Film nights on the banks of the Elbe: Despite the bridge being demolished, outdoor cinema fun!

Film nights on the banks of the Elbe: Despite the bridge being demolished, outdoor cinema fun!

The Dresden Film Nights start under special circumstances: On June 19th, 2025, the first curtain fell on the Königsufer and sets off on an exciting journey in the middle of summer until August 24th. But the Carola Bridge, which is currently being demolished, casts a shadow over the venue, as many visitors, including Jacqueline Wolgemut, note. “It feels strange to see the bridge being demolished, but the ambience is not affected,” she explains, as she prepares for an evening of the film “The Soft and the Big Sounds,” a tragic comedy nominated for the César 2025 in seven categories. Maria Rabe, who came with her friend Astrid Carstensen, also looks optimistically into the night.

Astrid, who keeps a cool head as a civil engineer, notices that everything seems well organized despite the construction site. Philip Hartmanis, the managing director of the Dresden Film Nights, has been through a lot of stress in recent weeks because of the bridge collapse. “The uncertainty about holding our festival gave us a lot of headaches,” he admits. The high costs for a new access road to the festival site add up to a six-figure amount, which made planning difficult. “That not only costs money, but also nerves,” he adds.

A new concept for festival operations

Despite the challenges, the team developed a new security and access concept. As part of this, a construction road was set up to ensure logistics and emergency evacuation. According to radiodresden.de, visitors will be guided through a “one-way street” to enable smooth access. The main entrance is the Augustus side on the Elbe Cycle Path, where a new ticket office has also been created. For families and people with disabilities, access remains on the Carola side, while special exits ensure the safety of spectators.

Ticket prices have increased slightly: a regular ticket now costs 12.50 euros (an increase of 1.50 euros), the family cinema remains at 7.50 euros. This year, the film nights present an impressive selection of over 90 films, including numerous children's films, art house highlights and blockbusters. Recommended films include “Paddington in Peru” on August 13th and “The Wild Robot” on June 29th. This year's concert series is also diverse and includes performances by artists such as Ski Aggu, Nina Chuba and KAISERMANIA.

Sunny times despite construction work

Although the construction site at the Carola Bridge raises some questions, acoustic impairments are not expected as a result of the construction work. In fact, the advantages of the open-air cinema seem to outweigh the challenges, explains saechsische.de. In particular, traveling by bike or on foot is highly recommended, as the lack of parking spaces remains an ongoing issue this year. Visitors should also note that they are not allowed to bring their own drinks or food.

For film fans who want to indulge in the magic of the open-air cinema, the anticipation remains unbroken. “Watching a film with friends on a warm summer night is simply priceless,” enthuses Jacqueline Wolgemut. The stress surrounding the construction site is quickly forgotten when the light from the screen illuminates the night and the film nights take place in the heart of Dresden.

The event not only offers film screenings, but also the opportunity to embark on a special experience - despite all adversities and challenges. Further information, the complete program and tickets are available on the official Filmnächte website.