The open-air cinema of Sala Montjuïc moves to Tres Xemeneies

Since the art biennial Manifesta opened the doors of the iconic Tres Xemeneies as a cultural space, the old factory in Sant Adrià de Besòs has not stopped attracting the attention of local and international events, awaiting its transformation into the future audiovisual hub. The open-air cinema sessions of Sala Montjuïc, which traditionally took place in the Santa Eulàlia moat of the castle that crowns the Barcelona mountain, will also move, during this year's edition, to this icon of the industrial past.

The organizers of the open-air cinema series were looking for a plan B to continue holding their outdoor film screenings, preceded by a live music concert, which have already become one of the essential summer events in the Catalan capital. The renovation of the castle made it impossible for the festival, which has been bringing the best cinema to the city for over 20 years, to be held this year in its usual location.

This alternative location has been found precisely in the old factory of Sant Adrià. Built more than half a century ago as a thermal power plant, the space had been disused since 2011, when Endesa ceased its activity. Although the company's intention was to demolish the building, local administrations and neighborhood associations fought to protect the Tres Xemeneies as a symbol of the industrial past of this area. A space that will begin to be renovated in the summer of 2026 with the idea of becoming the headquarters of Catalunya Media City, dedicated to audiovisuals, video games, and Catalan digital culture, by 2028. While rehabilitation projects do not begin, the old factory will become the venue for events such as the World Congress of Architecture or the Sala Montjuïc cinema screenings.

Specifically, the open-air cinema series will be set up outside the Tres Xemeneies, with sun loungers covering this large esplanade that offers views of the entire Barcelona skyline. From June 27 to August 6, a selection of 18 films in original version with subtitles can be enjoyed, combining recently awarded films with classics and cult titles from the big screen, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in June, July, and August.

To inaugurate this year's edition, on June 27, Sala Montjuïc will screen A Complete Unknown, the biopic about Bob Dylan directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet. An inaugural session that will also feature a concert by electronic rock and folk singer-songwriter Lluki Valverde, saxophonist of Ludwig Band.

The festival will allow audiences to see recent hits and award-winning films, such as Wicked, A Real Pain, or Anora, crowned at the Oscars as Best Picture and four more golden statuettes. Mikey Madison also managed to win the title of best lead actress, to the detriment of Demi Moore for The Substance, and the Spanish Karla Sofía Gascón for Emilia Pérez; two films that can also be seen at the Tres Xemeneies. There will also be space for those who prefer to relive classics and cult films such as Forrest Gump or The Apartment.

These screenings will be complemented by live concerts, which, in their 43rd edition, will once again offer a varied selection of artists and styles, ranging from jazz to electronic pop, from swing to Latin rhythms. The Grec Festival of Barcelona will once again collaborate with the film series, with the rumba group Rumberto preceding the screening of El 47, winner of the Gaudí for best film, or Marta Garrett as a musical performance before the screening of También esto pasará. As every year, the series will close with a surprise film. Ticket prices will range from 7.50 euros to 11.50 euros, depending on whether the option with or without a sun lounger is chosen.

The film series was created by Nathalie Modigliani, Mireia Manén, and Guillem Galeria, three friends who had the ambition to replicate in the Catalan capital an open-air cinema series that was held in La Villette park in Paris. Since its first screening in 2003, with Amélie, the festival has managed to become one of the essential events to survive the hot months in the Catalan capital, and last year they even put up the "sold out" sign before the start of the cinema sessions.