Indie darling The Projector announces immediate closure
The independent cinema and arts venue announced the sudden news in an Instagram post on Aug 19 and shared that it will enter voluntary liquidation.
"The realities of the cinema industry have been increasingly unforgiving. Rising operational costs, shifting audience habits, and the global decline in cinema attendance have made sustaining an independent model in Singapore especially challenging," the cinema shared.
"These pressures have been compounded by the broader realities of operating in the arts and culture sector in Singapore, where independent ventures navigate limited resources while contributing to the country's evolving cultural landscape."
On July 23, The Projector had shared that it planned to resume screenings at its original Golden Mile Tower location as the building's en bloc process had concluded without a transaction.
On Aug 1, it then announced its exit from its collaboration with Singapore's biggest cinema chain, Golden Village, at Cineleisure, which started in December 2023.
Prior to today's closure announcement, The Projector had several events and shows lined up, including a themed party called WHY? Underground on Aug 30, and the screening of Arze, which was exclusive to the cinema.
An automated reply to AsiaOne's queries said: "Because the company will be placed into liquidation, we are not able to issue refunds directly. Any refund claims related to tickets, Projector memberships, Purchased Vouchers and/or Projector E-gift Cards, will need to be submitted through the appointed liquidator."
It added that details will be updated soon on its website's FAQ page under "Important Cinema Announcements".
The Projector opened in 2014 and was more than a place to watch movies. It was also an events space to experience "creativity in its various forms and engage with diverse communities".
"From showcasing award-winning independent films to hosting film festivals, like the Singapore International Film Festival, the European Film Festival, Pink Screen, poetry slams, vintage markets, and charity fundraisers, The Projector has remained committed to broadening the definition of cinema and a community space in Singapore," the post wrote.
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melissateo@asiaone.com
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Straits Times
12 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Singapore's The Projector owes over $1.2m to creditors
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Creditors include over 2,000 moviegoers who held memberships with The Projector that have yet to expire. SINGAPORE - Ahead of a meeting with creditors set for Aug 29, the firm behind Singapore indie cinema The Projector has revealed that it owes creditors more than $1.2 million. In an e-mail sent out to creditors on Aug 19 and seen by The Straits Times, Pocket Cinema listed 33 different creditors comprising individuals and organisations. The highest amount - $382,888.03 - is owed to Overseas Movie (Private), while others named in the list include the firm's director Karen Tan, as well as other shareholders, including one of The Projector's founders Blaise Camille Trigg-Smith. Ms Tan is owed more than $120,000, while Ms Trigg-Smith is owed slightly above $100,000. Other creditors include those who held memberships with The Projector that have yet to expire. These comprise 2,295 people who are owed a total of more than $89,000. The majority of them , or 1,566, held memberships with The Projector Fan Club. Although membership information on the indie cinema's website has been replaced with a notice of suspension as of Aug 20, a version dated July 9 on the Internet Archive showed that it costs $85 to hold a membership through this tier. All members are entitled to four free tickets, $2 off standard ticket prices, 10 per cent off the total bill at the Intermission bar at Golden Mile Tower and No Spoilers Bar at Cineleisure, special giveaways and prizes, as well as invites to exclusive members-only events & screenings. Other membership tiers consist of The Projector Student Club, for those with valid student identification, and The Projector Senior Club, for those above the age of 55. To one 24-year-old patron of The Projector, the $7 he is owed in membership fees is but a petty sum. The patron, who declined to give his name, said: 'I'm not really bothered about them owing money to me since it is a relatively small amount but more so about losing a space where I can find curated films through their various film festivals and events.' ' It was also a space for many smaller organisations to host events and share stories.' The cinephile added that he, alongside other friends who are regulars, have decided not to claim their refunds to help the now-shuttered indie cinema with their finances. Meanwhile, those with unused tickets were also included in the list of creditors, with a total of $14,302 owed to them. A 28-year-old moviegoer who had bought two tickets to the Aug 20 screening of Punch Drunk Love, a 2002 romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler, told ST that he too was on the list of creditors. He said: 'Fortunately for me, the refundable amount of $23 was relatively low. I'm just surprised at the speed at which operations were shut down.' One individual has 16 unused tickets - the most compared with others on the list. The meeting for creditors is set for 2.30pm on Aug 29 via video conference, according to the email. The Projector's sudden closure on Aug 19 after over a decade of operations took many by surprise, with its screenings and events scheduled after the date cancelled. It cited rising operational costs, shifting audience habits, and the global decline in cinema attendance as reasons for its closure. Separately, a listing on CommercialGuru showed that The Projector's 10,000 sq ft space at Golden Mile Tower wa s listed for rent at $33,000 a month from July 28. It has since been removed as at 11am on Aug 20.
CNA
2 hours ago
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The Projector's closure and Singapore's struggle to embrace unconventional dreams
How long was The Projector living on borrowed time? It's hard to be certain. What's clearer is that the local independent cinema, which announced its sudden exit from the market on Tuesday (Aug 19), was always more than a screen for arthouse films. Its distinct offerings made it a defiant presence in the sea of sameness that is Singapore's cinema landscape. It also kept its edge by doubling up as an events venue, holding themed parties, intimate concerts and dialogues with filmmakers. It had character and soul, and it was the direct opposite of what many Singaporeans would label as 'cookie-cutter'. And for 11 years, it worked. But I suspect that very difference also ultimately sealed its fate. The Projector's shock announcement on Tuesday marked a complete reversal from its plans less than a month ago to resume screenings at its Golden Mile Tower outlet. It said it would enter "voluntary liquidation", citing rising costs, changing audience habits and other pressures. And it's not just smaller players like The Projector struggling with high rents and the increasing competition from streaming services for audiences' time, attention and money. Cathay Cineplexes, owned by listed entertainment firm mm2 Asia, currently owes millions in rent to mall landlords. Six of its cinemas closed over the span of around three years – with more closures possibly looming. In a July bourse filing, mm2 Asia said it was mulling several options, including winding up its cinema business entirely to address its 'ongoing financial challenges'. As of August this year, only four Cathay Cineplexes cinemas remain in operation. On one hand, it's tempting to see this solely as evidence of a broader, arguably irreversible, shift in Singaporeans' attitudes towards cinemagoing. Even the biggest players are no longer immune. Yet the way I see it, the end of The Projector is a loss for Singapore as a whole. Its closure doesn't just mean decreased access to independent films in theatres, nor is it simply the disappearance of a venue that made the city a little less dull. It feels instead like a reminder of how difficult it still is to succeed through unconventional paths in Singapore. And perhaps it's time we recognised that in such a reality – which extends far beyond cinema – we are all worse off. A "REBEL CINEMA" THAT TOOK RISKS I still remember my surprise when The Projector opened its doors in 2014. I hadn't believed there would be a sustainable market for independent film showings in Singapore. The movie buffs who would show up might have been loyal, but they were always in the minority. And when it comes to our lifestyle interests, in my view, Singaporeans have long leaned towards rather homogenous, mainstream tastes. Take our shopping malls for example. Even as some places have rebranded malls as lifestyle destinations, the majority have stuck to an expected formula. Uniqlo: Check. NTUC FairPrice supermarket: Check. Kopitiam food court: Check. Broadly speaking, it's understandable that offerings with mass appeal would be key to consistently high footfall, and by extension, long-term financial viability. Likewise in cinemas, one would assume commercial blockbusters or movies that spark strong social sentiment after their Hollywood release would attract larger audiences in Singapore. Even so, The Projector seemed to show a growing appetite for the independent arts and culture scene. I believed its mere presence would, in time, nurture a deeper appreciation for raw creativity – the kind inseparable from the boldness that drives risk-taking and boundary-pushing. Its founder Karen Tan told CNA Lifestyle in 2022 that the cinema had always been motivated by 'the desire to do something different and always question the status quo'. It was a 'rebel cinema', so to speak. The team wasn't afraid of the 'messiness of experimentation and collaboration', she'd said, which allowed it to 'do a lot more'. 'While we're not afraid to take big risks, it's always a calculated risk as well. So we enter a space with a plan to foster spontaneity and organic interaction and string a deliberately loose framework around it. 'For a business to do that, it requires a certain appetite for risk and trust that people will respond.' While Singaporeans may have finally responded after 11 years, The Projector's death (and life) would be in vain if we failed to grasp its deeper message. A society that doesn't support alternative spaces, or that discourages deviation from the norm, is fundamentally incompatible with creativity. And when creativity withers, so too does our ability to remain an innovative, competitive nation. You don't need to be a cinephile to realise the cost of that possible future. CULTIVATING A SIMILAR SPIRIT OF RISK-TAKING We lose far more than just a cinema with The Projector's closure. After all, our physical environment can both reflect and reinforce the culture we live in. In this case, it may highlight our struggle to step away from safe decisions and pursue alternative dreams. Despite the rhetoric around embracing failure, a culture built on the tried-and-true doesn't turn experimental overnight. Even our rebellions are measured. Aim high, but don't overstep. Follow your passions, but keep them on the side. Go niche, but never without a safety net. Moreover, Singapore's emphasis on productivity feels increasingly at odds with the spirit of risk-taking it wants to cultivate to stay competitive in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Not every risk will pay off when we judge its success mainly by productive output. But experimentation like The Projector matters, because even failed attempts can give rise to learning, resilience and the conditions for future breakthroughs. This willingness to try, despite the risk of failure, is the essence of creativity. Like a muscle, it grows stronger when we support what AI can never replicate: The act of being human. In the many eulogies for The Projector so far, it's clear the cinema created a rare space for just that. Cinemas function as a 'third place'. The sociological term refers to a social setting outside home ('first place') and work or school ('second place'), where people gather, interact and build meaning together. Thriving third places are seen as hallmarks of a city's cultural maturity. They signal that society values creativity, leisure and diversity, not just economic growth. The thing is, we tend to forget that building such spaces takes time and effort. This inconvenience runs counter to the Singaporean psyche that prizes efficiency and productivity, yet it is precisely what creates a deeper sense of belonging. So in Singapore, independent spaces often exist on precarious ground from the get-go. Their survival (or lack thereof) then becomes symbolic of whether the city can sustain a richer, more varied urban life. How long was The Projector living on borrowed time? In hindsight, the answer is clear: Since before it opened, if I'm being honest. Its very ethos of daring to dream was already in tension with Singapore's instinct to drift towards the mainstream. And yet, I don't resonate with the jadedness that seems to follow after such spaces close. I don't see The Projector's closure as a cautionary tale against risk-taking. If anything, its existence paved the way for fellow rebels. It gave us permission to wholeheartedly pursue the risks we truly believe in, if only so we remember everything it stood for. In the cinema's announcement on Tuesday, Tan too acknowledged that the place might be closing, but it hopes its 'spirit will live on in the conversations, ideas and communities we've nurtured'. '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,' she said. The Projector proved that this reality is possible, despite the odds. Because while the outcome of risk-taking, status quo-breaking and boundary-pushing may not always endure, true rebels know the magic lies in the attempt. And we will all be better for it.
New Paper
7 hours ago
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Local indie theatre The Projector to cease operations on Aug 19
Local indie theatre The Projector announced on Aug 19 that it is winding down after a decade of operations. In an Instagram post, it said that it "will enter voluntary liquidation after a decade of championing alternative films, local creativity, and community-led programming". Its operations will cease on Aug 19 with immediate effect. In a press statement, it cited rising operational costs, shifting audience habits and the global decline in cinema attendance as reasons for its closure. These have made sustaining an independent cinema in Singapore an increasingly difficult endeavour, it said. Alongside these pressures are the broader realities of operating in the arts and culture sector in Singapore, "where independent ventures navigate limited resources while contributing to the country's evolving cultural landscape", it added. The Projector first opened its doors in 2014 at Golden Mile Tower, a historical building known for its Thai discos and eateries. It was started by three female co-founders: Ms Karen Tan, Ms Blaise Trigg-Smith and Ms Sharon Tan. In the past decade, it has played host to many film festivals, and screened countless indie films from across the globe. More than just a place to watch movies, it has also evolved into a cultural and events space where artists, filmmakers, and audiences gather to engage with diverse communities, it said in its statement. "It breaks our hearts to make this decision," said Ms Karen Tan. "We've fought to keep The Projector alive through every challenge - from breathing new life into a disused cinema at Golden Mile Tower, to weathering the pandemic, to expanding to new spaces." She added that she is immensely grateful to everyone who has been part of The Projector's journey, including its team, collaborators, partners and loyal audiences. "The Projector may be closing, but we hope its spirit will live on in the conversations, ideas, and communities we've nurtured," she said. The Straits Times has contacted The Projector for more information.
