Festival Kick-Off Opening Reception

Carbon Arc Cinema- Lobby Thursday May 9 5-6:30PM FREE

Join us in celebrating the beginning of AFX8, our eighth annual Animation Festival of Halifax! Enjoy snacks, drinks (cash bar), and tunes from DJ James Reid as we toast our weekend full of screenings, events, and site-specific animation art. Help us raise a glass to mark the past, present, and future of the art and industry of animation!

Networking Lunch

Carbon Arc Cinema - Boardroom 1747 Summer Street, Halifax Friday May 10 1-2:30PM FREE

Want to network with your animation peers, but you’re not into the networking vibe? This casual brown-bag lunch event will help you groove with some like-minded animation lovers while you take your lunch break. A great way to make some new friends and find out what else is going on in our corner of the animation world!

Table Discussion Topic:

Open source, cheap or free animation software

Host of this table is Michael Lei, a 3D Artist originally from Brampton, Ontario, who studied at the University of Toronto for Fine Arts before pursuing 3D animation at Seneca College. Michael worked at a few video game studios and did some freelance work before moving to Halifax in 2006, when he began working for DHX Media’s 3D animation studio (formerly Halifax Film Co.) in the Modeling Department producing 3D assets for their children’s shows.

Installation Cocktail Social

Carbon Arc Cinema- Lounge Friday May 10 4:30-7PM FREE

A relaxed, celebratory cocktail ‘hour’ to toast the artists of AFX’s inaugural installation exhibition, Under the Rug, curated by Sam Decoste. All installation works will be on view and open to the public. Meet the artists and the curator, enjoy live music from The Dawn Airs (Benn Ross and Seth Huntley), and take in the animated loops created during Dots and Loops Open Studio sessions at Wonder’neath for some inspiration.

Indulge in delicious vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian foods from around the city as you try your hand at stop motion animation. Food $5. Cash bar. Evening screenings to follow. Drop by!

Animated Lounge

Carbon Arc Cinema- Lounge Saturday May 11 4:30-Midnight FREE

Indulge in delicious vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian foods from around the city, catch up with others, and try your hand at animation in between the evening’s events.

The Animated Lounge, where anything could happen!

Wrap Party With The ConquerAlls

Carbon Arc Cinema Saturday May 11 10PM FREE

The ConquerAlls have been setting dancefloors around Nova Scotia aflame since 2017. This seven-piece band plays the best of first and second-wave ska, with a bit of reggae, rockabilly, and Northern soul thrown in for good measure. Their tight rhythm section, killer horns and engaging and entertaining vocal performance have showgoers up and skanking faster than you can shout “2 Tone!” The ConquerAlls’ features former members of The Flashing Lights, Dr. Skankworthy, The October Game, Forbidden Dimension and charity fundraisers The Soda Shoppe Gang.