For all the advances in entertainment, the introduction of streaming services and watching of movies on our phones, the silver screen experience retains its lustre. A night at the movies remains an occasion, one that fosters a sense of collective emotion, of togetherness; and a magic that is often lacking in our daily lives.

Indeed, as Scotland trudges toward a bleak winter of austerity, it could be the very antidote the country needs. A bit dramatic perhaps but, after all, that's the genre. 

Just as dramatic are the severe challenges faced by Scotland’s independent theatres, a number of which have been forced to close in recent years. 

The COVID-19 pandemic threw the industry into turmoil, as cinema-goers stayed home amidst infection concerns. Even once the public health warnings ended, independent cinemas struggled to fill seats.

Read More:

A series of closures in October 2022 shone a national spotlight on the problem; as the Edinburgh Filmhouse and Belmont Cinema in Aberdeen shut their doors after their parent charity went bust. Nearly two years later, community groups continue to push for the cinemas to reopen. The group behind the Edinburgh Filmhouse revitalisation hopes to reopen their theatre this year, after receiving £1.5 million in funding from the UK Government. 

In Aberdeen, the efforts are being spearheaded by cinema aficionados Dallas King and Jacob Campbell. After a long bidding process last summer, ‘Belmont Community Cinema Ltd’ was selected by Aberdeen City Council as the “preferred operator” of the shuttered theatre. Now, they are looking to raise more than £2 million to restore the cinema to its former glory. 

Campbell noted: “Aberdeen is the only Scottish city without an independent cinema. We want to [provide] the best of international film, the best of domestic film from across the UK, not to mention European cinema.”

Campbell and King have laid out an ambitious plan; which includes replacing all cinema seats, upgrading social spaces, and securing top of the line audio and visual equipment. They also want to open a “state of the art education studio” which will ensure local artists and community members can bring their own films to life. Given the volatility of the oil and gas industry in the North East, Campbell believes that investment in the local film industry will prove useful. 

New Picture HouseNew Picture House (Image: Tom Parnell)

“We don’t know what the future will look like”, he remarked, suggesting that the natural beauty of Aberdeenshire could prove a boon to Hollywood directors looking for filming locations. Just last month, well-known director Guillermo del Toro travelled to the area to shoot his adaptation of horror flick Frankenstein. 

Seeking an initial crowdfunded sum of £150,000, the Belmont team has raised nearly £53,000 over the course of the summer. While securing the building, which is owned by Aberdeen City Council, and drawing up architectural plans proved difficult at times, there’s no doubt that funding the project remains the biggest challenge. 

Campbell understands the additional challenges the current economic environment has created, especially in terms of securing grants, but said that failure was not an option. 

“We are doing all these things to bring the cinema back to life,” he remarked.

“You have to keep hammering at the door. You just keep hammering because we can’t afford to fail.”

Yet, amidst a challenging cost of living crisis, how can community cinemas like the Belmont survive?

40 miles south of Aberdeen, in the town of Montrose, one independent cinema could provide a road map for the future. The Montrose Playhouse rakes in visitors, averaging 120,000 a year, despite being located in a town of just 13,000. Their business model pairs highbrow arthouse cinema with more mainstream offerings, in a bid to serve the needs of their diverse audience.

Likewise, Campbell hailed the Glasgow Film Theatre as a “good model” for the Belmont, praising the cinema for “listening to their community.” Yet, as he noted, the Belmont team wants to “develop a model that will work for Aberdeen.”

Glasgow Film TheatreGlasgow Film Theatre (Image: Glasgow Film Theatre)

Not all community cinemas have the backing of a locally-focused team. Earlier this year, thousands of people signed a petition against the proposed redevelopment of St Andrews’ New Picture House into a luxury sports bar and pub. However, after developers pledged to retain two of the three screens at the cinema, Fife Council granted planning permission for the glitzy venue, which is backed by megastars Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods. Work is expected to begin in September.

Campbell believes that cinemas which exist “beyond the megaplex” are badly needed, noting: “Film can provide a bridge for communities. It brings people together and allows them to understand positions and perspectives they might otherwise not.”

Indeed, independent cinemas allow up-and-coming auteurs to have their art featured, contributing to the development of a future generation of filmmakers. They show that entertainment is about more than money, that cinema can be a celebration of beauty and creativity and all that is good in our world. When these theatres close, that sense of colour is lost, replaced by dull grey. 

Cinema can’t save Scotland from austere financial management or bloated bureaucracy, but it can provide a gateway to something more, a collective look at what life could be like. A truly great film has the power to inspire change, inflame passions, break hearts, and shake our perceptions of the world. That is, as long as we have somewhere to watch it. 

You can contribute to the work of the Belmont Cinema team by visiting The Belmont Community Cinema Crowdfunder, where the initial fundraiser runs until the 11th of September.