Paris turns the river Seine into an open-air floating cinema - in pictures

The cinema is part of Paris Plages, the yearly transformation of sections of the Seine into man-made beaches

The opening night of Paris Plages 'Le Cinema Sur L'Eau', a free floating cinema at La Villette. Getty Images

38 electric boats were installed on the Quai de Seine in compliance with social distancing rules, with 150 deckchairs on the banks of the canal, to screen the short film 'Corona Story' by Victor Mirabel, followed by the comedy 'Le Grand Bain', which also included free ice cream. Getty Images

People attend the screening of the French movie 'Le grand bain' on the first day of the 19th year of the Paris Plages summer event. AFP

The Paris Plages city beach event runs from July 18 to August 30, 2020, offering events and activities on the banks of the river Seine and the Bassin de la Villette. AFP

The opening night of Paris Plages Le Cinema Sur L'Eau, a free floating cinema at La Villette. Getty Images

Electric boats were installed on the Quai de Seine in compliance with social distancing rules, with 150 deckchairs on the banks of the canal, to screen the short film 'Corona Story' by Victor Mirabel, followed by the comedy 'Le Grand Bain'. Getty Images

Cinema goers were also able to enjoy free ice cream as part of the activities. Getty Images

Parisians enjoy the opening night of the floating cinema on the banks of the Siene river. Getty Images

Parisians watch Paris Plages's Le Cinema Sur L'Eau, a floating cinema at La Villette. Getty Images

The drive-in cinema has made a comeback during the Covid-19 outbreak, but it’s not the only way movie fans have been getting creative. In Paris, people can now enjoy a film while floating in a boat on the river Seine.

As part of Paris Plages, the yearly transformation of sections of the Seine into man-made beaches, moviegoers on Saturday, July 18, were able to board 38 electric boats for a free showing of the 2018 French comedy Le Grand Bain.

"I really enjoy open-air cinema. It marks the beginning of the summer, and even if we already are in mid-July, for me it marks the beginning of the Parisian summer adventures," said 25-year-old Eloise Blomme.

"I really enjoy the idea of the boats – associating the Seine with a movie on water, I didn't want to miss this."

Each boat can seat up to six people who know each other. Organisers hope to hold similar showings during the six-week Paris Plages festivities. Others are able to watch from deck chairs as the screen floats over the Seine.

Cinemas have reopened in France, but occupancy levels remain very low. While the virus has been under control with fatalities and the number of people in intensive care falling, daily cases have increased ahead of the summer holiday season.

The disease has killed more than 30,000 people in the country.

The artificial beaches on the banks of the Seine in central Paris and the Bassin de la Villette, a man-made lake in the northeast of the city, have been a roaring success since they were launched by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe in 2002.

As well as sand and views of central Paris’s architecture, Paris Plage offers sporting opportunities such as fencing, giant table-football, and open-air gyms looking out over the Seine, although this year the tighter health restrictions have limited some of the activities.