Carbon Arc Cinema is marking a major milestone this month as it turns 15, celebrating a decade and a half of bringing independent films to Halifax audiences. The cinema, which began as a pop-up operation in the Hollis Street Khyber building before moving to its current home inside the Museum of Natural History, will host a special birthday event on July 17.
The evening will feature a screening of Scala!!!, the documentary by Jane Giles and Ali Catterall, which charts the rise and fall of London’s legendary Scala Cinema, renowned for its eclectic programming and influence on generations of artists and cinephiles. With its full title—Scala!!! Or, the Incredibly Strange Rise and Fall of the World’s Wildest Cinema and How It Influenced a Mixed-Up Generation of Weirdos and Misfits—the film is a fitting tribute to the spirit of independent movie houses everywhere, and a natural choice for Carbon Arc’s anniversary.
Beyond the film, the night promises more than just cake, popcorn and a licensed bar as audience members will join in a conversation exploring the importance of indie cinemas in the community. The discussion will include the history of Carbon Arc Cinema, the significance of independent exhibitors in Halifax, and the challenges facing local exhibitors, as well as some collaborative ideas concerning establishing a ‘forever home’ in Halifax for an indie cinema for the future.
The discussion will feature special guest Siloën Daley, who founded Carbon Arc in 2010 and guided it through its first decade, in addition to her work as a filmmaker and director of The Animation Festival of Halifax. Also joining are Sonya Yokota William, director of the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE), with over 15 years of experience championing non-mainstream film across Canada and the UK; Halifax filmmaker Brielle LeBlanc, co-director of Fleapit Cinema and a familiar face in local film circles; and Ian Matheson of Propeller Arcade, who programs some of Halifax’s most popular repertory screenings in a space once home to the legendary Wormwoods Dog and Monkey Cinema.
The celebration kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at Carbon Arc Cinema, located at 1747 Summer Street (inside the Natural History Museum), with the film starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at carbonarc.ca.