Michelle F. Solomon

Pinch me, I must be dreaming.

To see the New World Symphony on the big screen on the 7.000 square foot exterior wall at the New World Center is spectacular, but imagine seeing a movie on that big screen under the stars in Miami Beach. Heavenly. And did I say free?

The City of Miami Beach starts its Soundscape Cinema Series this month (October) with a spectacular season of films screened on the big wall at the New World Center every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. through May 2019. Each season, a guest curator is invited to program the series. The 2018-19 Soundscape Cinema Series is curated by Igor Shteyrenberg, Executive Director of the Miami Jewish Film Festival and the Founder/Director of the Popcorn Frights Film Festival.

The series will kick off on Wednesday, Oct. 3 with a newly restored presentation of "The NeverEnding Story, " the beloved family friendly classic about a troubled boy who discovers an extraordinary storybook and the fantastical world within its pages. Other films featured in October will include Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, a 70th anniversary presentation of Powell & Pressburger’s iconic film The Red Shoes, and in celebration of Halloween, a screening of "A Quiet Place" 50th anniversary presentation of "The Night Of The Living Dead."

Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs, drinks, snacks, and, yes, pets are allowed, to the movies to make themselves at home.

“This year's Soundscape Cinema Series celebrates the magnificent diversity of world cinema and is bursting at the seams with revelatory stories that explore new worlds, new perspectives, and new ways of being. Whether high or low, fiction or documentary, arthouse or grindhouse, classic or deep cut, each of the films in this program offers an exposure to unfamiliar places and ways of life that will entertain, enlighten, excite, and celebrate film's ability to illuminate the world around us. We hope that in presenting this treasure trove of stories and unique perspectives underneath the Miami Beach sky, these films will offer a collective journey towards narrower divides and smaller obstacles for our Miami community. Bring a blanket, bring a picnic, and bring friends and family and join us in discovering the everlasting magic of the movies!” says Igor Shteyrenberg, Executive Director of the Miami Jewish Film Festival and Founder/Director of the Popcorn Frights Film Festival.

“Now entering its ninth season, we are proud to present such a wonderfully diverse line up for the 2018-19 SoundScape Cinema Series. Curated by Igor Shteyrenberg, Executive Director, Miami Jewish Film Festival, the season brings classics, family favorites and award-winning films to the soaring 7,000 square foot projection wall of the New World Center. We look forward to welcoming residents and guests to the highly popular free screenings each Wednesday evening!” said Brandi Reddick, Cultural Affairs Manager of Tourism, Culture, and Economic Development at the City of Miami Beach.

The complete schedule for the Miami Beach 2018-2019 SoundScape Cinema Series:

October

• Wednesday, October 3, 2018 – "The Never Ending Story" (1984) [35th Anniversary]
• Wednesday, October 10, 2018 – "Isle of Dogs" (2018)
• Wednesday, October 17, 2018 – "The Red Shoes" (1948) [70th Anniversary]
• Wednesday, October 24, 2018 – "A Quiet Place"(2018)
• Wednesday, October 31, 2018 – "The Night of the Living Dead" (1968) [50th Anniversary]

Photographer:

November

• Wednesday, November 7, 2018 – "Pina" (2011)
• Wednesday, November 14, 2018 – "The Little Mermaid" (1989)
• Wednesday, November 21, 2018 – "Paddington 2" (2018)
• Wednesday, November 28, 2018 – "Big" (1988) [30th Anniversary]

Photographer:

December

• Wednesday, December 12, 2018 – "An American in Paris" (1951)
• Wednesday, December 19, 2018 – "Edward Scissorhands" (1990)
• Wednesday, December 26, 2018 – "Black Panther" (2018)

Photographer:

January

• Wednesday, January 2, 2019 – "Pather Panchali"(1955)
• Wednesday, January 9, 2019 – "The Band's Visit" (2007)
• Wednesday, January 30, 2019 – "Harmonia" (2016)

Photographer:

February

• Wednesday, February 6, 2019 – "Hairspray" (1988)
• Wednesday, February 13, 2019 – "As Good As It Gets" (1997)
• Wednesday, February 20, 2019 – "Babette's Feast" (1987)
• Wednesday, February 27, 2019 – "FitzCarraldo"(1982)

Photographer:

March

• Wednesday, March 6, 2019 – "Wonder Woman"(2017)
• Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – "Ready Player One" (2018)
• Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – "The Red Turtle" (2016)
• Wednesday, March 27, 2019 – "Little Shop of Horrors" (1986)

Photographer:

April

• Wednesday, April 3, 2019 – "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"(2003)
• Wednesday, April 10, 2019 – "Bright Star" (2009)
• Wednesday, April 17, 2019 – "Won't You Be My Neighbor"(2018)
• Wednesday, April 24, 2019 – "Days of Heaven" (1978)

Photographer:

May

• Wednesday, May 1, 2019 – "Ida" (2013)
• Wednesday, May 8, 2019 – "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955)
• Wednesday, May 15, 2019 – "Sorcerer" (1977)
• Wednesday, May 22, 2019 – "The Last Resort" (2018)
• Wednesday, May 29, 2019 – "Once Upon A Time In The West"(1968)

Photographer:

All screenings are free and open to the public and will take place on Wednesday’s at 8pm starting October 3 through May 29 at Miami Beach’s SoundScape located at 400 17th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139.