After the success of Viaduct Harbour’s 2020 Rainbow Pride celebrations, the waterfront precinct is rounding out this year’s Pride Month with an initiative that proves it is still one of the best places in Auckland to celebrate Pride — an open-air Rainbow Cinema, presented by Rialto Channel.

Kicking off tonight, Viaduct Harbour’s Rainbow Cinema will take over the space of Upper Deck to screen a series of critically-acclaimed films covering LGBTQI+ topics and characters every night for the next five days. From award-winning dramas like Rafiki and Portrait of a Lady on Fire to acclaimed documentaries like Celebration: Yves Saint Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier: Freak or Geek, the line-up is offering a fascinating mix.

If you want to elevate the whole experience, we suggest heading out for a pre-movie bite at one of Viaduct Harbour’s many, lauded eateries (think Soul Bar, Oyster & Chop, Saint Alice and more) or picking up some takeaways from the likes of Hello Beasty or O’Hagans before settling in for dinner and a show.

The Rainbow Cinema is a free event, but because there are certain limitations on space, it is generally first-come, first-served. That said, we highly recommend you secure your spot on a beanbag or lounge chair by booking here before you go. Bookings also come with an opportunity to donate some money (any amount) to OUTLine NZ, with all proceeds going to the charity’s rainbow-affirming support line offering free, confidential counselling and trans peer support.

The Rainbow Cinema will kick off at 8pm every night from Wednesday the 24th of February until Sunday the 28th of February. Please note that some films are rated ‘M’ which might not be suitable for younger viewers.

Find tickets here.