Tag: Filmhouse

Jali Film Weekender announces full programme

FILMHOUSE: 30th OCTOBER – 2nd NOVEMBER

 Jali Collective is proud to reveal the full programme for the first ever Jali Film Weekender, taking place at Filmhouse, Edinburgh from 30 October – 2 November 2025, with tickets now on sale.

Following the earlier announcement of the festival’s opening and closing films and its Extended Realities exhibition, the complete line-up now brings together a dynamic mix of award-winning features, Scottish and UK premieres, discussions, workshops and short films under the festival’s inaugural theme, Dreams and Apparitions.

Spanning more than a dozen countries across Africa, the diaspora and beyond, the programme presents stories that move between the intimate and the cosmic, the past and the future. With premieres direct from major festivals including Berlin, Sundance and Locarno, and films representing their countries at the Academy Awards, Jali Film Weekender positions Edinburgh as a new gathering place for Black, African and diasporic cinema.

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

In addition to opening film Memory of Princess Mumbi and closing film Promised Sky, among the headline feature film titles is the Scottish Premiere of Imran Hamdulay’s The Heart is a Muscle, fresh from its award-winning premiere at Berlinale in February and selection as South Africa’s official Oscar submission. 

Other highlights include a special preview of Sofia Alaoui’s Sundance prize-winning sci-fi thriller Animalia, ahead of its highly anticipated UK and Ireland theatrical release later in the year and the Scottish Premiere of Denise Fernandes’ award-winning  Hanami, which offers a dreamlike coming-of-age story set on the volcanic islands of Cape Verde.

Acknowledging the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, Jali Film Weekender will also present the Scottish Premiere of Berlinale stand-out Khartoum, in partnership with Scottish Documentary Institute, which offers a moving portrait of life amidst revolution and war. The screening will be followed by an in-conversation with Talal Afifi, producer and founder of Sudan Film Factory.

“We are honoured to be partners of the Jali Film Weekender as it launches in Edinburgh’s cultural landscape,” says Flore Cosquer, Director of Scottish Documentary Institute. 

She continues: “The festival’s dedication to building authentic community connections through exceptional cinema resonates deeply with our own values, reflecting our shared belief that communities across Scotland deserve access to storytelling that speaks to the richness of our collective experiences.

“The Jali Collective has poured their passion into this project and created something truly special: a layered, magical programme that goes beyond traditional screenings to foster meaningful conversations.

“This is cinema as community-building at its finest. We are proud to be part of its first chapter, and to get the opportunity to bring to Edinburgh audiences the genre-defying, bold and poetic documentary Khartoum.”

Another documentary work featured in the programme is the Scottish Premiere of Celia Boussebaa‘s Amakki, presented in partnership with maona art, a lyrical meditation on womanhood and motherhood in Ethiopia. The festival also proudly honours cinematic legacy of the late Souleymane Cissé who passed away earlier this year, with a screening of his seminal work Yeelen, now restored in 2K by Les Films Cissé, the production company of Souleymane Cissé. 

Finally, the festival’s short film programme spans multiple continents, with new works from across Africa, the Caribbean, North America and Europe, demonstrating the depth and range of diasporic storytelling today.

The programme includes the European premiere of Jard Lerebours’ LESPRI,  the UK premiere of Justice Rutikara’s Ibuka, Justice, and Scottish premieres of Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume’s Dédé (Ancestor), Barbara Minishi’s Inheritance, Samuel Suffren’s Blue Heart (Coeur Bleu), Tomisin Adepeju’s Journey Mercies and many more.

TALKS, WORKSHOPS & GATHERINGS

The Weekender is as much about conversation and participation as it is about film. A central highlight is a public discussion on how to centre Black, African and diaspora audiences in Scotland. Rooted in Jali Collective values of representation and co-creation, the session will bring together creative practitioners, programmers, and community organisers  to explore challenges and best practices in making Scotland’s cultural landscape more inclusive, and to share approaches such as community-centred outreach, intentional partnerships and co-programming.

Workshops and interactive experiences also offer audiences ways to connect beyond the cinema screen. The festival will host hands-on creative activities and the previously announced Extended Realities (XR) Exhibition, which will runevery day of the festival and is free to attend. 

This includes ARGO, an augmented reality experience designed with children in mind, offering fun and engaging activities for younger audiences, alongside Enkang’ Ang’, an immersive VR journey into Maasai heritage.

Together, these elements ensure that the Weekender is a space for gathering, dialogue and play, welcoming audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

“From films and extended realities to conversations and workshops, our first programme brings together stories that are as urgent as they are visionary” say Jali Collective members Tomiwa Folorunso, Isabel Moura Mendes and Carmen Thompson. 

“We are proud to have curated an intentional programme which we hope will resonate with both Edinburgh’s Black, African and diaspora communities as well as the city’s wider filmgoing community. We cannot wait to share it with our audiences!”.

All events will take place at Filmhouse, Edinburgh, which reopened earlier this year as a renewed hub for independent and international cinema.

Jali Film Weekender 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland and Film Hub Scotland (part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery), alongside the British Council and The Africa Centre, programme partners Scottish Documentary Institute, maona art, and additional support from Jack Arts, Premiere Scotland.

Jali Film Weekender 2025 artwork and branding by 080 Studio, based in Lagos, Nigeria.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW VIA FILMHOUSE

Edinburgh’s Filmhouse cinema announces opening programme

From 27 June, Edinburgh’s landmark cinema Filmhouse will re-open its doors with a hand-picked programme of the very best films the cinema missed out on playing during the venue’s two-and-a-half-year closure.

The programme will have a strong emphasis on films that did not screen in the city because of its absence. Tickets are on sale now via the Filmhouse website.  

Filmhouse has long been celebrated as a cultural cornerstone, showcasing world cinema in all its brilliance and diversity, from crowd-pleasing favourites and to avant-garde arthouse works, restored classics, and curated retrospectives.  

The first film to welcome audiences back to the venue will be the much-loved film gem and ode to the beauty of the cinemagoing experience, Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso (1988). 

On opening weekend, audiences can also enjoy Martyn Robertson’s acclaimed new film Make It To Munich, an inspiring documentary which follows 18-year-old Ethan Walker, who just months after nearly losing his life in an accident, embarks on a 1200km cycle ride to Munich for Scotland’s Euros opening game against Germany. 

Ethan himself will attend a special Q&A screening on Filmhouse’s opening day, alongside the film’s director Martyn Robertson and former Motherwell, Chelsea, Everton and Scotland winger Pat Nevin. 

Edinburgh based filmmaker Matt Palmer will present a free double-bill of his gutsy thriller Calibre (2018) starring Jack Lowden and Tony Curran alongside his hit horror Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025) which debuted at No.1 on Netflix on its release earlier in the year and will have its first ever public cinema screening at Filmhouse. Matt will also take part in a Q&A after the screening.  

Lotte Reiniger’s classic feature length paper cut animation The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)will screen in a special event soundtracked with live music by Edinburgh based musical improvisers and innovators S!nk in a transportive performance filled with swirling, spiralling strings, saxophones, accordion, percussion and voices. 

Also screening at the cinema are a selection of recent acclaimed films from around the world from new and established filmmakers including Payal Kapadia’s soulful All We Imagine As Light, Sébastien Marnier’s thrilling Origin of Evil, Christian Petzold’s riveting Afire, Gints Zilbalodis’s enchanting animation Flow, Hlynur Pálmason’s nuanced drama Godland, Alice Rohrwacher’s radically adventurous film La Chimera, Maryam Moghadam & Behtash Sanaeeha’s joyous My Favourite Cake, Mario Martone’s brilliantly shot Nostalgia, Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s tense thriller The Beasts, Ilker Çatak’s uncompromising The Teachers’ Lounge, Alexandre de La Patellière & Matthieu Delaporte energetic take on Count of Monte Cristo, Manuela Martelli’s compelling noir 1976, Víctor Erice’s mysterious Close Your Eyes, Robert Zemeckis’s Here and Celine Song’s acclaimed Past Lives.  

70mm engagements at the cinema will include Brady Corbet’s award-winning The Brutalistand Christopher Nolan’s epic Oppenheimer alongsideRobert Egger’s Nosferatu on 35mm.  

More upcoming screenings will be announced via Filmhouse socials soon. 

Over the next few months, Filmhouse will once again partner with many of Scotland’s film festivals offering a fabulous space in which to welcome their audiences, alongside technical and marketing packages French Film Festival UK, Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival, Take One Action!, Edinburgh Short Film Festival and Iberodocs Film Festival amongst many others.  

Alongside this, the cinema will also screen events such as National Theatre Live for the first time, with more details to be confirmed in the coming months.  Details of Filmhouse’s involvement with this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival are yet to be announced .  

With, ultimately, a total capacity of 340 seats, Filmhouse is set to once again become a hub for film enthusiasts, offering a cutting-edge cinematic experience, a vibrant social space, and a platform for film lovers and filmmakers to engage with the very best in global cinema.

Previously a three-screen venue, the new Filmhouse will become a four-screen cinema and soon will be unveiling a fourth screen with a capacity of 24, allowing for an even more expansive programme, as well as being available for private screenings and hires.   

Filmhouse’s technical capabilities include 70mm, 35mm, 16mm, 8mm, and digital projection. The cinema also includes a Clipster Unit for creating Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) required for festival and theatrical distribution.  

Comfort has been prioritised across the new Filmhouse. Film-lovers can expect extra legroom and comfortable seats across the cinema’s screens, alongside a completely reworked foyer space.   

Built in a repurposed church on Edinburgh’s Lothian Road, Filmhouse has been a cinematic landmark since 1978. Following a £2 million refurbishment, Scotland’s leading independent cinema Filmhouse returns with new leadership, a vision which builds on the venue’s legacy as a space for learning and discovery, and a commitment to building a sustainable future for this iconic cultural landmark.  

The completely refurbished Filmhouse Bar will be able to seat 100 people for lunch and dinner, with drinks available throughout the day, catering for the many communities who enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, and placing an emphasis on produce from Edinburgh and Scotland, offering great food and drink alongside environmental sustainability. Filmhouse fans will be pleased to know that the cinema’s world-famous nachos are staying put too.   

The cinema will announce new membership offers and multiple-tier ticket pricing over the next few weeks.  

Following its closure in October 2022, the reopening of Filmhouse marks the culmination of a three-year long campaign to save the historic cinema backed by film lovers in Edinburgh, Scotland, and around the world and by A-list film talent including patrons Jack Lowden and Charlotte Wells, as well as Dougray Scott, Brian Cox, and Emma Thompson.  

The stage is set, the screens are ready, and the story of Filmhouse continues. 

Rod White, Programming Director of Filmhouse, said: “Looking into the films that simply didn’t make it on to Edinburgh cinema screens at all during Filmhouse’s closure only hammered home the need for it in this great City of Culture.

“It’s been tough – whilst Filmhouse was closed – to watch some brilliant films come and go from cinemas without being able to offer a venue to watch them in. The good news is, Filmhouse has never been a better place to watch a film (and talk about it afterward!) than it is today and we simply cannot wait to welcome everyone back, or, for the first time! ” 

Edinburgh’s iconic Filmhouse cinema reopens its doors on 27 June

A SCREEN ICON RETURNS! SCOTLAND’S FLAGSHIP CINEMA, ‘FILMHOUSE’ IN EDINBURGH REOPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC ON 27 JUNE 2025 

REOPENING MARKS THE CULMINATION OF A THREE-YEAR ‘OPEN THE DOORS’ CAMPAIGN THAT HAS ATTRACTED ATTENTION AND SUPPORT FROM CINEMA’S FINEST TALENT AND FILM FANS BOTH LOCALLY AND AROUND THE WORLD 

THE MUCH-LOVED FILM HUB ENTERS A NEW ERA WITH A NEW OUTLOOK AND NEWLY REFURBISHED SCREENS 

This summer marks the long-anticipated return of Scotland’s leading independent cinema. On 27 June 2025, Filmhouse opens its doors and looks to the future as a home for community connection and cinematic discovery.  

Following a £2 million refurbishment, Filmhouse returns with new leadership, a vision which builds on the venue’s legacy as a space for learning and discovery, and a commitment to building a sustainable future for this iconic cultural landmark.  

With, ultimately, a total capacity of 350 seats, the venue will once again be a hub for film enthusiasts, offering a cutting-edge cinematic experience, a vibrant social space, and a platform for film lovers and filmmakers to engage with the very best in global cinema. Previously a three-screen venue, the new Filmhouse will become a four-screen cinema and will be unveiling a fourth screen with a capacity of 24, allowing for an even more expansive programme, as well as being available for private screenings and hires.   

Opening on 27th June are the beautifully refurbished screens 1, 2 and 3 and all the public areas. Screen 4 will open later in July as part of a second phase of work and fundraising also continues for some remaining elements of the project. 

Following its closure in October 2022, the reopening of Filmhouse marks the culmination of a three-year long campaign to save the historic cinema backed by film lovers in Edinburgh, Scotland, and around the world and by A-list film talent including patrons Jack Lowden and Charlotte Wells, as well as Dougray Scott, Brian Cox, and Emma Thompson.

The cinema will relaunch with a programme of films missed during the venue’s two-and-a-half-year closure.  

The cinema has been brought back to life by a group consisting of Filmhouse Chair Ginnie Atkinson, Head of Programming Rod White, cinema strategist at Mustard Studio, James Rice, Technical Manager David Boyd, and strategic financial consultant, Mike Davidson.

The group is now joined by newly appointed Executive Director Andrew Simpson and a raft of new staff members. The cinema rebuild is designed by Unick Architects and built by Clark Contracts.  

This next chapter for Filmhouse has been shaped by extensive research, expert consultation, and overwhelming community and industry support that emerged in the wake of its closure – notably through the Open the Doors crowdfunding campaign.   

A successful campaign 

With support from Screen Scotland, the reopening of Filmhouse began with the Filmhouse team negotiating with the building’s owners, Caledonian Heritable, to lease the building back for a minimum twenty-five-year period as a modern cinema space, before raising capital funding to refurbish the building.   

Funding came from a successful ‘Open the Doors!’ Crowdfunder campaign which launched in September 2023 and has raised over £324,000. The project also fitted the criteria for the UK Government’s Levelling Up Community Ownership Fund (COF), which has supported community groups to take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of being lost. COF granted Filmhouse £1.5 Million with other capital funding coming from a raft of donations and from Trusts.

Further project support came from major funder Screen Scotland and Creative Scotland, and the City of Edinburgh Council.  

In July 2024, the cinema’s 25-year extendable lease was signed, and in February this year contractor, Clark Contracts, began refurbishment work on the cinema.   

State-of-the-art facilities in a historic building 

Filmhouse’s historic home is a repurposed church on Edinburgh’s Lothian Road which has been a cinematic landmark since 1978. Originally opening with a single 90-seat screen, the venue expanded over the years to include three screens, a bustling café-bar and a welcoming front entrance, becoming a cherished gathering place for filmgoers. 

Before the relaunch of the cinema, the building has undergone substantial repair work to the roof and stonework alongside an entire refit inside the cinema.  

Filmhouse’s technical capabilities include 70mm, 35mm, 16mm, 8mm, and digital projection. The cinema also includes a Clipster Unit for creating Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) required for festival and theatrical distribution.  

Comfortable seats and a new food and drink offer 

Comfort has been prioritised across the new Filmhouse. Film-lovers can expect extra legroom and comfortable seats across the cinema’s screens, alongside a completely reworked foyer space.   

The Filmhouse Bar has also been completely refurbished and will be able to seat 100 people for lunch and dinner, with drinks available throughout the day, catering for the many communities who enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, and placing an emphasis on produce from Edinburgh and Scotland, offering great food and drink alongside environmental sustainability. Filmhouse fans will be pleased to know that the cinema’s world-famous nachos are staying put too.   

The cinema will announce new membership offers and multiple-tier ticket pricing over the next few weeks.  

A wide-ranging film programme 

Filmhouse has long been celebrated as a cultural cornerstone, showcasing world cinema in all its brilliance and diversity, from crowd-pleasing favourites and family films to avant-garde arthouse works, restored classics, and curated retrospectives.  

Filmhouse will once again partner with many of Scotland’s film festivals offering technical and marketing packages for Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival, Take One Action, Edinburgh Short Film Festival and Iberodocs Film Festival amongst others.   

Alongside this, the cinema will also look to screen events such as National Theatre Live and live Metropolitan Opera broadcasts for the first time, with more details to be confirmed in the coming months.   

Details of Filmhouse’s involvement with this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival are yet to be announced.  

Embedded in the community for everyone 

Filmhouse will continue to prioritise its education and outreach work with facilities to inspire anyone with an interest in film.

A Learning & Engagement Officer has been appointed by the cinema, supported by a grant from the City of Edinburgh Council, and there will be forthcoming collaboration with the National Film and Television School’s Sean Connery Talent Lab, whose graduation shows will take place at the Filmhouse this summer.   

The stage is set, the screens are ready, and the story of Filmhouse continues.  

Andrew Simpson, Executive Director of Filmhouse, said: “The love for Filmhouse never went away, it was just waiting to be reignited.

“The incredible response to its closure showed us how vital this space is, not just for Edinburgh, but for audiences across Scotland and beyond.

“We are returning with fresh energy, a clear plan for the future, and a commitment to delivering world-class film experiences for everyone. Filmhouse belongs to its community, and we’re excited to welcome people back.”  

Patron Jack Lowden said: “Filmhouse is a place utterly dedicated to the promotion and celebration of independent cinema. Films need to be watched, not just made. Now, after months of hard work, the incredible team at Filmhouse have managed to pull one of Scotland’s few truly independent cinemas back fae the brink.

“To have such a place on the streets of our capital providing the platform to give our world class filmmakers and storytellers the lift off they need, and continue to ask the big questions of ourselves through cinema, is exciting and vital.” 

Patron Charlotte Wells has said: “The Filmhouse was an essential part of my own story and I’m delighted it can continue to be that for others too through its film and education programming and its role as a public forum for film lovers. 

David Smith, Director of Screen Scotland said: “Reopening Filmhouse has been the mission for many people across the last three years.

“From the moment it closed the Screen Scotland team were working to get Filmhouse back. In the end that effort, our support, became focused around Ginnie, Rod, James and David and it was those four individuals who put in hours upon hours of hard work that made it a reality.

“Edinburgh – and everyone who loves film – owes them and the thousands of people who supported their crowdfunder a huge thank you.  The revitalised, reimagined, reborn Filmhouse will bring back all that was lost and much more, and once again be the heart and home for cinema culture in Edinburgh.” 

Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “It is wonderful that the Filmhouse will be opening its doors once again. I am sure that many people across Edinburgh and beyond will be looking forward to this event.

“This much-loved cinema is both a community hub and cultural asset for the city. Its refurbishment will allow even more people enjoy the magic of global cinema in the heart of the city. I look forward to seeing the programme of events that will be on offer once the Filmhouse opens for business.” 

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “It’s blockbuster news that the much cherished Filmhouse in Edinburgh is re-opening its doors after three years.

“Thanks to £1.54 million UK Government funding and much hard work from the Filmhouse team and partners, cinema-goers are set for a thrilling experience in a fully refurbished venue that meets modern audience expectations. I can’t wait to take in a movie there.” 

Open the Doors!

Council to contribute £60,000 towards renewed Edinburgh Filmhouse

£60,000 will be contributed to Filmhouse (Edinburgh) Ltd supporting the return of the Edinburgh Filmhouse building at 88 Lothian Road, the city council has announced.

Following the collapse of Edinburgh Filmhouse’s parent charity, the Centre for Moving Image (CMI), in October 2022, the Council has been working closely with key stakeholders to secure a future for cultural cinema in the Capital.

The option to support a renewed Filmhouse was included in the report agreed by the Culture and Communities Committee on May 11 2023, as part of a wider allocation of resources committed to the sector for the financial year 2023/24.

As a result of positive project development updates over the past few months, the Council has committed this support. The Council will continue to monitor progress in the coming months and work with Filmhouse (Edinburgh) Ltd, Screen Scotland, the Scottish Government, and other partners.

Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker said: “We’re delighted to see the progress of the fundraising campaign and to be in a position to contribute as a Council.

“Crucially, this funding is in-budget and has been agreed by elected members. Alongside the wider stakeholder group, we look forward to our continued dialogue and working with Filmhouse (Edinburgh) Ltd.

“We’re committed to having a home for cultural cinema in the heart of the city and for the wider sector going forward. Edinburgh is rightly one of the great cultural cities of the world and cultural cinema is a key part of this landscape.”

The Directors of Filmhouse (Edinburgh) said: “This is fantastic news and everyone who has their heart in the campaign will want to thank the City of Edinburgh Council for this tangible commitment to opening the doors of Filmhouse once more. 

“Filmhouse, as a cultural institution that celebrates the art of film alongside the other artforms supported in Edinburgh, aims to re-open as soon as the total necessary funds have been raised.

“We plan to provide the broad range of cultural cinema that the city is lacking just now, as well as to host the diverse group of specialist and community film festivals which have been missing their longstanding home on Lothian Road.

“The funds are needed for a full refurbishment of the cinemas and public areas, including the much-loved cafe-bar.”

Director of Screen Scotland, David Smith said: “Screen Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council have worked together across the last year to support the return of the Filmhouse.

“It is a vital resource for Edinburgh and Scotland; providing a home for filmmakers, film lovers and film festivals, and a hub for film education. Its absence is keenly felt by us all, and Screen Scotland continues to work for its revival.

“It’s return would signify not just the reopening of a cinema, but the return of a vital home for the artform.”

Leith charity partners with The Filmhouse to eliminate electronic waste across Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Remakery is joining forces with Filmhouse in the fight to eliminate electronic waste across the city.

The two well-loved Edinburgh establishments are working together to provide a simple and convenient way for members of the public to pass on their old IT equipment using a uniquely designed Donation Box.

With COP26 being hosted in Glasgow and with Edinburgh’s ambitious net zero targets, all eyes are on Scotland to take the lead in implementing infrastructural changes to tackle the climate emergency.

More and more Edinburgh-based organisations are taking significant steps not only to reduce their own business carbon emissions, but to make it easier for their patrons and team members to make positive changes.

The Edinburgh Remakery, a social enterprise based in Leith which specialises in waste reduction through repair and reuse, has been taking in end-of-life IT equipment since its origins in 2016.

This partnership with Edinburgh Filmhouse, which is based on Lothian Road, will make it easier for members of the public outwith Leith to drop-off their old electronics for reuse. With Filmhouse being once again open to the public and showing regular film screenings, the cinema is perfectly placed to hold one of the Edinburgh Remakery’s Donation Boxes.

These Donation Boxes have been designed specifically for people to drop in old electronic devices – including laptops, smart phones, and tablets – whilst preventing them from being damaged in the process to ensure as many devices as possible can be repaired and reused. The Donation Box will be conveniently placed in Filmhouse foyer for members of the public to use.

Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery said: “Electronics have become somewhat of a disposable commodity in our society, to the point where many of us have old devices lying around that we just don’t know what to do with.

“Electronic waste is also incredibly damaging to the environment, and people can be concerned about the security of their personal data, therefore disposing of old devices safely becomes very problematic. Our donation boxes give people an easy and secure way to pass on their old devices for reuse.

“Not only is it a win for the environment, but it’s also a win for the community as a portion of the donated devices, once repaired, will be gifted to families and individuals across the city who are suffering from digital poverty, social isolation and financial hardship.

“A portion will also be used to train members of our community in valuable IT repair skills, targeting primarily those further from the job market to boost valuable employability skills as well as confidence. Tackling waste and social inequalities in one – a win for people and planet.”

Rehan Yousuf, Community Engagement Manager at Filmhouse said: “Edinburgh Filmhouse is delighted to be in partnership with the Edinburgh Remakery as their first partner in the repurposing project.   

“The pandemic has heightened digital poverty, with many people from disadvantaged communities being left behind. We’re aiming to target the challenges of digital exclusion for older people and will be working in tandem with community groups dedicated to overcoming this. 

“Whether it’s an old laptop, tablet or mobile lying in a drawer at home somewhere, people can hand it to Filmhouse via the donation box at our Box Office. The devices will then be repurposed by the Edinburgh Remakery, then distributed by the Edinburgh Filmhouse. Members of the public who donate their devices will receive a free cinema ticket. 

“With many people receiving new devices for the Christmas season, there’s never been a better time to hand in those that are no longer needed. We’ll put them to very good use!”

Not only will this partnership have a significant positive impact on the environment by reducing electronic waste – the fastest growing waste stream in the UK, and one of the most polluting – but it also benefits the wider community in tackling digital inequalities.

The Edinburgh Remakery has committed to use 25% of the reusable devices that are donated to them in this way to benefit the community, gifting them to disadvantaged individuals are families across Edinburgh who are experiencing financial hardship and need assistance to get online and access essential support services.

To ensure security, The Edinburgh Remakery technicians use a US Government Department of Defence approved algorithm to securely wipe any data from donated equipment to ensure all data is destroyed and is non-retrievable, giving added peace of mind to donors.

The project will be launched in conjunction with the EIFF Youth Eco-Weekender event at Edinburgh Filmhouse. The EIFF Youth Eco Weekender takes place over Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th November and explores the climate crisis on film. 

Featuring a selection of curated short films from the Film Access Scotland’s Climate Challenge: 1.5 Degrees Films project, there’s a captioned screening of the classic eco-film The Day After Tomorrow with a BSL-supported introduction from EIFF Young Critics on Saturday. 

While on Sunday, a captioned screening of the Gerard Butler action thriller Geostorm will be introduced by EIFF Young Climate Activists and features a Q&A afterwards. Both of which will be BSL-supported. All screenings are priced at £2 to ensure ticket prices aren’t a barrier for attendance to make it as inclusive as possible. 

Tickets are available from www.filmhousecinema.com, or can be picked up in person. Alternatives include calling Box Office on 0131 228 2688. 

EIFF Youth is funded through the PLACE Programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals. 

EIFF Young Activists is supported by the Hugh Fraser Foundation. 

The EIFF Young Critics programme is supported by James and Morag Anderson. 

New Filmhouse: Planning Application submitted

Following an extensive and successful public consultation process which ran for 4 months following its launch in March 2020, Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) has submitted the full Planning Application for the proposed New Filmhouse in Festival Square to the city council’s planning department.

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Emergency funding to secure the immediate future of Independent Cinemas in Edinburgh

The Dominion, Filmhouse Edinburgh and Edinburgh-based touring cinema operators Regional Screen Scotland and the INDY Cinema Group are among 30 independent cinemas and two touring operators to receive £3.55 million from the Scottish Government’s Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund and The National Lottery, through Screen Scotland. 

The Fund, which aims to bridge the immediate financial gap faced by independently owned cinemas as a result of COVID-19, will now support these cinemas who can operate in the short-term, within Scottish Government guidelines, and help others towards reopening, when it is safe to do so. 

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture said: “We understand the severe impact this pandemic has had on businesses across Scotland, including our independent cinemas which play such an important role in communities across the country.  

“We have had to make some really difficult decisions recently that will impact on cinemas which have worked so hard to re-open safely, but we have to put health considerations above everything else and I hope this funding, along with the business support that will be available, will help independent cinemas cope with all the challenges they face.    

“Culture is vitally important to all of our lives, and we are determined to do everything within our powers to see the sector through this crisis. This fund is part of the ongoing financial support the Scottish Government is making available to the sector.” 

Empty Cinema 1 (c) Abbie Dobson

Sambrooke Scott, Head of Audience Development at Screen Scotland said: “Independent cinemas have always played a vital role in communities across Scotland, bringing people together to immerse themselves in great film experiences from filmmakers around the world, and around the corner.  

“It’s been the most challenging of times for these hard-working venues but, with the help of this Scottish Government and National Lottery support, they will continue to open and operate safely as local restrictions allow.

“By putting stringent measures in place to protect staff and audiences alike they will open where able and bring the magic and escapism of cinema back, which is something we need now more than ever.” 

The Dominion

The Dominion Cinema said: “We are very fortunate to be in a position to benefit from the Recovery and Resilience Fund for Independent Cinema.

“This will allow us to maintain our position in the industry and help enable us to welcome our loyal patrons back when the time is right.”

Indy Cinema Group Stirling Castle Screening

Ian Brown, Group CEO and Founder of Edinburgh-based touring cinema operator the INDY Cinema Group said: “This support from Screen Scotland has been crucial in ensuring that INDY Cinema Group and its team are here both now and for the future to support our cinemas and communities across Scotland.

“Without the support all our work over the past 10 years to assist in building community cinemas, commercial independents and ever growing cinema support services for our industry was at risk of being lost.

“Now we are in a position to not just survive but ensure that we are ready for the challenge to come and helping all of our communities and cinemas grow again”

Filmhouse External (c) Abbie Dobson

Ken Hay, CEO of Centre for the Moving Image (Filmhouse Edinburgh) said: “Cinemas are the heart of many communities and Filmhouse and Belmont Filmhouse are no different.  

“Our communities want us to be open so that we can dim the lights and help people escape everything else for a couple of hours with the magic of cinema – and they’ve already donated over £100,000 so that we can do just that.  

“And this funding from Screen Scotland will be integral in keeping both cinemas open over the next 5 months – when we’re allowed to be.”

Christmas photo In Glencoe the mountain is Buachaille Etive Mor

Robert Livingstone of Edinburgh-based Regional Screen Scotland, operator of the touring cinema The Screen Machine said: “The Independent Cinema Recovery Fund is a crucial measure to help to sustain cinemas across Scotland. 

“At Regional Screen Scotland we’re very grateful for this support, as it will allow us to begin touring again with the Screen Machine, by compensating for the box office income lost through the need to maintain 2m physical distancing.

“This means we can bring at least some Christmas cheer to many smaller communities in the Highlands.”

Recipients of the Fund are: 

Organisation Cinema Name Funding Amount 
An Lanntair An Lanntair (Stornoway) £44,200 
Caledonian Cinemas Limited Moray Playhouse (Elgin) £149,583 
Campbeltown Community Business Campbeltown Picture House (Campbeltown) £65,000 
Centre for the Moving Image Filmhouse (Edinburgh), Belmont Filmhouse (Aberdeen) £627,849 
D&G Council Robert Burns Centre (Dumfries) £24,896 
Dundee Contemporary Arts Dundee Contemporary Arts £143,588 
Eden Court Highlands Eden Court (Inverness) £158,814 
Falkirk Community Trust Bo’ness Hippodrome (Falkirk) £51,552 
G1 Group Perth Playhouse  £128,622 
Glasgow Film Theatre Glasgow Film Theatre £415,171 
Granada Cinemas (Edinburgh) Ltd. Dominion Cinema (Edinburgh) £224,846 
INDY Cinema Group Ltd INDY Cinema Group (Various) £216,035 
Kino Entertainment Ltd The Kino Leven, The Kino Glenrothes £106,313 
Lonsdale Cinema Annan Lonsdale Cinema £43,842 
Macrobert Macrobert (Stirling) £111,244 
Newton Stewart Cinema Newton Stewart Cinema (Newton Stewart) £32,878 
NPH Cinema New Picture House (St Andrews) £87,723 
Oban Phoenix Cinema Oban Phoenix Cinema (Oban) £61,818 
Pavilion (Galashiels) Ltd Pavilion (Galashiels) £207,362 
Premier Leisure Premier Leisure (Saltcoats) £71,259 
Regional Screen Scotland Screen Machine (Various) £24,521 
Shetland Arts Development Agency Mareel (Lerwick) £40,860 
The Birks Cinema Trust Ltd The Birks Cinema (Aberfeldy) £68,500 
The Pickaquoy Centre Trust The Phoenix Cinema (Kirkwall) £21,244 
The Tower Digital Art Centre The Tower Digital Arts Centre (Helensburgh) £81,328 
Universal Sounds (Arbroath) Limited Bathgate Cinema, Alloa Cinema, Arbroath Cinema £96,875 
West Coast Cinemas LLP Studio Cinema (Dunoon), Waterfront Cinema (Greenock) £244,441 

Filmhouse needs you!

With a September opening in its sights, the Filmhouse has launched a fundraising campaign to support its return. It is asking people to donate £40, the cost of an annual membership, to raise the £60,000 needed to secure its future.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/filmhouse

Filmhouse has undertaken a survey of its members and regular attenders to understand the many complex issues and concerns that they would have in returning, but which has also unlocked a huge outpouring of support for it.

Juliet Tweedie, Head of Development for Filmhouse said: “We have all been so touched by the outpouring of love and support for Filmhouse since we closed our doors in March.

“The last three months have been very challenging. We have been very lucky to be able to access support from Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Government and the UK Government through the furlough scheme.

“Even with this support to help with the immediate financial strain, we anticipate that as well as a reduction in admissions when we do re-open, due to constraints on capacity in the building and changing habits of customers, we will have to invest hard cash into making the building safe and navigable for our customers and staff.

“We need your help to secure our future, so that we can continue our work as Scotland’s leading independent cinema and a hugely active charity in the city. We are a vital part of our community, and we don’t want to give up any of it.

“We recognise that this is a time of uncertainty, and other charities may be approaching you for help. We are so grateful for any donations, however large or small, and thank you for thinking of us.”

Filmhouse isn’t just a cinema. It is a charity and a community hub for film lovers across Edinburgh and the Lothians. As Scotland’s largest independent cinema, it screens over 850 wonderful films, seasons and special programmes to 200,000 people every year.

Its film education programme is attended by over 10,000 school children each year, and it seeks to inspire young film lovers through its Young Programmers initiative. Its Senior Selections programme brings together older audiences at risk of isolation.

And its Café Bar is a much-loved community space, where its famous nachos and chickpea curry have been keeping the city well-fed for over 20 years! It supports cultural programmes and partners throughout the city, and is proud to have over 5,000 members.

Independent cinemas across the UK are facing a huge challenge to reopen. Despite recent government announcements around the reopening of cinemas and the projected Phase 3 return in Scotland, the recent survey by the Independent Cinema Office found that the challenges of social distancing measures and the need for significantly reduced audience sizes means that reopening may not be viable for many.

The Filmhouse has set up a Go Fund Me page:

 https://www.gofundme.com/f/filmhouse 

which can be accessed directly or through its website or social media channels.

Alternatively, you can send a cheque to Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ.

Filmhouse announces online live public consultation sessions

Edinburgh’s Filmhouse continues to consult with as many people as possible by adapting its pre-planning public consultation in light of the social distancing and other advice issued by the UK and Scottish Governments in response to Coronavirus.

Open public drop in sessions which were to be held at the Filmhouse with CEO of the Filmhouse Ken Hay, the architect Richard Murphy, and Fraser Littlejohn from planning consultants Montagu Evans will now take place online with members of the public able to sign up in advance, or join spontaneously.

Questions for the panel will be prioritised from those who email in advance to future@filmhousecinema.com  but there will also be the opportunity to feed through questions live to the moderator.

The public sessions are scheduled for 24 June at 1pm and 7pm, and 25 June at 10am and 4pm.

Each registered participant will be sent a short introductory video to watch before the session and be encouraged to submit questions in advance so they can be collated into areas of discussion.

During the session the panel will each speak and share images and plans of the new building before opening up to questions. The sessions are expected to last between 45 and 60 minutes.

If you would like to secure a place at a session please email future@filmhousecinema.com  to book.

Ken Hay, CEO of Centre for the Moving Image (inc Filmhouse and Edinburgh International Film Festival) said: “It’s a challenging environment in which to make sure we do the best job possible of reaching as wide a public as possible.

“We already have almost 500 responses to the consultation on the new Filmhouse building through our online survey, which is terrific. It is really useful to receive this feedback while the consultation is live so we work to address areas of concern or questions through our continually updating information online.

“We’re looking forward to these web consultation sessions and some live interaction with those who are interested so we can answer their questions.”

Information on the bold new vision to create an internationally significant, fully accessible and environmentally sustainable landmark home for film and screen culture in Edinburghincluding architect drawings and visualisations, the background to the development and FAQs are available on Filmhouse’s website.

People can feedback through a simple online survey on the Filmhouse website.

The project team is currently creating a series of further digital resources which are being shared through Filmhouse and Edinburgh International Film Festival websites, social media and email.

These resources are drawing out different aspects of the building and its purpose, responding to some of the questions emerging from the consultation feedback so far. The upcoming public consultation sessions will also be recorded and made available on YouTube post event.

The planned new Filmhouse building has been designed by award-winning Edinburgh based Richard Murphy Architects and will significantly improve and increase the quality and quantity of spaces available to and needed by Filmhouse and EIFF for their audiences, customers, participants and industry partners.

It will create a hub for Edinburgh’s film and broader cultural community to base themselves in, and be a focal point for Edinburgh’s citizens to learn about film and filmmaking in all its diversity.

Information on the proposed building is at www.filmhousecinema.com/future