We’re just as excited as you are to hear that the Plaza Classic Film Festival is returning to Downtown El Paso this year from July 30th to August 9th! Not only is it coming back, but the festival has been heavily retooled for our safety. And with a “pop-up” drive-in movie element, may still manage to be the most memorable yet. We spoke with Program Director, Doug Pullen to try and squeeze out a few more insider details for you.
Naturally, the environment will be managed for safety and social distancing protocols. Films will be shown with the drive-in format and a digital format, accessed on the plazaclassic.com site.
For those not familiar with the drive-in movie experience, Mr. Pullen explains how they’ll use the tried and true method of the past for audio, “We will use a low power FM transmitter to broadcast audio on car radios via an FM radio frequency.”
“We do expect to have special guests appear with the online portion of the film festival. I don’t expect any special guests for the drive-in portion, but you never know,” Mr. Pullen told us.
Every year the festival is curated with special themes and this year is no different. “The traditional 11-day film festival was going to focus in part on the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of the concentration camps. We plan to retain a few of those elements in both the drive-in and digital components, but it won’t be to the extent as originally planned. The theme that is emerging now is to introduce viewers to the drive-in experience and program movies that played a part in its heyday,” Mr. Pullen told us.
Despite not having any specific titles to announce yet, it’s always fun to speculate on the films that will be chosen. Especially now that we know that the “drive-in” experience will factor in the movies chosen this year. Plaza Classic staples, such as the popular Local Flavor local film showcase, documentaries and newer movies, will be screened digitally on the film festival’s website, plazaclassic.com. Submissions for the Local Flavor film showcase are still being taken until June 29th! Submit HERE