Sail-In Cinema's First Night Draws Record Crowd

TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Canada's floating movie experience, Sail-In Cinema™ has returned to the water's edge with a bang. More than 1,100 people and 18 boats watched Ghostbusters at the festival's opening night and even larger crowds are expected over the next two nights.

The free-three day festival continues Friday August 16 with The Princess Bride and Back to the Future on Saturday August 17.

"Our opening night was a tremendous success. We've had an incredible response and there's a lot of excitement around this year's Sail-In Cinema. More than 5,000 people have signed up for landside tickets," said Toronto Port Authority Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Pamela McDonald. "We are delighted to have created a unique, free outdoor event that draws Torontonians to discover a revitalized waterfront."

For the duration of Sail-In Cinema™ Torontonians can enjoy the films from land or boat at the city's largest outdoor theatre. Films are projected onto a two-sided 700-pound screen that is 40 x 20 feet and sits on a 60 x 90-foot floating barge in Lake Ontario.

Free landside tickets for the third annual Sail-In Cinema™ are available at www.sailincinema.com with same-day rush tickets available. While tickets are free, the Toronto Port Authority cautions that there is limited seating on the landside, and entry is subject to availability of space. Movies will start after sundown (approximately 8:45pm) and doors will open at 6:00 p.m. The first 500 ticketholders on site each night will receive special seating and attendees will have a chance to win several prizes from Sail-In Cinema™ partners. Sail-In Cinema™ is the only major movie festival in Toronto where boaters can sail-in, drop anchor and watch movies in Lake Ontario. Boat mooring will be available on a first come first served basis.

Toronto Port Authority is presenting Sail-In Cinema™ 2013 with the support of Toyota Canada Inc., Porter Airlines, Monde Condominiums presented by Great Gulf, North American Logistics Services Inc., The Waterfront BIA, Popchips, Keurig® and media partners: the Toronto Star, Metro, CP24 and 99.9 Virgin Radio.

About the Toronto Port Authority (www.torontoport.com)
The Toronto Port Authority (TPA) owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, the Port of Toronto (Terminals 51 and 52), and Toronto's Outer Harbour Marina. In addition to moving more than two million passengers through the airport in 2012, the Port Authority provides transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port, and owns and operates Toronto's largest freshwater marina. The Toronto Port Authority was incorporated on June 8, 1999 as a government business enterprise under the Canada Marine Act as the successor to the Toronto Harbour Commissioners.

Sail-In Cinema™ Fact Sheet

• Toronto Port Authority's Sail-In Cinema™ is the world's first two-sided floating movie experience
• Audiences can watch movies from land or boat at Sugar Beach (25 Dockside Drive). Boaters will be able to tune in to 104.9 on their radios to hear movie sound
• The 2013 event runs August 15 to 17 with three hero-themed movie screenings beginning at sundown (approximately 8:45 p.m.)
• Sail-In Cinema's 2013 line up was determined by a public vote and comprises Ghostbusters (Thursday August 15), The Princess Bride (Friday August 16) and Back to the Future (Saturday August 17)
• Sail-In Cinema's 2012 nautical-themed movie line up featured The Poseidon Adventure, Creature from the Black Lagoon and Hook
• The two-sided, inflatable screen has a 40 x 20-foot viewing surface, sits in a 46 x 37-foot frame (four stories tall) and weighs more than 700 pounds
• The two-sided screen will sit on a 60-foot-wide by 90-foot-long barge custom-made for the event. The barge will be anchored approximately 150 feet south of the docks at Canada's Sugar Beach (located at 25 Dockside Drive, Toronto)
• Landside admittance will be ticketed and access will be on a first-come first-served. Tickets are free and will be available at www.sailincinema.com. Tickets are not required for waterside viewing, although viewing space is limited and boats will be able to drop anchor on a first-come first-served basis
• Toronto Port Authority launched the inaugural Sail-In Cinema in 2011 as part of its centennial celebrations
• Sail-In Cinema™ saw more than 2,000 moviegoers and 70 boats attend the unique movie experience in 2012
• Sail-In Cinema™ has won several awards including a Silver Award of Excellence in the Best Special Events Project category for Sail-In Cinema™ at the 2013 Canadian Public Relations Society's National Awards of Excellence; Certificate of Merit for advertising from the The Advertising & Design Club of Canada in 2012; Gold at Marketing Magazine's Marketing Awards for best Experiential/Stunts/Events initiative of 2011, Silver for best in Commercial Services at the Media Innovation Awards in 2011

Event website: www.sailincinema.com

Image with caption: "Moviegoers at Sail-In Cinema™ 2011 (CNW Group/Toronto Port Authority)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130816_C6563_PHOTO_EN_29920.jpg

SOURCE: Toronto Port Authority

Pamela McDonald, Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Tel: [phone] or [phone] (mobile)
E-mail: [email protected]