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Top 25 Outdoor Movies of All Time: Cool Runnings

By Open Air Cinema on June 7, 2010 in Outdoor Movie Events

Next on our list of Top 25 Outdoor Movies of All Time, and perfect in time for summer, is Cool Runnings, a film about the Jamaican Bobsled team that went to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. The movie is a really great pick that your entire community will love, and we’ll tell you why it deserves a spot on our Top 25 list, but first, here is the original theatrical trailer:

Cool Runnings is based on the true story of the Jamaican Bobsled team, who against all odds, qualified to race in the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Irving “Irv” Blitzer (John Candy), is an American expatriate who retired in Jamaica after two gold medals and an embarrassing scandal at the end of his career. Derice Bannock, a 100m top runner, who failed to place in the previous summer Olympic Games, approaches Irv along with his friends, hoping to encourage him to coach them as the first Jamaican Bobsled team. He finally consents, and begins training them over a three month period. When they arrive at the Olympics hoping to represent Jamaica in the bobsled competition, they are laughed at and scorned by their opponents, and some initial events cause them great embarrassment. But as the film continues, the group overcomes their challenges, and make history as they compete in the Olympics.

Cool Runnings is a film about community and perseverance and would be a great choice for any outdoor movie screening, whether you are hosting your own backyard cinema event on your Cinebox System, or an outdoor movie for your entire community! The film is appropriate for all ages, and is filled with funny moments (that will keep the kids laughing), as well as moments that might make you cry. Everyone loves this movie, and you are sure to draw a large crowd, especially when screening it under the stars.

The movie presents several opportunities for pre-show outdoor movie activities. In one scene, Irv has the team members sit in an ice cream cooler in order to better prepare themselves to the cold Canadian weather, while eating a popsicle. You could have popsicles and snow-cones as refreshment, and olympic “games” in the form of obstacles courses for the children! Prizes could be given from local businesses that are willing to sponsor your event (also a way to pay for your film licensing!). There are many ways to tie Cool Runnings into your pre-show activities and concessions, all of which will really make your night fun and memorable for all!

If anyone has screened Cool Runnings before, share your story by posting to the comments below! We’d love to hear about your event!

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Canowindra, NSW, Australia: Flickerfest Outdoor Movie Shorts Hitting Rosnay Vineyard

By Open Air Cinema on March 17, 2010 in Outdoor Movie Events

Flickerfest celebrates its 19th year as Australia’s only Academy® Award accredited Short Film festival, screening the best short films from Australia and the world in a unique and relaxed summer environment under the stars at Bondi Beach.

After two months touring Australia, it’s about to hit a local vineyard to celebrate its success over a glass of organic bubbly.

The Rosnay stop is part of a Flickerfest tour of 23 venues around Australia, and is a result of Rosnay securing the title of official wine supplier to the Bondi festival.

Flickerfest director, Bronwyn Kidd, said the festival is actively sourcing green and organic for all of its supplies, hence Rosnay’s appeal.

“For the last 19 years, Flickerfest has been a showcase of the inspirational and provocative Australian short film genre, and this year the organic wines and juices served in all of our bars will be a perfect match,” Ms Kidd said.

“We can’t wait to pop a cork of Rosnay’s delicious organic bubbly on the closing night.”

Rosnay wines are being served throughout the Festival at Bondi and on the National Tour, and now, at the home of the wines themselves.

Sam Statham, Rosnay, stressed Flickerfest is not two weeks of foreign language films.

It is one night of Australia’s leading short films that are the pick of the crop and specially curated for the Flickerfest national tour, appealing to all people who just like a good movie.

The films include Miracle Fish, recently nominated for an Academy award and Ralph, directed by Debboral Mailman, of Secret Life of Us fame.

“It’s a great event and the first time it’s been held out here and we are very excited,” Sam said.

“The event is being screened by Pics in the Sticks, on their big outdoor inflatable screen and we reckon we can easily fit 200 people on the front lawn at Richard and Florence’s house.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: Chilly Projection of Vancouver Olympics Brought Outdoors

By Open Air Cinema on February 26, 2010 in Outdoor Movie Events

Halifax is embracing winter with its first Waterfront Winterfest this weekend. The free outdoor festival will feature skating, curling, snowboarding, skiing and a giant screen to watch every second of Olympic glory, including the men’s hockey final and the closing ceremonies.
Caryla Lutz, event manager for Waterfront Development Corporation Ltd., says business is not traditionally booming on the waterfront in winter, so businesses decided to throw a booming party to lure Haligonians downtown Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“We are working on three venues on the waterfront,” says Lutz.
Bishop’s Landing will host “snow hackers” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The “extreme snow sculpting demonstration” will feature a team of artists transforming two 10-foot snow blocks into Olympic-themed sculptures.
The parking lot behind the Waterfront Warehouse will be transformed into the CTV Winter Games Park. “This is the marquee area for the event,” Lutz says. The annual snowboarding and skiing favourite Urban Butter Showcase will move to the waterfront park to join the fun. Athletes will practice Friday and Saturday afternoon and compete Friday and Saturday night. The Warehouse will hold a cover-charge party after the event — the only part of the festival that’ll cost you money.
The park will have computers feeding live coverage from the Vancouver Olympics and a chance to volunteer for next year’s Canada Winter Games in Halifax. Curlers will offer demonstrations of their sport and even let visitors throw a rock or two while a ball-hockey tournament put on by the Halifax Sport and Social Club cranks up the energy.
“We have a huge, outdoor inflatable screen,” Lutz adds. As soon as it gets dark, it’ll will broadcast live from Vancouver. “That includes gold medal events, the men’s hockey final and the closing ceremonies.”
The area will also have an outdoor skating rink. “It’s synthetic ice. You can actually skate on this ice whether it’s minus 30 or plus 30,” she says. Skating is free and you need to bring your own skates — no rentals or shoes — but Feed Nova Scotia is taking donations.
“Waterfront Winterfest is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy some good, healthy fun, and by collecting non-perishable food items it’s also a great way to help others,” says Dianne Swinemar, executive director for Feed Nova Scotia.