Pulp Cinema, home to the Pulp Film Society and popular student hangout, will be renamed to the Neelsie Cinema as it now falls under Stellenbosch University management. PHOTO: Wilné van Rooyen
Popular student attraction, Pulp Cinema, will be renamed as the Neelsie Cinema, from January 2021. This is according to a press release by Stellenbosch University (SU) released on 14 December. The news comes after an announcement by the university last month that the movie house’s lease would not be renewed.
The movie house is now under the management of SU’s Central Events and Conference Office (CECO), and this change means that the cinema space can be “fully utilised to its capacity as a multifunctional venue”, according to Anita Nel, the chief director of Innovus, under which CECO falls.
“The cinema facility will also be used for other events or conferences when no films are scheduled for either one of the cinemas,” Nel stated. “A scheduled programme of events […] will ensure that the greater SU community can now also have the benefit of this facility and more events will bring more feet to the Neelsie, to the benefit of all the tenants.”
Due to this expansion of offerings by the movie house, SU decided to make the switch to a new name, according to Nel.
“With the wider application of the space it makes more sense to rename the facility to [the] Neelsie Cinema,” she said.
However, the new name is also a loss to the Stellenbosch community, said one SU student.
“It’s sad. It’s taking away the identity of the place,” said Shaun Carolissen, a Pulp Cinema supporter.
A long time coming
This change to the Neelsie Cinema has, according to Nel, been in the works for a few years.
“Looking at ways to utilise the theatre complex better has been part of our planning for many years,” she said. “This decision was already made in 2016 when the last renewal of [Pulp Cinema’s] lease agreement made it clear that it was the last renewal and that the agreement will be terminated at the end of 2020.”
Despite it’s closure, remnants of the old Pulp Cinema venue will still remain, as Pulp Film Society will keep its name and still operate out of the space, said Nel.
“We can now also offer the facility at a discounted rate to the Pulp Film Society [which] will continue to offer the nostalgy and an authentic cinema experience to the members of [the society],” she said.
Owner of Pulp Cinema, Werner de Swardt, will also continue to have a role in the operation of the new movie theatre.
“Werner De Swardt, whose lease contract came to an end, will still be providing a service to the Pulp Film Society and will be running the confectionary kiosks in the cinema […] He will also continue to assist with the procurement and showing of films, as well as the maintenance of the cinema equipment as a service provider to the Pulp Film Society,” said SU’s press release.
“We wish to embrace this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported Pulp Cinema and the Pulp Film Society […] and we will recognise your amazing support with a renewed effort to keep improving our offerings and services,” said Pulp Cinema owner, Werner de Swardt. PHOTO: Wilné van Rooyen
“Our home will still stand”
De Swardt is grateful that he and SU could come to an agreement where the venue will continue to operate in the way that students and movie-goers “have become accustomed to and love”, he said.
“We [as Pulp Cinema] are relieved, and also excited, about the new arrangement which prioritises the screening of film society movies while gradually exploring the utilisation of the theatres for even more diverse offerings,” De Swardt said. “The Pulp team and myself are 100% committed to help make this new partnership work and we look forward to welcoming back old and new faces in 2021.”
Carolissen said he is grateful that the Pulp Film Society will continue, and that the venue will still be used as a movie house.
“It was a home away from home. It was amazing meeting people and sharing the same interest in entertainment, which is something very beautiful and very universal in a sense. It was where my friends were,” he said. “Our home will still stand.”