‘Loss that’s irreplaceable’: Singapore film-makers mourn closure of indie cinema The Projector

SINGAPORE – Local film-makers have likened the closure of indie cinema The Projector to the death of a close friend, given its importance in the cultural landscape.

For over a decade, The Projector was a haven for alternative cinema, a space where directors could test new ideas and a hub for cinephiles to connect.

On Aug 19, The Projector announced it had

ceased operations immediately

, with all future screenings and events cancelled.

Award-winning film-maker Boo Junfeng described the closure as a “huge loss” not only for Singapore’s film scene, but also for its cultural vitality.

Boo, whose film Apprentice (2016) won the

Netpac award at Taipei’s Golden Horse Film Festival

, said: “The Projector was a space that dared to be different... it was something Singapore sorely needed.”

He added that the cinema had an emphasis on showcasing films beyond the blockbuster movies that typically fill other theatres. Its closure leaves a significant gap in the range of movies available here, with audiences able to access such breadth only during the annual Singapore International Film Festival, Boo added.

He said: “These are not always titles suitable for watching on streaming platforms. They require the big screen and the commitment from the viewer to set aside his or her schedule and distractions to watch and enjoy.”

Film-maker Tan Pin Pin said the cinema had a “very non-judgmental” spirit and added that her 2013 film To Singapore, With Love, which had been barred from exhibition and distribution here, was shown at The Projector as a private screening to only invited guests in 2014.

“Somehow, when we had to decide where to have screenings, The Projector seemed a clear choice because it felt that it would accept us as we were,” said the Singapore GaGa (2005) director. “There was a personal feeling of belonging.

“I am heartbroken, but I also feel that it was a miracle it had survived for so long as a legit independent film and arts venue. I can’t imagine how it did that. Its independence is what made it so special.”

Director Anthony Chen said he was set to screen his upcoming film We Are All Strangers at The Projector in 2026 before the news broke about the closure.

The Cannes-winning Ilo Ilo (2013) director said he would always get “the most thoughtful responses and exchanges” from screenings and question-and-answer sessions there, and he would leave these events “feeling inspired and energised”.

“I don’t know how we can rebuild and recreate such a space again from scratch... What we have lost is a piece of the city’s cultural soul.”

A gathering of minds and a place to experiment

The Projector was also an incubator for emerging talent, said film-maker He Shuming, whose debut feature film Ajoomma (2022) received four nominations at the 59th Golden Horse Awards in 2022.

“It was a space for young emerging film-makers to screen their works to their first audiences. It was beyond a space for alternative films; it was also one where dialogues can exist with entertainment,” said He, who held a screening for Ajoomma and question-and-answer session at The Projector’s former premises at The Cathay in 2022.

The space was also where film cast, crew and fans could mingle, said film-maker Kelvin Tong, who is best known for his acclaimed horror film The Maid (2005) and box-office hit It’s A Great Great World (2011).

One of his favourite memories was screening a restored digital print of his debut film Eating Air (1999) in 2022, followed by a celebratory party just outside the theatre.

“At an inflection point when so much human activity has migrated online, losing a physical landmark like The Projector, which was akin to a temple to cinema, is simply heartbreaking. It is a loss that is irreplaceable and I wish something could have been done to preserve its existence,” he said.

Eric Khoo, the director behind acclaimed films such as Mee Pok Man (1995), 12 Storeys (1997) and Be With Me (2005), said The Projector helped expose younger viewers to his movies.

“It’s been a wonderful platform for cinephiles and engaging a younger audience to all types of cinema,” he said. “(The Projector) did Mee Pok Man’s 20th anniversary (in 2016), and it was wonderful as we had a restored version by the Asian Film Archive.

“It captured a wide and young audience who had never seen the film before.”

Beyond film, The Projector also hosted book launches, poetry readings and other arts events. Poet Pooja Nansi said on Instagram that it had been a vital space for artistic experimentation.

She wrote: “The Projector has been a haven and a safe harbour for so many of us in a city where licences, laws, rules and regulations can scare you away from just trying to be yourself.”