There’s joy on wheels in the Highlands again, as a £500,000 boost from the Scottish Government sets the wheels in motion for a brand new Screen Machine mobile cinema.
The much-loved service, which has long brought the magic of the big screen to some of the most remote corners of Scotland, now has the green light to order a permanent new vehicle.
This lifeline funding means Regional Screen Scotland can proceed with commissioning a new mobile cinema to serve 44 far-flung locations, from the Highlands and Islands to Moray and North Ayrshire.
It comes after the original 80-seater truck, a familiar sight and cultural mainstay for 18 years, retired last year after racking up an impressive 250,000 miles.
Since then, a leased vehicle has been keeping the show on the road, but only until 2026.
Now, with the government’s backing, the campaign to replace it takes a huge leap forward.
The new Screen Machine won’t just be bigger and better — it will be greener too.
Plans are already in place for an energy-efficient vehicle that charges through solar panels and battery packs, swapping diesel for clean power and future-proofing the service for years to come.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, a proud Highlander herself, called the mobile cinema “hugely important” and praised its role in enriching rural life.
“For over 26 years, the Screen Machine has brought the kind of entertainment to rural and island communities that others take for granted,” she said.
“It supports social connections, boosts local morale, and plays a quiet but vital role in encouraging people to stay in rural areas.”
She added that the new cinema would be built to suit Scotland’s unique geography, able to hop aboard ferries and navigate winding single-track roads with ease.
Interim Chief Executive of Regional Screen Scotland, Simon Drysdale, welcomed the news with heartfelt gratitude.
“This generous grant completely transforms our fundraising efforts,” he said.
“We can now plan with confidence for a Screen Machine that will serve Scottish communities into the 2040s.”
He paid tribute to the many supporters who have kept the campaign rolling, from national bodies like Screen Scotland to local heroes including the Arran Trust, customers of the Newtonmore Grill, and schoolchildren in Barra who wrote in to plead for its return.
The Screen Machine is more than just a cinema.
It is a beloved fixture in the lives of thousands of people who would otherwise face long journeys or miss out altogether on the shared joy of the big screen.
Thanks to this latest injection of support, it’s now firmly back on track.
