Funding has been announced enabling an order to be placed for a
new Screen Machine mobile cinema serving rural communities across
Scotland.
The £500,000 Scottish Government grant allows Regional Screen
Scotland (RSS) to order a new vehicle to take films to 44
locations in areas including the Highlands and Islands, Moray and
North Ayrshire.
After the previous 80-seat vehicle was retired in 2023 following
18 years and 250,000 miles on the road, RSS started fundraising
for a permanent replacement costing £1.7 million. A leased
vehicle is currently continuing the service until April 2026.
The new machine will be energy efficient with the ability to
charge via solar panels and battery packs, instead of a diesel
generator.
Deputy First Minister said:
“The Screen Machine service is a hugely important asset, bringing
cinema to the doorsteps of people in many rural and island
communities.
“It has proved its worth over 26 years, providing entertainment
that town and city residents take for granted. In doing so it
enriches people's lives and plays a part in tackling rural
depopulation.
“This grant allows Regional Screen Scotland to order a new,
bespoke vehicle able to use Scotland's ferry network and
negotiate our rural roads. I wish the organisation well as it
continues efforts to reach its fundraising target.”
Regional Screen Scotland interim Chief Executive Simon Drysdale
said:
"This generous grant from the Scottish Government completely
transforms our fundraising campaign to raise the money required
to build a new Screen Machine. We can now plan with greater
confidence for a service that will be secured into the 2040s.
“Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our campaign so
far, from Screen Scotland to the Arran Trust, customers of the
Newtonmore Grill, letter-writing children in Barra and many, many
more.”
Background
The grant for the Screen Machine comes from the Scottish
Government's Gaelic Capital Fund, which supports developments of
benefit to Gaelic-speaking communities.
Regional Screen Scotland launched its public fundraising
campaign in September 2024. Energy firm SSEN Transmission has
already announced it will give £350,000 from its Regional
Community Benefit Fund. Further support has come from
actors Alan Cumming and Dame Judi Dench and fundraising
continues.
Around 180,000 tickets have been sold in Highland, Argyll &
Bute, Western Isles, Moray, North Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire and
Orkney over the last 10 years. In 2024-25 the service showed 51
films at 450 screenings at which it employed a total of 57 local
ushers.
