Tickets are now on sale via this link for two special outdoor screenings of The Da Vinci Code, taking place later this year beside Rosslyn Chapel. The Chapel was one of the film’s locations and the screenings mark the 10th anniversary of its release.
Based on the best-selling novel by Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code was released on 19 May 2006, and featured Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou as the main characters. Filming took place at Rosslyn Chapel, in Midlothian, in September 2005 and brought the 15th century Chapel to worldwide prominence. Welcoming these screenings, this week Dan Brown said: ‘When I decided to write The Da Vinci Code, I knew that its finale would have to take place at the most mysterious and magical chapel on earth—Rosslyn.’
To mark the 10th anniversary, outdoor screenings will be held on Friday 23 September and Saturday 24 September, and tickets will go on sale on Wednesday 1 June. The screenings will take place in the grounds of Collegehill House, adjacent to Rosslyn Chapel, and are sponsored by Quilter Cheviot and supported by Film Mobile.
Ian Gardner, Director of Rosslyn Chapel Trust, said: ‘The Da Vinci Code has had a profound impact on the profile of Rosslyn Chapel. Visitor numbers grew from around 35,000 to over 176,000 per year at their peak, with income from these visitors helping the Trust to complete a major conservation project at the 15th-century Chapel. Our visitor research shows that the book and film are still very influential, with 46% of visitors saying that The Da Vinci Code was one of the factors which encouraged them to visit.’
Following the filming at Rosslyn Chapel, Tom Hanks wrote ‘Few locations on a film are more delightful and few destinations live up to their billing, so to speak, but Rosslyn was all that one could imagine or hope for.’
The screenings in September will be managed by Edinburgh-based company Film Mobile, which was established in 2010 to help bring cinema back to the communities around Scotland. Film Mobile now operates in 32 locations across the United Kingdom and is cinema provider for Edinburgh, Glasgow and Sheffield Film Festivals and the Edinburgh International Festival. Ian Brown, Managing Director, said: ‘Film Mobile are excited to be partnering with Rosslyn Chapel to show The Da Vinci Code in a state-of-the-art outdoor cinema experience to mark the film’s 10th anniversary. This will be a fantastic evening for fans of both the chapel and the film which will result in a night to remember.’
The screenings will be sponsored by Quilter Cheviot. Mark Hallam, Head of Edinburgh Office at Quilter Cheviot, said: ‘We are delighted to sponsor this great initiative. Rosslyn Chapel has been standing for 550 years. The repair and conservation work necessary to ensure the long term integrity of the Chapel, and its legacy for future generations, is dependent on ongoing fundraising initiatives, such as this. The climax of The Da Vinci Code was filmed at the Chapel, and to host a screening of the film celebrating the 10th anniversary of its release seems wholly appropriate, with the added attraction of it uniquely being set in the shadow of Rosslyn Chapel.’
Research shows that many film and television locations become popular destinations for visitors. Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: ‘The Da Vinci Code movie, and of course Dan Brown’s original book, was a huge boost for Scottish tourism, and Rosslyn Chapel in particular. Even a decade after its release, thousands of people from all over the world continue to flock to Rosslyn Chapel as a result of its starring role in Ron Howard’s blockbuster. It is one of the best examples of the huge popularity of ‘set-jetting’ in Scotland, and these outdoor screenings are a fitting way to celebrate not only the 10th anniversary of the movie, but the continuing legacy of a cultural phenomenon.’
Tickets for the screenings are available from our online shop . Attendees will be invited to bring picnics, rugs or garden chairs; no seating will be provided.
Rosslyn Chapel is managed by Rosslyn Chapel Trust, a charity registered in Scotland number SC024324, which depends on income from visitors, donations and legacies to conserve the Chapel. The Chapel’s recent conservation project was funded by the Trust, with generous support from funding partners including the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland.
Pictured, from left, are Ian Gardner (Rosslyn Chapel Trust), Mark Hallam (Quilter Cheviot), Pete Johnson and Ian Brown (Film Mobile)