Exmouth’s Savoy Cinema is one of more than 200 independent cinemas across England being supported this festive season with grants from the Government.
The town centre, owned by WTW-Scott Cinemas South West Ltd venue received £42,143. From a £30million pot allocated by the British Film Institute (BFI).
Cinemas will be able to apply for another £14 million in grants in the new year as part of the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund.
The new round of funding is in addition to the £30 million already being allocated by the BFI.
The BFI has been accepting applications and awarding grants to independent cinemas throughout the autumn.
Eligible cinemas were able to apply for Safety Grants, to help venues meet the immediate costs of implementing Covid-secure measures to protect staff and audiences, and larger Business Sustainability grants to help stabilise sites financially.
Recognising that cinemas need content, during this crisis, the Government’s Film and TV Production Restart Scheme has helped keep the cameras rolling at the other end of the screen supply chain.
The £500 million scheme, which opened for applications in October, has assured nearly 100 productions that they will be supported if future losses are incurred due to Covid-19 and provided the confidence they need to restart filming.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “The magic of film is such an important part of the festive period and this investment will help protect our independent cinemas so they're around for many Christmases to come.
“Alongside it, the extension of the Film and TV Production Restart Scheme means the UK will be producing even more great content as the cinema industry recovers, keeping us at the forefront of the creative industries.”
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: “Our Restart Scheme has already helped to get nearly 100 film and TV productions back up and running as part of our plan for Jobs, and it’s right that we extend this to support even more jobs in the UK’s creative industries, including for the over 70s.”
The majority of the grant funding allocated by the BFI has been awarded to cinema sites in every corner of the country.
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