Murray tips cinema for great things

Sep 2 2011 by Iain Howie, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FILM-MAKER Murray Grigor believes the Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy is a gem the community should make the most of.

Adding his support to the campaign to reopen the long-mothballed Highland Perthshire landmark, he said others involved in film-making in Scotland should also get involved.

And, casting an eye on the future, the former Edinburgh Film Festival director said the venue should be considered for a film festival.

Mr Grigor, who has made 50 films, told members present at the Friends of the Birks Cinema annual general meeting on Tuesday: “You’ve got a wonderful cinema building here, and a wonderful local population. I am sure the cinema will take off.”

Mr Grigor also made a point about the Friends’ bid to reopen it: “What intrigues me about the building is that it is built in a very old town just before the war.

“Building this would be impossible now, you would never get permission to build such a building because the strictures of the likes of Historic Scotland would say it wouldn’t fit in.

“Of course it doesn’t fit in – it fits out! It’s a real feather in your cap to have that.”

He showed clips of films he had been involved in over the years, and had a big emphasis on architecture and the relationship between people and buildings and their environment.

Charlotte Flower, chair of Friends of the Birks, said yesterday: “It was a truly inspirational talk and it was very encouraging to get such wonderful endorsement from Murray for the work that the community is doing to get the project up and running.

“He gave us a lot to think about and a lot of support for what we are trying to do and we are very grateful for that.”