MIDDLEBURY — If great weather and the recent lifting of COVID-19 restrictions still isn’t enough to get you out and mingling, here’s another huge reason: the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival’s inaugural “Sunset Series at Swift House Inn/Summer of Scorsese.” It’s an exciting new MNFF social event in partnership with Middlebury’s Swift House Inn and Town Hall Theater.

Every Thursday for five weeks, beginning July 8 and ending Aug. 5, MNFF will screen a classic film by celebrated director Martin Scorsese outdoors, under the big tent at Swift House Inn.

Screenings will begin at sunset, and prior to each screening, Swift House Inn will offer tasty picnic dinners and drinks (starting at 6:30 p.m.) from its own Jessica’s Restaurant. Participants will be able to dine al fresco on the inn’s expansive lawn in front of the main house, or under the big tent in case of rain.

“The Sunset Series at Swift House Inn is our effort to bring people together to socialize around film as we all emerge from these many challenging months,” said MNFF Producer Lloyd Komesar. “And what better way to do this than to watch a classic film by master director Martin Scorsese outdoors under a beautiful tent at Swift House Inn? Along with our series partners, Swift House Inn and Town Hall Theater, and series sponsor IPJ Real Estate, we hope that community members will come out and enjoy themselves, purchase a lovely picnic dinner and a beverage from Swift House Inn, and just have a really good time — something we all absolutely deserve.”

Komesar and his colleagues have culled five outstanding films from the Scorsese oeuvre, including:

• “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” starring Ellen Burstyn, who won the Academy Award for “Best Actress in a Leading Role” for this film. Thursday, July 8.

• “Raging Bull,” starring Robert De Niro, Academy Award winner for “Best Actor in a Leading Role” for this film. Thursday, July 15.

• “The Last Waltz,” the acclaimed film of the final concert of the legendary rock group “The Band,” featuring its members, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson, along with special guests Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Eric Clapton, and many others. Thursday, July 22.

• “Cape Fear,” starring Robert De Niro, Academy Award nominee for “Best Actor” for this film. Thursday, June 29.

• “Goodfellas,” starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, who won the Academy Award for “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” for this film. Thursday, Aug. 5.

Log on to middfilmfest.org/sunset-series for additional details about The Summer of Scorsese, including picnic meal options and parking directions.

The Sunset Series should whet the collective appetites of film enthusiasts, and they’ll have access to a major second helping of screen gems during the Seventh Annual MNFF, which returns as an in-person event in downtown Middlebury this summer from Aug. 25-29.

For all things MNFF, log onto middfilmfest.org.