Council chiefs have blocked plans to give a movie filmed in Aberdeen the big screen treatment in the Granite City.
Director Jon S Baird filmed scenes for the upcoming Tetris movie, based on the stranger-than-fiction true story behind the 1980s game, in the Gallowgate and Tillydrone.
Recently he reached out to Aberdeen City Council about reopening the closed Belmont Filmhouse for special showings.
But the pieces haven’t quite fallen into place, and he’s now had the rug pulled on his red carpet ambitions…
Lights, camera… Inaction: Aberdeen Tetris plans are rejected
Peterhead-born Mr Baird, who has helmed hits such as Filth starring James McAvoy, recently revealed his aims to temporarily revive the much-missed independent cinema.
He was immediately backed by Aberdeen film fans, who praised the “special” idea.
Speaking before he boarded a flight to America ahead of tomorrow night’s world premiere at the SXSW festival in Austin, Mr Baird confirmed there won’t be any such event in Aberdeen.
He said: “I’ve spoken to Aberdeen City Council and they have told me that they haven’t been able to make the screenings happen.
“One challenge, they said, is that they don’t even have the keys to the building.
“While they did offer to screen Tetris at Cowdray Hall, it would not have been a suitable venue so I had to decline.”
Why can’t Tetris be shown at other Aberdeen cinemas?
It’s now been two years since north-east film fans turned out in droves to watch Taron Egerton shoot scenes in Aberdeen.
Their wait for the finished product is almost over, with Tetris due to appear on Apple TV+ at the end of this month.
And Mr Baird explained that rights deals around cinema screenings mean it’s “unlikely” the city’s Vue or Cineworld venues could host it instead.
He added: “It’s a very disappointing outcome, as I really hoped that the city council would be able to iron out the challenges and reopen the Belmont for a short time.”
Why did council reject Aberdeen Tetris plans?
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said top brass ruled out reopening the Belmont Filmhouse due to the “financial implications” involved in opening and closing the building.
She added: “These costs were considered prohibitive at a time when budgets have been set and public sector spending is under pressure.”
Would you have gone to see Tetris at the Belmont? Let us know in our comments section below
Labour councillor ‘disappointed’
However, she stressed that the council would remain open to screening Tetris at a later date if possible.
Labour councillor Sandra MacDonald said she was “disappointed” leading SNP councillors hadn’t found a way to make it happen.
Conversation