Funds supporting independent cinemas will benefit north cinemas in Inverness, Elgin, Fort William, Aberdeen and touring Screen Machine
Four cinemas and one touring screen that covers the north will benefit from new funding support from the Scottish Government through Screen Scotland.
There will be £165,395 for Eden Court Cinema, (Eden Court Highlands), Inverness; £196,877 for Moray Playhouse, (Caledonian Cinemas Limited), Elgin; £81,062 for The Highland Cinema (The Highland Cinema Ltd), Fort William; £354,052 for Belmont Filmhouse, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh Filmhouse (Centre for the Moving Image); and £68,146 for the Screen Machine (Regional Screen Scotland).
In total, 29 independent cinemas and two touring cinema operators from across Scotland will benefit.
The £3.19 million recovery fund for indie cinemas will help stabilise, rebuild and revitalise independent cinema businesses in Scotland, by supporting new activity and initiatives that help address the fundamental shifts to the industry brought about by COVID-19.
Sambrooke Scott, head of audience development at Screen Scotland said: “Scotland has a marvellously unique cohort of independent cinemas serving communities across the country, from historic purpose-built venues to arts centres and multi-screen cinemas.
"Despite facing unprecedented challenges as we adapt to living with COVID they have continued to provide vital cultural, social and economic hubs for the towns and cities they serve.
"This fund will ensure they are able to continue that work and make vital changes to welcome cinema-goers back, to reach new audiences and future generations to come.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “We’re delighted to support independent cinemas across the country to build back and adapt their businesses in the light of the challenges faced by the industry throughout the Covid pandemic.
“Local cinemas are a focal point for communities and these funds will help them to develop new activities to re-engage with, and grow, their audiences.”
This latest funding takes the total emergency funds awarded to cinemas, from the Scottish Government through Screen Scotland, since the pandemic began in March 2020 to £8,727,829 through the independent cinema recovery and resilience fund and the recovery fund for indie cinemas.
