THE revived Edinburgh Filmhouse is set to reopen at the turn of the year after a 25-year lease was signed, with the multi-award winning director of the film Aftersun, Charlotte Wells, and Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden announced as inaugural patrons.
The independent cinema opened in 1979 in a former Presbyterian Church with only one screen but became a cultural icon with a programme compared to the British Film Theatre in London.
It closed on October 6, 2022 following the collapse of umbrella company Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) and a grassroots campaign began to save it, backed by actors including Ewen Bremner, Tilda Swinton and Brian Cox.
A business model was created to relaunch the cinema, with a board of trustees including some who worked there for two decades.
A Crowdfunder which aimed to raise £300,000 has almost met its target at £305,056.
The trustees learned on March 19 their application for £1.4m from the Levelling Up Fund was being granted by the UK Government.
A 25-year renewable lease has now been signed with the 88 Lothian Road building owners Caledonian Heritable.
It means that the team of former Edinburgh Filmhouse staff who have led the campaign to re-open the cinema as an arthouse, independent venue can proceed with the refurbishment plans that will see the existing cinema building fully modernised.
Plans include a complete refit, the addition of a fourth screen for educational use and reducing the seating capacity from 450 to 350 to make it more comfortable, as well as increasing accessibility inside the cinema.
Wells, whose awards include a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for her 2022 feature film Aftersun, grew up in the city’s Morningside and was a member of Filmhouse’s early education initiative Scottish Kids Are Making Movies.
She said: “I’m so pleased that these doors will finally reopen, providing an essential space in Edinburgh for audiences to discover films they might not otherwise see – films that challenge their perceptions of people, places, and the form itself.
“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.
“I’m proud to be an inaugural patron and can’t wait to sit back down there myself.”
Award winning Scots actor Jack Lowden, currently known for TV hit series Slow Horses, has been a loud champion of the cinema before and after its closure in 2022: “I made a bee-line for Filmhouse when I lived in Edinburgh and loved the diversity of its programme; showing films from around the world as well supporting independent and local filmmakers – and so many film festivals happen there.
“I’m delighted that it’s on track to re-open and honoured to be a patron and champion of what will be again a truly great, independent cinema.”
Building owners Caledonian Heritable have completed repairs to the fabric of the building and will gift all projection equipment to the new Filmhouse, including the customised analogue 35mm and 70mm projectors.
The signature on the lease now means refurbishment work can begin.
A Filmhouse spokesperson said: “We are delighted that Jack and Charlotte will be patrons and champions of Filmhouse.
“Charlotte is living proof of the opportunity that exists for young people to find their feet – and their voice – in the medium of film at Filmhouse and, if they choose to, go on to work internationally. Jack is hugely articulate about the importance of Filmhouse as a place that screens and makes accessible every form of cinema – particularly the independent voices – which Filmhouse does day in day out.
“Signing the lease is also a great reason to celebrate as it means we are a significant step further down the road towards re-opening the doors and putting great cinema back on the screens.”
Isabel Davis, executive director at Screen Scotland said: “The strength of will from Filmhouse’s many supporters – including Charlotte Wells and Jack Lowden – to save this institution speaks volumes: notably about its role in providing a way into the filmmaking professions and in helping generations of audiences to access the life-enhancing world of global cinema in all its rich history and diversity.
“Our team at Screen Scotland saw from the outset what the loss of the Filmhouse would mean and threw themselves at the challenge of resurrecting it. We’re delighted to see Filmhouse (Edinburgh) Ltd. sign the lease with Caledonian Heritable. It’s wonderful that the dedicated Filmhouse team can now begin the refurbishment which will take us all a step closer to opening the doors of this key cultural asset.”
City of Edinburgh Council Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker added: “We’re delighted to see Filmhouse (Edinburgh) Ltd. sign the lease with Caledonian Heritable. It’s wonderful that they can now begin the refurbishment which will take us all a step closer to reopening this key cultural asset.
Filmhouse (Edinburgh) Ltd is much loved by the community, and this anticipated re-opening is very exciting for residents and visitors alike. 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 cinema is a key part of this landscape.”
