We asked film fest pros how to program your backyard movie nights

Along with beach days and park hangs, outdoor movie nights feel like the epitome of summer fun, plus you can host them right in your own backyard. But if the thought of deciding which movie(s) to show sends you spiralling back to hours spent wandering the aisles of Blockbuster, then please keep reading. We tapped two film festival programmers for their advice on making selections for a group, and the logistics of watching movies outdoors — and we got some of their picks too. 

Setting the scene

Tempting as it may be to take your projector to the park, your movie nights should remain in your own yard for legal reasons. Emily Reid, the artistic and executive director of Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (which currently offers rental kits for a personal version of their popular public screenings) shared a gentle reminder that any films shown outside of residential spaces and exhibited to the public must be licensed or you could face fines. 

For more tips on the setup of a backyard movie night, check out our guide. 

Andrew Murphy, the director of programming at Inside Out, Canada's largest 2SLGBTQ film festival, suggests you treat your outdoor screening like an event and make sure everyone knows the itinerary. "'Eventizing' your screening is key," he said. Be clear on when you want guests to arrive and what time you'll start the movie. He said you should lean into the fun of it by encouraging people to bring props or by hosting a Q&A portion after the credits roll. 

Go for laughs

Both programmers made the case for screening something fun like a comedy. "We need joy, we need celebration, even if for a couple of hours, safely spaced and masked among our vaccinated friends and family," Murphy said. "I'd recommend going for laughs. Something quotable, something to build a drinking game around — that sort of thing." 

"I think especially after the year and a bit that we've all had, comedies play really well," said Reid. "We often come back, especially during the pandemic, to how good it feels to laugh together." She also noted that on a practical level, comedies are great outdoor picks because their sound isn't as intrusive. "Whether you're in a big park or a backyard, you're not as likely to bother people," she said.

Reid also has a soft spot for chase films and said they screen well outside because their energy contrasts that of the screening itself. "A big, vast landscape or an urban freeway — seeing that in your backyard is a really fun experience," she said. 

It never hurts to consult your audience before finalizing your program for the evening. "I am a big fan of [the] 'read the room' [approach]," Murphy said. "So I tend to curate a short list first, based on who is on the guest list." 

Intermissions and double bills 

If you're screening something long, Reid suggests planning an intermission ahead of time. "Just kind of figure out if there's going to be a good time to break and give people a chance to stretch their legs, go to the washroom, get more popcorn, and come back to watch the rest of something epic," she said. 

If you're planning to show more than one movie, Reid suggested selecting a theme. "When we start programming, we always curate to a theme every summer," she said. "So there's always a few films that inspire a theme or just a general idea that we like to tease out over a program." She also recommended selecting films that are 90 minutes or less for a double bill. 

Pairing a short film with a feature is also an option. Reid noted that most of the National Film Board of Canada's online catalogue is available for free.

Programmer movie picks by genre

Summer nostalgia

Emily Reid: Stand by Me (Rob Reiner, 1986) — It's a nostalgic favourite.… Incredibly charming.

Andrew Murphy: The Goonies (Richard Donner, 1985) or Adventures in Babysitting (Chris Columbus, 1987) — Then you can make your friends watch the two-part promo video Cyndi Lauper made for The Goonies theme song, The Goonies 'R' Good Enough, that starred … WWF wrestlers and a cave discovered behind a picture frame.

Horror

ER: Nosferatu (F.W. Murnau, 1922) — We have screened [this film] a couple of times and … we commissioned an original score [by Del Bel] and we have that on YouTube for free.

AM: Alien (Ridley Scott, 1979) — Perfectly retro, incredible filmmaking, and Ms. Ripley risking her life and all of space for an orange cat.

Comedy

ER: Hunt for the Wilderpeople (Taika Waititi, 2016) — It's such an incredibly charming film and it's not a pure comedy. Like all of Taika Waititi's films, there's darkness, there's drama, there's humour. 

AM: Clue (Jonathan Lynn, 1985) — One of my favourite movies of all time. Quotable, start to finish. Hilarious wordplay.

Love stories

ER: Rafiki (Wanuri Kahiu, 2018) — This isn't a romcom. It's romantic.… It's an incredibly beloved film. Every time anyone has screened it, it has brought so many people out. 

AM: Dating Amber (David Freyne, 2020) — A recent, fantastic Irish film about a closeted girl and boy who agree to date in their senior year of high school as each other's beards to avoid getting bullied.

Family-friendly

ER: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982) — Parents who were born in the '70s or '80s are absolutely huge nostalgic fans of it, and I think it still continues to be a great family selection — and great for outdoor cinema.

AM: Mary Poppins Returns (Rob Marshall, 2018) — It's so much fun, and the songs are great and, let's be honest, never have I seen a quippy gay man better represented than in this incarnation of Mary Poppins. Emily Blunt is perfection. And saucy.

Documentary

ER: Speed Sisters (Amber Fares, 2015) — It is a really thrilling film from Palestine ... about the Middle East's [first] female race-car driving team. There's not a dull moment in the film.

AM: Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, 2019) — You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll sing along. Featuring iconic concert footage and incredible interviews with the likes of Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. 

Award-winners and absolute must-sees

ER: Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989) — It's the perfect summer film. It's also the perfect outdoor film. It's the perfect "now" film. It's the perfect music film. It's really just one of the great masterpieces of cinema, and if people haven't seen it, everyone should see it. 

AM: A Fantastic Woman (Sebastián Lelio, 2017) — Best [foreign language] film-winner at the 2018 Oscars. 

Classics

ER: Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) or Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960) — I definitely say that any Hitchcock film is great outdoors, but I'd say especially Rear Window or Psycho. I've watched both of those outdoors several times, and they are truly joyous experiences. And those shots are so gorgeous and a lot of fun. 

AM: Rear Window (Hitchcock, 1954) and Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958) — Always Hitchcock. It's shocking how many will know the names of the films, but have never seen them. Start with Rear Window or Vertigo.

Canadian film

ER: Take This Waltz (Sarah Polley, 2011) — The quintessential Toronto film (for me). It's a love letter to the city's culture, grid-like geography and sweltering summer heat. Sarah Polley lives among the streets depicted in the film and her affection for Toronto neighbourhoods is infectious.

AM: Fire (Deepa Mehta, 1996) — Deepa Mehta's classic from 1996.

AM: C.R.A.Z.Y. (Jean-Marc Vallée, 2005) — If only for the pot-smoking David Bowie scene [and] to see [it] projected on a sheet tacked to the garage.

Interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

Brittany Toole is an associate producer at CBC Life.