This post was updated Aug. 12 at 7:39 p.m.

Westwood Village residents can watch their favorite stars under the stars this summer during the city’s outdoor movie series, Cinema Under the Stars.

Cinema Under the Stars is a community event held as part of Broxton Nights at Broxton Plaza in Westwood Village. In addition to outdoor movie screenings, the event also features arts and crafts activities and specialty food from Westwood restaurants.

Cinema Under the Stars began in 2015, said Megan Furey, director of programs and partnerships for the Westwood Village Improvement Association. She added, however, that this summer marks the first time the event is being held since 2019 – when the event went on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s an outdoor movie screening that’s free to the public and community,” she said. “We show a lot of family friendly movies and try to incorporate as many local businesses as we can for tabling and performances prior to the movie.”

Furey said California Pizza Kitchen, Barney’s Beanery and Broxton Brewery all provided snacks and drinks at the event, and arts and crafts were organized by visual art and mindfulness organization Upward Together and the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden. The Westwood Branch Library also provided a book truck for the night.

Upward Together founder and director Sya Warfield said working with Cinema Under the Stars has helped organizations like hers spread the word about their services to a new audience.

Warfield said the variety of events allowed for a well-rounded experience for the community members coming to the night, adding that she believed participants enjoyed the food, activities, silk screening blankets and overall positive energy.

She added that she was pleased with the many organizations coming together to provide so many different experiences to the large audience at the event.

Michael Russell, executive director of the Westwood Village Improvement Association, said the Angeles Academy of Music, a music school in Los Angeles, performed at the event and plans to expand their show for future events.

“The Angeles Academy of Music said that all their students, the performers, had a great time and really appreciated the opportunity to showcase some of their talents in front of a live audience,” he said. “They’d love to increase the number of performers, and we have a small stage we might bring out.”

Russell said the first night, July 13, was successful and drew a significant audience. He estimated there were around 100 families who filled up almost the entirety of Broxton Avenue.

“It’s just an opportunity for people to come out, spend a little time in a village, family friendly event,” he said. “It’s all free and a nice way to come out to the village.”