THE Galtres Centre in Easingwold and Selby Town Hall are among the cinemas that will benefit from a pilot scheme to open up digital cinema, 3D and satellite screenings to rural North Yorkshire.

The UK Film Council has awarded £400,000 of lottery funding to a new consortium comprising the community arts company Blaize, the National Media Museum in Bradford and North Yorkshire County Council, co-ordinated by regional screen agency Screen Yorkshire.

Spread over three years, the funding will enable the consortium to buy digital cinema-standard projection equipment and high-definition Blu Ray kit that will be in operation at the Northallerton Forum and Whitby Pavilion as well as in Easingwold and Selby.

Screenings are expected to start later this year, from when rural communities can enjoy a modern digital cinema experience – such as 3D screenings and live opera, theatre and sport satellite events beamed across Britain – without having to travel long distances.

Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Communications, says: “Through this project people in rural areas could be seeing the latest blockbuster and new British films in a pop-up cinema, in the open-air, in a community centre or a town hall. Not only is this an imaginative way of making it possible for people to see a wider range of films, it’s also a great way of communities getting together to enjoy a unique cinematic experience with their friends, families and neighbours.”

John Woodward, chief executive officer of the UK Film Council, adds: “Our research shows that there’s a big appetite for the cinema experience in rural areas, but in many cases it’s not being met. This experimental Lottery-funded scheme will bring together rural communities to watch films in 3D, to catch some of the latest releases, and to see specialist films as well as try out alternative cinema experiences like live opera and big sports events using digital and satellite delivery.”