Latest news with #CharlotteWells
Scotsman
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Building a thriving film industry
Charlotte Wells with the award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer for Aftersun at the Bafta Film Awards ceremony (Picture Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) Scotland's screen sector has undergone remarkable growth in recent years bringing jobs, investment and global attention to our creative industries. We have seen increased production activity, stronger infrastructure and, importantly, rising demand for Scottish stories and talent. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This week's announcement from Screen Scotland marks a major step forward, with the launch of Talent Builder which represents the most ambitious investment in homegrown film talent in a generation. Through six new programmes, Screen Scotland is doubling its support for emerging writers, directors and producers working towards their first feature film. The initiative includes support for high-value short films, new opportunities for early-stage filmmakers, and community-based projects designed to reach people from under-represented backgrounds. Delivered by experienced organisations across Scotland, Talent Builder offers a structured pathway to ensure talent is identified, nurtured and supported at every stage. Alongside established programmes such as GMAC's Little Pictures, these initiatives will provide vital hands-on experience, editorial support and financial backing for creatives right across the country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland has a proud cinematic tradition. Filmmakers like Lynne Ramsay, Bill Forsyth, Bill Douglas and, more recently, Charlotte Wells have shown that Scottish voices resonate far beyond our borders. Programmes like Talent Builder help ensure the next generation of filmmakers have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps. As we invest in the skills, stories and ambition of people from all backgrounds, we are building the foundations for a thriving, inclusive and internationally recognised film industry – one that reflects modern Scotland and inspires future audiences at home and abroad. Angus Robertson is SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central and Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Secretary
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Filmhouse saviours tell public: 'It's yours now - look after it'
Edinburgh-born filmmaker Charlotte Wells was delighted when her debut film Aftersun was chosen as the opening film of the 2022 Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF).Although it had premiered in Cannes and would go on to earn actor Paul Mescal an Oscar nomination, this was an important moment for a film director who had grown up in the city."It was an incredibly special night and I was able to dedicate that screening to a teacher that I had in school who had a big impact on me," she recalls."It was the first time that many of my friends and family understood what I did, so it was a night of celebration and homecoming." But just weeks later in October 2022 the film festival, Filmhouse and the Belmont cinema in Aberdeen all closed abruptly after their parent company The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) went into blamed the pandemic, cost of living and a fall in cinema attendance for the closure."I almost felt like some responsibility for it, you know, having been that opening night film," says Charlotte."And I think that's where everybody, myself included, probably realised the degree to which we take these cultural institutions for granted. And we realised we had to do something."A group of former Filmhouse staff had already come to the same conclusion. Among them, head of programming Rod White, who'd worked there for 20 years but had been coming to the cinema since he was a student in the 1980s."It was a huge part of my life and a completely essential place for those interested in the kind of cinema that perhaps didn't play at the multiplex," he says."There's a whole load of things that just wouldn't see the light of day.""For me, it would be utterly absurd if there was no cinema that does what Filmhouse does in Scotland's capital city. " He soon found other like-minded people - including retired film festival managing director Ginnie Atkinson - and launched a crowdfunder with the hope of buying the former church which has housed Filmhouse for nearly 50 years."It seemed like the only option at the time and the incredible support we had was galvanising," says despite A-list support from Jack Lowden, Brian Cox, Dame Emma Thompson and Dougray Scott and thousands of donations, they were unable to raise enough money and the building was sold to a developer who planned to open a themed the new owners were unlikely to obtain an alcohol licence for that part of Edinburgh, the Filmhouse campaigners approached local pub owners Caledonian Heritable, and asked if the company would consider buying the building and leasing it to them as a cinema complex."They gave us six months to see if we could raise the money and lease it from them," says Filmhouse enthusiasts set up a new charity and launched a fresh crowdfunding campaign. But the game changing moment was an award in March 2024 from the UK government's community ownership fund of £1.5m. That, along with the crowdfunded pot of £324,000 and further support from Screen Scotland, Creative Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council, meant they were able to begin the transformation."The layout of the building will be quite familiar to people who've been here before, so screens one, two and three and the bar are still in the same place but they are completely refurbished," says executive director Andrew Simpson."New seats, extra legroom, still the same brilliant standard of film presentation but comfier and cosier and the best version of screen one that has ever been at Filmhouse and that's the same for screens two and three and four."The fourth screen - a 24 seat space - will open at the end of July and be available for private hire. It's hoped the EIFF - which has also gradually returned - will come back to the venue, although the organisations are now entirely things remain the same, including the projection room capable of showing 8mm, 16mm, 35mm and 70mm celluloid film. The Filmhouse is among a handful of cinemas able to show almost any format. For actor Dougray Scott, who campaigned to save Filmhouse, it's an important part of the cultural landscape."I always associated the Filmhouse with independent films and it was also the heart of the Edinburgh film festival. I was there with Enigma one year and it just holds such a special place in my heart," he recognises the challenges cinema continues to face from television and streaming platforms."I think all filmmakers have that dilemma now where they're thinking that if Netflix or Apple or whoever it is, is paying for this movie it'll eventually be shown on that. "But I think there's a way to make it for both mediums so that you know someone's going to come and watch it in a cinema with a huge screen and you bear that in mind when you're setting up your camera angles and the lenses you choose and how you tell that story. "It's a very different experience.""For me, going to the cinema, sitting in the darkness, you just get lost in that world for two hours. It's an escape but it's also a portal into every culture in the world. "He, like Charlotte Wells, no longer lives in Scotland. So they're reliant on the local community to keep the doors of Filmhouse open."The energy we received during the crowdfunding campaign really feels like it's spun out into our pre-opening period," says Andrew Simpson."We've already hit our target for membership sales for the whole of the first year and we've sold something like two and a half thousand tickets to our opening week programme in what's not an easy time of year for cinemas like ours." Much of their programme will be devoted to the films they missed during the three year closure. On Sunday, that includes Make it To Munich, a feel-good documentary about a teenager on an 800 mile cycle to the Euros after a near fatal has resonance for those who've championed Filmhouse from the start."It's incredible," says Rod White, who has returned to his old job as head of programming."This place has been a very depressing space for the last two-and-a-half years, through three winters of damp and decay in some places. So to see it now full of new staff ready to reopen is very moving. It's been a long road, but we're there."Ginnie Atkinson says she's happy to return to retirement and let the community take over."We just sent out the final crowdfunder update and we said 'this is yours now, you've contributed, you've paid for it, it's yours. Enjoy it and look after it and love it'," she says.
Edinburgh Live
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
First look at £2m Edinburgh Filmhouse refurbishment ahead of grand reopening
Edinburgh's landmark cinema Filmhouse has revealed images of its new screens and spaces ahead of its public reopening tomorrow Friday, June 27 - following a £2 million refurbishment. After 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. Three screens have been unveiled which seat between 59 and 188 viewers. A new fourth screen will soon be revealed which seats 22 plus one wheelchair. A completely refurbished Filmhouse Bar will be able to seat 100 people for lunch and dinner, with drinks available throughout the day. 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. 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).
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Exact date beloved Scottish venue to reopen after devastating closure
Several Hollywood stars from across the globe backed the three-year campaign to save it Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ICONIC Scottish venue is set to reopen in weeks after being forced to close three years ago. Edinburgh's Filmhouse almost closed for good back in October 2022 after its parent charity, Centre for the Moving Image, collapsed. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Filmhouse in Edinburgh is set to reopen this month Credit: PA 4 It has undergone a £2million refurbishment 4 It comes after it was forced to close three years ago Credit: Alamy But a lengthy campaign was launched to save it, and over time it was pulled "back fae the brink" of closure. The beloved cinema first opened in 1978 in a repurposed church, but was feared to have been lost for good when it closed. Several Hollywood stars from across the globe backed the three-year campaign as they helped fight to save it. This includes Scottish icons such as Mary Queen of Scots star Jack Lowden, director Charlotte Wells, Love Actually actress Emma Thompson, Emmy award-winning actor Dougray Scott and Succession star Brian Cox. The Filmhouse cinema, located on Lothian Road, has undergone a huge £2 million refurbishment and is now set to reopen on Friday, June 27. The revamp has seen a complete internal refit to all of its public areas and screens, and "substantial" repairs made to the roof and stonework. 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 Jack Lowden It also saw more seats added, meaning the cinema now has a capacity for 350 super-comfy seats which each has extra legroom. The foyer space and the bar have also been renovated, and there is now room for 100 people to dine and enjoy food and drinks from a new menu that focuses on sustainable produce from the UK. A second phase of works is set to be carried out next month, which will see a fourth screen added to the venue. This newest screen will be used primarily for "private screenings", according to BBC Scotland News, and will have 24 seats. Inside 'world's largest cinema' the 'Big King' with 2,700-seater triple-decker 'grand hall' and giant 3,000sq ft screen When it opens again in three weeks, it will show a list of some of the most iconic films that were missed while it was closed. Lowden, who also starred in Dunkirk, said the reopening will give a much-needed "lift" to the film industry. He 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 film-makers and storytellers the lift-off they need, and continue to ask the big questions of ourselves through cinema, is exciting and vital." Andrew Simpson, executive director of Filmhouse, added that the cinema is now returning with a "fresh energy and clear plan". He 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. LONG TIME COMING PLANS to reopen the cinema first began to take shape when bosses signed a new lease in July last year. Caledonian Heritable, who own the building, agreed the lease it back as a space for a modern cinema for a minimum of 25 years. Works quickly began seven months later after the team managed to secure extra funding. This included £324,000 from the Open the Doors crowdfunding campaign, £1.5million from the UK government. The team also managed to secure £977,925 in donations from Screen Scotland and £1,243,312 from Creative Scotland over the next three years. Refurbishment works started in February early this year, and a second phase is set to finish the project off in July. "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." While Margaret Graham, culture and communities convener at Edinburgh City Council, praised the reopening at "wonderful" for the city. She added: "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 to enjoy the magic of global cinema in the heart of the city."
Rhyl Journal
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Arthouse cinema reopening after campaign pulls it ‘back fae the brink'
The Filmhouse cinema on Lothian Road will reopen on June 27, with a programme of films that were missed since it closed its doors on October 6, 2022. Originally opened in a repurposed church in 1978, the cinema was shuttered following the collapse of its parent charity Centre for the Moving Image. Since then, the building has undergone a £2 million refurbishment that has seen a complete internal refit to the public areas and screens, and 'substantial' repairs to the roof and stonework. Previously a three-screen venue, a new fourth screen is also set to be added in July as part of a second phase of work, bringing the cinema's capacity up to 350 seats. The reopening follows a three-year campaign backed by film lovers from around the world and leading actors including Filmhouse patrons Jack Lowden, Charlotte Wells, Brian Cox and Emma Thompson. Lowden, whose film credits include Dunkirk and The Outrun, said the new reopened cinema will provide a 'lift' to Scotland's film-makers and storytellers. 'Filmhouse is a place utterly dedicated to the promotion and celebration of independent cinema,' he said. '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 film-makers and storytellers the lift-off they need, and continue to ask the big questions of ourselves through cinema, is exciting and vital.' Moves to reopen the cinema began when the building's owners, Caledonian Heritable, agreed to lease the building back as a modern cinema space for a minimum period of 25 years, with a new lease being signed in July 2024. Work to refurbish the venue then began in February 2025, supported by funding including £324,000 from the grassroots Open the Doors! crowdfunding campaign, £1.5 million from the UK Government, and donations from other sources including £977,925 from Screen Scotland, and £1,243,312 from Creative Scotland over the next three years. Fundraising is also continuing for some remaining elements of the project. 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.' The Filmhouse team said 'comfort' was at the heart of the refurbishment, with filmgoers able to expect extra legroom and comfy seats, and a completely reworked foyer space. The Filmhouse bar has also been 'completely refurbished', with dining capacity for 100 people and a food and drink menu focused on sustainable produce from Scotland and England. Margaret Graham, culture and communities convener at Edinburgh City Council, described news of the reopening as 'wonderful'. She said: '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 to enjoy the magic of global cinema in the heart of the city.'
