Expand your cinematic horizons with Asian Film Archive (AFA) as it resumes its screenings of films from Singapore and around the region at the Oldham Theatre from July 31. It kicks off with a new special programme For The Record, which features documentaries spotlighting bold musical acts from across the continent.
Screened from July 31 to August 23, the documentaries give us a glimpse into the cultural, social and political moments of their respective countries, as well as the various struggles the musicians had to endure to have their music heard. Expect a diverse range of contemporary musical forms and genres, from rock, punk, hip-hop to experimental – even weaving in traditional music from their own cultural heritage.
Highlights include Anatolian Trip about an amateur psychedelic rock band from bohemian Istanbul, Sonita about an Afghan refugee living in the poor suburbs of Tehran, and Raving Iran about two DJs in Tehran who are struggling to play the music they love and set up dance parties.
As part of AFA's regular series Releases, Gully Boy is also screened at the Oldham Theatre until August 29. The award-winning film – and one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films internationally – follows an aspiring rapper from the slums of Mumbai who defies his parents' white-collar expectations, battles class and social barriers, and experiences a meteoric rise to fame.
Housed in the restored National Archives of Singapore building, the wheelchair accessible, 134-seater Oldham Theatre has 4K digital and 35-millimetre film format projections for all your viewing pleasure. With the resumption of AFA's programmes, long-time movie fans and a new generation of audiences are able to discover and appreciate a curated mix of acclaimed classic and contemporary Asian films in its true cinematic experience. No dubbing, either – all films screened also come with English subtitles.
Similar to cinemas around the city, seating at the theatre is limited to 50 patrons. Safety measures including temperature taking, SafeEntry logging, wearing a mask at all times, and keeping the safety distance of at least one-metre are to be observed to safeguard the health of patrons and staff.
When it comes to copping your tickets, keep those notes and coins safe in your wallet as cashless payment is encouraged when purchasing tickets, as well as other items, from the box office. Alternatively, you can purchase them online. For the full lineup of programmes and purchase of tickets, visit bit.ly/
