Tel Aviv to open sail-in floating cinema to attract tourists

Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality is extending its efforts to provide creative solutions for residents impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.  With the coronavirus outbreak proving particularly challenging for the cultural sector worldwide, outdoor initiatives are representing almost the sole solution for cultural events.  

Last week, Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality’s Arts and Culture Division, in partnership with municipal companies: Tel Aviv Cinematheque, Expo Tel Aviv and Sport Palaces of Tel Aviv-Yafo invited residents to park up, sit back and enjoy the nostalgia as the city’s famous drive-in theatre was opened.

Each movie screening was opened to 200 cars at the Shlomo Group Arena parking lot where movie audio was transmitted in high quality via an FM radio frequency.  The movie screenings have been set up in keeping with the Health Ministry guidelines and “purple badge” public health standards.   

Fresh off the successful return of Tel Aviv’s legendary drive-in theatre, Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality will launch Israel’s first “sail-in” floating cinema at HaYarkon Park’s boating lake. 

Following Health Ministry approval for open-air/ drive-in events, Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality will now launch a “sail-in” floating cinema under the clear night sky from August 22-28, 2020 in partnership with Tel Aviv Cinematheque.  A total of 70 socially distanced boats will be available to moviegoers – adults and children alike, seeking to enjoy a night of cinematic entertainment under the stars. 

Boats will always be distanced two meters apart opposite a large screen, ensuring a safe and fun experience, and allowing all ticket holders to float away and unwind from the daily grind for at least a few hours. 

Tickets will be sold for eight movie screenings – four suitable for families and four movies for adults – will be available exclusively to DigiTel Resident Card holders. Details regarding ticket sales and movie times will be published later this week. 

Ron Huldai, Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo said, “Tel Aviv is the ‘non-stop city’ but the coronavirus crisis halted a large share of cultural and leisure activities, posing new challenges for Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, including bringing cultural life to a halt in the city. During recent months, we have been constantly examining ways to grant residents access to culture. The return of the drive-in and the initiative to screen movies at HaYarkon Park’s boating lake are some creative ways to spend the hot August summer days, in strict accordance with Health Ministry guidelines.” 

The launch of the “sail-in” floating cinema joins a long list of municipal initiatives launched in recent months to support cultural activity in the city.  The initiatives, to date, include intimate outdoor performances in restaurants and cafes; outdoor guided tours across the city; fitness classes on municipality building’s rooftop; musical performances at the Eretz Israel Museum online and open-air cultural events; and weddings in some of the city’s most stunning locations, in accordance with Health Ministry guidelines.