The Bangkok Screening Room succumbed to the pandemic’s strong impact three months ago, turning off its projectors permanently. However, film buffs living in the capital can see a new glimmer of hope: the Doc Club & Pub.
The new Documentary Club space is getting closer to opening its doors.
Photos of the new spot, which extends to the former Bangkok Screening Room digs and comprises an art space, a coffee bar and a new-looking cinema, were released Thursday. Doc Club & Pub, the renewed spot for film buffs, is located at Soi Sala Daeng 1, with access from BTS Sala Daeng exit No. 4 or MRT Lumphini exit No. 2.
It is expected to open next month, but Documentary Club has not set an official opening date amid the current restrictions.
At the end of March, Alt-cinema Bangkok Screening Room announced the sad news that its curtains would fall forever. Nonetheless, shortly after, a light shone for Bangkokians when it was confirmed that the beloved and well-known movie theater would not be demolished.
Instead, it was handed over to a tenant who, while leaning more toward the sober side of the film industry, promises to revive an iconic space in the capital’s film culture and history.
Documentary Club, founded in 2014 through a crowdsourcing platform, then started becoming Bangkok’s next projector.
According to the club’s founder, Thida Plitpolkarnpim, the regrettable loss of another quality cinema in the city motivated their decision. She said the venue would be modified slightly based on Documentary Club’s needs and core values, which has more than 196,000 followers on Facebook and offers its Doc Club on Demand, a service to screen licensed films.
