Top indie cinemas in South Africa

While cinema chains show the latest and greatest blockbusters, indie cinemas offer an alternative viewing experience and screen independent, art house, and foreign films.

Given the price of viewing a film at a chain cinema, independent cinemas can also be much more affordable. These establishments also offer an all-inclusive experience with a dine-in option and a bar.

First on the list is the Labia in Cape Town, which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year.

The theatre was opened in 1949 by Princess Ida Labia after it had been converted from the Italian embassy’s ballroom.

Since then, it has operated on alternative and mainstream cinema circuits, showing films across four screens and five showtimes daily.

Tickets cost R90 each, and customers can access a bar, catering facilities, a terrace and outside seating.

Similar to the Labia, the Bioscope in Milpark, Johannesburg, is also an independent cinema that uses its single screening room for films that it says are mostly local, as well as live acts such as comedy and live music.

While the single 47-seat screening room can be privately hired, the cinema also has daily public screenings, with entertainment ranging from films to stand-up comedy and live music.

It also has several unique events, such as DumplingBox Cinema, Ugly Cry Night, and Sing Alongs. Tickets cost R100 each.

Although not a cinema per se, the Galileo open-air cinema in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands offers an entirely different viewing experience.

Often situated in Kirstenbosch Gardens, the open-air experience allows customers to enjoy a film while having a picnic under the stars.

The cinema screens movies from various genres, most of which are not brand new, ranging from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to Madagascar.

Ticket prices range from R145 to R250 and can be purchased via WebTickets.

While not an indie cinema, Ster Kinekor has a Throwback Cinema promotion running where it will screen retro films in several cinemas across the country for R50 per ticket. This is a significantly discounted price to what tickets usually cost.

The Labia Theatre, Cape Town — R90 per ticket

The Bioscope, Johannesburg — R100 per ticket

The Galileo, Cape Town and Cape Winelands — R145 per ticket