Hopes to increase cinema provision across communities
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
EDEN Court Theatre has stepped firmly behind plans for a seafront cinema in Cromarty – and its new chief executive has signalled plans to help other communities follow suit.
James Mackenzie-Blackman, who was appointed in October, wants to "work closely" with the Cromarty and Resolis Film Society – which is steering the plans forward.
The project is at an early stage and planning and funding still needs to be secured but the group is in "positive discussions" regarding the harbour site.
Mr Mackenzie-Blackman said it was "a very innovative model" which, if successful, "could well be something that we look to replicate in other places across the Highlands".
He said: "We are really committed to ensuring Cromarty and other communities across the Highlands have access to world-class cinema."
The film society’s plans were announced last week in partnership with the Cromarty Estate, which owns the land.
The group still has some fundraising to do to hit the total £240,000 cost of the venue. But it has lodged an application in the hope permission will be in place to begin as soon as the funding target is met.
The plans feature a cinema seating roughly 30 people and hosting weekly screenings, rising to twice-weekly in the summer.
It would also be used to help house Cromarty’s growing annual film festival, which attracts fans and famous faces from across the country.
Cromarty Estate plans to build an office hub alongside the cinema to cater for growing business demand.
A spokesman said: "Cromarty has a thriving entrepreneurial community but this is not matched by suitable office accommodation. The result is that many find themselves having to move their business bases from Cromarty to Dingwall, Tore or Inverness when they outgrow their own homes, with the resulting loss of employment opportunities in the town."
The society hopes to screen at least one movie a week drawn from the film programme at Eden Court in Inverness.
It would initially be volunteer-run but there are plans to eventually train up managers and projectionists "who would also be able to work at Eden Court".
Mr Mackenzie-Blackman said sharing films in this way would allow the film society to avoid having to pay licensing fees.
He said, in addition, Eden Court may handle online bookings from its box office in Inverness.
He added: "If Cromarty and Resolis Film Society raise the money needed to make the project happen I will be firmly supportive of it.
"We will work in collaboration with them to help them project the cinema in Cromarty."
