Screen Machine on the road again

The Screen Machine is heading back on the road, touring and reeling in audiences once again.

After a challenging 15 months, the mobile cinema will set off on May 17 – the date confirmed by the Scottish Government that cinemas can re-open. A familiar sight in Argyll towns and villages, the cinema will first be visiting Fort Augustus, followed by a tour of towns and villages in Scotland’s north west Highlands.

More dates and locations will be added throughout the summer and updates can be found on the website.

Films showing will include Iorram (Boat Song) – a documentary made entirely in Gaelic as a lyrical portrait of the fishing community, past and present. It was funded by the National Lottery through Screen Scotland.

Also featuring will be accolade-winning Nomadland with Frances McDormand starring as a van-dwelling nomad in America’s mid-west. This was winner of four BAFTAs and three Academy Awards.

Screen Machine last toured between September and December 2020 before the latest lockdown began.

Just as it did before Christmas, Screen Machine will make contact with primary schools in selected locations to offer daytime film screenings. More relaxed rules around physical distancing for primary-aged children makes this popular service possible.

Due to physical distancing requirements, the Screen Machine’s capacity for each screening will be just 20 people – 25 per cent of the usual full capacity.

A new ticket category, Welcome21 – costing £5.50, has been introduced and will run until the end of 2021, so anyone who is a frontline worker, who is having difficulty making ends meet because of the pandemic, or is claiming benefits, can take advantage of the reduced price.