The Nickel

OCTOBER 16-18, 2026. SEE LINK IN BIO TO SIGN UP!! We'll be hosting the 15th edition of our infamous 48-Hour Horror Film Challenge this month from October 16-18 — and for the first time teaming up with our buds at FOG FEST VI for the screening. If you're somehow not already familiar, the Nickel's 48-Hour Horror Film Challenge is intended to encourage anyone (ie. YOU) to write, shoot and edit a short horror film in a weekend. It’s not a contest, it's free to participate, and registration is open until the challenge closes. Films can be any length under 5 minutes, and can fall under any type of horror. How hard could it be?? 💀💀💀

We're so excited to be collaborating with the inaugural E.C.H.O. electronic music fest on a FREE public screening on Sunday of the electronic music documentary MAESTRO, directed by Josell Ramos (2003) at the Majestic Theatre. Doors & music at 6pm, screening at 7pm. Corey Clocksy will be selecting some choice music beforehand, and @backslashgarbagefile (Kai Bryan), @bearorvinyl (Bryan Oliver) & Cyril Butler will discuss the film and explore the history of the queer dance scene in St. John's after the screening. MAESTRO is a documentary about Larry Levan, the legendary DJ and resident of New York’s Paradise Garage, and the underground club culture that surrounded him. Through interviews, archival footage, music, and the voices of those who were there, the film explores Levan’s influence on DJ culture, house music, disco, and the evolution of the club as a space for experimentation, identity, freedom, and connection. More than a portrait of one DJ, Maestro captures a pivotal moment in New York nightlife. From the transformative sound systems and marathon dance floors of the Paradise Garage to the wider community that helped shape modern dance music. For E.C.H.O. Fest, we’re bringing the film to St. John’s as a chance to revisit an essential piece of club history and experience the story of one of the DJs who changed what it meant to play music for a room. For tickets see link in bio at @echo___nl

Sunday, September 27 ✴︎ Maestro, directed by Josell Ramos (2003), will be screening at @majestictheatrest.johns as part of Day 3 of E.C.H.O. Fest. Doors & music at 6pm, Maestro screening at 7pm. @corey.clocksy will be joining us for some choice musical selections, as well as @backslashgarbagefile @bearorvinyl & Cyril Butler for a Q&A after. Presented in collaboration with our friends @nickelfestival 📀 Maestro is a documentary about Larry Levan, the legendary DJ and resident of New York’s Paradise Garage, and the underground club culture that surrounded him. Through interviews, archival footage, music, and the voices of those who were there, the film explores Levan’s influence on DJ culture, house music, disco, and the evolution of the club as a space for experimentation, identity, freedom, and connection. More than a portrait of one DJ, Maestro captures a pivotal moment in New York nightlife. From the transformative sound systems and marathon dance floors of the Paradise Garage to the wider community that helped shape modern dance music. For E.C.H.O. Fest, we’re bringing the film to St. John’s as a chance to revisit an essential piece of club history and experience the story of one of the DJs who changed what it meant to play music for a room. Weekend passes & individual tickets available now via Resident Advisor (link in bio) 🔗 Reserve your seat for the screening at majestictheatrehill.ca

Access note: Majestic Theatre is wheelchair accessible. The film will be presented with closed captions. Full event accessibility information is available on the The Majestic Theatre website site listing, link in bio.

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Come bask in the glow of the projector light. ✨✨ Saturday from 2-4pm at Lawnya Vawnya HQ we will be sharing a looped reel of all 17 submissions for the 1-Minute Experimental Film Challenge. Part of the amazing @holdfastfestival art crawl taking over the downtown tomorrow afternoon. Featuring: Jacob Burden — "D.D" César Espinosa — "Wait" Jacinda Sinclair — "Never" Katie Stanley — "Strange Things That Happen During Teatime" Kai Bryan — "Incidence" Aaron Russell — "Where's Scrungo" Travis Lucas — "Abfluss" MK Morris — "Nothing." Jacob Burden — "D.D" Jonathan Kennedy — "I Am (Not) Speaking" Louis Atkinson — "The Royal Oui Sol Train Line Dance" Krissy Breen — "Static" J. S. Elford — "Give Them Something" Noah Gillard — "Pause" Nate Gates — "I.C.U." Ellen Beth Reid and Mark Hunter — "Sand" David Demchuk — "Wildflowers" shan — "rock paper scissors"

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We're excited to announce that our 1-Minute Experimental Film Challenge is back! Make a short experimental film between noon August 7 and noon August 11 of one minute long, and have it show on a loop as part of the HOLD FAST Art Crawl on Saturday, August 15 in St. John's, NL! Get weird! Sign up at the link in bio or type this guy out with your fingies: nickelfestival.com/challenges/1min Thanks to our pals @holdfastfestival Contemporary Arts Festival for the fun opportunity!

Missed the festival? Here are six amazing films we screened at Nickel 2026 you can watch online any time: FREE: • The Muse (Wanda Nolan) on NFB • Balconada (Iva Tokmakchieva) on Vimeo • We Were The Scenery (Christopher Radcliff) on Short of the Week PAID/SUBSCRIPTION: • Uiksaringitara / Wrong Husband (Zacharias Kunuk) on Apple TV • Volcelest (Éric Briche) on Vimeo On Demand • Luz Diabla (Canda / Boffo / Plaza) on Vimeo On Demand See the /notes link in bio.