The annual cinema of the Slovenian Cinemas

The Slovenian National Film Archive’s Summer Cinema has officially opened its season with a lineup of free outdoor film screenings and related discussions on the green lawn of Metelkova Museum Square, starting on July 30, 2026. The event will run through August 22, offering a diverse selection of films and cultural activities aimed at both local and international visitors. The season opens with Jean Eustache’s nostalgic classic My Little Loves (1974), a film often described as a personal ethnography of reality, reflecting the director's roots in provincial working-class life. This screening marks the beginning of a broader retrospective of Eustache’s work, which will continue into the 2026/2027 season. The summer cinema’s initial phase features collaborations with various partners, including the LGBT Film Festival. On August 7, the documentary Barbara for Always (Brydie O'Connor, 2026) will be shown, offering an in-depth portrait of the influential American filmmaker Barbara Hammer (1939–2019), known for her pioneering lesbian cinema. The film draws from Hammer’s extensive, yet largely unexplored, archive. The same day, the festival will host a discussion with the film’s director, curator, and other contributors. On August 9, a collaboration with the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum and production company Astral Film will present Photographer (Miha Čelar, 2026), a documentary following the life of photographer Petar Naglič, who captured the birth of a Slovenian identity in the early 20th century. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the director, museum curators, and key figures involved in the film. On August 10, the festival will welcome the Tresk Film Festival, with a special evening curated in partnership with Radio Student. The event will feature projections of winning and finalist video shorts from the 17th edition of Tresk, highlighting emerging talent in short-form storytelling. From August 11 to 16, the Summer Cinema will collaborate with the Ljubljana Bookshop and the Modern Gallery (MG+MSUM) to host the Summer on Screen and Between Screens festival, organized jointly by the Slovenian National Film Archive and the Ljubljana Bookshop, UNESCO City of Literature. This year’s theme, “Strategies of Resistance,” will explore contemporary issues through film and literary dialogue. The festival will open with the animated feature Persepolis (Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi, 2007), a tribute to the late Iranian-French cartoonist and director Marjane Satrapi. Subsequent evenings will address themes such as feminism, labor rights, and artistic struggles, featuring films like Red Love (2024) by Dore García, Long Holidays (2012) by Damjan Kozolet, and I, Daniel Blake (2016) by Ken Loach. The festival will conclude with the digitally restored classic Thiaroye (1988), directed by Senegalese filmmakers Ousmane Sembène and Thierno Faty Sowa, a landmark of decolonial cinema. The final week of the Summer Cinema, from August 17 to 22, will focus on the International Short Film Festival, FeKK, organized by the Kraken Society. The twelfth edition of the festival will showcase outstanding works from around the world, Europe, and Slovenia, under the theme of cinematic excellence. The festival will include a variety of short films, each representing different styles and perspectives, further enriching the cultural offerings of the summer season. Throughout the entire period, the Summer Cinema will provide opportunities for audience engagement, including panel discussions, book presentations, and interactive sessions with filmmakers and artists. These events aim to foster a deeper appreciation of cinema and its role in society, while celebrating the diversity of voices and narratives represented in the programming.