Teenager trying to reel in support for cinema

AFife teenager has launched a fundraising campaign in a bid to save her local cinema. T he Kino Cinema in Glenrothes is approaching its 10th anniversary later this month, but Covid-19 restrictions are presenting challenges to its business.

Local girl Emily Donaldson, 17, has started her own GoFundMe page to stop the Kino becoming another Covid-19 casualty.

She said: “T he Kino brought people, but more importantly, life back to Glenrothes. Without help it is at risk of closure for good. It would be sorely missed if it had to close. It is an amazing place run by amazing people and loved by all.”

The picture house on Church Street was known as Glenrothes Cinema until it closed in the late ’90s.

Entrepreneur Graeme Reekie transformed the building into a modern movie lover’s paradise. It officially reopened as the Kino on October 22 2010.

Like cinemas everywhere, it had to close during lockdown. It is currently open with enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures in place but the recent

Scottish Government guidelines on the sale of alcoholic drinks has meant they are not available at the Glenrothes or Leven sites.

Figures out yesterday suggested UK cinema admissions are likely to hit their lowest level since records began almost a century ago, as the impact of the pandemic knocks almost £ 1bn from box office sales. Attendance this year will be about 75% down on the 176m admissions in 2019, one of the best years in decades.

The Cineworld chain, which has a site in Dundee, confirmed it was temporarily closing its UK cinemas last week, putting 5,500 jobs at risk.

Emily’s proud dad Gavin said he hoped everyone would get behind his d a u g h t e r ’s campaign, adding: “As a family we love going to the cinema and miss being able to go.”

Neil Hume , general manager of the Kino Glenrothes, said it had been a challenging time and thanked Emily for her support, adding: “We’re glad to see there are people out there who want us to remain open.”

Emily’s GoFundMe page is online at gf.me/u/y4hnu7

CAMPAIGNER: Emily Donaldson at the Kino Cinema with her dad Gavin. Picture by Mhairi Edwards.