Rome’s 'The Big Chill': Free Air‑Conditioned Movie Screenings to Beat the Heat

Rome has launched "The Big Chill," a citywide initiative offering free, air‑conditioned movie screenings and access to cooling public spaces during the hottest hours of an unusually intense summer.

Fewer than half of Italians have air conditioning at home, according to energy company Enel, so many residents are turning to handheld fans and public cooling spots to cope. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri announced the programme at a press conference and on social media, saying it aims both to give people without home cooling a place to cool down and to reduce social isolation through shared cultural activity.

"Beautiful films, including new releases, will be screened," Gualtieri said. "Each day a different film will be shown, and people will be able to spend time there watching a movie in a cool environment, because not everyone has air conditioning."

How It Works

The scheme runs daily from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. through August 4 and may be extended if the heat wave continues. Participating cinemas across Rome will show the same sequence of films so attendees can watch up to two films per day. The offer is intended primarily for city residents rather than tourists, who often stay in air‑conditioned hotels.

• Venues: Participating cinemas, large public spaces such as the Auditorium and Palaexpo, libraries, performance theatres, co‑working spaces and temporary exhibition areas.
• Hours: Free access from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (through August 4, subject to extension).
• Films: A rotating lineup of contemporary Italian films will be screened; attendees may view up to two films daily.

Featured Films

• "There's Still a Tomorrow" by Paola Cortellesi
• "Flaminia" by Michael Giraud
• "Volare" by Margherita Buy
• "One Step at a Time: Fabi Silvestri Gazzé" by Francesco Cordio
• "Hey Joe" by Claudio Giovannesi
• "Ten Minutes" by Maria Sole Tognazzi
• "Romeo Is Juliet" by Giovanni Veronesi
• "One Hundred Sundays" by Antonio Albanese
• "That Summer With Irene" by Carlo Sironi
• "I Am Not What I Am" by Edoardo Leo

The initiative is sponsored by Rome's culture department in partnership with Zetema Progetto Cultura. Popcorn and other concessions will be available for purchase.

Context and Need

Europe has experienced a summer of severe heat waves, prompting many cities to offer cooling centers, water stations and other protections for residents without air conditioning. In Rome, temperatures have hovered around 98°F (37°C) and forecasters from Italy's Air Force — the country's official weather authority — warned of a possible next heat wave with highs near 104°F (40°C). August could be even hotter.

Gualtieri said the city currently operates 178 climate shelters across Rome, quipping that he believes it's "the most in the world." He added, in a lighthearted aside, that the city's tally excludes supermarkets because they do not offer bathroom facilities for visitors.

By combining cultural programming with practical cooling services, "The Big Chill" aims to provide immediate relief from the heat while encouraging community connection and safe, air‑conditioned spaces for those who need them most.