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Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
‘Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of indie cinema The Projector
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox On Aug 19, The Projector announced it had ceased operations immediately, with all future screenings and events cancelled. SINGAPORE - Local film-makers have likened the closure of local 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 film-makers could test new ideas, and a hub for cinephiles to connect, these film-makers said. On Aug 19, The Projector announced it had ceased operations immediately , with all future screenings and events cancelled. Award-winning filmmaker Boo Junfeng described the closure as a 'huge loss' not only for Singapore's film scene but for its cultural vitality. Boo, whose film Apprentice (2016) won the Netpac award at the prestigious Golden Horse Awards , 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 among cinema-goers in the range of movies available here, with audiences able to access such a broad range of films 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 their schedules and distractions to watch and enjoy.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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Director Anthony Chen held a screening of Ilo Ilo (2013) followed by a question-and-answer session at The Projector in 2019. SCREENSHOT: INSTAGRAM The 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. Film-maker He Shuming held a screening for Ajoomma and question-and-answer session at The Projector's former premises at The Cathay in 2022. PHOTO: HE SHUMING 'It was a space for young emerging filmmakers to screen their works to their first audiences, it was beyond a space for alternative films but 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 local 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 really 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 to 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 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 shared 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.'
Observer
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Observer
First-ever Singapore Film Fest Kicks off from Sept 18
Muscat: The first-ever Singapore Film Festival in Oman will kick off from September 18 to 20 at Cinepolis, Oman Avenue Mall. The three-day film festival will feature three critically acclaimed and award-winning films that have received international recognition, including awards from Cannes and Locarno Film Festival. These films are being screened by the International Film Foundation of Oman (IFFO) in association with the Embassy of Singapore in Oman. Syed Noureddin bin Syed Hassim, the Charge d'Affairs of the Embassy of Singapore, stated, 'We are extremely pleased to host the first-ever Singapore Film Festival in Oman. This is a fantastic way to learn about each other's cultures. This year, we are also celebrating four decades of the relationship between Oman and Singapore, as well as six decades of our country's independence. The festival is a wonderful tribute to these milestones.' The three films being showcased are Ilo Ilo, A Land Imagined and The Autograph, which address cultural differences, migrant issues, and political scenarios, respectively. Sudha Sha, coordinator of the festival and chairperson of IFFO, said, 'Films have the power to unite people regardless of their differences. When we think of films from Southeast Asia, we often focus on Korea, but we should not overlook the immense potential and depth of Singaporean films. They are deeply humane, sensitive and political all at once.' She also noted that the line between commercial and popular movies is becoming blurred with more offbeat films. While mass movies provide instant gratification, offbeat films encourage viewers to think about life with wisdom and depth.
Muscat Daily
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Muscat Daily
Muscat to host first Singapore Film Festival from September 18
Muscat – Muscat will host the first Singapore Film Festival from September 18 to 20, showcasing three internationally acclaimed films that highlight the diversity and depth of Singaporean cinema. Organised by the International Film Foundation of Oman (IFFO) in association with the Embassy of Singapore in Muscat, the festival will feature Ilo Ilo , A Land Imagined and The Autograph . The films address themes ranging from family and cultural differences to migrant experiences and political realities, and have been recognised at leading international platforms including Cannes and Locarno. Sudha Sha, coordinator of the festival and chairperson of IFFO, said the initiative aims to broaden horizons in film appreciation. 'Films have the power to unite people irrespective of their differences. When we speak of cinema from the region, attention is often focused on Korea, but Singapore also has immense potential. Its films are humane, sensitive and political at the same time,' she said. While commercial cinema often dominates, it is important to engage with films that prompt deeper reflection, Sha added. 'Though there is instant gratification from mass movies, such offbeat films make us think of life with wisdom and depth,' she noted. Syed Noureddin bin Syed Hassim, chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of Singapore, said the festival is part of strengthening cultural ties between the two countries. 'We are extremely happy to host the first ever Singapore Film Festival in Oman. This year we also celebrate four decades of diplomatic relations between Oman and Singapore.'
New Paper
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Director Anthony Chen wrapping up the final film in his Singaporean trilogy
Local director Anthony Chen has almost completed the shoot for his latest movie We Are All Strangers, which began in Singapore at the end of March 2025. "We are in the last week of the film shoot and it's the longest I have embarked on," the 41-year-old tells The Straits Times. "It is set in contemporary Singapore as we have shot it entirely here." Chen's most recent movies, Drift (2023) and The Breaking Ice (2023), were shot in Greece and China respectively. We Are All Strangers is the third chapter of his Growing Up trilogy of dramas. The first, Ilo Ilo (2013), starred Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler in a story about a boy (Koh) and his relationship with his mother (Yeo) and the family's domestic helper (played by Filipino actress Angeli Bayani). It won the Camera d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, the first win by a Singapore feature film there. The second film in the trilogy is Wet Season (2019), also starring Yeo and Koh, as teacher and student respectively, coping with difficulties in their family relationships. It earned six nominations at the 2019 Golden Horse Awards, with Yeo winning Best Leading Actress. We Are All Strangers also stars Yeo and Koh, but Chen declines to reveal more about their characters or the film's plot. "I won't comment on the story now and will let audiences discover it in due time. This third film in the trilogy has been brewing in my head for several years. Each of these films is deeply personal to me. 2025 is when we will finally put this third film into production. It will be exactly 12 years since Ilo Ilo, and we will have come full circle," he says. He expects the film to be released in 2026. Chen, who lives in Hong Kong with his wife and seven-year-old son, says that making We Are All Strangers has been a tough and challenging ride. "I'm grateful to my entire team who believed and pushed on. It really takes a village to make a film. And it also takes a lot of goodwill and kindness that we received along the way to make the impossible possible. We were helped by strangers from all walks of life."
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Anthony Chen nears completion on shoot of We Are All Stranger, the third film in his Singapore trilogy
Director Anthony Chen (left) and actor Koh Jia Ler on the set of We Are All Strangers, the third chapter of Chen's Growing Up trilogy of dramas. PHOTO: GIRAFFE PICTURES SINGAPORE – Local director Anthony Chen has almost completed filming his latest movie We Are All Strangers, which began in Singapore at the end of March 2025 . 'We are in the last week of the film shoot and it's the longest I have embarked on,' the 41-year-old tells The Straits Times. 'It is set in contemporary Singapore as we have shot it entirely here.' Chen's most recent movies, Drift (2023) and The Breaking Ice (2023), were shot in Greece and China respectively. We Are All Strangers is the third chapter of his Growing Up trilogy of dramas. The first, Ilo Ilo (2013), starred Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler in a story about a boy (Koh) and his relationship with his mother (Yeo) and the family's domestic helper (played by Filipino actress Angeli Bayani). It won the Camera d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, the first win by a Singapore feature film there . The second film in the trilogy is Wet Season (2019), also starring Yeo and Koh, as teacher and student respectively, coping with difficulties in their family relationships. It earned six nominations at the 2019 Golden Horse Awards, with Yeo winning Best Leading Actress. We Are All Strangers also stars Yeo and Koh, but Chen declines to reveal more about their characters or the film's plot. 'I won't comment on the story now and will let audiences discover it in due time. This third film in the trilogy has been brewing in my head for several years. Each of these films is deeply personal to me. 2025 is when we will finally put this third film into production. It will be exactly 12 years since Ilo Ilo, and we will have come full circle,' he says. He expects the film to be released in 2026. Chen, who lives in Hong Kong with his wife and seven-year-old son, says that making We Are All Strangers has been a 'tough and challenging ride' . 'I'm grateful to my entire team who believed and pushed on. It really takes a village to make a film. And it also takes a lot of goodwill and kindness that we received along the way to make the impossible possible. We were helped by strangers, from all walks of life.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
