From Annan’s Lonsdale Cinema to Mareel in Shetland, 29 independent cinemas and two touring cinema operators from across Scotland have received new funding support from the Scottish Government through Screen Scotland.
The £3.19 million Recovery Fund for Indie Cinemas will help stabilise, rebuild and revitalise independent cinema businesses in Scotland, by supporting new activity and initiatives that help address the fundamental shifts to the industry brought about by COVID-19.
Edinburgh’s Dominion Cinema is among the beneficiaries.
Sambrooke Scott, Head of Audience Developmentat Screen Scotland said: “Scotland has a marvellously unique cohort of independent cinemas serving communities across the country, from historic purpose-built venues to arts centres and multi-screen cinemas.
“Despite facing unprecedented challenges as we adapt to living with COVID they have continued to provide vital cultural, social and economic hubs for the towns and cities they serve.
“This fund will ensure they are able to continue that work and make vital changes to welcome cinema-goers back, to reach new audiences and future generations to come.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertsonsaid: “We’re delighted to support independent cinemas across the country to build back and adapt their businesses in the light of the challenges faced by the industry throughout the Covid pandemic.
“Local cinemas are a focal point for communities and these funds will help them to develop new activities to re-engage with, and grow, their audiences.”
This latest funding takes the total emergency funds awarded to cinemas, from the Scottish Government through Screen Scotland, since the pandemic began in March 2020 to £8,727,829 through the Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund and the Recovery Fund for Indie Cinemas.
The Dominion Cinema, Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh-based touring cinema operator INDY Cinema Group and cinemas all over the country, Scotland’s local independent cinemas and operators are re-opening their doors and welcoming cinema goers from today, Monday 17 May 2021, and over the coming weeks and months.
The re-opening is being supported with an additional £1.98million Scottish Government support for 29* independent cinemas and one touring operator through Screen Scotland’s Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund.
Meanwhile, every precaution is being taken to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience including spaced seating, enhanced cleaning, fresh air ventilated screens, more opportunities to pre-book online and distanced queuing and foyer spacing.
There is a fantastic schedule of releases hitting the big screen over the coming weeks and months with audiences able to catch Oscar Winning films The Sound of Metal and Nomadland in all their glory on the big screen when they are released today, Monday 17 May, the Black Widow blockbuster and BAFTA-nominated Limbo(from Scottish-based filmmakers Director Ben Sharrock and producer Irune Gurtubai) landing in July and Edinburgh will also be coming to the big screen when it plays a starring role in Fast and Furious 9, also due for release in the summer.
Ken HayCEO of CMI(Edinburgh Filmhouse) said: “We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Filmhouse and Belmont Filmhouse when we reopen our doors on the 31st of May.
“Seven months of darkness are finally coming to an end and the magic of the communal cinema experience is coming back.”
Sambrooke Scott, Head of Audience Development at Screen Scotlandsaid: “The COVID crisis has presented independent cinemas with one of the toughest challenges ever faced.
“As restrictions ease and hope grows, Screen Scotland would like to pay particular tribute to the passionate, dedicated staff who are working hard to ensure the safe return of the big-screen experience.
“Cinemas are magical, transportive places where we come together to experience stories that move us, thrill us and excite us. Cinema goers are eager to enjoy the big screen and support in the recovery of the cinemas they love, and Screen Scotland will continue to work tirelessly to support cinemas return and further growth.”
The latest survey results – commissioned by the Film Distributors Association – confirm that the UK public is more eager than ever to return to cinemas, with 59% citing the cinema as their most missed out-of-home entertainment activity, with 40% of audiences planning to return within the first few weeks after reopening and a further 36% within the first couple of months.
The research also confirmed that lockdown over the last year has reignited audiences’ passion for seeing films on the big screen, with those who have digitally rented or purchased films highlighted as the most likely to return to the cinema as soon as they reopen.
The encouraging findings also confirm two thirds of respondents favouring the spectacular big screen experience, immersive sound, special effects, that only cinema can offer.
With the wide-reaching safety measures in place to protect the health and safety of staff and audiences. 93% of cinemagoers who returned last year enjoyed an overwhelmingly positive experience, and 99% were satisfied with the health and safety measures at their local cinema.
Following 12 months of lockdowns and restrictions, the survey further endorsed how well-loved cinemagoing is. Past research has consistently proved that cinemas provide vital support for the health and well-being of our communities. Getting out of the house and watching a film on the big screen allows us to escape and immerse ourselves in another world, if only for a few hours.
Phil Clapp, Chief Executive at UK Cinema Associationsaid: “We are delighted that cinemas in Scotland and across much of the UK will from today be once again able to welcome audiences back. At this time more than ever, we know how much local communities value their local cinemas.
“Our own audience research, but also the many messages of support and encouragement received by our members, confirm that many people have missed the big screen more than anything during lockdown and every cinema venue in Scotland has been working hard in recent weeks to ensure that when allowed to re-open they will be able to offer the safest and most enjoyable experience possible.”
Follow the campaign on social media via #BackToTheCinema or #LoveCinema and visit:
YourScreen is a partnership of local, independent exhibitors and was created to stream new films and films unavailable on other digital platforms into the homes of audiences around the country. These are films that might normally play in their local cinema.
Local cinemas promote YourScreen films on their web site and social media, directing audiences to YourScreen where they are able to purchase “virtual” tickets to watch award-winning international films. Revenue is shared between YourScreen and each local film exhibitor.
Films on YourScreen are available for up to 28 days which distinguishes it from a streaming platform like Netflix where films reside for many months and longer.
Every two months, YourScreen uploads a new programme of films on to its platform.
The first season which concludes on 20th December has a programme of eight films; from Canadian coming of age drama, Kuessipan, through to docu-comedy/drama, Lessons of Love, the tale of a Polish woman going her own way after 45 years of marriage to an abusive husband and the popular German film, System Crasher(above).
The genesis of YourScreen can be traced to Cheltenham International Film Festival (CIFF) which streamed its festival online in 2020 and inspired positive feedback from audiences who were locked down and often did not have the opportunity to visit independent cinemas or watch the latest films from around the world.
Commenting on YourScreen, one of the partnership’s founders, Leslie Montgomery Sheldon, also CIFF Director, said: “These are difficult times with cinemas in lockdown.
“But, film exhibitors must maintain their business. In the event they have decided to partner with YourScreen to stream new films, uninterrupted by lockdown, to their audiences.”
But while YourScreen is a short-term solution it is also a long-term opportunity for exhibitors to grow their business.
“YourScreen is in business for the long-term to turn independent cinemas into multi-screen cinemas; allowing exhibitors to complement their in-venue screenings with an online programme; to attract new and different audiences, boost ticket sales and generate an extra revenue stream without the overheads” said Sheldon.
The full programme for the first two-month season (26 October – 20 December):
• The Best of Dorien B.: Belgian comedy-drama.
• Lillian: Austrian, true-life drama of a young Russian woman who walks across American to find her way home to Russia.
• System Crasher: By popular demand, the third film to open our season is this acclaimed German film.
• Beyond The Horizon: French coming-of-age film with Clémence Poésy.
• Kuessipan: Award-winning Canadian film.
• Lessons of Love: Polish docu-comedy/drama which features a woman of 69 who is not too old to begin life again.
• Northern Wind: French film, explores the impact on two families in different countries linked by the same circumstances.
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 Culturesaid: “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.”
Sambrooke Scott, Head of Audience Development at Screen Scotlandsaid: “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 Cinemasaid: “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.”
Ian Brown, Group CEO and Founderof 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”
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.”
Robert Livingstoneof 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.”
