An outdoor cinema (also called open air cinema) consists of a digital or analog movie projector, scaffolded construction or inflatable projection screen, and sound system.
Viewers usually sit on camping chairs or blankets. Some Hollywood world premieres were screened in outdoor cinemas – sometimes with the stars in attendance.[1] Most screenings are free with some raising money for charities.
Large and well known open air cinemas include the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest in California, Oshkosh’s Fly-In theater[2] or Screen on the Green (Atlanta). More and more often prestigious film festivals add outdoor movies to their regular screenings. Some of the most important outdoor movie events were the world premiere of Shark Tale on St. Mark’s Square at Venice Film Festival (2004)[3] and open air at Dubai International Film Festival (2011).[4]
There are also more private open air cinemas sometimes as a part of a pool or backyard party. Unusual locations to show a movie outdoors include of skyscraper rooftops, screens floating on a lake with spectators sitting on boats or drive-in cinemas on the top floor of a parking garage.[5]
A special type of outdoor cinema is the Drive-in theater.