What's that - you've never heard of Carbon Arc? Well, I can't say I'm all that surprised. This…read moreindependent, weekly film festival of sorts is about as close to a secret society as you can get in Halifax. How so? I'll explain. First, the secret hideout. The Khyber Club is that building you've walked by countless times on Barrington Street but never really knew what happened inside. Be brave, push past that front door, and start climbing up the historic stairs and you'll find the home of Carbon Arc. Second, the 'right place, right time' factor. It might not be exactly 'Skulls' material, but here's the one rule you need to know in order to earn entry to Carbon Arc: Thursday nights are screening nights. You'll have to keep your ear to the ground (Twitter and Facebook make this easier than it sounds) to hear what you'll find there from night to night, but it certainly won't be your average night at Empire. Third, the in-crowd. Simply put, there isn't one. There was not one distinguishable demographic that held true throughout the entire crowd when I visited and that seemed to work just fine. Some artsy, some mainstream, some old, some young, some even in costume - they were all welcomed the same by a Carbon Arc volunteer's preamble to the show. Need more? Fine. Films are screened on an entire wall with great clarity as you sit in poor man's stadium seating, crafted by the volunteer organization themselves. You can nab popcorn, candy and even beer if you bring cash. Stay alert to catch wind of a flick that's up your alley, or at least close enough to your alley to be worth a shot, and enter the world of Carbon Arc. The city needs more of this.

Carbon Arc at the Khyber has only been running since July 2010, but it has…read morealready attracted a lot of attention because of the fantastic films it has been screening. It's also special because it occupies the former Wormwood's space--an independent theater I always wished I could have experienced. Alas, I was 13 and thought Armegeddon was the best movie ever. Carbon Arc is a permanent theatre space run completely by volunteers. Their goal is to have the space used as much as possible--right now they're holding screening every Thursday. A great thing about Carbon Arc screenings is that someone attached to the film, whether it's a crew member or simply a devotee, will speak before the movie starts and give you something to think about while watching. Director Sook-Yin Lee introduced her film, Year of the Carnivore, while Carbon Arc volunteer Allan Collins introduced David Cronenberg's The Brood--a film he edited. For a film fan, this place feels like home, and I look forward to attending many more of their weekly screenings.

Movies outdoors on the Halifax waterfront? Fantastic idea!…read more I especially love when they have singalongs!

This is what makes summertime in Halifax great…read more Watching movies with your pals under the stars with the harbour at your back. It makes me feel all romantic about this sometimes frustrating city. This summer, the fine folks at the Atlantic Film Festival have outdone themselves. The alFresco filmFesto programme will be... The Summer of Murray. Bill. Murray. Six glorious nights of Bill Murray. My friends, this is going to be a magical summer. One can only assume that Bill Murray will smile down upon us and bless our fair hamlet with his wisdom, humour, and grace. And mad golf skills. I cannot wait.

Tonight marks the end of a glorious month - the first season of alfreSnow filmFesto! This winter…read moretwist on outdoor movie festival, alFreso filmFesto, saw the screening of four classic Hitchcock films on the big screen in Neptune Theatre's studio. Murderous Monday, Hitchcock 'o Clock, whatever you call it, it was awesome! With a suggested donation of $8, this was a cheap night out on the town with a super cool scene of people. Not only do you get to watch the film in comfortable balcony seating, you also received a Hitchcock 101 based on each flick from a prominent member of the local film industry. This was my favourite part for sure. Even if you knew nothing about the movie (which, let's face it, I never did), you got great context not just for the story, but for the actors, the film's style, impact, and current blockbusters that drew from it for inspiration. I'm very happy to have been able to take in the "Dial M for Murder" and "Strangers on a Train," (headed there tonight!) and loved the genre so much that I rented one of the others that I missed ("Rope") on iTunes. Thanks to Neptune and the Atlantic Film Festival for putting on this stellar crash course in Hitchcock. Can't wait for more this summer and hopefully again in winter 2013!

To Catch a Thief is one of my favorite movies, but I haven't seen many other of Hitchcock's work so…read moreI was happy to catch a few of the films. I was able to see Dial M for Murder, I Confess and Strangers on a Train. I love ole Al's stylistic shots. A lot of his humor still holds up, though there are some times when the laughter is unintended. The admission price was reasonable and I enjoyed the preamble from the Film Fest crew. 7:00 pm was a good time to hold the films, just enough time to get downtown and have a cocktail and some pre-movie snacks with fellow movie goers. Hope this happens again soon!

This theatre has been my trip 3 desperate times. All times I have noticed a trend of filthy and…read morenever cleaned counters where the condiments and straws are. There is always food garbage everywhere on countertops, and I have noticed this both on the way in and out of this theatre. For an experiment I left some garbage laid out at the back of some counter napkins (but obvious to anyone cleaning) and 2 hours later they were still there after my AFTERNOON movie! Really work on your cleanliness since you are serving food. I stopped going there and now go to a different theatre. I might go back and post some gross photos just to prove my point. Sell Food = Clean up countertops Just my own opinion.

Who doesn't love the movies? However this cinema needs great improvement for wait times. The AVX…read moreis awesome and worth the extra bucks in my opinion. The entire Cineplex chain is crazy expensive for snacks...that's what happens when they have a monopoly.

The movie was not great the snacks were over priced but it's the same in any theater, but what made…read morethis theater stand out was the comfortable rocking chairs exceptional sound and stunning visuals. The bathrooms were small though but a great experience notheless. Would 100% recommend but chose a good movie

For context: My movie was starting at 6:50 so I came 30 minutes early to order food and buy my…read moreticket. After I bought my ticket and poutine I had to wait over 25 minutes for my poutine as the worker in the food area was conversing with and making food solely for his coworkers.

Great place' Always find great entertainment at Neptune…read more Have been there a few times and it's always been a good experience.

The mamma Mia musical was really beautiful and the professional actors did a amazing job I hope…read moreI'll come back in November for Wizard of oz

Eye Level is super sweet and great. Located on Gottingen Street, it provides a low key environment…read morefeaturing local artists' fresh, inspired and sometimes zany works. I've been here for a few openings as well as for the Nocturne festival. The space is simple: a single white long rectangular room, with a reception area in the back. Nestled into one of the back most corners, you will find a rich selection of zines - small publications consisting of writings, pictures, etc. You can buy them or peruse (I recommend buying - they don't cost much and you'll be supporting the artist). You should indeed check out this little gallery. It's a simple space, filling a very necessary position as a purveyor of local (and sometimes visiting) artists' creations! GO!

Eyelevel is a gallery that brings a fresh element into Halifax's art scene. Its a small and quaint…read morelittle setting run by a sweet bunch of people who like to keep things interesting. The gallery provides some great local work and prefers to play on a more conceptualized art experience. A few months ago I attended a free cinema night that featured a 1979 Bowie documentary called 'Cracked Actor', and 2 other short films covering contrasting sub cultures of times past. Definitely a worthy venture, as I wouldn't have sought these films out on my own. Popcorn and beer were served as well. The gallery holds spoken word shows, most recently "Dear Diary", in which submissions were pooled together for people to read private thoughts, or written piece to portray such a manner. Very cool as a collective entity. I'd consider this one of the freshest contributors to art in the city and a place to keep tabs on for interesting and provocative shows.

My favourite time of year! It may be a coincidence that this annual film festival kicks off on or…read morenear my birthday, but I think we were destined to celebrate together. This year's schedule is chock full of amazing local and international features and shorts that'll keep you busy through the end of September. I definitely recommend checking out at least one of the parties or galas (the opening + closing parties and the AFCOOP Film 5 party are always on my schedule). It's beneficial to get a film fan pass so you can hop from theatre to theatre and not worry about tickets. Be advised that you should show up around a half-hour early to get in line. For tickets and more information head on down to Park Lane and visit the box office.

From the owner: The Atlantic Film Festival is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the…read moreworld. It's a festival that turns Halifax - a charming and historic coastal city - into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the Atlantic Film Festival is a champion of local filmmakers, committed to bridging the gap. We attract some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. All of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together. A not-for-profit organization, the Atlantic Film Festival depends heavily upon its strong ties to the surrounding and thriving arts community.