Totally Stockholm 1
ROADMAP UNDER THE STARS Food, fun and flicks. Dec
k chairs and popcorn. Pucko Sommarbiofestival’s open-air film screenings might be one the cultural highlights of the summer. Words: Kasia Syty Photo: Amanda Troell Twice in July, Tantolunden will host the open-air cinema festival Pucko Sommarbiofestival, who’re looking to bring you the best cinematic experience of the summer. We talked to Rikard Jonsson at Big Crowd Factory, the team behind the outdoor cinema touring around Sweden. Are you a little worried about an outdoor cinema in July, during the bright Swedish summer nights? No it works fine, it fits as well as sneakers with a good suit. We use high-quality technology to create the best possible cinema experience, and we don’t begin the screening until dusk. Our festivals are usually appreciated by the audience, even in July. Who are you, the crew behind the cinema then? Film buffs? It’s a great crew, we’re eight people behind this circus. All with different backgrounds, but a love of film and outdoor cinema is something we all have in common. Our film buffery helped us survive two and a half years of pandemic, and we’re more eager than ever to offer the audience free outdoor cinema. What kind of films will be screened? We can reveal a lot about the festival, but when it comes to the choice of films, we’re actually not really ready yet. We usually book a weekend when we go through our options and discuss the best choices for each city. Previously we have screened blockbusters like La La Land, A Star is Born, Coco, Grease and so on. But hang in there - the titles will be revealed on social media towards the end of June. Usually it’s official more than a week before the screenings go ahead. Apart from the actual film screenings, there’s a lot going on in the festival area. Could you tell us more? We try to create a complete concept, where we offer everything: activities, goodie bags, DJs, art performances, competitions, food trucks, a lounge area and, obviously, a cinema kiosk, where you will find everything you need ahead of the screening. How can you afford to present this outdoor film festival for free? Right now we’re creating these festivals pro bono. Above all, it’s our own precious time that is invested. The festivals are financed by our partners, like Pucko chocolate milk, Filmstaden, 3 Sverige and so on. Our main partner is Pucko - when they got on board, we chose to let them christen the whole tour, which is now called Pucko Sommarbiofestival 2022! And what happens if there’s bad weather? That would of course be less fun, but it’s all about getting dressed for the expected weather for each occasion. My personal tip is to wear a cap and a poncho, that’s usually a winning combination. Hopefully we won’t see rain at our six festivals. We’ll have to pray to the weather gods. And lastly, why should people visit your festival? If you feel like having a lovely festival day, one that is wrapped up with a cosy outdoor film screening, you should absolutely come visit us. It’s quite relaxed, festival visitors can come and stay for as long as they please. We also organise all our festivals in very central and accessible parks, and the fact that visitors don’t have to pay a single cent usually attracts quite a few happy festival-goers around summery Sweden. Tour schedule: Stockholm, Tantolunden, 2 July Malmö, Lördagsplan 9 July Göteborg, Azaleadalen, 16 July Stockholm, Tantolunden 30 July Uppsala, Källparken, 20 August Lund, Patrik Rosengrens Park, 27 August 6