Malaga drive-in cinema is launched
By Mas Property
on Mon Oct 18 2021
Autocine Malaga Metrovacesa celebrated its launch in front of authorities, the press and sponsors this Thursday 7 October before opening its doors to the public this Friday 8 October.
Tamara Istambul and Cristina Porta are the co-founders behind the first permanent drive-in cinema in Andalucia, the second largest in Europe and the only one with a screen that exceeds the size of a tennis court (250 square metres). Constructed on a 16,000-square-metre plot on the Carretera de la Azucarera-Intelhorce (on the Guadalhorce industrial estate), the cinema transports guests back in time as rockabilly music plays in the background in a space decorated with an American 50s aesthetic. It is, say its founders, about «living an entire experience.»
From Monday to Sunday (during the first month), the drive-in will open at 8pm, two hours before the screening. During that time there will be live music and a children’s area next to the variety of food available, from a diner complete with CocaCola swivel chairs and padded benches to different food trucks.
At 10pm the film will begin. Classics and premieres will alternate on the screen for the 250 vehicles that park in front. The sound comes through the car radio, but the film can be watched from the bar and the terrace as well. In addition, when the weather permits, 150 deckchairs will also be installed. On weekends and holidays, the activities begin at noon with Rita’s Brunch and family friendly themed events. To start, there will be a Campus University Party on Saturday and Oktoberfest on Sunday, with paella and ham hock on the menu. The available capacity is close to 3,200 people.
Autocine Malaga Metrovacesa has already agreed to host the Fancine (UMA’s fantastic film festival) in its facilities, and they hope to work with the Malaga Film Festival. They will also hold three private events and two concerts. The classic Grease – with one of its scenes set in a drive-in cinema – will premiere on the big screen with a rockabilly concert and an Elvis Presley tribute act to entertain. Venom, the latest of the Marvel movies, will take over next week.
Autocine Malaga has been made possible due to the efforts of Tamara Istambul and Cristina Porta (who already launched Autocine Madrid Race years ago), the sponsorship of Metrovacesa and other companies (Grupo Nieto, Balearia, Famadesa and Museo Automovilístico) and the support of three authorities that showed their support with their presence at the inauguration; the president of the Diputación, Francisco Salado, the mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, and the tourism delegate from the regional government, Nuria González.