Screen Scotland announced it has purchased the intellectual property (IP) of the Edinburgh International Film Festival from FRP Advisory, administrators of the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI), “to be provided as appropriate to a future operator of the festival.”

The CMI is the parent charity of the Edinburgh Filmhouse, the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The CMI announced on October 6 that the Edinburgh Filmhouse Cinema and Café Bar, the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Belmont Filmhouse would all cease trading with immediate effect.

“The charity is facing the perfect storm of sharply rising costs, in particular energy costs, alongside reduced trade due to the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis,” said the CMI on October 6.

“The combination and scale of these challenges is unprecedented and means that there was no option but to take immediate action.”

Screen Scotland said it has been in discussions with the administrators and other partners to explore options for cultural cinema programme activity in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, as well as the possibility of a 2023 edition of Edinburgh’s film festival.

Screen Scotland added: “An options appraisal is also underway for a film festival in Edinburgh in 2023.

“This appraisal is being led by Kristy Matheson, who was Creative Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2022, alongside colleagues.

“They will be supported by the Edinburgh International Festival, who have also provided the team with office space at the Hub, in Edinburgh.

“The work will be funded with an award of up to £97,647 from Creative Scotland. This funding is drawn from the 2022/23 Regular Funding Awards originally allocated to the CMI.

“It is anticipated that the options appraisal will be completed by the end January 2023, and further announcements will be made, as appropriate, after that time.

“Since the closure of the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI), incorporating the Edinburgh Filmhouse, the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen and the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Screen Scotland has been in discussions with the administrators and other partners to explore options for cultural cinema programme activity in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen, as well as the possibility of a 2023 edition of Edinburgh’s film festival.

“These discussions are ongoing and we can now provide an update on progress as regards Edinburgh’s film festival.”