The Traveller's Magazine
Imagine being at the cinema, sitting comfortably in your chair, ready for the show in one of the most spectacular settings in the world… all these aboard a raft. Welcome to “Film on the Rocks Yao Noi” held in Phuket, Thailand in mid-March.
The organizers of Film on the Rocks Yao Noi proudly admit that no other festival in the world can provide such an impressive ambiance and setting. Every year an international jury selects the films to take part in the festival that attracts hundreds from around the world. It’s a totally unique experience, like no other film festival before.
Film on the Rock at low tide
All the materials used for the building of the state and other festival facilities are completely recyclable. After the event, everything is dismantled and the materials are donated to the people in the nearby coastal villages. Workers wait for low tide before setting up the projector and large screen. That same evening, everything is ready for the first show. Access to the “cinema” is via a small wooden footbridge, also built for the occassion.
The place, a real paradise, is known locally as the “archipelago of cinema“, hidden in a small bay surrounded by gigantic rocks, small island and rain forests.
The screen is mounted on a raft in an area where the sea is barely deeper than one metre so that viewers can watch the film right from the water. As you can imagine, when the sun sets, the atmosphere is total magic.
The actual platform seats up to 200 people. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget as the platform gently moves with the tide, the warm sea breeze and the night sky slowly being lit up with stars. It’s true, there are few places so if you’d like to attend, best get on those cheap flights to Thailand now. The festival takes place in the second week of March 2013.
For more information, check out the official Film on the Rocks Yao Noi site.
