This summer environmentalists have got a new amusement - an eco-friendly cycle-in cinema launched in the park near VDNH, or Ukrainian Expo Center.
The rules of the outdoor cinema are simple – if you want to watch the film, be ready to pedal. The guests are expected to hook their bicycles to the generator and power the performance by pedaling it.
In this way, the theater is completely independent from the power socket and runs on the alternative source of energy.
Cycle-in cinema is a new notion for Ukraine, and a rather fresh one for the world. The first ever movie theater that ran on cycling-produced energy opened in 2007 in the United Kingdom. Since then it’s getting more popular and new cycle-in cinemas open all over the world, attracting ecologically aware visitors and promoting the value of electricity and the joys of cycling.
Oleksandr Stanishevsky, a sound editor and cycling enthusiast, tried out the new cinema on July 15. He hooked up his bicycle to the generator and powered up the screening of the “In Transition” documentary for 30 viewers. Stanishevsky enjoyed the experience and said that pedaling and watching a movie at the same time made him “feel like Julius Caesar,” who was able to do many things simultaneously.
“The idea of the project is to promote healthy lifestyle, veganism, taking care of the planet, animals and our own health,” says Serhiy Yefimov, a member of Morkva Club, a group of environment enthusiasts who launched the cycle-in cinema.
The cinema is open on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Admission is free and guests without a bike are also welcome.
The screened movies stick to environmental and other social themes, including movies like “Time to Save the World,” “Eco-cow” and “The New Life of the Old Bag.” Yefimov says the team prefers movies that promote an eco-conscious lifestyle.
The Morkva Club partners with Open Air Foundation KinoProstoNeba that promotes outdoor cinemas and provides film screening equipment free of charge to the cultural events and socially important projects.
“In a cycle-in theater the audience transforms from passive observers into active participants,” says Mykola Bazanov, head of KinoProstoNeba Foundation.
According to Bazanov, the generator used in the cycle-in theater produces 400 watt per hour, while the mobile projector consumes only 60 watts. The excess energy can be used for charging visitors’ phones and wireless speakers used in the screening. The generator’s capacity is enough to charge 21 iPhones 5S simultaneously.
Yulia Glebova came to the July 15 screening and found it enjoyable.
“I like ecology and have already been to a couple of eco-themed film festivals. But producing energy on your own brings it to the level of self-sustainability,” she said, impressed.
Another visitor, Lilia Pechura, history student, came out of curiosity.
“I have never seen a thing like this before and I am just curious how it works. As for the films, they are pushing us to healthy lifestyle and conscious energy usage, but you need to be really passionate about the eco-movement to watch some of them”.
The outdoor cycle-in cinema will work at the VDNH Park (Ukrainian Expo Center) until the end of October.
