PRESS RELEASE:

For Immediate Release
Wednesday 10th November 2004

Anger directed toward Film Council as London’s THE OTHER Cinema launches fundraising campaign

An event, last Friday, to celebrate the cultural contribution made by London’s THE OTHER Cinema, descended into open criticism of the UK Film Council for their lack of support for this venue.

Celebrated director Peter Whitehead, said “we can not rely on the commercially focused bureaucrats to rescue us, we need to find patrons, willing to donate money… not because of a desire for a return, but for love of this precious public good that must not be allowed to slide”.

Director Mike Hodges (Get Carter, Croupier) said in a letter to the Staff, “that the closure of THE OTHER Cinema will lead to a cultural cinematic waste land in the West End”

Rebecca Lindey, speaking on behalf of the Staff Campaign, said “it seems ridiculous when it is a matter of public record that over £55 million pounds is sitting in the coffers of the Film Council, that independent cinema should not be supported. Interest in documentary and foreign films is at an all time high, and THE OTHER Cinema, over the past 34 years, has been instrumental in raising awareness of this type of cinema.

Our aim is to raise enough money to stay at our current site, continue our programme of non mainstream, challenging programming and offer a real alternative to the so called “choice” available at the multiplexes”

The Staff, and those who love THE OTHER Cinema are committed to keeping it open and are asking the public for the following help.

Please donate to the SAVE THE OTHER CINEMA FUND (part of the THE OTHER CINEMA CHARITY) – www.givenow.org . The fund aims to raise £500,000 to keep the cinema trading and then a further £500,000 to expand and develop the work of the cinema.
Write to Film Minister Estelle Morris (DCMS, 2-4 Cockspur St, SW1V 5DH) and ask her why the statutory funding bodies refuse to support independent cinema – despite huge, unspent reserves from the Lottery.
Come in and see films at THE OTHER, 11 Rupert Street

For more information on this campaign please contact:
Rebecca at The OTHER Cinema at 11, Rupert St, Soho, W1D 7PR
Tel - 020 7851 7041
Email -  savetheother@btinternet.com /www.savetheothercinema.com



Notes to editors
The OTHER Cinema has for the past 34 years been at the forefront of challenging cinema, having distributed many filmmakers before they became famous (Pedro Almodovar, Atom Egoyan, and Godard)
Commercial pressures and lack of governmental support mean THE OTHER Cinema is now in danger of closure on 14th November - despite increasing numbers coming to the venue, attracted by it’s non mainstream, foreign and documentary programme.