Regional Screen Scotland, the owner, operator and manager of the Screen Machine mobile cinema service, have leased a new mobile cinema – Cinémobile – from Toutenkamion, the France based company who built the existing Screen Machine, which has been touring to 40+ locations around the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, for the past 17 years.
The Screen Machine service has brought the big screen experience to communities from Brodick to Bettyhill for 25 years. It has travelled approx 250,000 miles – that’s the equivalent of ten journeys around the world! Over time, Scotland’s famously challenging weather has unfortunately taken its toll on the existing cinema truck resulting in screenings being unavoidably cancelled.
The Cinémobile is almost identical to the existing Screen Machine, which we call SM2 (it was built by the same people!). Customers will be able to enjoy the same high technical spec from 80 comfortable seats. Customers will have their first opportunity to experience the Cinémobile in Huntly on Monday 15 May.
Cinémobile mobile cinema driving along main road. Credit: Iain MacColl, Senior Operator, Screen Machine
Hazel Wotherspoon, Chief Executive Officer of Regional Screen Scotland, said: “We are immensely grateful to Screen Scotland for demonstrating support for Regional Screen Scotland and the much-loved Screen Machine by funding the fee to lease the Cinémobile and pledging their support as we work towards the development of SM3. The Screen Machine has been bringing joy to the Highlands and Islands for 25 years, and we are delighted, following the issues we have had with SM2 over the winter, to share the news that the service is secure for the year ahead.”
Sambrooke Scott, Screen Scotland, said: “The Screen Machine has been bringing the full cinema experience to rural, island and remote communities for a generation, and we're very pleased to be able to support the leasing of Cinémobile to continue that vital and much-loved service in the short-term. Screen Scotland will continue to work with RSS and partners to advocate and fundraise for a full replacement to secure the service for the next generation.”
More information
About Regional Screen Scotland
Regional Screen Scotland is a regularly funded client of Creative Scotland. It was set up in 2008 as an initiative of Scottish Screen, the predecessor to Creative Scotland. It helps communities to share great screen experiences by: operating the Screen Machine mobile cinema service (using Cinémobile and its predecessor SM2); providing advice and information on setting up local screen facilities; managing devolved grant aid programmes; advocating for the social and economic benefits of cinema for local communities. Find out more about us at www.regionalscreenscotland.org and via Twitter.
About the Screen Machine service
The Screen Machine service is provided through the use of two 80-seat state-of-the-art air-conditioned mobile cinemas which bring the latest films to remote and rural parts of Scotland. It is the only full-time self-contained digital mobile cinema provision service operating in the UK. Find out more about us at www.screenmachine.org.uk and via Twitter and Facebook.
The Cinémobile will tour to 30+ communities in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland:
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Highland |
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Bettyhill |
Durness |
Fort Augustus |
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Gairloch |
Golspie |
Kinlochbervie |
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Kyleakin |
Lairg |
Lochcarron |
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Lochaline |
Lochinver |
Mallaig |
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Newtonmore |
Strontian |
Tomintoul |
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Ullapool |
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Argyll & Bute |
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Isle of Coll |
Isle of Colonsay |
Lochgilphead |
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Port Ellen, Isle of Islay |
Tarbert, Loch Fyne |
Isle of Tiree |
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Tobermory, Isle of Mull |
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Western Isles |
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Castlebay, Isle of Barra |
Carinish, Isle of North Uist |
Daliburgh, Isle of South Uist |
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Liniclate, Isle of Benbecula |
Tarbert, Isle of Harris |
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East Ayrshire |
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Brodick, Isle of Arran |
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Moray |
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Tomintoul |
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Aberdeenshire |
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Huntly |
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Orkney |
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Isle of Eday |
Isle of Sanday |
Isle of Stronsay |
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Isle of Westray |
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The following venues can unfortunately not be visited by the Cinémobile which, due to a difference in its design, prevents it from being able to negotiate certain piers:
- Isle of Eigg, Highland
- Isle of Raasay, Highland
- Isle of Jura, Argyll & Bute
- Isle of Gigha, Argyll & Bute
- Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, East Ayrshire
- Isle of Rousay, Orkney
- Isle of Shapinsay, Orkney
It is yet to be established if Cinémobile can reach Tighnabruaich and Bunessan. This will only be confirmed when our Senior Operator has test driven the Cinémobile to these locations and completed risk assessments.
Due to its age, we are taking SM2 off the road, but it is available for longer-term hires as a static venue. Please contact us if you are interested in hiring the machine.
About Screen Scotland
Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and TV industry, through funding and strategic support. Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers these services and support with funding from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Find out more at screen.scot and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
About Toutenkamion Group
Toutenkamion Group is the France based European leader for design, manufacturing and customization of trucks, cabs and mobile units on trucks, semitrailers and shelters/containers. They worked with Regional Screen Scotland on the design of the existing Screen Machine mobile cinema (SM2), which has reached the end of its lifespan. Toutenkamion have made available for lease the Cinémobile, which is normally leased to events and festivals in ce