I love a good film. It’s a special feeling sitting in the dark with a bunch of complete strangers all interpreting the film in a different way. Unless you’re watching Toy Story.
Unlike Amelie, however, I don’t turn around and stare at people in the dark…
In a city which prides itself on its vibrant history and culture, theatres and cinemas in Edinburgh remain at the forefront of artistic expression not only during the Edinburgh Festival but also throughout the year.
I would like to give you some background information about the theatres and cinemas in Edinburgh so you can find your ideal motion picture or theatre production!
The Cameo
Maria von Trapp once said the beginning was a very good place to start. The Cameo, the oldest cinema in Edinburgh and one of the oldest in Scotland, has been in operation since 1914. It is one of two cinemas in Edinburgh to regularly show art house films and also classics from the past. The cinema is at 38, Home Street at the top of Lothian Road in the city centre.
I remember watching 2001: A Space Odyssey for the first time at the Cameo with a much-needed intermission about two hours in. A trip to the Cameo is almost like a pleasant step back in time as the cinema still retains its golden-age charm and original architecture.
The Cameo cinema provides a pure cinematic experience rather than just an entertaining movie and a box of popcorn.
Cineworld Fountainpark
One of the largest cinemas in Edinburgh, Cineworld at Fountainpark is part of an entertainment complex including bars, restaurants, a bowling alley and a gym.
It’s location just outside the city centre also makes it one of the most popular cinemas in Edinburgh and, as a result, the cinema acts as a host for many of the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s screenings in June each year.
The Dominion
This is perhaps my favourite of all the cinemas in Edinburgh partly due to nostalgia as my family took me there as a child and partly due to its warm, unique atmosphere.
The Dominion was opened just before the Second World War in 1938 and has been in private ownership ever since. With only four screens and a limited number of seats, the Dominion has an almost tangible family-run feel to it which is perhaps its greatest strength.
The best part…? The tiny (and I mean tiny) screen which is used for films which are nearing the end of their run. You really feel like you’re getting a private screening.
The Filmhouse Edinburgh
The Filmhouse is arguably Edinburgh’s leading cinema in terms of variety and cinematic scope.
Cinema one is used to screen the latest international releases while cinemas two and three focus on art house films and classics from cinematic history.
The home of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, The Filmhouse opened its doors in 1979 in an abandoned church on Lothian Road in the city centre.
The cinema was expanded over the next two decades to house three separate screens and a sizeable bar area.
Having hosted an array of inspirational cinematic dignitaries such as Martin Scorcese, Sean Connery and James Mason, the Filmhouse Edinburgh is without doubt a key player cinema in the Scottish film industry.
Odeon Cinemas
Another key player in the Edinburgh cinema scene is the very successful company Odeon. They have two cinemas in Edinburgh, one on Lothian Road (you can call this ‘cinema street’!) and another at the Westside Plaza in the suburb of Wester Hailes in south-west Edinburgh.
The Odeon has a number of different screens showing all the latest international releases. I recommend checking the website for the Lothian Road cinema and the Wester Hailes cinema for the latest listings.