Southern Outdoor Cinema will launch its third annual Georgia Movies in the Park (tm) series, a series of outdoor family-friendly festivals held in parks throughout North Georgia that conclude with an blockbuster movie being shown on a huge inflatable movie screen.

The events, which are free to the public, are financially sponsored by local area companies and organizations, with the top supporters including Northside Hospital, Southern Outdoor Cinema and Atlanta Babies & Kids.

The series is the brain-child of Southern Outdoor Cinema's owner, Paul Murray, who was looking for free events to do with his wife and two daughters during the summer time. "Great affordable family-friendly events are hard to find these days. Southern Outdoor Cinema is changing that," says Murray. "Come out with friends and family, lay out a blanket, share a picnic, sit back and watch your kids participate in pre-movie activities and listen to music playing in the background as the sun sets over the park. Then enjoy an outstanding show under the stars as the smell of freshly popped popcorn wafts through the air," he continues.

At the larger venues in the series, a 70-foot Airscreen inflatable movie screen, which is the largest screen in the South, is used to present the movies. "Our movie screen is wider than an entire tractor trailer and taller than most buildings," says Murray. "Southern Outdoor Cinema uses only the best quality audio and video equipment available on the market to provide crystal clear sound and a super-bright picture."

Each event starts a 7 p.m., with the movie beginning at dusk. Families are encouraged to come out early to enjoy delicious food items from food vendors and pre-movie activities such as NoJoe’s Clown Circus show, petting zoos, face painting, airbrush tattoos, give-a-ways, children's activities and many large inflatables, including moonwalks, slides and obstacle courses. A complete list of activities, movie titles and directions to the events can be found at

www.gamoviesinthepark.com.

New this year to the series will be video game competitions. Contestants will be taking gaming to the next level by competing on large screens.  Players will contend for prizes with the finals being played on the huge screen after the movie.

Debuting this year in Cumming is the 3-day North Georgia Film Fest to benefit charity. The Film Fest, a part of the Georgia Movies in the Park series, will host activities with a small fee which will raise money for charity. The outdoor movies themselves will remain free.

Carnival games will also be added to the Film Fest. Event website can be found at

www.ngaff.com

2008 Georgia Movies in the Park schedule:

Villa Rica

May 10 and June 14

City of Johns Creek

May 24 and June 28

Dawsonville

June 6 and August 29

Dahlonega

TBA

North Georgia Film Festival Schedule:

Cumming

July 10, 11 and 12