This coming weekend, the historic Brooklyn Army Terminal will be transformed into a drive-in movie theater to screen two new releases. Organized by Rooftop Films, working in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the Brooklyn Drive-In is the first in a series of screenings that will allow New Yorkers to pull their cars onto the Army Terminal’s waterfront pier to enjoy a new movie. Screenings are currently scheduled for this coming Friday and Saturday as well as multiple dates later this summer.
Rooftop Films is a Brooklyn based nonprofit that travels throughout the city presenting films on rooftops, in parks, and at other scenic locations throughout NYC. Previous venues used for screenings include the beach at Coney Island, Fort Greene Park, and Greenwood Cemetery. However, the COVID-19 Pandemic has forced Rooftop Films to reconsider how it can present screenings while ensuring viewers can maintain a safe social distance. The Brooklyn Drive-In series of screenings emerged as a solution to this problem and forms a trend with similar drive-in movie experiences that have been popping up in and around the city.
The Brooklyn Drive-In Festival plans to run through the summer and fall, with more screenings and locations to be announced in the coming weeks. The opening night tonight will feature a screening of the new film John Lewis: Good Trouble by Dawn Porter, a chronicle of the life and career of the legendary civil rights advocate, Congressman John Lewis. The event will also include an introduction by the film’s director Dawn Porter and a pre-recorded Q&A discussion between Congressman Lewis and Oprah Winfrey that will be shown following the film. The Saturday night event will feature the New York premiere of IFC Film’s The Rental directed by Dave Franco and starring Alison Brie and Dan Stevens. A pre-recorded introduction and Q&A with Dave Franco will also be screened. Upcoming screenings will be of The Fight (July 23rd), Bloody Knows, Empty Pockets (July 24th), Relic (July 30th), Palm Springs (July 31st), and The Outside Story (August 1st).
For both events, doors will open at 7:30 pm and the screening will begin at 8:30 pm. To enter the Brooklyn Army Terminal, drive southbound down 1st Avenue to the corner of 58th Street. The entrance is located at 80 58th St. and from there signs and Rooftop Films staff members will direct visitors to the drive-in. Tickets are $45 per car and the staff will organize parking as to put shorter vehicles closer to the screen. A list of FAQ’s is available on Rooftop Film’s website with additional information.
The Brooklyn Drive-In is yet another example of how the city is adapting traditional summertime staples for the COVID-19 pandemic. With the fate of indoor dining still uncertain, outdoor dining has become common practice throughout the city, with entire streets being closed to allow for the practice. In the Belmont section of the Bronx, an entire outdoor dining plaza was even constructed.
