Blackout at Film Festival screening as power fails

Published on 29/06/2012 12:23

THE lights went out on Scotland’s biggest film festival after an engineering blunder caused a power blackout across the city.

Moviegoers attending the Edinburgh International Film Festival were forced to leave host venue Cineworld after their film was cut halfway through.

The multiplex cinema, at Fountain Park, was forced to temporarily close its doors following the ScottishPower gaffe – which affected around 2000 other properties across the city.

More homes were hit this morning after a second power cut hit the north of the city just before 5am.

Festival organisers apologised to festival-goers for the blunder, which left some customers angry. One movie fan wrote on Twitter: “Cineworld in Edinburgh has had a power cut – this could affect our day.”

Another added: “Half of Edinburgh seems to be having a power cut! There was one at Cineworld halfway through a film.”

It is understood the power cut did not affect public showings, but did see international press screenings of UK horror film Guinea Pigs, and Portuguese film A Woman’s Revenge interrupted.

Edinburgh Film Fest tweeted: “Power Cut at @CineworldEdin. Sorry for the inconvenience. Time for lunch, maybe #edfilmfest.”

The festival started last week with the UK premiere of Killer Joe, starring Matthew McConaughey. Celebrities attending this year’s festival include Jim Broadbent, Elliot Gould and Tilda Swindon.

ScottishPower was forced to apologise after thousands of Edinburgh homes, shops, restaurants and council buildings were affected by the failure at a sub station to the west of the Capital. Areas including Craigleith, Telford, Drylaw, Ferry Road, Granton and Dalry were all hit.

The Edinburgh International Conference Centre was among the public buildings affected.Edinburgh City Council said its north offices were also hit.

ScottishPower said the power cut was caused by a sub station fault on Telford Road.

A spokesman added: “We had a power cut at 12.45pm. Around 2000 properties were affected, although many had power back within minutes.

“The power cut was caused by an engineering fault at a sub station on Telford Road. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience.”

Earlier this year tram workers brought chaos to Edinburgh city centre after they sliced through a major power line during the rush hour. The resulting blackout in March hit shops, a major Scottish Government building, the five-star Balmoral Hotel – stopping its famous clock.