Meet our cinema team - Grassmarket Community Picture House

Community Cinema team - Grassmarket Community Picture House

Meet the cinema team behind the magic

‘I think cinema, movies and magic have always been closely associated.’
Director, Francis Ford Coppola

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Rohan, Ewan, Jo, Tom, Christian and all our volunteers for bringing weekly magic to our members and guests, and for making our Community Cinema so popular and accessible.

Every Wednesday, since 2015, it has been lights, camera, action at our Grassmarket Community Picture House.

And, since 2018, we have been lucky to have the fabulous Rohan managing the cinema’s development and running individual screenings. Not just a film expert and experienced projectionist; Rohan produces and makes documentaries and works closely with several international film festivals.

Free access to film

Importantly, Rohan is also a keen supporter of the Grassmarket Community Project and our philosophy of free access to film.

‘It is all about accessibility and free access is the principle. I like working here and giving back to the community.’

Rohan has worked hard to build the reputation of GCP’s cinema, winning a community cinema award in 2019 and partnering with key collaborators to become an integral part of the Edinburgh film scene,

‘We are now on the radar and part of the Edinburgh film community and have developed great collaborations such as Africa in Motion and Edinburgh Short Film Film Festival.’

‘Our partner organisations are shocked at the range of audiences, and unexpected audiences, who come here. There is nothing close to this elsewhere in Edinburgh.’

One of Rohan’s favourite memories was just before lockdown when the documentary ‘Solidarity’was shown,

‘…the film was followed by a panel discussion and there were 200 people crammed into the hall – it was crazy. A couple of weeks later covid shut everything down so it was wonderful to have that physical memory of a successful night.’

Weekly screenings and team work!

After Open Door Meals on a Wednesday, Rohan and team spring into action, setting up the myriad of sound, lighting and projection requirements to ensure a flawless film delivery.

Tom is keen to stress the importance of quality of the cinematic experience,

‘We have great programming here and great projector quality.’

For each season, the team agree which films will be shown. Rohan talks about their approach,

‘There are five of us work together to agree the film programme. It’s a combination of things that we want to see, what is out now, under-appreciated films and what hasn’t been screened in Edinburgh. We also link in with special events and anniversaries.’

The team work together to support programming and run the cinema. Tom also does the social media to promote screenings, helps turn the Open-Door meals dining room into a cinema auditorium AND has also started running the recently opened concessions stand!

‘I like helping people at the Open-Door meals and then supporting the cinema too. I love coming here. Volunteers and staff are so friendly and it’s a nice community every week.’

Helping improve the lives of our members and guests

Our Community Cinema is important to us. First and foremost it remains an integral part of our service to our GCP members.

Chris is a Member of GCP, he is passionate about film and has hardly missed a Wednesday night showing since he started coming in 2019,

‘I am obsessed with movies, all genres, documentaries, even documentaries about film! I like the fact that I have made a friend, a film buddy Justin, who I meet here on a Wednesday. I can unleash my film knowledge on him and make recommendations. It’s difficult for me to watch at home as I have poor connection to the internet so it’s nice to get to come here, have a nice meal and also escape for a while as I’m a full-time carer at home’.

The Grassmarket Community Picture House is unique in Edinburgh. Every Wednesday at 7 pm, we open our doors at the Grassmarket Centre to absolutely anyone who enjoys cinema in the city. Our Community Cinema is physically accessible, warm, safe and inclusive environment.

All our screenings are FREE, but, if you are able to donate, please use our contactless pay point by the front door, or the large donation ‘bucket’ or donate here.

EXPLORE OUR FILM PROGRAMME

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PICTURE HOUSE

How to support GCP

Please help us to keep providing support and opportunities to vulnerable people. There are various ways you can support our community. You can donate, fund or sponsor, support our social enterprises and volunteer.

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