“If you know A24 films (the acclaimed indie studio responsible for gems such as Euphoria, Midsommar and Moonlight) you know they do things differently, so take Saint Maud’s ‘horror film’ tag with a grain of salt. The terrors in director Rose Glass’s masterful debut are of the mind and spirit. (Welsh actress) Morfydd Clark plays Maud, a deeply alienated palliative nurse consumed by a religious fervour that leads her to believe that she’s on a sacred mission to save her dying patient’s soul. Needless to say, s**t gets weird. More Taxi Driver than Carrie, this is an unsettling and fascinating character study that earned 15 nominations at the British Independent Film Awards, and (briefly) outperformed Christopher Nolan’s Tenet at the UK box office. Suck it Nolan!”

Release date: February 25, exclusively at The Projector

“An oddball heist movie turned bittersweet family drama turned uplifting coming-of-age romance – Kajillionaire is probably one of the wackiest films you will see this year. The brilliant Evan Rachel Wood stars as a profoundly weird kid-adult in desperate need of affection and validation. Instead, her gaslighting parents use her as bait for all kinds of absurd cons for pennies on the dollar. Everything will change when the family recruits Melanie, a new crew member played with irresistible charm by Gina Rodriguez. If you want to piss off your friend who thinks that ‘The Projector is for hipsters’, this is the film!”

Release date: March 4, exclusively at The Projector

“How do we re-learn (the need) to know and love ourselves when we suddenly lose everything that defines us? How do we find the strength to accept a future that terrifies us? When musician Ruben (played by Riz Ahmed) simultaneously loses his hearing and his lover, he furiously tries to fight the inevitable. He is placed in a deaf commune for recovering addicts, where he’ll have to reconcile the life that he’s lost with the potential for a new beginning. Sound of Metal wrestles with grief, addiction, self-love and acceptance, but at its core it’s a refreshing and cathartic look into the idea of deafness as a difference (instead of) a disability. Our takeaway here is that a supportive community that celebrates differences is metal as f**k.”

Release date: April 1, exclusively at The Projector

“Frances McDormand doing laundry, Frances McDormand shovelling snow, Frances McDormand pooping in a bucket, Frances McDormand walking around the desert being an absolute badass, and effortlessly delivering another Oscar-winning performance while looking like she’s not even trying. Nomadland is the film equivalent of a warm blanket or an extra tight hug. A quiet homage to the outcasts, and the people on the fringes that dare to live a life where personal freedom and independence are more valuable than a mortgage or a sports car – even when it comes at a hefty cost. A deceivingly simple film full of tenderness and empathy. Give director Chloe Zhao all the awards, although she probably doesn’t have space for them in her campervan.”

Release date: March 18

Inspired by The New York Times’ bestseller The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism, director Jerry Rothwell takes us on a unique and fascinating exploration of the inner world of non-verbal autistic children. The clever imagery and sound design works as a roadmap to help us see the world from their perspective, but most importantly, this is not a story told by the neuro-typical (sorry Sia), but by the kids themselves. As one of the protagonists eloquently puts it: ‘I think we can change the conversation around autism by being part of the conversation.’ Being non-verbal does not mean that these kids have nothing to say, so take this rare chance to listen!”

Release date: April 2

“The hit cat documentary Kedi now has a canine counterpart. Stray follows a bunch of street-savvy pups that wander the streets of Istanbul, seemingly aimlessly. With very minimal narration and plot, this could almost be mistaken for a fly on the wall dog simulator, but director Elizabeth Lo wisely knows when to point her camera at the people and events that surround these animals. A vagrant gang of Syrian refugees happily sharing their blankets and food with the dogs makes for a powerful simile that invites the audience to reflect on homelessness, statelessness and empathy for both two and four-legged animals. TLDR: Cute dogs, lots of them, go watch!”

Release date: TBC, exclusively at The Projector

“Our favorite film from Cannes Film Festival 2020! First-time directors Fanny Liatard and Jeremy Trouilh have crafted a very special tale of magic realism about fighting to preserve the places that are near and dear to our hearts. Youri is a quiet and kindhearted kid from the Parisian suburbs who dreams of being an astronaut. Unfortunately, his home, the French housing project known as City Gagarine, is gonna be demolished to make way for ‘progress’. (No, this is not a Singaporean story, but it could very well be). Watching Youri organise a resistance along with his friends to save the building – we are reminded of the importance of protecting the physical spaces that are tied to our identity and encouraged to find strength in our communities. Don’t miss this inspiring sci-fi indie with a ton of heart!”

Release date: TBC