Outdoor Cinema is back at Socrates
This September, Outdoor Cinema returns to Socrates with two evenings of film, food, and live performance celebrating the rich cultural fabric of Queens and New York City.
Outdoor Cinema: Bouchra
September 12, 2026 | 6 – 10pm
Outdoor Cinema opens with BOUCHRA, an animated film by artists Meriem Bennani and Orian Barki. Moving between Casablanca and New York, the film follows Bouchra, a Moroccan filmmaker living in New York, as she navigates a conversation with her mother and reflects on family, sexuality, love, and the complexities of living between cultures.
Outdoor Cinema: Jean-Michel Basquiat
September 26, 2026 | 6 – 10pm
Outdoor Cinema continues with Jean-Michel Basquiat, a new documentary exploring the life, work, and cultural world of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The film traces Basquiat’s emergence in 1980s New York and the creative communities, friendships, music, and cultural forces that surrounded and shaped his practice.
Help Keep Outdoor Cinema Going
OUTDOOR CINEMA IS BACK. COMMUNITY SUPPORT WILL KEEP IT GOING.
A Community-Powered CAMPAIGN
Through the Community Council (formerly Socrates FaNS), we are inviting neighbors, artists, and supporters to help build on this year’s pilot and make Outdoor Cinema possible in 2027 and beyond.
Outdoor Cinema has always been about more than movies. It is a celebration of public space as a place where differences are not simply acknowledged, they are welcomed. At a time when othering and division continue to intensify, creating spaces where people gather across cultures, experiences, and perspectives is a political act. Outdoor Cinema reminds us of the power of public space to foster connection, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for the diversity that defines our communities.
The Community Council is a growing network of people who believe that public space, cultural exchange, and belonging are worth investing in. Through recurring monthly support, members help ensure that Socrates remains free, accessible, and vibrant for all.
Together, community support sustains the exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and public gatherings that define Socrates—and can help ensure that Outdoor Cinema continues next summer and for years to come.
Make a Reoccuring Gift
Monthly giving is one of the most meaningful ways to support the Park and help secure the future of Outdoor Cinema.
Community Council Membership Levels
- Supporter — $10/month
- Advocate — $25/month
- Champion — $50/month
- Steward — $100/month
Every contribution helps us build on this year’s pilot, bring Outdoor Cinema back in 2027, and support free public programming throughout the year.
For more than two decades, Outdoor Cinema brought New Yorkers together at Socrates for films, food, music, and shared cultural experiences. This September, we welcome audiences back to the waterfront. With your support, we can make sure this is only the beginning.