An update with good news on the Edinburgh’s Filmhouse cinema. It’s former staff members have revealed their plans to reopen the venue next year after engaging in discussions with its new owner, Caledonian Heritable. Led by former chief executive Ginnie Atkinson, the team has established a new charity called Filmhouse (Edinburgh) Ltd with the goal of reviving the art house cinema and its historic role as the home of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The cinema and its parent company ceased trading when the parent company, the Centre for the Moving Image, entered administration in October of 2022.

Caledonian Heritable, known for owning Edinburgh landmarks like The Dome and West End Brasserie (formerly Ryan’s Bar), acquired the building for GBP £2.65 million after it was put up for sale by administrators handling the assets of the CMI. Despite the acquisition, there has been significant support from the Edinburgh city council for retaining the Filmhouse building as a “cultural cinema.”

Atkinson and her team have engaged in advanced discussions with Caledonian Heritable regarding a long lease on the building, aiming to restore the cultural cinema to the city. Caledonian Heritable its commitment to the arts, stating, “We have a longstanding appreciation of the vital importance of culture and the arts to the city of Edinburgh and are pleased to be working with Filmhouse (Edinburgh) Ltd in anticipation of a new era at this key cultural venue.”

Given that Caledonian Heritable has experience operating bars and restaurants, and Filmhouse had a cafe bar… maybe the groups could work together to add a hip new dining venue to the reopened cinema that serves movie themed cocktails. Anyone up for a Vesper Martini?