SwissOpenAir Cinema returns to Dubai next month with a new line up of Hollywood and Bollywood blockbusters for movie-goers to enjoy on the world’s largest outdoor screen after a successful show last year.

SwissOpenAir is a giant - over 4,000 sq ft - screen rising six storeys high and accompanied by a 32-speaker digital surround sound system, which will host regional and world premiers of the latest Hollywood and Bollywood films.

'For the screen’s second venture into Dubai, organisers have taken into account the popularity of last year’s screening and moved the event to an even larger venue – the Media City Amphitheatre, where it will be accompanied by a food festival serving international cuisine as well as a DJ which will host an after-party,' Farzin Samadian, CEO of SwissOpenAir Concept.

“We had an overwhelming response from the fans after first coming here last year and we’re still now getting requests asking when we’re going to be back in Dubai,” said Samadian.

“In response to all that praise we’re going out of our way to make sure this year in Dubai is going to blow all preconceptions away; we’re making this one really special,” he noted.

“This is the biggest screen in the world and the atmosphere on the nights - with the music, the food, the lights and of course, the movies - is always special and a lot of people are very excited about this year’s event in Dubai.”

While keeping the list of films to be premiered a close secret for now, Samadian is confident everyone will be pleased.

“Every film on the program this year is either a world or a regional premier; mostly Hollywood blockbusters, but there will be two Bollywood nights, two family nights and a special charity event which will have to remain a mystery for now.”

The screen itself lies unobtrusively across the water or land during daylight hours and at nightfall is hydraulically raised in under five minutes to stand six stores high.

“In only five minutes, our Giant Screen arises from its ‘sleeping’ position ready for the show,” says Dr Sam Samadian, chairman of SwissOpenAir Concept.

“This is an exciting musical prelude, full of anticipation and an outstanding lighting show, which has been modified and added to this year so it’ll be a nice surprise for everyone who came last year,” he remarked.

“There’s more to it than just the screening as well, everything adds up to create this experience - a first-class site, the catering we provide before the show, the after-party and DJ, everything works together to make this a special night for everyone involved.”

“The high-quality cuisine, with selected beverages to suit, is so attractive that many guests arrive hours before screening time in order to relish the atmosphere with their friends.”

SwissOpenAir screens were first developed in 1989 as the world’s largest hydraulically erected mobile screens.

Despite their enormous size and weight (up to 70 tons), the screens can be dismantled for convenient transport and are constantly on tour around the world playing to movie lovers in cities such as Zurich, Basel, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and Pusan in South Korea , where over 5000 people turn out for the show every night.

SwissOpenAir Cinema will run every night from November 26 to December 7, with doors opening at 7pm for dinner and drinks, and will run into the night with entertainment following each premier.-TradeArabia News Service