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| The renovation of Filmhouse Screen 1 Photo: Rod White |
Edinburgh's Filmhouse has announced it will finally reopen on Friday, June 27.
The cinema, which opened in 1978 but closed with the collapse of the Centre for the Moving Image in 2022, has run a lengthy crowdfunding campaign to get the venue back open for cinemagoers. The building's new owners, Caledonian Heritable, agreed to lease the building back as a modern cinema space for a minimum period of 25 years, which began in July last year.
The refurbished venue, which has had about £2million of work done on it, will now have four screens and a capacity of 350. The Filmhouse Bar has also been completely refurbished and will be able to seat 100 people.
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.
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| Scaffolding has finally been removed from the front of Filmhouse |
In a release announcing the news to those who contributed to its 'Open The Doors' crowdfunding campaign, the Filmhouse team said: "We are hugely excited to share the downright gorgeousness of the new version of Filmhouse. We hope you will be able to visit soon."
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.”
Fundraising continues with one day left to support.
Celebrity backers have included Scottish actors and filmmakers such as Jack Lowden, Charlotte Wells, Dougray Scott and Brian Cox. Lowden, who is a Patron of the Filmhouse, will voice an ad spot promoting the cinema in Scotland in the coming weeks.
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.”
Wells added: “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."
Memberships are now available, including a limited number of Founder Memberships at a reduced price from Filmhouse.org.uk.
