• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Kids Events in Austin this Weekend
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Summer Outdoor Movie Night with Cinema East

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Robert Luke

Cinema East Sunday Movie Night in Austin

Outdoor movie night in Austin (Credit: Ben Sklar)

Living in Austin sometimes feels like living in an eternal, year long film festival. In addition to Austin Film Society and all the film festivals that happen in this town, we also get the Cinema East summer series.

Every summer Sunday at 9 PM, Cinema East hosts creative, independent films on the lawn of the French Legation in East Austin. This is an excellent way to end the weekend: watching a film, Austin style.

What makes it feel like Austin? Well, it’s an outdoor film event that’s BYOB. My friends and I are usually the type of people who bring a cooler of Austin Beerworks’ Fire Eagle. I’d also recommend anything by Hops and Grain. However, I’ve also seen many people set up a great looking picnic as they enjoy the movie, maybe with a bottle of wine.

The film selection is really cool. Curated by Cheer Up Charlie’s owner, Maggie Lea, Cinema East offers festival quality programming all summer long. Unlike Sound & Cinema or the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series, most of these films are not classic films you’ve seen before. Don’t let that discourage you from wanting to go. These are the types of films you’d have to attend a film festival to catch. If you were lucky.

Cinema East Summer Movie Night

Captivated crowds at Cinema East (Credit: Ben Sklar)

“But Robert, some of these films already played at SXSW!” That is correct. However, most Austinites don’t get a chance to see the films that play at festivals, so this is an excellent opportunity for Austin residents to experience them without having to buy a festival badge or spend an hour or two waiting in line. Also like I said previously, the BYOB or picnic experience can give a relaxing atmosphere to cap off the weekend. It’s a great idea to suggest to friends or a date on a Sunday night.

Previous year’s selections featured a lot of films made in Austin or made by Austinites. They included Eric Hueber’s Rainbow’s End, Clay Liford’s Wuss, and the 2013 SXSW hit Zero Charisma, by directors Katie Graham and Andrew Matthews.

Now in its fourth year, Cinema East is showing a more diverse set of films from outside the local filmmaking scene. This summer line up includes:

  • I Believe in Unicorns
  • Approaching the Elephant
  • Wild Canaries
  • Joy Kevin
  • The Foxy Merkins
  • Above All Else
  • The Heart Machine
2014 Cinema East Movie Lineup

2014 Cinema East lineup

Admission is usually $3-5 (dude, just bring $5) at 9 PM on Sunday nights at the French Legation (802 San Marcos Street, east of downtown).

Sunday nights are often weighed down by the impending doom of Monday lurking around the corner. But during the summer, Austinites can use Cinema East as a fun and relaxing way to cope with the end of the weekend.

The best way to follow Cinema East and their screenings is their Facebook page. If you’re not on Facebook, check out their website at CinemaEastAustin.com.

 

@OhNoRobertLuke asks:

Have you ever been to a Cinema East summer show? What did you think?

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Robert Luke
Robert Luke
Robert Luke
Latest posts by Robert Luke (see all)
  • House of Torment Is the Best Haunted House in Austin - October 16, 2014
  • Top 5 Things to See at Austin Comic Con - October 2, 2014
  • I Luv Video Is Austin’s Oldest and Largest Video Store - September 19, 2014

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Film Tagged With: eastside

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Popular Right Now

Best Events in Austin in July 2025

Celebrate Summer Right: Best July Events in Austin 2025

Things to do in Austin this Summer

Keep It Cool: 2025’s Hottest Things to Do in Austin This Summer

Summer Camps in Austin 2025

Summer Camps in Austin 2025 – STEM, Sports, Arts & More Top Programs Your Kids Will Love

Things To Do in Austin With Teens

50 Things to do in Austin with Teens| Fun Teenager Activities

Recent Posts

  • Best Fun Events in Austin July 11 -13
  • 4th of July Fireworks in Austin Tonight – What to Know Now
  • Where to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in Austin (2025)
  • Best Fun Events in Austin this Weekend of July 4 Include Star Spangled Fest, Divine Carnival: Reimagining the Odyssey, and More!
  • Top Kids Events in Austin July 4 – July 6 include Star Spangled Fest, Kids Day, and More!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in