‘Feels like the end of an era’: Fans say goodbye to the Projector one last time
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Follow topic:
SINGAPORE – For one last time, fans of The Projector gathered on Aug 23 to say goodbye to the indie cinema at its Golden Mile premises.
The party was organised by four music collectives – Teenage Pop, Secret Pals, Daydream Nation and Eat Me Poptart.
As the lights dimmed to a set by DJ duo Teenage Pop, a crowd of The Projector’s most faithful took to the dance floor, an eclectic mix of young and old dancing to music from American rock band Linkin Park and British singer-songwriter Charli XCX.
“I tried so hard and got so far, in the end, it doesn’t even matter,” the room chanted to the Linkin Park song.
The party was organised by four local music collectives.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Mr Prashant Somosundram, 45, who was general manager of the cinema from 2019 to 2024, said: “A party in Golden Mile Tower feels like the most fitting way to say goodbye.
“Coming together to celebrate over 10 years of our ‘can is can’ attitude is cathartic and gives me hope that The Projector’s legacy will continue in some form.”
The cinema announced its closure on Aug 19
Mr Prashant Somosundram, who was general manager of The Projector from 2019 to 2024, was among those who turned up at the party.
ST PHOTO: TEO KAI XIANG
The Projector opened in 2014. Alongside exclusive screenings of films not shown by other cinemas in Singapore, it was also a cultural hub that hosted music gigs, quiz nights, book launches and other community events beloved by Singapore’s independent arts scene.
“I’m devastated. I will cry multiple times tonight,” said Ms Ruby Thiagarajan, 31. An NGO worker, she had initially planned to hold the launch party of the fifth issue of Mynah Magazine, a longform print publication which she founded, at the Projector this weekend.
“The fact that The Projector was willing to host us for free is part of a larger pattern of them supporting indie culture and civil society in Singapore,” added Ms Thiagarajan, referring to the many talks and festivals the venue hosted at little or no cost to its partners. “They’ve shown up for us over the past 10 years. So, we have to show up for them.”
Fans of The Projector at the indie cinema’s Golden Mile premises on Aug 23.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Like Ms Thiagarajan, independent journalist Kirsten Han, 36, mourned the loss of a venue that one could reliably turn to to host events, big or small, for local artists and civil society. Ms Han co-organised the Independent Media Fair, which The Projector hosted in July.
By 8pm, as Filipino music collective Secret Pals began its set, the venue was packed with mourners and dancers, many of them reminiscing with old friends. One pair, drinks in hand, toasted to “the death of independent cinema”.
The Projector announced its closure on Aug 19.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
“When you look at the party, you can see what it meant to people. It’s a space where a lot of people felt very free and safe in,” Ms Han added.
Ms Medli Dorothea Loo, 21, who had worked at The Projector for the past three years, said: “It’s weird to think now is going to be the last time.”
Alongside exclusive screenings of films not shown by other cinemas in Singapore, The Projector was also a cultural hub that hosted music gigs, quiz nights, book launches and other community events.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Ms Loo, also an actress, starred in the upcoming feature-length film Tropical Rain, Death-Scented Kiss, directed by Charlotte Hong and partially shot at The Projector’s former Cineleisure space
“We thought for sure that we were going to show it at The Projector,” said Ms Loo, who shrugged when asked where else she believed the film would open at in Singapore.
Mr Eric, a 35-year-old tech worker who declined to give his last name, said he visited the cinema three to four times a year since its opening in 2014. “Now, I regret not coming more often,” he added.
The Projector cited rising operational costs, shifting audience habits and the global decline in cinema attendance as reasons for its closure.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
“When I first came here, it was a cinema you could enter for free. Just donate however much you want, but if you don’t have any money, that’s okay,” he said. “It feels like the end of an era, but it’ll come back some day.”
At the party, the music which drew the loudest cheers were nostalgic hits of the pre-2010s. “Wait, they don’t love you like I love you,” the crowd sang along to the lyrics of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ 2003 single Maps.
As the night wound down and the DJ set came to a close just after midnight, those still remaining gathered around the bar, some of them teary-eyed as they clapped and cheered for former staff of The Projector who were in attendance.
The Projector’s co-founder Karen Tan thanking partygoers from the venue’s bar.
PHOTO: PRASHANT SOMOSUNDRAM
“I don’t think I ever thought I would be standing on top of my bar,” said The Projector’s co-founder Karen Tan, as part of an unplanned speech thanking partygoers for their support.
“When we made the announcement on Tuesday, I don’t think we expected the internet to explode in the way that it did, and the outpouring of love and positivity that everyone reacted with,” she added.
“I just wanted to thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts, because all of the messages and sharing that you guys did in terms of the memories that you built with us, it made us realise that what we’ve done was really worth it.
“This is not just about a cinema, it’s not just about film, it’s about community.”
Speaking to The Straits Times outside the event, Mr Raymond Williams, 22, said: “I’m still kind of processing the whole thing because it happened so fast.”
For the national serviceman, seeing so many come together to say goodbye to The Projector was bittersweet.
“It gives me hope that there are people asking, ‘What’s next?’” he said, opining that another place will one day fill the gap left behind by the cultural hub. “There are people with passion and heart, and we need to lean on that.”
