Nickel Independent Film Festival 2026

First review of my long distance residence! Hangashore is playing on Monday Jun 22 at 7PM Cloudy, foggy, mysterious folk thriller. Loved this movie!!!!!!!! aaaa!!!!!

The @nickelfestival presents a late night screening of short films grouped under the collective theme "The Darkest Timeline" on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 10:00 PM. The program includes two French animated shorts with a marked and interesting contrast. I reached out to both directors and they were kind enough to reply to me. First, I talked with @eric_briche, director of "Volcelest," a visceral and thrilling adaptation of an animal story by the early 20th century writer Louis Pergaud. Part of our interview, translated into English, is included below: Q: The title of the program under which your short film is screening at the Nickel Independent Film Festival is "The Darkest Timeline," a phrase that is used nowadays to describe a certain despair about the political moment we are living in globally. What do you think about your short film's relation to this idea? A: Yes, of course, I see the connection with this idea. The relationship between humans and living beings is a truly global political issue. Is there any hope for a peaceful coexistence with other living beings? I'm a bit pessimistic. Animals simply seek to feed themselves, reproduce, or survive; humans naively obey laws that they themselves have created. ["...l'homme obéit naïvement à des lois qu'il a lui-même créé": image crop mistake mine.] Q: The title of the short film remains untranslated in its English version. It’s a delightful, alien-looking word, which I understand derives from traditional hunting practice. Is this a word that needs a footnote for most French speakers today as well? What informed your choice of the title? A: “Volcelest” is an old word (no longer in use) that refers to animal tracks in the ground. I discovered this word and its explanation on a bottle of white wine (an excellent wine, by the way!). I thought it was perfect for my film. There was also a double entendre that appealed to me: vol (“theft”) céleste (“celestial”).

THINGS GET WEIRD @nickelfestival! This collection of shorts spans across many genres, and while ‘weird’, they feel like they’re tackling very familiar modern fears. Several explore technology as a means to hurt, divide, and erase human lives. Phones are signs of age, class, political affiliation. Esoteric, violent gadgets are used by the wealthy to enforce poverty. But the loss or lack of technological control is almost as dangerous. They are also extremely funny. ‘Finger guns’ is a pointed satire that challenges you across the political spectrum. A parody of outrage culture, it illustrates how even something extremely stupid can still radicalize everyone around it. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that two of the films centre around the presence of the devil. In the Argentinian animation ‘Luz Diabla’ danger is everywhere. Found family within the queer community, tradition, culture, faith, technology... None of these can save you from yourself. Evil is cloaked in faith and love. Even light, music, and sanctuary can be traps for the careless. Also, there’s one that’s kind of Evil Dead II except zits instead of zombies. These movies are dark, challenging, and illustrative, yes yes, sure. But also splattery fun. THINGS GET WEIRD: Radio hell Technophobic Finger Guns Luz Diabla An Interview with the Devil Oliver Pimple 10 pm Friday, June 26 at the LSPU hall

The Darkest Timeline shows this Thursday, June 25th at 10PM. Visit the @nickelfestival website for tickets, the full schedule, and more! Made for the Nickel Film Festival as part of the Cartoonist-in-Residence program. (Thank you so much to the nickel for such an exciting and special opportunity!! This has been an absolute blast!)

My last comic for the Nickel! This was such a cool challenge- I’m so grateful to the Nickel Independent Film Festival for providing this residency. I’m looking forward to seeing more films next week! Labrador in Focus Screening Sunday June 28th 2026 2:30 pm @therooms_nl Alt text “Student made shorts Rocks and The Talent Show Are a pair of mockumentaries that made me laugh out loud with their absurd, plot and characters Stagefright is a high school set flasher where the show must go on… “Partridge Cleaning” is a short showing how to prep this game bird to eat. “Lydia Campbell” was my introduction to this historical figure which prompted me to go down a rabbit hole to learn more Finally “ The Labrador Creative Arts Festival” A beautifully shot heartwarming documentary. Present-day scenes of dedicated teachers organizers, and students mixed with archival footage of place through its 50-year history. It made me nostalgic for a time and place I’ve never experienced.”

“UIKSARINGITARA (Wrong Husband)” screens Tuesday, June 23 at 7pm at the 2026 @nickelfestival 1. Happy NIPD to all the rad Indigenous folks in my life, I am blessed to know you 2. You can follow @theindy.community for updates on the current news story as it continues to unfold