The most unexpected Veneto of Le città di pianura, the stories of artists and fishermen from Burano with Boreana, inclusion, collective boats: Cinema Barch-in tells the story of Venice, Venetians, and a shared way of living on the water.
Tuesday, July 14, the sixth edition of the drive-in on the water concludes with the rescheduled Titanic screening.
Sunday evening, boats entered the Arsenale basin one after another. Some were waiting for CocaiExpress deliveries to enjoy aperitivo or dinner on board; from the Trabacolo Il Nuovo Trionfo came the celestial sounds of bottles being uncorked and toasts; we listened to conversations on stage while watching the sky change color. The screen was still dark, but the film had already begun.
There are many things that make Cinema Barch-in unique: cinema arrives on the water and allows us to experience Venice in its most authentic way. The Arsenale, historic heart of the Venetian Navy and a venue dedicated to art and culture that hosts Biennale Arte, Architettura e Danza, becomes a shared auditorium, inhabited by rowing or motorboats, historic vessels, families, and people.
Venetians have boats, or friends with boats. This year Barch-in created two new types of experiences aboard historic boats, expanding the options offered by rowing clubs, with which one arrives slowly, savoring the tradition of rowing.
An Unexpected Veneto Seen from the Arsenale
Le città di pianura by Francesco Sossai worked particularly well within this setting. The film traverses a lateral, ironic, melancholic Veneto, far from the region’s most splendid images. Watching it from the water, in the heart of the Arsenale, made the dialogue between the film and the territory even more evident.
Before the screening, the second part of Boreana, an independent documentary directed by Emanuel Toffolo and Jordan Carraro that explores the most authentic soul of Burano and the northern lagoon of Venice, brought attention back to the lagoon and those who continue to inhabit it. The program thus brought together two nearby yet very different geographies: the Veneto plain told by Sossai and the island told by Toffolo and Carraro.
Barch-in selects films and activities with the audience as parts of a broader discourse. The sea, popular cinema, accessibility, artisans, people who produce culture, civic projects, made for others, made for the common good.
The atmosphere on land is industrious, everyone is kind and smiling, focused, a well-oiled machine of volunteers, courageous captains who have carried forward for the sixth time a free event made for the city, for Venetians, and to declare our love for life on the water.
Before each screening, the Aperiporto brings together music, podcasts, authors, guests, and presentations that introduce the evening’s themes.
Who is Barch-in
Born as a non-profit initiative, Barch-in is made possible by the commitment of volunteers, professionals, partners, and supporters who share the goal of promoting culture and enhancing the city’s unique heritage. Among these is the Venetian association Venice Calls, at the forefront for the city’s future.
Barch-in was conceived by architects Nicola Scopelliti, Caterina Groli, and Silvia Rasia, with Fabio Perozzo.
It is produced and curated by the Venetian association FEMS Du Cinéma with the support of the City of Venice, Vela Spa, the Navy, and the contribution of Fondazione Venezia, says
Barch-in is realized thanks to the support of the City of Venice, Vela, and the Navy.
A City That Opens Up and Comes Together
Even the festival’s organization says a lot about Venice: collective boats allow those who do not own a vessel to participate: the historic trabacolo Nuovo Trionfo, the bragozzo with CAMOMA, kayaks, and canoes, in addition to seating on land.
Accessibility as a Right and Creative Practice
Accessibility is part of the project, with subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, audio description through MovieReading, LIS interpretation, and the work of Signplicity, a project that promotes Sign Language and Deaf culture in the cinematic and artistic world, exporting accessibility as a right and creative practice.
Titanic Closes the Edition Tuesday, July 14
The screening scheduled for Saturday, July 11 and postponed due to bad weather will be rescheduled for Tuesday, July 14. The program includes Titanic by James Cameron, preceded by the musical Aperiporto with Giallo Man, with an introduction by Eleonora Arena and Marco Paladini.
Information and Reservations
It is possible to participate, free of charge and with mandatory reservation, with a private vessel up to 11 meters. One can seek a place on the collective boats indicated by the organizers, attend the films aboard traditional boats, or watch from land, always with reservation.
Through the CocaiExpress app or through the link in the section dedicated to the event, one can receive aperitivo, dinner, and dessert directly on board or at one’s seat on land.
Those arriving on foot access from Tesa 105 of the Arsenale Nord.
For the rescheduled screening on Tuesday, July 14, we suggest checking the official Cinema Barch-in channels for reservations, access, and weather updates.
Cinema Barch-in is conceived and produced by FEMS du Cinéma and Cinema Barch-in. Venezia da Vivere has participated since the first edition as an enthusiastic media partner.
Article by Laura Scarpa. Images Cinema Barch-in.
