The summer 2022 season has now come to a close.
See you next summer!
TORONTO OUTDOOR PICTURE SHOW PRESENTS
Curtains Up!
SUMMER 2022 in parks across the city
From June 23 to August 28, 2022, Toronto Outdoor Picture Show proudly presented Curtains Up!, a 21-evening festival programme of performance-themed films. At long last, TOPS was thrilled to finally return to its four pre-pandemic home parks, with events taking place at Fort York, Corktown Common, Bell Manor Park, and its signature series, Christie Pits Film Festival.
After two years of darkened stages, shuttered cinemas, and empty seats, this programme was a cinematic homage to the vitality of performers and performance in their many forms, including acting, music, dance, drag, pageants, sport, martial arts, circus acts, and more. Opening on June 23rd at Fort York with Beyoncé’s majestic concert doc Homecoming, this screening set the stage for TOPS’ own homecoming following two years of cancellations and interruptions. Curtains Up! invited us all to gather in public parks to sit together on the grass and celebrate the big show we’ve all been waiting for, on the big TOPS screen.
This summer, no advance tickets were required. TOPS screenings once again were open to anyone who would like to attend, with no barriers to entry. TOPS is always free to attend, and charitable donations make this possible.
The Curtains Up! programme was curated by Artistic & Executive Director Emily Reid, TOPS co-founder Felan Parker, and programming contributors Rachel Barclay, David Osubronie, Jon Petrychyn, and Isabella Brown.
Click on your neighbourhood series below or view the complete TOPS calendar at a glance here.
FORT YORK
OPENING WEEKEND!
JUNE 23-28
CHRISTIE PITS FILM FESTIVAL
SUNDAYS
JULY & AUGUST
CORKTOWN COMMON
THURSDAYS
IN JULY
BELL MANOR PARK
THURSDAYS
IN AUGUST
SHORTS SPOTLIGHT - TREVOR ANDERSON
New in 2022, TOPS’ summer season included a Shorts Spotlight on the films of Canadian indie filmmaker Trevor Anderson, whose unabashed affection for the performing arts make his films a natural fit for this year’s Curtains Up! programme. A selection of his short films were showcased across the season - read more here.
CURTAINS UP! IN PARKS ACROSS THE CITY
Admission: All events are free to the public, no tickets or advanced registration are required to attend
Charitable donations make our programming possible
Event details:
Showtime @ sundown
BYOBlanket & Chairs
Films are screened with open captioning (more accessibility features here)
Click here to read all film content advisories
FOLLOW US
@TOpictureshow
#CurtainsUpToronto
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TORONTO OUTDOOR PICTURE SHOW
TOPS is pleased to return to public parks this summer, with events that are open to all who want to attend. Please click on the questions below to get more information about attending Toronto Outdoor Picture Show.
Q: IS THIS EVENT TICKETED?
A: No. TOPS events are free to attend, and do not require a ticket, and there are no barriers to entry. As a charitable organization, we encourage you to make a donation if you are able. Support from community members is crucial to keeping TOPS accessible to everyone.
Attendance at events is first come, first to get a great spot. Come early, bring your blanket or folding chairs, and enjoy some eats & treats while the sun sets. Films begin at sundown.
Q: WHAT TIME DOES THE FILM START?
A: Films always begin at sundown, which changes over the course of the summer. Check the individual event pages for the approximate film start time.
TOPS welcomes you to come join us in the early evening to set up your blanket, enjoy a picnic or food truck meal, and stop by the TOPS tent for some popcorn and treats!
Q: WILL THE EVENT PROCEED IF IT RAINS OR IF THERE IS BAD WEATHER?
A: If the show can go on, it does! TOPS very rarely cancels events before the early evening on an inclement weather day. Screenings can continue in some rain and wind, so pack appropriate clothing for light rain or cool temperatures if you’ll be joining us. If we must cancel, TOPS will communicate the cancellation on our social media channels. Instagram stories are the most up-to-date communication.
Please do not send inquiries about the forecast, we can’t answer them. Just cross your fingers and dress well!
Q: WILL THERE BE FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPTIONS FOR SALE?
A: Every event will include concessions – snacks and non-alcoholic beverages – for sale at the TOPS tent, and events at Fort York, Christie Pits, and Corktown Common will have food vendor offerings as well. Visit our Instagram on each event day to find out which food vendors will be onsite that evening.
Your outside food picnics are also welcome. Please ensure that no garbage is left behind so that our public parks are maintained.
If you are attending a screening at Fort York, please note that it is a licensed event and no outside alcohol will be allowed inside the Fort. Drinks will be available inside for purchase.
Bottled water is not sold at any screening and all patrons are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles. Public park venues are not licensed for alcohol.
Q: ARE DOGS ALLOWED AT THE EVENT?
A: Yes! Domestic pets are welcome to join for the evening - just please make sure they’re well behaved and you pick up after them.
Q: DO I BRING MY OWN SEATING?
A: Yes, all guests must bring their own blankets or folding chairs to sit in the grass. Events at Fort York, Corktown Common and Bell Manor Park are flat, and at Christie Pits are at the base of a natural amphitheatre. Chairs are less suitable at Christie Pits due to the layout, but can be set up along the flat surface at the top of the hill. We hope that guests will be considerate of others when setting up their spot in front of folks who have already put down their blanket for the night.
Q: HOW DO I GET THERE? IS THERE PARKING?
A: We encourage active transportation to our events, and most patrons walk, cycle or take TTC. Each screening’s webpage details the address of each event, and main TTC routes.
Bicycles are the responsibility of their owners and should be locked to municipal bike racks, as they can be a serious safety hazard in the dark if left lying on the ground within the audience who may be circulating.
Patrons who choose to drive to events can identify Green P lots near the venues at this link.
Q: WILL THERE BE ONSITE HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS? DO I NEED A MASK TO ATTEND?
A: There are no capacity limits or masking requirements mandated by public health authorities for 2022 outdoor events. Some TOPS events (especially at Christie Pits Film Festival) will be busier than others, but attendees can choose to sit on the perimeter of the seating area if they would like, and to define their personal space with their blanket. Volunteers and staff will be visible at all events to help guide audience members who would like to choose less dense seating areas. As outdoor screenings, we trust that TOPS events will continue to be a very pandemic-safe activity for audiences seeking low-risk cultural experiences.
TOPS endeavours to foster a safe and comfortable environment for all guests, staff, volunteers, and filmmakers in attendance. We ask all guests to be respectful of each other's personal space and comfort, though guests should understand that TOPS cannot control audience behaviour in public spaces.
All TOPS policies and safety protocols are subject to change, and will be updated in accordance with public health guidelines as they evolve. TOPS will communicate any updates with the public should they develop.
Q: WILL WASHROOMS AND SANITIZER BE AVAILABLE ONSITE?
A: Yes! TOPS is fortunately a very low-contact event, and there are onsite restrooms at all events. Hand washing stations will be located in or next to the washrooms and hand sanitizer is available at the TOPS concessions & merch tent.
Please note that washroom facilities in public parks are serviced and operated by the City of Toronto, and hours of operation may be subject to change. Furthermore, the condition and amenities of facilities may range and are not the responsibility of Toronto Outdoor Picture Show.
Q: IS THIS A DRIVE-IN SERIES?
A: No, this is not a drive-in! This is a good old fashioned Toronto Outdoor Picture Show event, where you can come on foot, transit, or bike, and enjoy great cinema in the open air with your friends and neighbours.
Q: ARE ALL EVENTS ACCESSIBLE?
A: TOPS events are accessible to most audiences, and all screenings feature open captioning. You can about the accessibility features for our 2022 venues here, and please don’t hesitate to email us at info@topictureshow.com if your particular needs are not addressed. We will endeavour to support your needs if solutions are within our control.
Q: ARE THE FILMS FAMILY FRIENDLY?
A: TOPS curates its film programmes for a general audience, appealing to our broad attendance. There is something for everyone, which you’ll see here! Most attendees are adults, teens, and older children (given that screenings begin around 9PM), though there are a large number of films within the programme that have been selected specifically with families in mind. Please visit TOpictureshow.com/content for more information about the content of each film screening, so that you may make an informed decision about which films will be best enjoyed by you and your family.
