings of Sukkar Banat (English subtitles) and Broken Flowers, and to Westbeach Film Festival. Westbeach also had to relocate, from Sloterparkbad to Hotel Buiten, but the idyllic views – of Sloterplas – and the strong programming (Boyhood, Dallas Buyers Club, Annie Hall, among others) stay the same.