Could 2026 be the year indie cinema returns to Singapore?

When The Projector announced its closure last year, both cinephiles and the wider Singapore public let out a collective cry of anguish. 

The indie cinema, which opened in 2014 at Golden Mile Tower, had been crippled by accumulated debts of $1.2 million to creditors. It held its farewell party on 23 August 2025, drawing throngs of fans and revellers. Once a home for subcultures, DJ sets, drag nights and film festivals, many mourned the cultural void its closure left behind. 

But in the world of cinema, it’s rarely a forever goodbye.

A sequel of sorts is already in the works. Earlier this month, it was announced that a new independent cinema, Filmhouse, will take over the former The Projector space at Golden Mile Tower. Sharon Tan, the former general manager of The Projector, will reprise her role, alongside several members of the original team.

According to a report by The Straits Times, work is already under way to refresh the space. The Green Room will be fitted with a 4K projector, while Redrum and the Blue Room will retain their existing 2K setups.

A soft opening for Filmhouse is slated for late January or early February. Early screenings are expected to include the Norwegian-language drama Sentimental Value, as well as Hamnet, directed by award-winning filmmaker Chloe Zhao.

Yet even before Filmhouse entered the picture, there were signs of renewed life in Singapore’s indie cinema scene.

Ee Hoe Hean Club has partnered with TBC Bookstore to present monthly arthouse film screenings from January 2026 – an unlikely collaboration between a private members’ club founded in 1895 and an independent bookshop.

The series has already begun, with the French film Anatomy of a Fall recently screened at the multi-purpose hall of Ee Hoe Hean Club’s Bukit Pasoh premises. 

Another development on the indie cinema front comes from the Singapore Film Society (SFS), which will begin regular screenings of independent and local films at Golden Village Cineleisure this month. The programme, dubbed SFS Somerset, will be housed in a 66-seat hall.

According to SFS chairman Kenneth Tan, films are shown at 7.30pm from Wednesdays to Sundays, with additional 1.30pm and 4pm screenings on Saturdays, and a 4pm slot on Sundays. 

Tickets are priced at $15 for non-members and $9 for members. The venue is currently screening the local film The Old Man and His Car, starring Lim Kay Tong as a recently widowed man grappling with the bittersweet task of parting with his cherished old vehicle.

So, where can you get your indie cinema fix? Here’s a guide to the key players bringing arthouse films back into focus.

Asian Film Archive

Founded in 2005, the Asian Film Archive (AFA) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting Asian cinema. It is home to Singapore’s first film collection inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Register – the AFA Cathay-Keris Malay Classics.

The organisation also runs a regular film programme at the Oldham Theatre, a screening space located within the National Archives of Singapore. Highlights include screenings of the restored Singapore-set Chinese classic Dream of the Red Chamber (1977) and Silent Friend (2025), starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

Tickets at $10 each, while AFA members enjoy discounts and complimentary tickets. More information here.

Capitol Theatre

Regular film programming returns to Capitol Theatre on Stamford Road from 22 February, with the launch of Classics at Capitol, running until 28 April. The programme marks the revival of movie screenings at the historic venue, which first opened in 1930 and was closed for redevelopment from 1998.

The 4K-restored classics line-up opens with Singin’ in the Rain, followed by Lawrence of Arabia, and concludes with Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest.

More information on screenings and ticket prices here.

Ee Hoe Hean Club x TBC Bookstore

Ee Hoe Hean Club has teamed up with TBC Bookstore to host monthly arthouse film screenings from January 2026 at the club’s multipurpose hall in Bukit Pasoh, bringing together a private members’ club founded in 1895 and an independent bookshop.

Tickets are at $15 each. For updates on the ongoing programme, visit TBC Bookstore’s Instagram.

Filmhouse

The new independent cinema will take over the former The Projector space at Golden Mile Tower, led by former Projector general manager Sharon Tan alongside members of the original team. A soft opening is expected in late January or early February, with early screenings set to include Sentimental Value and Hamnet, directed by Chloe Zhao.

Ticket prices start at $15. More information here.

SFS Somerset

Run by the Singapore Film Society, SFS Somerset screens a curated selection of quality films from around the world, working closely with independent distributors and filmmakers. Located at Golden Village Cineleisure, the venue offers weekly programmes personally curated by chairman Kenneth Tan. 

Members enjoy 40% off tickets at $9 (usual price $15). More information here.