Southend’s Free Open-Air Cinema!

August 1, 2016 by Southend Borough Council

“Journey Beyond the Stars” with Southend’s free open-air cinema experience

Tuesday 2nd August 2016

Four classic space films are to be screened for free from the Big Screen Southend every Saturday in August in celebration of Timothy Peake’s return to earth following the Principia space mission to the international space station.

Spielberg Classic E.T. will kick off the “Journey Beyond the Stars” series this Saturday, followed by digitally animated Wall-E, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and completing with Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

To guide you on a journey through time and space at Southend’s Outdoor Cinema, each film will commence with a pre-performance of short videos from the European Space Agency video archive that have been transmitted by Timothy Peake since the beginning of his space mission on the international space station.

Cllr Ann Holland Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism & The Economy, said: “Journey Beyond the Stars is another welcome addition to Southend’s cultural offer, providing families and film enthusiasts the chance to enjoy four classic space-themed films from a fantastic open-air location during the height of the British summer.

“If you haven’t watched a film or performance at the Big Screen yet, bring some food, a chair and enjoy a brilliant free evening out.”

The films take place at the following times and dates.

Film Screenings

6 August, 6.00pm E.T. (Dir. Steven Spielberg, 1982)
13 August, 6.00pm Wall-E (Dir. Andrew Stanton, 2008)
20 August, 6.00pm Close encounters of the Third Kind (Dir. Steven Spielberg, 1977)
27 August, 6.00pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Dir. J.J. Abrams, 2015)

About Big Screen Southend

Big Screen Southend is a purpose-built display screen designed for the presentation of artist commissions, live transmissions, and short and feature films relative to the cultural context of Southend, South Essex and further afield.

Located at the centre of Elmer Square, the screen is a hundred yards from Southend Central Station. (Trains every fifteen minutes from London Fenchurch Street. Journey time fifty minutes).