Les Amis de la montagne and Funambules Médias bring three evenings of documentary films to Beaver Lake
August 5, 2026 • Sponsored
Three free evening screenings will light up the slopes of Mount Royal this August, as Les Amis de la montagne, in collaboration with Funambules Médias, brings its Cinéma sous les étoiles festival to Beaver Lake for a special milestone edition. The three screenings, free with registration available through Zeffy for each date, are set for August 4, 11, and 21, 2026 at 8:15 p.m., and double as a celebration of two significant milestones: the 150th anniversary of Mount Royal Park and the 40th anniversary of Les Amis de la montagne, the non-profit organization founded in 1986 to protect and enhance the mountain. Films chosen to echo the mountain’s mission.
The three screenings double as a celebration of two significant milestones: the 150th anniversary of Mount Royal Park and the 40th anniversary of Les Amis de la montagne.
Each of the three documentaries was selected specifically for how it resonates with Les amis de la montagne‘s ongoing work. In the Forest, by Pascale Ferland, opens the series on August 4 with a portrait of a world caught between the desire to protect and the desire to exploit the forest—a tension the organization confronts daily in its stewardship of Mount Royal amid climate upheaval and biodiversity loss. Free registration
On August 11, Chronicle of a City, by Nadine Gomez, shifts the focus to shared urban space. The wandering essay-style documentary examines how we inhabit the city as much as it inhabits us, framing urban life as a space of feeling that draws people toward one another despite surrounding solitude—a reflection that echoes the conviction that the mountain is both an ecosystem to protect and a public space to enjoy responsibly. Free registration
Closing the series on August 21, Urban Forests, by Anne-Marie Rocher, travels from Montreal to Vancouver to highlight citizen and Indigenous greening initiatives across Canada. The film directly connects to the Conservation Plan for Mount Royal’s Natural Habitats and Greenspace, launched by Les amis de la montagne in 2023, and makes the case that urban forests can improve living environments, fight climate change, and inspire a greener, fairer future. Free registration
A fitting tribute to the mountain
“There could be no more fitting way to celebrate Mount Royal Park than by gathering under the stars to reflect on nature’s place in our lives and cities,” said Christophe Derrien, Executive Director of Les amis de la montagne. “These three films remind us that protecting the mountain also means collectively imagining the city we want for future generations.”
‘There could be no more fitting way to celebrate Mount Royal Park than by gathering under the stars to reflect on nature’s place in our lives and cities’
All three screenings take place behind Beaver Lake in Mount Royal Park. The series forms part of the 17th edition of Cinéma sous les étoiles, Funambules Médias’ Montreal-wide festival dedicated to documentary film addressing pressing social and political issues, with roughly 40 free outdoor screenings running from June 25 to August 30, 2026 across the city. Every screening is followed by a discussion with filmmakers or guest specialists on the themes raised.
The events are open to all ages. Screenings take place outdoors rain or shine, though registered participants will be notified in case of exceptional weather.
About Les Amis de la montagne
Founded in 1986, Les Amis de la montagne is dedicated to protecting and enhancing Mount Royal by focusing on environmental education and collective engagement.
Featured image courtesy of Les Amis de la montagne
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Les Amis de la montagne is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving Mount Royal through community involvement and environmental education. Les Amis de la montagne activities in Mount Royal Park are made possible thanks to an agreement with the City of Montréal.
