What’s the buzz; tell me what’s happening. Sounds like some lyrics from the play and music “Jesus Christ, Superstar,” but it’s especially appropriate in thinking about The Nightlight Cinema, a 50-seat, one-screen movie-theater that is opening July 1 at 30 N. High Street in downtown Akron.

The Nightlight Cinema will be open six days a week – Tuesday through Sunday – with two viewings, one starting at 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. and the next around 9 p.m. All that sort of thing is being firmed up, but the theater will be off to a start with the showing of award-winning American independent film maker and director Jim Jarmusch’s “Only Lovers Left Alive.”

What’s cool about a Jarmusch film is that the director was born in the Akron area. His recently released “Only Lovers Left Alive” starts Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska and John Hurt. The film is a romantic vampire movie about a couple of vampires (Adam and Eve) who are reunited and living a quiet reclusive life when Eve’s younger sister shows up and ruins everything. Without giving the plot away, the couple have to leave town and things only get worse.

“Only Lovers Left Alive” will be shown July 1-3 at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. and at midnight on July 4-5. Tickets must be purchased at the box office prior to the show, and entrance is first come, first served.

Jim Jarmusch, American independent film maker. Photo from The Place

The Nightlight Cinema Theater is a product of Akron Film+Pixel, a Knight Arts grantee. AF+P Director Steve Felix reportedly has said that he is quite excited to have local legend Jarmusch’s film as the first up. It will be followed by lots of independent works by modern filmmakers, along with retro classics restored for a larger theater-sized screen.

Felix, and AF+P Director of Communications Robert Lucas, have been involved in bringing new and independent film to the area for quite some time. AF+P grew out of the Akron Film Festival, according to Lucas, and struck off on its own, developing lots of film-related events and projects. One, the Freakishly Short Animation Festival, is just that, short by funny, moving, or just plain interesting films that get shown in late October and were part of the Downtown Art Walk in the past. It also handles the Akron Film+Pixel Festival, which brings brand new film to various venues in the downtown Akron area over a four-day period. It also has its club at the center of activities, where the group watches vintage films at the Akron Art Museum (also a Knight Arts grantee), and the dissects the film for technique and the like.

Such a history of bringing the kind of film experience that you don’t see elsewhere is at the heart of what Felix and Lucas are trying to accomplish. As Lucas has said, they can bring not only indies, but foreign films, and revival movies (like “A Hard Day’s Night” with the Beatles coming July 4-6, 8 and 10 at 7 p.m. as part of the 50th anniversary of that film).

The Nightlight Cinema Theater is quite a coup for the Akron area and fills a gap in access to the world of notable and worthy film viewing.

The Nightlight Cinema Theater’s premiere will begin with a showing of Jim Jarmusch’s “Only Lovers Left Alive” at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on July 1-3, and at 12 a.m. July 4-5 at the theater, 30 N. High St., Akron; 330-603-1520; www.akronfilm.com. Tickets are $8.50 at the box office.