Stars come out for summer film festival under open sky

Penelope Cruz, John Hurt and Freida Pinto are to take part in an all-star series of talks and screenings at Somerset House.

Directors Stephen Frears, Nic Roeg and Gurinder Chadha will join Slumdog Millionaire screenwriter Simon Beaufoy and editor Chris Dickens in the events as part of this year's Film4 Summer Screen season.

Cruz is to accompany director Pedro Almodóvar at the British premiere of their latest film, Broken Embraces, which launches this year's open-air screenings on Thursday 30 July.

The film is Almodóvar's first since Volver in 2006 and his fourth collaboration with the Spanish actress. It is about a former film director, played by José Luis Gómez, who, after losing his sight in a car crash, remembers having an affair with the star of his final film, Cruz, who was the mistress of his jealous financial backer.

Slumdog Millionaire, which Film4 funded, is one of the most recent films in a line-up that also includes classics such as Alien, which will be introduced by its star, John Hurt.

Gurinder Chadha, who directed Bend It Like Beckham, will introduce and discuss her love for the 1961 movie West Side Story in a series of talks with key film industry figures called Behind the Screen.

The sessions, which are supported by Bafta, will also include interviews with Nic Roeg, the veteran British director of Performance and The Man Who Fell to Earth - although another director, Stephen Frears, will introduce one of Roeg's most famous films, Don't Look Now from 1971.

There are also family workshops at weekends during the 10-day festival, which ends on Saturday 8 August, and matinée screenings of the most recent Wallace and Gromit movie, A Matter of Loaf and Death.

Gwyn Miles, director of Somerset House, said she was delighted to have been able to expand the range of the film programme which follows the venue's annual series of pop and rock concerts. "In this, the fifth year of Film4 Summer Screen, we have confirmed our position as the UK's premiere outdoor film season," she said.

David Cox, channel editor of Film4, said he was pleased to continue the partnership which was "one of our most successful encounters with live audiences". He said: "Following an extraordinary year of success, we are thrilled to be able to celebrate Film4's Slumdog Millionaire in such an exciting and unique cinematic environment".

The Film4 Summer Screen events will open at 6.30pm, with DJs providing entertainment before films begin at about 9pm. Tickets are £12.95, or £16 for double bills and for Broken Embraces, and are available online. Food will be on sale and picnics are allowed, and there will be a licensed bar. There is no fixed seating so visitors can bring a rug or cushion.

When to watch your favourite movie
Thursday 30 July, 9.15pm British premiere of Broken Embraces, introduced by Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruz
Friday 31 July, 9.15pm Double Bill: Alien and Poltergeist, introduced by John Hurt
Saturday 1 August, noon and 2pm Family screening of Wallace and Gromit: A Matter Of Loaf And Death. Free drop-in workshops from 11am to 4.30pm to find out about film-making.
Saturday 1 August, 6.30pm Interview with Gurinder Chadha, writer/director of Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice
Sunday 2 August, 9.15pm Slumdog Millionaire, introduced by cast, including Freida Pinto, and crew, including writer Simon Beaufoy
Wednesday 5 August, 9.15pm Nic Roeg's Don't Look Now, introduced by Stephen Frears, director of Dangerous Liaisons
Saturday 8 August, 9.15pm Raiders of the Lost Ark, introduced by Paul Freeman — who played Indiana Jones's adversary Belloq