PROJECTS > BACKPACK CINEMA - UGANDA
In communities surrounding Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, access to conservation education was limited by infrastructure. Screenings organised by the Great Apes Film Initiative were often oversubscribed, with children walking long distances only to be turned away.
Electric Pedals developed a lightweight, fully human-powered cinema system designed to reach the smallest and most remote villages. Using just two children’s mountain bikes to generate electricity, the Backpack Cinema could be transported, assembled and operated by a two-person team. The result was a mobile, low-impact screening system capable of travelling where vehicles and generators could not.
Since launch, the system has enabled approximately 150,000 children and adults to experience conservation film screenings within their own communities.
Installation
Ultra-lightweight pedal powered cinema system
Portable projection, audio and control equipment designed for rapid deployment
System transportable by hand to remote hilltop villages
Designed for rough terrain and rural road conditions
Fully human powered with minimal running costs and no fuel dependency
Impact
Brought conservation education directly to remote communities
Eliminated dependency on fuel and unreliable grid infrastructure
Enabled children to see and learn about wildlife living alongside them
Outcome
Approximately 150,000 attendees reached since launch
Demonstrated viability of ultra-portable human powered cinema systems
Reduced logistical barriers for rural educational outreach
Created a replicable model for mobile, low-impact film screening