About Us
Founded in 2001, the Nickel Independent Film Festival is a celebration of independent filmmaking in Newfoundland and Labrador. We are named after the former Nickel theatre, Newfoundland's first cinema.
At our annual summer festival we strive to create an enthusiastic and creative atmosphere that leaves audiences and filmmakers feeling a strong connection to independent film culture in the province.
Throughout the year we offer screenings, educational programs, professional workshops, creative film challenges, and mentorship programs that bring us across the province. We are an incorporated charitable, not-for-profit organization based in St John’s and we happily accept donations.
CHARITY # 856136007 RR0001
MAIL: PO Box 1644, Stn C, St. John’s, NL A1C 5P3
EMAIL: info@nickefestival.com
Board
Ane Christensen, Chair
Jeff Lewis, Treasurer
Timothy Conway, Secretary
Andrea Kean
Cara Powell
Justin Oakey
Matthew Power
Mayra Sanchez
Shane Mills
Travis Richards
Staff
FESTIVAL STAFF
Kai Bryan, Festival Coordinator
Elaine Pond, Sponsorship Coordinator
Ed Tanasychuk, Tech Coordinator
Mal Parrott, Event Coordinator
Phil Winters, Tech Director
YEAR-ROUND STAFF
Elling Lien, Executive Director
Sandy May, Outreach Coordinator
Mike Fardy, Director of Programming and Communications
Poster design by Noah Bender
Nickel 2023 theme music by Medians
2023 Major Funders
ArtsNL/Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council
Canada Council for the Arts
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
Government of Canada: Department of Canadian Heritage
TELUS Community Fund
Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation
Canada Summer Jobs
Telefilm Canada
City of St. John's
2023 Festival Sponsors
CBC NL
College of the North Atlantic
Coast 101.1 FM
Alt Hotel
Quidi Vidi Brewery
NL Independent Filmmaker's Co-op
ACTRA Newfoundland
Budden Law
IATSE Local 709
Pope Productions
Bluedrop
St. John's International Women's Film Festival
Christina Parker Gallery
Newfoundland Distillery
Sheilagh O’Leary
MusicNL
Eastern Edge
The Nickel Independent Film Festival
The Nickel Independent Film Festival celebrates and inspires independent film in Newfoundland and Labrador. Since 2001 we have been giving people opportunities to see independent short and feature films that are engaging, challenging and which offer fresh perspectives which audiences would otherwise not be able to see. Over the years we have worked hard to help emerging and established local filmmakers develop their skills, offer them platforms to showcase their work, inspire them to explore and develop their own unique voices, and expose them to high quality work from around the world. For more than 20 years filmmakers and audiences have enjoyed the creative, enthusiastic spirit of the festival and they leave feeling a strong connection to local film culture and the filmmaking community.
The Nickel celebrates film during our summer festival and its special screenings and screening partnerships throughout the year. Our week-long festival runs each June at the LSPU Hall, featuring a selection of films from here and around the world. From features to shorts, from narrative drama, animation, comedy, experimental, horror to music video, we engage audiences with varied programs. Alongside the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival in October, the Nickel stands as one of the few opportunities for people to gather and see independent films — especially local films and short films — in the province. We continually strive to extend our reach beyond the city limits by partnering with organizations and schools to present independent film screenings in rural areas across Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Nickel inspires film by offering filmmakers opportunities to see stimulating and diverse work, and offering workshops and professional development opportunities for all levels of experience. We also offer film production programs, and hold multiple, non-competitive film challenges throughout the year.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s geographic isolation and artistic drive makes for a strong do-it-yourself streak in the province. In the twenty years since The Nickel started in 2001, the equipment required to shoot and edit a film has become almost universally accessible. Armed with smartphone cameras and free computer software, more people are taking the leap and creating their own films. The Nickel thrives in this DIY space. Through our popular filmmaking challenges, our workshops series and our school visits, we are always encouraging and supporting film creation. Our programs help newcomers to filmmaking discover talents and passions they didn’t know they had, and give seasoned filmmakers avenues to experiment and take risks. We recognize the amazing potential for people to develop unique voices and create their own work, and we also understand that creating work allows people to develop a deeper connection to and appreciation for the art of film. In an era of streaming online video, events and programs like ours play an essential role by bringing people together to appreciate and discuss the medium and help reinforce community through film culture.
We make an effort to ensure that our programs and events are inexpensive and accessible. We offer workshops directed at all levels of experience, but with a special focus on emerging or beginner-level filmmakers. Special funding allows us to subsidize these workshops and offer them at low cost — often free or by donation. Road show screenings, discussion panels, our school tour program are also offered for free. We frequently work with other festivals, nonprofits and industry organizations to identify programming which will appeal to their members, helping build audiences within the greater community.