We celebrate and inspire independent film in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Founded in 2001, the Nickel Independent Film Festival is a celebration of local and international independent film. Our annual festival happens in June in St. John’s, and other workshops, screenings and film challenges take place throughout the year and across the province. See below for some examples of what we do.

FILMMAKING IN SCHOOLS

First Take, our school filmmaking tour, teaches filmmaking to youth across the province.

The program brings filmmakers into schools across the province to screen short documentaries made by youth, and then lead hands-on documentary filmmaking workshops with the students. Made possible by ArtsNL and the NL Department of Education and Early Childhood Development through its Cultural Connections Strategy.

In 2019 filmmakers lead the workshops across Newfoundland and Labrador, with visits in St. Lawrence, Goose Bay, Sheshatshiu, Bell Island and St. John’s.

NICKEL NEW VOICES PROJECT

A project to foster more diversity in local filmmaking. This project, kick-started in 2018 with funding support from TELUS, has helped four beginner filmmakers of diverse cultural backgrounds create short films on the subject of belonging.

POP-UP FILM SCREENINGS

The Nickel screens films across the province and throughout the year. We team up with organizations and events across the province to hold screenings of independent films that people would not otherwise have the opportunity to see. To stay up-to-date, like us on Facebook @nickelfestival.

CREATIVE FILM CHALLENGES

We give filmmakers a creative push, and help beginners see themselves as filmmakers. Every year we hold multiple DIY film challenges where participating filmmakers write, shoot, and edit a short film in a short amount of time.