About Us

I'll never forget watching a movie with my mom at the De Anza Drive-In during a July monsoon. We ended up watching the lightning show more than the film, and it was an absolute blast. That feeling — the shared joy, the magic of the big screen, the unforgettable memory — is the heart of everything I do.

My name is Chris Kazanes, and I'm a Tucson native with a lifelong passion for movies and community. After serving our country as a U.S. Army paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and spending 24 years on the road as a truck driver, I invested everything into bringing cinematic magic back to Arizona.

I founded Desert Air Cinema in 2016, and after that I was the owner and operator of Cactus Drive-In Later named Cactus Carpool Cinema the drive-in theater I opened during the COVID-19 pandemic at Medella Vina Ranch and later to our own location on Wilmot and Valencia when people needed a safe way to gather and find joy together. That drive-in became a symbol of resilience for our community at a time when it needed it most.

My wife and I are the proud parents of five wonderful children, who are now grown and serving in the Navy and Air Force. For me, family and shared experiences are everything — which is exactly why I do what I do.

Over 1,500 events later — from intimate backyard parties to large community drive-ins — Desert Air Cinema remains Tucson's most trusted outdoor cinema company. We know how to make your event truly unforgettable.

We look forward to helping you make memories that last a lifetime.

From My Family to Yours,

Chris Kazanes