Out in the open
The wealth of outdoor cinemas opening up across Sydney in recent years has not bothered OpenAir Cinema’s general manager Rob Bryant at all.
After 10 years at the Botanical Gardens site, overlooking the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, Bryant says he knows his cinema has something the others don’t.
There’s a world-class view that simply cannot be beaten, so what we have is pretty unique, he says proudly.
But I think we are much more than just an outdoor cinema. We are as much about celebrating Sydney as we are about the movies we are screening. In terms of our product and location, it is pretty fabulous and just so Sydney.
OpenAir Cinema’s 2007 season commences 11 January and presents 34 movies over the coming weeks, 12 of which are premieres and previews.
Among the line-up of new movies are Breaking And Entering, Miss Potter and Stranger Than Fiction, as well as such current hits as The Devil Wears Prada, Volver and Little Miss Sunshine.
The mix of premiere titles alongside popular hits has proven a recipe for success for OpenAir in recent years. Bryant says last year’s season worked so well the festival average was almost a complete sell-out.
We have created a festival atmosphere with something for everyone, he says. We won’t be doing You, Me & Dupree here, because we know our audience and what they want.
It can be complete escapism or an exhilarating and education experience. So on one hand you can have An Inconvenient Truth and on the other there’s Casino Royale. The films at OpenAir can be anything between those extremes.
info
The OpenAir Cinema schedule is at www.stgeorgeopenair.com.au/sydney/program.
