A crowd of about 100 college students and Gainesville residents gathered underneath a starry sky with pillows, blankets and lawn chairs Tuesday night.
They were viewing "California Split," the first movie in the Summer C.U.T.S. film series, at the Thomas Center Turtle Court.
The event, short for Cinema under the Stars, will feature 10 weekly screenings every Tuesday through July 22.
The Florida Experimental Film and Video Festival, known as FLEX, and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs are hosting the event.
The films, which were salvaged from UF's 16mm print collection, include lesser-known works from famous directors such as Roman Polanski, Jean-Luc Godard and Robert Altman.
UF film professor Roger Beebe rescued the films, which were going to be discarded by UF due to lack of storage space.
"These aren't just marginal curiosities," Beebe said. "These are amazing works that are criminally neglected."
Because VHS copies have replaced the need for old prints, more and more works are ending up in Dumpsters, he said.
"That kind of shortsightedness is an unfortunate epidemic," he said.
There is a unique charm and magical quality to watching 16mm films under the stars, Beebe said.
Some of these films can never be seen in this way ever again, he said.
"You may find a very bad bootleg version, but to see them on 16mm is kind of a special treat," he said.
Each of these films is a cinematic pleasure, and students can learn about national traditions of filmmaking from each country, Beebe said.
While the series is free, FLEX is accepting donations to help fund future programs and activities, said Zach Veltheim, the event coordinator.
Veltheim handled the event for the first time last year and, due to the high attendance and overall enthusiasm, said he was glad to be a part of it again.
"The first time I saw some of these films, I was blown away," Veltheim said. "I want the event to give students an appreciation for something they haven't seen and hopefully encourage them to seek out other films by these guys."
The series features a broad selection of films from various countries and decades, and it aims to make movie watching an entertaining social event rather than something done alone.
While 10 weekly films might sound like a big commitment, Veltheim said he encourages people to go at least once.
"If I had to pick one favorite, I can't," Veltheim said. "Any one you go to will probably be worthwhile."
In this year's series, "The World, Part II," the films are arranged in an "Around the World in 10 Weeks" tour, which started in the U.S. and will travel to Mexico, Cuba, France, England, Poland and end in Japan.
"This is a great Gainesville institution," said Will Lamson, a 27-year-old UF graduate. "There are not enough things like this in Gainesville. It couldn't be done better."
"I will be here every single time with a bottle of wine and a little brie," Lamson said.
The Thomas Center, located at 302 NE 6th Ave., screens the films around dusk or 8 p.m. every Tuesday.
"It's hard to know for sure because it gets dark at different times," Veltheim said. "But you'll want to find a good spot on the lawn and be situated before the movie starts."
