An
Edinburgh film centre which enjoys the support
of Sir Sean Connery is facing the threat of closure
due to a cash crisis.
The Film And Video Access Centre (FVA) has earned
a reputation as the ideal place to go to get a
foot in the door of the film industry. For 16
years, the Thistle Street centre has offered specialist
training and equipment hire to anyone. But now
FVA management have warned rising costs mean the
project is in danger of folding.
More than 3000 budding film-makers and dozens
of local organisations have used its facilities.
But its only source of funding is a £6000 annual
grant from Edinburgh City Council, which turned
down a request for an increased award earlier
this year. And the group÷s board was left "bitterly
disappointed" when Scottish Screen - the
umbrella organisation for home-grown film-making
- said it could not provide any cash.
FVA co-ordinator Lara Celini said the group faced
problems coping with growing demand as its membership
has doubled to around 400 in only three years.
" It÷s really down to the goodwill of the
volunteers that we÷re still here," she said.
"We÷re being forced to make staff cuts and
reduce the training workshops and master classes
we run. It÷s the only way we can stay open for
the foreseeable future. There÷s certainly a threat
of closure hanging over us."
FVA patron, actor and director Peter Capaldi,
said: "There are very few organisations like
FVA, which can give anyone access to information
and technology about film-making and the chance
to learn about films. It would be terrible if
it were to close."
The biggest coup for the project came when Morag
McKinnon, who made her first video at FVA, won
a Bafta in 1999 and a prestigious award at the
Edinburgh International Film Festival for her
short film, Home.
Nicola Pierson, head of programming at the Edinburgh
International Film Festival, said: "It÷s
very important that the community and aspiring
film-makers have access to the invaluable facilities
and advice offered by FVA.
"It would be a great loss to aspiring film-makers
and the Scottish film industry if FVA were to
close its doors." A city council spokeswoman
said: "We recognise the role played by the
FVA in Scotland÷s film industry. Funding requests
invariably outweigh the budget , however FVA have
been additionally supported. Over the last three
years they received an additional £1500 from the
council."
Scottish Screen÷s chief executive John Archer
said: "We don÷t have anything in our budget
for groups like FVA but I know their situation
is very tight and it would be a great shame if
it had to close."
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