5 must-visit venues for the independent film lover in Singapore

Once ever so often, it's nice to forget the mega-blockbuster mania of Hollywood and take in some of the independent works of local filmmakers and directors. We round up five of the best places in Singapore to get your dose of art house movies and Singapore films.

Sinema Old School.

Sinema Old School

The former Methodist Girls' School on Mount Sophia may look pretty drab from the outside, but within exists a nest of indie movies, local music and cutting-edge modern art that is Old School. And for made-in-Singapore productions, there's probably none better than Sinema, the resident theater within the six-block compound. The name's not a typo, but a not-too-subtle mishmash of "Singapore" and "cinema." It's also one of the best spots to submerge into local culture and art. The owners of Sinema are super supporters of local productions, so expect screenings of never-before-seen Singaporean and Asian films. Sinema-goers come for the award-winning films such as "881" directed by Royston Tan and "12 Storeys" directed by Eric Khoo. The theater is especially keen on films with strong social messages and you can expect a cozy cinematic experience with 136 sofa-style plush leather seats plus a state of the art projection and sound system. 

Sinema Old School, 11B Mount Sophia, Singapore. tel +65 6338 7682. www.sinema.sg

The Picturehouse.

The Picturehouse

Touted as Singapore's first art house cinema, The Picturehouse was originally launched in 1990, at a time when film goers were exposed only to mainstream commercial films. Early independent films like "Pulp Fiction", "The Wedding Banquet", "La Femme Nikita" and "Cinema Paradiso" were all screened exclusively at The Picturehouse, and for quite a while it was the only real place to catch foreign and art house titles. It closed a few years later, but in 2006 Cathay revived the 1990s Picturehouse concept in an 82-seat venue within the large, newly relaunched Cathay Cineplex, complete with lush seats you could camp out in and state-of-the-art sound and visual technology. It's still a hotbed for art house flicks from all over, and one of the choice venues for film festivals and events.

The Picturehouse, Levels 5 & 6, The Cathay, 2 Handy Road, Singapore. tel +65 6235 1155. www.thepicturehouse.com.sg

The Arts House Screening Room.

The Arts House Screening Room

It's a small-ish theater housed within the landmark heritage building that's the Arts House in Parliament Lane. The Screening Room was actually a space for administrative duties in the old parliament house which has been converted into a 75-seater film theater. The facility might be small but it's great for indie films, including sell-out runs of Tan Pin Pin’s landmark documentary "Singapore GaGa" in 2005. The Arts House also hosts talks and regular workshops. Get on their calendar and mailing list to find out what new titles are showing and what events are happening.

The Arts House Screening Room. 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore. tel +65 6332 6900 or +65 6332 6919 (ticketing). www.theartshouse.com.sg

GV Cinema Europa @ VivoCity.

Golden Village Cinema Europa

Housed within the monster of a cinema multiplex that is GV VivoCity, Cinema Europa is Golden Village's gift to art house and indie movie lovers. It seats 108 with a much nicer setup than your average GV theater, with deluxe seats and greater legroom for the daddy longlegs among us. GV calls it a "concept of 'a film festival all year round' with art-house movies, Asian films, local Singaporean productions, international award winners, well-loved classics, and other film fare which otherwise does not usually get the chance to be programmed and shown in Singapore." A quick look at their line-up reveals some exclusive titles being screened, including lesser known Japanese anime flicks.

GV Cinema Europa. Levels 2 & 3, VivoCity, HarbourFront Precinct, Singapore. tel 1900 912 1234 (ticketing hotline). www.gv.com.sg/cinemas_gveuropa.jsp

The Substation Theatre.

The Substation Theatre

It's a bit rundown and could use a fresh lick of paint, but the Substation Theatre's still one of the best places to enjoy independent movies away from the hoi polloi of mainstream film. The 108-seater doesn't just show indies and short films, it also stages theatrical pieces and musical gigs, which probably explains the worse-for-wear look. It's also available as a private venue for rental as well.

The Substation Theatre. 45 Armenian Street, Singapore. tel +65 6337 7535. www.substation.org