The news of entertainment venues reopening can either bring joy or trepidation – or both. From July 31, selected cinemas in Singapore including Shaw Theatres, Golden Village, Cathay Cineplexes, Filmgarde, WE Cinemas, The Projector, Eaglewing Cinematics, Carnival Cinemas, and Salt Media@Capital Tower are back to reel in filmgoers with full-length features on the big screen. However, unlike it was before, each theatre hall can only accommodate a maximum of 50 people with safety measures including the one-metre safe distancing requirement in place.
If you’re not ready to venture out yet, Shaw Theatres is bringing a slice of movie magic to your home with KinoLounge. But what sets the virtual cinema platform apart from its physical counterpart is its specially curated list of movies. Most of the titles are not screened in local cinemas and are only exclusively available on KinoLounge.
Currently, it’s showing the squirm-inducing psychological thriller Swallow, and unconventional documentaries The Painter and the Thief, and Spaceship Earth. Swallow follows a woman en route to liberation in an oppressive system. The Painter and the Thief spotlights a Czech artist who befriends the person who stole her paintings. Based on a true story, Spaceship Earth is a stranger-than-fiction adventure of eight visionaries who spent two years quarantined inside of a self-engineered replica of Earth’s ecosystem.
But it’s quality over quantity as KinoLounge uses Hollywood Studio-grade level DRM service which ensures playback only occurs on an authenticated video player, detects geolocation, and is MPAA (Motion Pictures Association of America) compliant. It also has other security features to ensure content, payment, and privacy is secured.
KinoLounge is also set to serve as a platform for hosting interactive film events and festivals, as well as themed film screenings and watch parties online – all in collaboration with local film societies and organisers including the Singapore Film Society. Among the events planned are live Q&A sessions with filmmakers, casts, and industry pros who will share their behind-the-scenes experience, bonus never-seen-before footage, and more in an interactive setting.
While nothing beats the cinematic experience of the big screen, film aficionados can still discover a library of must-watch titles from all over the world and enjoy the art of creative storytelling at their own time with KinoLounge by Shaw Theatres. The best bit? There’s no joining or subscription fee – it’s free to create an account, browse, and pay for the films you want to play on your small screen. For more information and updates on the next releases, visit kinolounge.shaw.sg.
