Locals have rallied to raise over £60,000 for Edinburgh Filmhouse as the independent cinema faces a ''huge challenge" following the coronavirus outbreak.
The much-loved independent cinema on Lothian Road launched a fundraiser in June as the staff prepared to reopen the venue in September, after closing the doors in March under lockdown.
In order to ensure the building would be covid safe when the doors reopened, the Filmhouse said they would need to invest "hard cash", while cutting audience sizes in line with social distancing guidance.
With "no real income for more than three months" and a reduction in admissions, the Filmhouse pleaded that they were "facing exceptional challenges", adding "we know that when we reopen there will continue to be difficulties to make ends meet".
However, the Filmhouse today announced that generous donors had allowed them to hit their £60,000 target.
In a tweet, they said: "WE HIT OUR FUNDRAISING TARGET!
"We can't THANK YOU enough for your generosity! Here's a video from our COO Dougie to say thank you and let you know what the money will go towards."
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Screening over 850 films, seasons and special programmes to 200,000 people every year, the Filmhouse is Scotland's largest independent cinema and also operates as a charity and a community hub.
