HSDFF plans drive-in screening for May 29
In the interest of keeping its patrons safe, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival’s planned screening May 29 of “The Biggest Little Farm” will turn to the retro movie experience of the drive-in.
While the acclaimed festival is always held in October, HSDFF Artistic Director Jennifer Gerber said they try to do at least one screening earlier in the year. With theaters closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing that tradition meant finding a different way to show movies.
Nationally, drive-in theaters have seen a resurgence due to the pandemic. The Arkansas Cinema Society, for example, is doing a drive-in at the Metroplex on Saturday. Gerber said turning to a drive-in style screening is a way to show a movie while keeping the audience safe.
“We will definitely be enforcing social distancing,” Gerber said, noting there will be spaces between the vehicles, and the audio from the movie will be made available via the radio so patrons can “keep their windows up” and stay more isolated from others.
The screening will be held in the parking lot of Hot Springs Mall, 4501 Central Ave., near Sears. To show the movie, Gerber said they are partnering with Visit Hot Springs, which has a portable screen they use to show “Movies at the Market” at the Hot Springs Farmers & Artisans Market during the summer.
“The Biggest Little Farm,” is
a documentary “about a family who left the city to attempt to start up their own farm,” Gerber said, noting they chose the film because they were “looking for something uplifting.”
She called the film “good for the widest range of people.”
Due to the coronavirus, Gerber said “as a country, everyone has found some sort of change” in how they live their lives and she thinks the community will enjoy seeing this family overcome their challenges.
Gerber said she is excited the festival is able to bring the drivein experience to Hot Springs and, as far as she knows, this is the first time the festival has ever done a drive-in.
“I think that it’s a good time for the theatrical model to get a refresh,” she said, noting television “setups have become more elaborate” to the point where many people no longer go to movie theaters.
“I think people enjoy seeing a movie together,” she said.
The festival is still planned for Oct. 9-17. “We’re preparing a range of contingency plans,” Gerber said, noting they are working on “a virtual component,” and are going to be prepared to do both physical and virtual screenings “for those who don’t feel safe” going to a movie in public.
“Everyone has a different comfort level,” Gerber said.
Tickets for the drive-in movie are $10 and can be preordered, she said, but parking spaces are “first come, first served.”
As those hoping to get better parking spots will likely arrive early, Gerber said Sad Daddy, an Arkansas based band, will perform prior to the screening. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., Sad Daddy performs at 7:15 p.m. and the movie starts at 8:15 p.m.