Frequently Asked Questions
What is Screen Machine?
Screen Machine is a mobile cinema that tours the Highlands and Islands of Scotland on a continual basis. When it is travelling roads and boarding ferries, it is the same size and shape as a lorry. But when it arrives at its destination, it uses a special hydraulics system to unfold into an auditorium with 72 cinema seats and a high-quality laser projector that immerses the audience in the full cinematic experience.
Where do you visit?
Our touring circuit consists of 44 communities, almost half of which are islands. Depending on the size of the community, our visits last between two to four days, and most receive two to four visits per year. You can see a full list of them and where we park here.
What films do you show?
We offer the full cinematic experience for the latest releases, from blockbusters to independent films. As a single screen cinema, we are a little limited with what we can show, and a popular film can stay with us for months. We try to offer a mix of genres for each visit, and the programmes for our longer stays usually have more variety. We will sometimes show a short film before a feature with a similar tone or subject.
How do I learn about future visits to my community?
The best way to stay up to date with the Screen Machine service is to subscribe to our newsletter. You can sign up here and choose as many communities as you like. When one of them goes on sale, we will email you with dates, films and screening times. You will also receive our monthly newsletter that includes regular updates on visits, dates and films. We also regularly update a schedule on our website here.
TICKETS
How much are tickets?
Standard – £10, 25-and-under – £7.50, Low income – £7.50
There is a 50p fee per ticket when buying tickets on our website.
We review our ticket prices annually to ensure they are good value and compare well with other cinemas. Our priority is to keep tickets affordable for everyone, including young people and those who are less well off. Ticket sales are an important portion of our overall income and help keep the Screen Machine service viable. We also offer a Group Rate for school and community groups. If you’re interested, please contact us for more details.
How can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available to purchase on our website’s homepage and at the cinema door. 62 tickets are available online up to 2.5 hours before the film’s scheduled start time. The remaining 8, plus any that don’t sell online, are then available to buy on the door when it opens 30 minutes before the film’s scheduled start time. You can only buy tickets on the door for that screening.
Can I book specific seats?
All seats are unreserved. If you have a favourite seat, then we advise you arrive early.
Do you accept CEA cards?
Yes, we are a participating cinema in the Cinema Exhibitors’ Association national card scheme, which is available to customers with a disability. It allows the cardholder to obtain one free ticket for an accompanying person who provides the assistance for their disability, provided the cardholder purchases a ticket for the same screening. Visit their website here for full details.
How do I add a donation to my ticket?
When buy online, our Standard and 25-and-under tickets include options with a £3 donation added on. If you’re buying on the door, you can donate with cash or use your card with our Dona machine. We are greatly thankful for every donation, no matter its size, and all will go towards keeping us on the road.
Why do you ask for my phone number?
We will only use your number if you bought tickets for a screening that has been cancelled or changed within a few hours of its scheduled start time. While we will email you about any changes, a phone call could save you a trip if you are coming from further away. It is your choice to give us your phone number. We will not share it with any third parties.
What if I can’t find my confirmation email?
After purchasing tickets from our website, you will receive an email with your reference number, which you can use on the door to claim your tickets. If your confirmation email doesn’t arrive in your inbox, then we recommend you check your spam/junk folder. If you can’t find it, then please email us, ensuring you specify the location, film, and date, as this will make it much quicker for us to find it.
What if you cancel a screening or visit?
In the event of a cancellation, we will issue full refunds to everyone who bought tickets for the affected screenings. We will then continue our tour as planned. Due to the many moving parts of the Screen Machine service, it is very difficult for us to shift screenings and visits around.
What if I have tickets but can no longer attend the screening?
Refunds will only be issued in the event of a cancellation or other exceptional circumstances. Please check very carefully when purchasing your tickets that they are for the correct location on the correct date. If you buy tickets but are then unable to attend, we recommend you pass your tickets on to friends or family.
Do you offer gift vouchers?
No.
ATTENDING SCREEN MACHINE
What are your screening times?
Most days we screen twice at around 5.30pm and then 8.30pm. On weekends and some weekdays, we show matinees at around 2pm. These times can shift depending on film duration, or to accommodate Screen Machine’s arrival or departure, so please carefully check a film’s start time when buying tickets online.
When do the doors open?
30 minutes before the film’s scheduled start time.
How do I access Screen Machine?
Please enter by using the steps near the front of Screen Machine. If you don’t think you can manage the stairs, then you may use our ramp. See our accessibility info below for more details.
How do I claim tickets bought online?
Just quote your reference number to our operator, who will confirm the purchase.
Do you show adverts and trailers before the film?
We play adverts and a few service-related reels before the feature. The feature will start close to the time advertised.
Where are your toilets?
There are no toilets on Screen Machine. We have agreements at every location to use nearby facilities. If you’d like to know about somewhere specific, just select it from our Locations page to read about it in more detail. Our usher can always direct you if you’re unsure where to go.
Do you sell food and drink?
We don’t sell any food or drink on Screen Machine, but you are welcome to bring your own drinks and snacks, such as popcorn or sweets. Hot food isn’t allowed in the auditorium. Please take your rubbish away with you.
ACCESSIBILITY
Where is your accessibility information?
You can read it in full here.
What if I need assistance accessing Screen Machine?
Anyone who feels they cannot use the steps is welcome to use our ramp.
What if I’m a wheelchair user?
We have two dedicated spaces that would allow you to remain in your wheelchair throughout the duration of the film. If you would like to use one, please contact us ahead of time so our operator can set it up. Alternatively, you are welcome to use one of our cinema seats and we can store your wheelchair while you watch the film. Please note that due to their setup, the dedicated wheelchair spaces cannot be used for sold out screenings.
What if I have visual impairment?
We can provide Audio Description for all films with an Audio Description track, which is usually all major releases. You can listen using one of our pairs of wireless headphones, with your own headphones, or via a hearing aid if it has T-switch. Our headphones are cleaned after every use. You can read more about Audio Description here.
What if I am hard of hearing?
For uncaptioned screenings, we have a personal inductive neckloop facility for people with hearing aids equipped with a T-switch. This enables the user to hear the film soundtrack through their own hearing aid. If you would find this facility useful, please ask the operator or usher when you arrive. Alternatively, we can provide a set of headphones for users. These are cleaned after every use.
THE SCREEN MACHINE SERVICE
Can I recommend a film?
Of course, we’re always open to programme recommendations. However, as a touring single screen cinema, we are quite limited with what we can show, particularly if we have a popular title. If you’d like to have a say on what films we show then you can join our Audience Panel here, and we will email you a handful of times per year about your thoughts on upcoming releases.
Can you add my community to your touring circuit?
We understand that there are other communities across the Highlands and Islands that would appreciate regular Screen Machine visits. Our current 44 communities receive two to four visits per year, and we tour almost 50 weeks out of the year to try to meet this target. Any additions to our circuit would increase the strain on the service and lengthen the amount of time between visits. However, there is always the possibility we will stop visiting a community, and this would open space for another.
Can I hire Screen Machine for a private event?
No.
Can you donate tickets to our local fundraising initiative?
As Screen Machine is owned and operated by the charity Regional Screen Scotland, charity law prevents us from donating to other charitable causes.
Contact US
If you have a question that isn’t here then drop us an email and we’ll happily answer it for you.