By Ben Kerrigan-
Cinemas from across England are to benefit from the first allocations of the British government’s £30 million fund for independent cinemas, with more venues to receive cash in coming weeks, the Department For Digital Culture, Media and Sport have announced.
Investment is part of the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, and is set to help cinemas from Northumberland down to Devon through the pandemic.
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The government said that 42 independent cinemas from across England have received a cash boost from the UK government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, in the first awards made by the British Film Institute (BFI) to support England’s screen sector, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced today.
Among the cinemas which have already benefited from the scheme include Ritz Cinema, Belper, Derbyshire, and Showroom, Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber, both of which received £10,000 each from the scheme.
The £500 million Scheme is designed to help television and film productions across the country that have been halted or delayed by a lack of insurance to get back up and running. It will give productions the confidence they need to be supported if future losses are incurred due to Covid-19.
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Detailed eligibility criteria for the scheme are available today online, in order to help productions prepare applications ahead of the scheme formally opening in the coming weeks.
The first tranche of money from the £30 million pot is being allocated by the BFI on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It will support cinemas across England from the Jam Jar Cinema in Whitley Bay, Northumberland, down to Devon’s Totnes Cinema.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
”We all enjoyed the escapism of a good film during lockdown, but nothing beats the experience of the big screen. This first wave of emergency funding will help dozens of independent cinemas around the country, preserving their unique character and history for future generations.
Our Film and TV Restart Scheme will keep cameras rolling on British-made film and TV – protecting jobs, boosting this hugely important industry and giving us more great content to enjoy.
But now we need the public to pay their part too. So I urge everyone to get booking your seats and support your local cinema.
This important cash boost of more than £650,000 will help independent cinemas – the cultural organisation closest to home for so many people – weather the storm of the coronavirus pandemic.
The support for independent cinemas has been welcomed by Luther co-stars Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson.
Idris Elba OBE, award-winning actor, producer and director (Mandela, The Long Walk to Freedom, Yardie, Luther) and BFI Governor said:” In a time with so much change and uncertainty around us, there is comfort in the familiarity of a comfy pair of seats and some popcorn at your local cinema. It’s a simple and effective way of bonding with our cities and culture. We depend on the independent cinema and they depend on us to support them, now more than ever.
Idris Elba welcomes scheme Image: apnews.com
Ruth Wilson, actor and producer (Saving Mr Banks, His Dark Materials, Mrs. Wilson), said: What lockdown has made very clear is how vital local communities are. I am thrilled independent cinemas will be able to access the Culture Recovery Fund.
They, alongside all local arts organisations are lifelines for their communities and for the people that work in them. It was in my local cinema in Walton-on-Thames where I saw films for the first time that moved me, that made me understand the power of storytelling, the power of communal watching and made me want to be part of that world.
Cinemas are able to apply for Safety Grants, to help independent venues meet the additional costs of creating a safe and covid-secure environment for staff and audiences, and Business Sustainability grants of up to £200,000 to help stabilise venues as they reopen.
Ben Roberts, BFI Chief Executive said: ”The Government’s support for independent cinemas through the Culture Recovery Fund is having a positive impact for venues and local communities in cities, towns and villages across the country as they reopen with new covid-safe measures in place and new releases including current hits Rocks, After We Collided, Tenet and Monsoon, re-releases of classics such as La Haine and Star Wars, and the forthcoming Saint Maud and Eternal Beauty, all from great talent. Thanks to the Culture Recovery Fund we look forward to more cinemas gearing up to reopen in the coming weeks.
Ben Roberts Image:twitter.com
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