Filmhouse Reveal Plans for Massive New Cinema

One of Edinburgh's most popular independent cinemas, Filmhouse, have announced plans to build a brand new six screen cinema and events venue in Festival Square, right in the centre of the city. If the building plans are approved by the Edinburgh City Council, the cinema have said that they will launch a large scale campaign to fund the project - which is expected to cost around £50 million - at the start of next year.

The proposed new Filmhouse - Richard Murphy Architects

In a statement posted to their official website, the cinema said that, "the project is currently in a pre-planning application consultation phase to gauge support and input on our plans. We hope to be in a position to submit a full planning application in July 2020".

Designed by architect Richard Murphy, who has previously designed the Edinburgh Fruitmarket Gallery and the Dundee Contemporary Arts centre, the new Filmhouse would be a modern 11 storey oval-shaped building that would include a rooftop area, events spaces, a restaurant and dedicated 'educational spaces' as well as a new Café Bar.

Blueprints for the new building - Richard Murphy Architects

Mr Murphy said that the building would, "give film in Scotland a building as significant and as prominent as those that exist for all the other arts in Edinburgh. It is an acknowledgement that film is the only art form without its temple."

Filmhouse Edinburgh have said their aim with this project is, "to create an internationally significant, fully accessible and environmentally sustainable landmark home for film and screen culture, providing unrivalled spaces and facilities for everyone to watch, make and learn about film and filmmaking in all its diversity." They hope to open the new cinema in 2025 and keep the current Filmhouse building as a 'hub'.

Check out the blueprints for the new cinema in more detail here in an official video posted by Filmhouse: