Despite the fact that Cape Town is booming as a film-production centre, local feature films are scarce. Mainstream Hollywood releases are shown at several commercial cinemas, all of which advertise daily in the Cape Times and Cape Argus , while a couple of independent cinemas include art-house films in their programmes. A handful of small film theatres posing as arthouse cinemas - the Ster-Kinekor Cinemas Nouveau and the Labia - show the odd subtitled movie and slightly less mainstream fare, but don't expect anything too exotic.

The mainstream cinemas most convenient for visitors are: the Nu-Metro (tel 021 419 9700) and Ster-Kinekor Cinema Nouveau (tel 021 425 8222) at the V&A Waterfront; the Ster-Kinekor Cavendish Commercial (tel 0860 300 222) at Cavendish Square Shopping Centre, Claremont; and, at the same shopping centre, the Ster-Kinekor Cinema Nouveau (tel 021 683 4063). The Ster-Kinekor complex at the Blue Route Mall in Tokai (tel 021 713 1280) is convenient if you're staying along the False Bay seaboard.

Independent cinemas are listed below. Tickets cost around R26, and many cinemas have discounted tickets one day a week, which you'll find advertised in the press.

Independent Armchair Theatre 135 Lower Main Rd, Observatory tel 021 447 1514. An adventurous club/cinema screening cult and art movies with a video projector - sprawl in one of the comfy couches with a drink whilst enjoying the show. Screenings are on Monday to Friday evenings; contact the venue for details.

The Labia 69 Orange St; and Labia on Kloof Lifestyles on Kloof Centre, Kloof Street Gardens tel 021 424 5927. Formerly the flea-ridden temple of alternative cinema in Cape Town, the Labia has been spruced up in recent times and opened another cinema with two screens in 2002 just around the corner. It shows an intelligent mix of art films, cult classics and new releases on three screens, advertised in the daily papers.