This summer, for two nights, Ducie Street car park will become Manchester’s first float-in-drive-in-walk-in cinema to celebrate the 2012 Canal Festival in Piccadilly Basin.
This free event on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 August, organised by Piccadilly Partnership and CityCo, in association with The Printworks, and will cater for up to 450 people. The screening is not ticketed and will be a ‘drop-in’ event on a first come, first served basis. Gates will open at 6pm and the show will start at 8.30pm.
Fred Booth, Centre Director, The Printworks said: “Cinema has always played a key part in The Printworks life, with thousands flocking to the ODEON cinema on a weekly basis. We’re delighted to be involved in Piccadilly Partnership’s first ever drop- in movie screening helping us bring cinema to fans outside of The Printworks. I’m sure it will be a momentous occasion for Manchester residents and we are certainly looking forward to it.”
Captain America, filmed just across the road, will be shown on the first night and a Twitter vote-off will decide which film will be screened on the Thursday evening. People can choose which watery classic floats their boat from the three choices The Life Aquatic, Finding Nemo and Jaws. Tweet #thelifeaquatic #findingnemo #jaws to @piccadillymcr by Sunday 15 July.
Hot noodles courtesy of the Northern Quarter’s award-winning restaurant, Ning, will be on sale and a limited bar from 6pm for post-work drinks before the film.
Alexandra King, Piccadilly Partnership Director said: “This is a really unique opportunity for boaters, local residents and those who work in the area to come together to enjoy the Piccadilly Basin, which is a lovely part of the city centre. Whether you moor your barge up in the basin, drive your car into the car park, or come on foot and sit in the garden we’re creating, you’ll have the chance to be part of this special free event that is set to be a highlight of the 2012 Canal Festival.”
Those arriving early will be treated to larger-than-life projections of the 40 winning images short-listed for Manchester Photographic’s Urban Canal photography prize. These images are also exhibited in the new Manchester Photographic Dale Street gallery during the festival, from 18-26 August. Film-goers will also be able to see a stop-motion film of the world’s first permanent Lomography Wall being constructed on nearby Tariff Street.
Lucy Rogers, Development Manager for The Waterways Trust said “The Rochdale Canal Festival has been running for the past six years engaging with the many communities the canal passes through a range of activities from illuminated boat and lantern parades to canoeing. The canal side movie is an exciting addition to our Canal Festival programme and is opening up the Rochdale Canal to a new audience in the City embracing the canal side setting.”
