Screen Scotland buys EIFF rights

Team led by ex-creative director appraising options for next year

by Amber Wilkinson

Edinburgh Filmhouse
Edinburgh Filmhouse Photo: Max Crawford

Screen Scotland has purchased the intellectual property of Edinburgh International Film Festival from the administrators, who stepped in after the collapse of the Centre for the Moving Image in October.

The national body, which funds development of film and TV in Scotland, announced that an "options appraisal" is currently under way for a film festival next year, which is being led by the former creative director of EIFF, Kirsty Matheson, alongside colleagues. Screen Scotland said they would be supported by the Edinburgh International Festival.

The purchase from administrators FRP Advisory, includes domain name and brand assets, to be provided as appropriate to a future operator of the festival.

The work will be funded with an award of up to £97,647 from Creative Scotland. This funding is drawn from the 2022/23 Regular Funding Awards originally allocated to the CMI.

It is anticipated that the options appraisal will be completed by the end January 2023, and further announcements will be made, as appropriate, after that time.

The collapse of the CMI also led to the closure of Aberdeen Belmont cinema and Edinburgh Filmhouse.

A campaign is currently under way in a bid to save Filmhouse, although so far only £151,000 of the target £2m has been raised. Pledges can be made here.

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