It’s a sad day for local cinema. After 11 years of championing alternative films and community-led programming in Singapore, independent theatre operator The Projector has announced an immediate and sudden exit from the market. The news comes as a bombshell, reversing previous plans to resume screenings at Golden Mile Tower, its original home, in celebration of its 10th anniversary.
According to an emotional farewell post on Instagram, the beloved venue will enter “voluntary liquidation”, as it succumbs to “rising operational costs, shifting audience habits, and the global decline in cinema attendance”.
“We are immensely grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey — our dedicated team, collaborators, partners, and most of all our loyal audiences who believed in what we were trying to do,” said founder Karen Tan, adding that the effort cannot be attributed to “a single person or team”.
“The Projector was also built and shaped in all its forms by our fans and collaborators, and we are incredibly proud of what we’ve created together — a home for creatives, misfits, and dreamers. The home of the alternative voice. The Projector may be closing, but we hope its spirit will live on in the conversations, ideas, and communities we’ve nurtured.”
Before the closure, the indie darling had several events and shows lined up for the coming days, including a themed party called WHY? Underground on 30 August, and an exclusive screening of Arze. All activities scheduled after 19 August have now been cancelled, with further details on ticket refunds to be shared on the website’s FAQ page over the next few days.
In a country where independent and alternative works aren’t as readily available for the general crowd, the departure of The Projector marks another major loss for the local arts and culture scene. The Projector was the go-to for enthusiasts who wanted to catch films that weren’t available or had extremely limited timeslots in mainstream cinemas, as well as inclusive events, screenings spotlighting a particular director or theme, charity fundraisers, and film festivals like the Singapore International Film Festival.
“If Singapore wants to thrive, it must find a way for creative and cultural businesses to survive — because culture is the cornerstone of identity and civil society,” concluded the post.
Thanks for the memories, The Projector.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
HSALS
