Zeitgeist Films

AFFILIATION: Not associated with any film societies or the like, but The Fine Arts does play host to the Asheville Jewish Film Festival and QFest, a LGBT festival. 

SPECIAL SKILLS: Affordable concessions in the lobby ($2 Sno Caps?!) and a wide selection of local beers to enjoy with your favorite art house film. Also they have this incredible list of every film they’ve ever played. It’s amazing, and makes you feel like you need to update your Netflix queue pronto. 

DCP ?: Still runs 35mm, but they are currently converting to digital projection; the transition should be complete sometime this summer. 

FIRST ZEITGEIST MOVIE: “Fire” on December 19, 1997. 

PRICE OF A SMALL POPCORN: $3

Tucked away in Asheville, North Carolina, this beautiful Art Deco theater is “dedicated to first run art and independent films,” and plays nearly 50 films per year according to manager Neal Reed. Originally a movie house called The Strand, and then later an X rated adult film house, it was totally renovated and reopened in 1997 by John Cram, who set out to revitalize the art scene in Asheville by opening several galleries, and then renovating the Fine Arts—one of the galleries, Blue Spiral 1, adjoins the theater (with the blue awning in the picture). The theater has transformed into the destination for Asheville movie lovers.  The Salt of Life opens at the Fine Arts Theatre on May 18th, and Neal reminded us that all shows are $5 on Tuesdays — so grab a popcorn, mix in some Sno Caps and a local brew, and go check it out!