THE team behind the only remaining independent cinema in London’s West End is ready to launch a bid to revive the Edinburgh Filmhouse as an independent community cinema.
It comes from Prince Charles Cinema, located in Leicester Place in London, and is described as being “fully costed and funded”.
It includes plans to buy the Filmhouse building and carry out renovations.
The team has already held positive discussions with Edinburgh City Council, Creative Scotland and the Edinburgh Film Guild.
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The National has spoken with Gregory Lynn, Bathgate native and Dunbar resident, who has run the London cinema for 20 years.
How did this bid come about?
“I’ve been commuting for a number of years since 2000. I’ve been looking for something other than the Prince Charles and have been a fan of the Filmhouse and what they’ve done over the years”, Lynn explained.
Administrators were appointed in October as the Filmhouse faced the “perfect storm of sharply rising costs” amid the cost of living crisis.
Lynn continued: “I used to use it pretty regularly. When I got wind there was an issue in Edinburgh, I thought this can’t be allowed to happen.
“I just thought this is so wrong. I couldn’t believe how an institution that had been regularly funded by millions of pounds to run a festival and cinema could end up in such a situation.
“This led me to dig a bit deeper and find out more and you know we really had to think deep because when we looked at the building and the poor state it was in coupled with a starvation of funding, it left us pretty scared.
“We got a detailed survey done and it was mind blowing how much money needed spending.”
What will the plans mean?
The new bidders have shared their vision for the Filmhouse which will follow the Prince Charles’s successful model of combining themed seasons of world and classic cinema.
Lynn says that during his time working in the industry, he has seen six independent cinemas close in London’s west end.
“The way I’m looking at it is there’s too many cinema screens in Edinburgh already. That’s the big parallel I draw with London.”
He added: “There were too many screens and not enough films to go around. It was a difficult place to trade and I see Edinburgh as being much the same to tell you the truth.
“We have built a robust business here by programming quite differently than anywhere in London and, in my opinion, the country.”
Why is cinema so important?
“I think, whatever we do, it needs to be accessible. It’s important that it’s a non-offensive area people are comfortable in and a space where they expect a kind of film to be playing”, Lynn said.
He spoke about getting the balance right between modernising and maintaining what cinema is all about.
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He explained: “I don’t believe you need to be sitting in 30-year-old seats that have been covered three times.
“But just because you’re not watching the latest Avatar movie doesn’t mean you should be treated differently.”
Opposition
In response to the bid, former Edinburgh Filmhouse staff have been critical of the attempted takeover, describing it as a “very clever piece of PR”.
The senior ex-workers behind the Filmhouse’s crowdfunder page have suggested its nature would change significantly if the rival bid is successful.
The group includes former chief executive Ginnie Atkinson, former head of programming Rod White, former head technician David Boyd and former programme manager James Rice.
In a statement, they said: “This is a very clever piece of PR as they’ve managed to imply they care about cultural cinema – maybe they do, but truly diverse cultural cinema programming simply doesn’t pay its way in a straightforwardly commercial business, which PCC is.
“Cultural cinema, as delivered by the Filmhouse we knew and loved, requires subsidy from arts funders – which Filmhouse received for so many years and will do so again, if our bid is successful.”
When asked about this by The National, Lynn disputed that this form of model was sustainable.
He said: “As far as we are concerned, anybody who looks at our programme will see there is a huge amount of cultural cinema within it, there’s so much on education.
“We’ve got stuff from around the world, stuff on politics you name it. We’re about making sure the venue can wash its face and pay for itself going forward.
“The country is on its knees so to be relying on handouts to put on films that not many people might attend, I think it’s a difficult model to run looking forward.”
A Creative Scotland spokeswoman said: “Our primary aim is the continuation of cultural cinema provision.
“Discussions continue with a number of partners as regards how this is best achieved.”
The bid will be submitted before midday on December 7.
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