Fans say goodbye in one last party

The gathering at the indie cinema's Golden Mile premises saw staff past and present reminisce the good times with fans

- Teo Kai Xiang

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.

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, citing "rising operational costs, shifting audience habits and the global decline in cinema attendance".

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.