A last-ditch attempt to save a vital rural amenity has been launched with the operators of The Screen Machine hoping to raise £100,000 to keep it on the road.

The mobile cinema has been bringing films to Scotland’s rural communities for more than 26 years and now it is looking to raise the money from the public as part of an effort to get £1.7 million to build a new mobile cinema.

Without the investment, the Screen Machine mobile cinema service will end and so far is has raised just short of £10,000 since being launched.

Screen Machine had to retire their SM2 cinema in January 2023 after 18 years in service because it was ‘no longer fit for purpose’.

A further blow was struck in September of the same year when it was announced the entire service was at risk unless it could find a way to fund a new mobile cinema, and it urged supporters to write to the First Minister and local MSPs to urge them to pay for 50% of £1.7m cost.

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Alan Cumming has offered his support to them while in January, Dame Judi Dench even wrote to then First Minister Humza Yousaf to encourage them to fund it. At the time, the Scottish Government said it had provided £176,000 to keep the mobile cinema operating a temporary service.

No full commitment came from them at the time though but Screen Scotland granted funding to extend until April 2026.

That is for the use of the Cinemobile that is currently being used to deliver the cinema. That wasn’t designed to be opened and closed every few days and it struggles to navigate ferries and slipways as easily as the custom built Screen Machine.

A new machine would take 12-18 months to build and it needs £800,000 to commission the build.

On their website, Screen Machine said: “We need approximately £800,000 to commission the build. It is vital that we raise the initial funds to get the project started this year.

“We now cannot afford to wait for a Government response. We have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise at least £100,000 to get the project rolling and we need your help.

“This is a once in 20 years opportunity to help us build a new and better mobile cinema that will endure into the 2040s.

Inside the Screen Machine cinemaInside the Screen Machine cinema (Image: Screen Machine)

"The letters of support written to MSPs were a huge help, we are grateful for every letter and email sent. They influenced multiple discussions in parliament about the value of the Screen Machine, they helped us to get meetings with relevant MSP’s and with the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson.

"Even Dame Judi Dench was inspired by letters to her from school children on Barra to write to then First Minister Humza Yusaf. Nevertheless, no commitment of funding has yet been made by the Scottish Government."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government understands the unique cultural contribution that the Screen Machine makes to communities who otherwise would struggle to visit the cinema.

“This year, Screen Scotland was able to provide additional funding of £350,000 to extend the lease of the temporary service until April 2026.

“The Scottish Government is continuing to engage with Screen Scotland, and Regional Screen Scotland, to explore all viable options to deliver a sustainable service beyond April 2026.”