Open-air cinema at the Swedish Institute: Swedish cinema takes the spotlight this summer

Every summer, the Swedish Institute in Paris hosts outdoor cinema screenings in its Marais garden. Free or bookable depending on the edition, these screenings showcase Swedish classics and contemporary titles in an intimate setting in the heart of the 3rd arrondissement.

Based at the Hôtel de Marle, the Swedish Institute is the only Swedish cultural center located outside Sweden. Throughout the year, it offers exhibitions, lectures, concerts, literary encounters and screenings dedicated to Swedish creativity. During the summer, its garden hosts a cycle of open-air cinema, a regular fixture of its cultural programming.

The idea is simple: a string of evenings devoted to the screenings of Swedish cinema, shown in the original language with subtitles, in the Institute’s courtyard and garden. The audience is invited to discover the many facets of Swedish film, from beloved classics to newer titles and works by emerging directors.

Swedish cinema has long held a pivotal role in the history of the art form. It rose to international prominence thanks to directors such as Ingmar Bergman, the mind behind works like The Seventh Seal, Persona, and Fanny and Alexander. His body of work profoundly shaped auteur cinema with its exploration of psychology, human relationships, and existential questions.

Other filmmakers have also helped boost the profile of Swedish cinema. Bo Widerberg stood out with a realist approach centered on social issues, while Roy Andersson is renowned for a highly crafted visual style, static shots, and his distinctive humor. More recently, Ruben Östlund, repeatedly honored at the Cannes Film Festival, has drawn a wide audience with films such as The Square or Sans filtre, which probe social dynamics and contemporary behavior.

The lineup for outdoor cinema in 2026:

Friday, September 4 at 9 p.m., Kevlar Soul by Maria Eriksson-Hecht
Saturday, September 5 at 9 p.m., Under Hypnosis by Ernst de Geer

The screenings organized by the Swedish Institute thus offer a chance to discover this cinematic diversity in an outdoor setting. They cater equally to fans of Nordic cinema and to viewers eager to explore a cinematography that is frequently honored at major international festivals.

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