News

Posted: January 31 2012
The campaign target for the Birks Cinema is a photofinish and the following press release is going out. 'As the deadline for the campaign to restore and modernise the Birks Cinema reaches its conclusion, the local group, Friends of the Birks Cinema, makes the following statement...

Posted: January 19 2012
The funding barometer takes a step up, and a press release goes out with news of a magnificent local business donation: 'Internationally renowned whisky distiller Dewar's, which operates the Aberfeldy Distillery, has donated over £10,000 to the Birks Cinema Group by sponsoring a whole row of seats. The boost to the campaign to restore and modernise the old cinema in the heart of the historic town of Aberfeldy is described as 'absolutely wonderful' by Chair of the Friends of the Birks Cinema group Charlotte Flower...'

Posted: January 13 2012
News goes out of another major grant success. The press release reads:> 'Arts body Creative Scotland has today confirmed that it is to award the Friends of the Birks Cinema group £100,000 towards rebuilding and modernising the cinema in Aberfeldy...The group, made up of community volunteers and with a membership of over 400, has now achieved nearly 90% of its £1.8m target...'

Posted: January 6 2012
The following press release goes out with news of one of the grants mentioned in the previous item: 'As the end of January deadline for completing the marathon fundraising effort to revive the Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy approaches, the Friends of the Birks campaign has received a hugely significant boost of £100,000 from the Scottish Hydro Griffin wind farm community fund.'

Posted: December 30 2011
December has been a brilliant month for the campaign. Details still confidential, but more than £275,000 has been added to the fund through grants, pledges and donations. In particular, a magnificent response to our local appeal; many thanks to all who've made a donation. We need still more to take us over the finishing line, but it looks a good deal closer...

Posted: December 5 2011
The draw for the Grand Raffle took place on Saturday during Aberfeldy's Christmas Market. Happy prize-winners, and £6,152 added to the Birks Cinema funds.

Posted: November 21 2011
Some excellent films and equally good attendances at the Screen Machine last weekend. The star was The Adventures of Tintin, with a sellout 79 at its Saturday screening, 66 on Sunday and 44 on Monday. Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris drew 57 - the best result for that film in the Screen Machine's tour so far, says Ron Inglis, Director of Regional Screen Scotland. A fine foretaste of what life will be like once the Birks Cinema is back...

Posted: November 14 2011
A media release goes out today: 'Following the launch in early August of the concerted 6 month campaign to raise the remaining funds for the rebuild and modernisation of the Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy, the charity 'Friends of the Birks Cinema' reports 'good progress', but with still a 'long way to go' to meet the £1.8m target by the end of January' read more

Posted: October 29 2011
The cinema was a big and dusty place to hold an art sale, but the Postcard Auction last night went well - bar the odd power cut. Thanks to all donating artists, all helpers and all the buyers who turned out to bid, and especially to David Leggat of United Auctions who led the sale of some 170 works and to Mid Atholl Strings and Things who entertained. Rough estimate is that an amazing £3,800-plus is going into charity funds.

Posted: October 25 2011
The line on the thermometer outside the cinema is about to be moved upwards. We have received two new pledges of £20,000 each towards the rebuilding, and two seats have been 'sold' as well, not to mention multitudinous raffle tickets - all taking us in the right direction. Many thanks to all those generous donors.

Posted: October 1 2011
Fun for all the family at the Big Prize Bingo Tea at Aberfeldy's Town Hall on Friday, Sept 30, and a good sum made for the Birks fund. It was a pleasure to see grandparents, parents and grandchildren enjoying an evening out together. The event was run by Lisa and Willie Nicol, and was organised by the Friends in fruitful association with the Locus Breadalbane and Town Hall group.

Posted: October 1 2011
A big audience packed the hall of Breadalbane Academy for last Friday's 'Big B Concert' - a joyful coming together of local singers and pianists plus the contemporary Scottish band Barluath from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Thanks go to Norman and Diana Beedie for organising the performance in aid of the Birks Appeal.

Posted: September 27 2011
Friends of the Birks Cinema have applied to the RBS Community Force fund for an award - and to win it we need your vote. Please go to RBS CommunityForce website, look up the Birks Cinema project, register (top right corner) and give us one of your votes - and please encourage your friends and family to do the same. A bit of an effort, but you could help us win £6,000 towards the new cinema.

Photo Gallery
You can see a gallery of pictures relating to the campaign on our Facebook group page

Posted: September 19 2011
Enthusiastic audiences at the Screen Machine on Sept 13/14, with 45 of the 80 available seats sold for 'Beginners' ('This is the best attendance for this film in the Screen Machine so far' says Ron Inglis of Regional Screen Scotland) and a complete sell-out for the wildly popular 'Bridesmaids' - people were being turned away. Slightly fewer for the younger films, which have been out for some time: 31 for 'Cars 2' and 39 for 'Harry Potter'.

Posted: September 10 2011
Fantastic feature about the cinema on BBC Radio Scotland's 'Movie Cafe' on Sept 8, with an interview from New York with our own illustrious patron, actor Alan Cumming, explaining why he supports the project: 'I just think it's a such a great idea to regenerate cinema in a small town, letting people who might otherwise not see great films see them...It's a great ritual, to all gather together and see a piece of art. Aberfeldy needs it!'. Catch the whole interview, plus contributions from Ron Inglis, Director of Regional Screen Scotland, Chair Charlotte Flower and Friends Bill Keir, Kirsty Walker and Livvy Ingleby, on iPlayer for another few days. Our item is 28 minutes in.

Photo Gallery
You can see a gallery of pictures relating to the campaign on our Facebook group page

Posted: August 31 2011
At the AGM on August 30, film-maker and Sean Connery biographer Murray Grigor talked fascinatingly about his work and showed clips from his films about architects Carlo Scarpa and John Lautner and artist George Wyllie. Charlotte Flower, Chair of Friends of the Birks Cinema, took the meeting through the charity's past year and plans for the final five months of fundraising. Douglas Swan, Julia Watson and Ron Young were elected Trustees.

Posted: August 18 2011
Andrew Anderson from BBC Scotland put together a report about the campaign at the cinema on Wednesday July 17, broadcast today on BBC Radio Scotland and on BBC1's Reporting Scotland. Catch the radio broadcast on BBC iPlayer (we're at 2.23) and a short version of the TV report on BBC News. Bill Keir, who remembered the first night in 1939, and former ticket- and ice cream-sellers Marlene Robertson and Pamela Maclean brought alive the cinema in its glory days.

Posted: August 13 2011
Media release:
SATURDAY 13TH AUGUST Birks cinema campaign stepped up 6 months left to 'complete the arts and culture triangle of Highland Perthshire' ...more

Photo Gallery
You can see a gallery of pictures relating to the campaign on our Facebook group page.

Posted: July 12 2011
Two more seats sponsored for the new cinema. Congratulations and many thanks to Peter and Janet Sandercock and to Councillor Kate Howie. There are all sorts of reasons to sponsor - how about with your football teammates, or your bridge four? Details here.

Posted: June 24 2011
Our patron, actor Alan Cumming, is sponsoring a seat for the cinema under our special fundraising scheme - plaque to read 'This seat was donated by Alan Cumming and Grant Shaffer'. Why not join them and help to create Highland Perthshire's new cinema by putting your own name on a seat? Details here.

Posted: June 24 2011
Great day at Logierait on June 18, selling Alan Gordon's vinyl collection. Left-overs will be on sale at our Open Saturdays, 11am-1pm at the cinema.

Posted: June 14 2011
A milestone for the cinema campaign as the number of Friends goes through the 300 mark - great support to show grant-givers: thank you.

Posted: June 1 2011
April's Screen Machine visit to Aberfeldy was a great success: screenings of 'Tangled', 'The King's Speech' and 'Black Swan' were sell-outs, and only 'The Eagle' proved less popular, though half the seats sold. The Screen Machine has taken advantage of a break to change its website and booking system, so anyone wanting early info about the next visit will need to resubscribe to its email information service: go to www.screenmachine.co.uk and press 'Subscribe to our mailing list'.

Posted: April 22 2011
Edinburgh research firm Knowledge Partnership is carrying out a community needs assessment on behalf of Friends of the Birks Cinema. Questionnaires have gone out to every household in Aberfeldy and to a sample of addresses across the rest of Highland Perthshire. If one comes your way, please fill it in so we can give the clearest possible picture of the area and its concerns to potential funders.

Posted: April 6 2011
Great news on the fundraising front with the announcement that Friends of the Birks Cinema have been awarded £658,520 by Scotland's Rural Development Programme.
It represents half what's needed for the new cinema and arts venue and is an enormous leap forward. Match funding will have to be raised by the end of the year, but we'll get there with your help. The last big push...

Posted: March 25th 2011
Friends of the Birks Cinema have joined the Weather Lottery, which raises money for charities. For as little as £1 a week (some of which comes to us) you could win £10,000 or £25,000, depending on which game you choose. Further details in Fundraising, or go straight to the site by clicking here or The Weather Lottery symbol on our Home Page.

Posted: Feb 16th 2011
The Screen Machine visit was a great success. Regional Screen Scotland said that attendance was higher for three of the films than at any of their other venues.

Posted: Jan 8th 2011
Yes, we've secured a return visit from the Screen Machine. Last year's visit was a highlight; it was so good to hear people's enthusiasm for the simple pleasure of seeing decent current films shown with amazing high quality in the centre of Aberfeldy. No need to be deterred by the long journey to Perth, just roll up and enjoy a great night out with friends and family. The Screen Machine is great - and yet the Birks will be so much better!

Posted: Jan 8th 2011
No news about what's happened to the long-promised feature in The Sunday Herald. We'll update you if we find out any more ...

Posted: Nov 30th 2010
The local 'Comment' newsletter has run a feature looking for memories of the heyday of the cinema.

Posted: Nov 30th 2010
You can listen to the Radio 4 'Film Programme' feature on us and the Aberfeldy Film Festival on the BBC website. It runs from 9m09s to 16m55s.

Posted: Nov 30th 2010
Disappointing to report that the cinema was not lucky enough to be awarded a share in the RBS Community Fund - see Aug 29 post - but congratulations to the Aberfeldy Parish Churches Breathe Project, which is still in the running in our area, and thank you for your nominations.

Posted: Oct 20th 2010
A summer of fundraising means that the sum raised towards rebuilding the Birks Cinema currently stands at £96,000. Thanks to everyone who has made donations and pledges, but especially to Dunard Fund, the Russell Trust, the Craignish Trust, the Mary Andrew Trust and Jayne and Kevin Ramage, owners of The Watermill for their recent generous contributions.

Posted: August 29th 2010
Thanks for your nominations to receive support from the RBS Community Fund. Hopefully we'll be selected to gain a share of £5000 to be awarded in this area. Remember, as well as bringing entertainment for all some of the other ways in which a re-born Birks will improve the community are in bringing jobs and training opportunities as a social enterprise, providing performance space for other local groups and small music events, increasing the attraction of Aberfeldy for visitors (and thus boosting many local businesses) and in really giving a facelift to the centre of the town - physically, economically and socially.

Posted: August 26th 2010
At the AGM on August 25, the following trustees were elected: Charlotte Flower (Chair), Mick Patrick, Kate Timperley, Patti Walker-Booth, Julia Watson, Ron Young (Deputy Chair). Muriel Dunbar and Lin Thomas are also on the board, and Terry Wisdom has subsequently been coopted to serve as Treasurer.

Posted: July 16th 2010
Video of the derelict cinema as it was when we bought it is now online, full of poignant reminders of its past life and glory ...

Posted: July 6th 2010
Dramatic architect's animations of the planned new cinema and cafe bar are now online. See the Cinema Plans page.

Posted: June 25th 2010
Keep up to date with news and events automatically by subscribing to our 'newsreel' blog.

Posted: June 25th 2010
Lovely new Birks key fobs and postcards will be available at the first of our regular Saturday stalls in the cinema foyer on July 3rd.

Posted: June 21st 2010
A short documentary about the Birks has been made by students on Stirling University's media course and posted on YouTube. Many thanks to Gavin Hugh, Stephanie Salvona, Graeme Rogers, Claire Welsh and Malcolm Wilson for their interest in the cinema, and congratulations to them all on their gem of a film. We hope to be able to show it in its full glory when the Screen Machine is in town.

Posted: June 18th 2010
Experience Real cinema in Aberfeldy, with The Screen Machine The Screen Machine is coming to Aberfeldy at the invitation of Friends of the Birks Cinema with screenings at 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Tuesday 6th and Wed 7th July. An enormous lorry in the carpark behind Girvan's filling station will transform: side walls will slide out and a floor with comfy seating attached will unfold inside. Lo and behold - instant cinema!

It will show the kind of current film that you'd normally have to travel to Perth for. It really is a mobile, high quality cinema, with digital (and 3D!) projection and surround-sound. When the Birks Cinema re-opens it will be even better, and also show up-to-date films in its varied programme. We want you to experience now something like the quality and comfort that the Birks itself will offer, right here in Aberfeldy.

Details in the events section on the right, on Facebook, on posters around town and in local media.

If you like what you see then why not get involved in the campaign and help us bring Real cinema back to Aberfeldy soon.

Posted: May 15th 2010
The Friends had a stand at today’s cycle fun day in Victoria Park. Glad to see everyone enjoying themselves. Especially pleased to make contact with film-maker Matt Hulse, who is raising money to make a film about ‘Dummy Jim’, James Duthie, a profoundly deaf Scotsman who made an inspiring cycle trip all the way to the Arctic Circle. Find out more and help get the film made on www.dummyjim.com Hope it will be shown at the Birks Cinema one day soon

Posted: May 14th 2010
All the scaffolding’s gone and Blairish Restorations handed back the keys today. We’ve got a building stripped of virtually all its interior, flat roofs repaired, waiting now like Sleeping Beauty – maybe beauty is not the word – to be turned back into a cinema again. There’ll be no further action now until we’ve raised the £1.5m or so that the rebuilding and fitting out will cost.

Posted: April 2010
You can now follow "birkscinemafriends" on Facebook and Twitter. See what everyone else is saying and follow progress on the project.

Posted: March 8th 2010
Today is the official start of the contract to clear and repair the Birks Cinema, and it is anticipated that work will continue until around April 19. The whole interior is going to be stripped out, and repairs will be carried out to stop sources of leaks and make the building water-tight - something especially needed on the 'turrets', where the flat roofs have decayed badly. After a tendering process, local company Blairish Restoration won the contract to carry out the work, which is being paid for by the remainder of last year's grant from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund and by an additional £10,000 grant from Perth & Kinross Council. Once the work is finished, the building will be proof against the worst that the Scottish weather can throw at it, and how soon rebuilding can start depends on how the fund-raising goes.

Posted: Feb 19th 2010
BBC Radio 4 'The Film Programme' included email from Friends of the Birks Cinema Secretary Charlotte Flower about the Birks. Catch it on BBC.co.uk/iPlayer at 21.23 minutes.

Posted: Jan 22nd 2010
Great list in the Guardian detailing inspirational cinemas, Top Ten Independent Cinemas

Posted: Friday 18th December 2009
Finally, the cinema belongs to us. The money had been handed over, so we were able to collect the keys to the cinema this morning. As it happened, Finance Secretary John Swinney, our MSP, was in Aberfeldy taking a surgery, so we persuaded him to come and help with the ceremonial unlocking of the front gates and take a look inside.