The curtains have fallen for one of Singapore’s most beloved cultural institutions. The Projector, the independent cinema that transformed the local cinema experience, has shut its doors with immediate effect and entered voluntary liquidation, putting an end to its 11-year reign.
A Sudden and Painful Goodbye
The news stunned loyal viewers. Just weeks earlier, The Projector had offered a glimmer of hope for a revival when it announced that it was returning to its former home at Golden Mile Tower after ending its association with Golden Village at Cineleisure Orchard. Instead, on Monday, founder Karen Tan confirmed that increasing costs and shifting audience viewing habits had made it unsustainable to stay in business.
It was not an easy choice,” Tan disclosed. “Despite our best efforts and the community’s love, the pressures have become too much.”
Why couldn’t it stay Alive?
The Projector cited a combination of issues:
- Rising operational costs, from utilities and rent to manpower.
- A worldwide decline in cinema-going, as audiences increasingly turn to streaming platforms.
- Post-pandemic financial pressure has allowed little room for recovery.
Ironically, the cinema business had grown in certain ways. Revenues were nearly 50% higher than in 2019, underpinned by a thriving food and beverage business and a reputation as a vibrant events venue. But these did not offset the more basic structural shifts in entertainment consumption.
More Than Just a Cinema
Launched in 2014, The Projector quickly positioned itself as a departure from the mainstream cinema chains. Its alternative programming ranged from indie and arthouse movies to cult classics, foreign films, and documentaries not shown anywhere else in Singapore.
Beyond the screen, it also became a space for creativity and community. Its hallways hosted drag shows, poetry readings, flea markets, music gigs, and even the Singapore International Film Festival. To many, it was more cultural haven than theatre.
“The Projector wasn’t just about films,” said long-time patron Michelle Tan, 32. “It was about discovering stories, ideas, and people you wouldn’t find in the multiplexes.”
A Loyal but Niche Community
That sense of belonging turned The Projector into a cultural touchstone, affectionately described as “the indie darling” of Singapore cinema. Online forums like Reddit lit up with tributes on Monday, with fans calling it “the end of an era”.
One user wrote: “They cared about cinema in a way no other chain in Singapore did. I’ll always remember my first date there.”
The nostalgia underlined the degree to which The Projector became embedded in the social lives of younger audiences seeking alternatives to blockbuster culture.
The Practical Next Steps
Consistent with its formal announcement, all performances and events scheduled after August 19 are cancelled. Ticket holders, voucher holders, members, and e-gift card holders are being urged to claim their refunds from the appointed liquidator.
Its retro posters, neon-lit hallways, and quirky programming now exist only in memory for the time being.
What the Shutdown Means for Singapore’s Arts Scene
The closure of The Projector is a significant blow to Singapore’s independent arts scene, which is already struggling with an uphill battle against rising costs and a shortage of space. Industry observers note that as long as commercial cinema continues to make a killing from Hollywood blockbusters, niche cultural spaces remain highly vulnerable.
The Projector gave filmmakers and cinephiles a meeting point beyond the mainstream,” said Alvin Lee, a Singaporean filmmaker. “Its loss will be a void that will be hard to fill.”
Legacy Beyond the Screens
Though its run ends here, many believe The Projector’s legacy will endure. It rekindled conversation about cinema culture, initiated alternative programming, and demonstrated that indie initiatives could thrive if briefly within Singapore’s challenging market.
In her farewell, Karen Tan wanted The Projector’s spirit to endure: “We’re closing our doors, but the community we’ve built doesn’t have to die here.”
For independent film fans in Singapore, the curtains have drawn on a favorite haunt. But the tales told in its walls and the connections forged therein will have The Projector’s light beam long after its final show.
Read Related News
Apple restores Blood Oxygen monitoring on US Apple Watches with watchOS 11.6.1