Open Air Cinema helps educate, entertain Africa

The Open Air Cinema CineBox product offers NGOs a portable, durable means to distribute information, education and entertainment via outdoor movie screens. The systems are apparently simple to set up and use for small events with a few people, yet large enough to easily accommodate gatherings of several thousand people.

“With the infrastructure challenges that are common throughout Africa, we are offering NGOs an effective and enticing new medium to deliver critical information and needed entertainment,” said Stuart Farmer, president of Open Air Cinema. “Our inflatable movie screens and systems can be made available anywhere, even in the bush, so NGOs can now deliver consistent messages—through training films about AIDS awareness or women's rights or an entertaining movie to help elevate the morale of those in the audience.”

Inflatable movie screens from Open Air Cinema have been used by the United Nations and FilmAid in refugee camps in Kenya and Tanzania. The screens are also used for “Hillywood,” the travelling Rwandan film festival. Movies featuring filmmakers from Rwanda and other African states are shown on the inflatable screens in seven locations over seven days. Up to 10,000 people attend each showing. Each community has the opportunity to feature their own stories, in their own voice.

“We take our film festival to remote areas of Rwanda to bring the magic of cinema to a people who desperately need it,” said Eric Kabera, founder of the Rwanda Cinema Centre. “Many people in this region have never seen a film, and we are working to educate and inspire them and open their eyes to the world of achievable possibilities.”

Open Air Cinema CineBox systems includes the following to produce outdoor cinema events:

• Inflatable movie screen in sizes from three metres to 12 metres
  
• Digital projector
  
• DVD players
  
• Sound mixer
  
• Complete set of necessary cables
  
• Carrying cases for equipment
  
• Blower fan keeps screen constantly inflated
  
• Generator
  
• Components are 110/240 compatible

“Outdoor cinema is an ideal medium for many parts of Africa,” Farmer said. “To show a film, you don't have to own the land, it can be in an open field. Everything can fit in a Land Rover including the screen, projector, speakers, a sound mixer and a generator for remote outdoor viewing.”

The Open Air Cinema subsidised program is for use by NGOs and other organisations that desire to use the cinema equipment for humanitarian efforts in Africa. The program includes detailed training, technical support and reduced pricing for participating organisations. To apply for the program and for more information, visit www.openaircinema.us/humanitarian.htm.