Famous faces have been lamenting the closure of two independent Scots cinemas and the possible end of the world's oldest continuously running film festival after the charity behind them called in the administrators.
The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) runs the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) as well as the Edinburgh Filmhouse and the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen. It has entered administration after facing what it called a "perfect storm of sharply rising costs, in particular energy costs."
Bosses say they have seen trade at cinemas fall following the Covid pandemic and as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. Both cinemas were closed with immediate effect on Thursday because CMI said it could not support annual energy bills in excess of £200,000 and a 57% drop in audiences.
