by Lydia Tan
We’re all familiar with local cinema chains like Cathay, Golden Village and Shaw when it comes to choosing where to watch a movie at. But if you’re looking for an out-of-the-convention movie experience – or if you love cinemas like The Projector or The Screening Room – here are some new independent cinemas in Singapore to check out:
Salt Media @ Capital Tower | For the inspirational/emotional movie lover
Opened earlier this year in January, Salt Media @ Capital Tower is the first and only cinema in the CBD. In addition to rooms/studio/workshop space for event rentals, the main theatre boasts a 227-seater cinema auditorium – the Big Picture theatre – which goes by a free-seating policy where movies are screened.
via Salt Media & Entertainment
Salt Media aims to produce and distribute content that is inspirational and promotes positive values that can resonate with audiences worldwide. You can expect to watch films that are based off true stories, like I Can Only Imagine, which tells the story behind the song of the same name by American gospel band MercyMe, and On the Basis of Sex starring Felicity Jones as the second American female justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The tickets are on the pricier side (around $12, $16 depending on the movie and time slot) but it’s in the CBD.
Where: Capital Tower, 168 Robinson Road, Level 9 (Big Picture theatre). Website here.
EagleWings Cinematics |
For the blockbuster aficionado
If you prefer watching the latest films but with a different viewing experience, you can check out EagleWings Cinematics, which opened last December in the Bukit Timah area. Set up by the EagleWings Group, this cinema boasts four halls — 2 premium (Eagle Platinum and Eagle Gold) and 2 Eagle Classic — with a total seating capacity of 153 seats, as well as a two-storey penthouse-design Premium Lounge.
via EagleWings Cinematics
The cinema will screen the latest blockbusters but is also looking to screen “independent uplifting faith-based films that are family-friendly, wholesome, entertaining, educational, inspirational and with a spiritually enriching message”. This cinema tends to aim for luxury at affordable prices. The tickets range from $5.50 to $34, with weekday student deals (9am – 5pm) at S$6.50 only for screenings at the Eagle Classic halls.
Where: 9 King Albert Park, Cinema Box Office Atrium, KAP Residences Mall. Website here.
Oldham Theatre |
For the history/culture buff
If you love classic Asian films both new and old, the Asian Film Archive (AFA)’s Oldham Theatre at the newly-renovated National Archives of Singapore building, might be the place for you. The 134-seater theatre boasts screening formats ranging from 4K digital projection to traditional 35mm reels, perfect for screening the beautifully-restored works from Asia’s rich film heritage.
via National Library Board
The theatre’s opening programme will be Singular Screens (18 May – 2 June 2019), a film programme curated by the AFA featuring a diverse and bold selection of local and international films, as part of the Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA) 2019. You can check out a list of events and screenings you can expect to see at the Oldham Theatre throughout the year here.
Where: National Archives of Singapore, 1 Canning Rise. Website here.
