Film4 Summer Screen
Somerset House, The Strand
2-11 August, tickets £12.50
www.somersethouse.org.uk/film, 0870 4000 603

The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House transforms into a giant open-air cinema complete with surround sound, for ten nights in August.

The Film4 Summer Screen festival covers the full spectrum of movie genres with a programme that includes comedy, horror, romance, thrillers, sci-fi and action.

Films being shown range from classics such as The Good, The Bad and the Ugly starring Clint Eastwood and Steven Speilberg's fantasy tale E.T., to recent hits Hot Fuzz and Walk the Line, which charts the life of Country music legend Johnny Cash.

Doors will open at 6.30pm every night, with DJs playing music from 7.30pm, and the film beginning at 9.15pm as darkness falls. Spectators are free to bring a picnic, and rugs or cushions to sit on. Food can also be bought on site, and there will be a bar and coffee point.

The festival kicks off on 2 August with the premiere of Knocked Up, the new comedy from the team behind the 40-Year-Old Virgin. Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan's latest film, Chak de India, will also premiere on 9 August.

There are double bills on both Fridays of the festival, which closes on 11 August with 2001: A Space Odyssey.