Centre for the Moving Image

Centre for the Moving Image, the parent charity of the Edinburgh International Film Festival Limited, Filmhouse Trading Limited and Belmont Filmhouse Limited (collectively, the “Group“), entered administration on 6 October, citing increasing costs (particularly energy costs), coupled with the cost of living crisis and a failure to return to pre-covid cinema attendance.

Tom MacLennan and Chad Griffin of FRP Advisory were appointed joint administrators.

All of the companies ceased trading immediately on the appointment and all employees (over 100) have since been made redundant.

Since their appointment, the joint administrators have retained a number of parties to assist with the sale of the Group’s assets:

• Following a tender process, Savills were selected to market the property located at 88 Lothian Road in Edinburgh for sale;

• Thainstone Specialist Auctions were engaged to prepare an inventory and valuation of the furniture and equipment; and

• Hilco Valuation Services were engaged to collate information and advise on the brands, intellectual property and social media of the Group.

The joint administrators have also been in discussions with Screen Scotland, the national body that drives the development of the Scottish film and TV industry, culminating in Screen Scotland purchasing the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s intellectual property, including domain name and brand assets, to be provided as appropriate to a future operator of the festival.

The press release announcing the sale can be found HERE, and the joint administrators’ latest progress report can be found HERE.