Nickel Independent Film Festival 2024

A celebration of independent filmmaking in Newfoundland & Labrador.

The 24th annual Nickel Independent Film Festival returns June 10-16, 2024

Screenings

In-person at the LSPU Hall in St. John's and online across Canada

In-Person Tickets Screenings

Sweetland

Monday, June 10 at 5:30pm

In-Person Tickets Screenings

The King Tide

Monday, June 10 at 8:30pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

A Quiet Girl

Tuesday, June 11 at 7pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

The Governor of Georgetown and others: Docs on people often overlooked

Wednesday, June 12 at 7pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

Stronger Together: Films on community and family

Thursday, June 13 at 7pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

Under Cover of Night: Thrillers and horror

Thursday, June 13 at 9:30pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

Laughter and Tears: Dramatic Comedies about Love and Friendship

Friday, June 14 at 7pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

The Edge of Reality: Mind-Bending Films after Dark

Friday, June 14 at 9:30pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

Three Promises and others: True stories about survival and legacy

Saturday, June 15 at 1pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

Creative Resilience: Films about artists and their work

Saturday, June 15 at 3:30pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

Undercurrents: Moving dramatic shorts

Saturday, June 15 at 7pm

In-Person Tickets Watch Online Screenings

Reflecting on Truth: Stories about memory and reconstructing the past

Sunday, June 16 at 3:30pm

In-Person Tickets Screenings

Plan 709 from Outer Space

Sunday, June 16 7pm

0:00

/0:31

Nickel logo animation 2024

Screenings

Film Labs

Tuesday to Friday! Free and open to the public, these drop-in sessions are part filmmaker co-working space and part drop-in workshop.

Other Events

Film School in a Day

Join us at the LSPU Hall Cox and Palmer Second Space for this short workshop series aimed at beginning and intermediate filmmakers! Attendance is free, but capacity is limited.

Other Events

2024 Festival Program

Flip through or download our 2024 festival program

#features

View features

documentary films features Palestine

At the turn of the millennium, as the Israeli army retaliates against the Second Intifada in the West Bank, Palestinian mother Suha films her family’s daily life. Time spent sheltering in the basement at night and her two young children’s fear of the shelling are recurring elements. Fast-forward ...

local documentary features films adoption Canada

A Quiet Girl

In this deeply moving feature documentary, adopted Montreal filmmaker Adrian Wills pieces together his complex birth origins in Newfoundland. Wills spends over two years in search of answers, revealing disquieting parallels between his own life and that of the birth mother he never knew. What beg...

local films features documentary Canada

The Governor of Georgetown

A one-hour documentary on the daily life of beloved St. John’s personality and bottle-collector Wayne Skinner — otherwise known as The Governor of Georgetown. Skinner passed away in March of 2023 at the age of 66, but was known by many for his sweet, loveable and gentle soul. In this sensitive tr...

local films features adaptation Canada

Sweetland

When the government offers to resettle an outport fishing community in Newfoundland, residents must unanimously choose between the past and the future. As relationships fray and come undone, retired fisherman Moses Sweetland (Mark Lewis Jones) holds out as the last remaining resident. Directed by...

local films features thriller Canada

The King Tide

An idyllic island village devolves into civil war when a child with mysterious powers washes ashore. Newfoundland Director Christian Sparkes builds a world that feels like a modern fairytale, blending supernatural elements with the difficult politics of isolated communities, all set against the s...

#animation

View animation

animation short films France

Summer '96

Every summer, Paul’s family has a picnic on a small French island accessible only at low-tide. When the tide takes them by surprise this year, they’re forced to spend the night on the beach. In this beautiful hand-drawn tale, a young boy wrestles with the eternal between the world of adults and t...

animation films Poland

Slow Light

Born blind, the hero of this film turns seven before he begins to see images from the past — and they soon follow him like a curse. Like light from stars which have long since died, the things and people he sees are often long gone. A tragic story told beautifully with a variety of animation tech...

animation experimental student short films Australia

Caffeinism

Blending abstract 2D animation and a carefully crafted soundtrack, Caffeinism explores the transformative experience of drinking a cup of coffee. Immersing viewers in a vibrant, sensory journey, the film contemplates how caffeine influences both the physical and emotional realms of human existence.

animation films Germany

Pirouette

When a toy ballerina’s support breaks inside her music box she suddenly finds herself in a strange world. Her world is changing and she is struck by misfortune, but could there be hope for a new beginning?

animation films Portugal

Ice Merchants

Set in a precariously perched house on a cliff, this gorgeously animated film follows a father and son who parachute down to sell ice in the village each day until one day an unexpected warm-spell forces them to make a dramatic leap of faith. This film received a ton of awards, including an Oscar...

animation short history films Canada

Witch Woman

A dazzling stop-motion animation film that depicts one of the world’s most ancient stories: the fear of women’s power and knowledge of birth and motherhood.

animation drama short films Czechia

Electra

In this incredible hybrid stop-motion and live action short, Electra revisits the vivid fantasy world of her 10th birthday mixing childhood memories with surreal visions of rebellion, sexuality, and unresolved familial emotions.

animation short student stop motion films France

Human Resources

In this darkly comic stop motion animation, Andy goes to a recycling company where the secretary, Wanda, guides him through to the end.

animation short films Czechia

My Name is Edgar and I Have a Cow

A delightful animated film which follows Edgar as his life is disrupted by a newborn calf he sees on a tourist trip to a slaughterhouse. This film will have you giggling with glee thanks to its quirky animation and matter-of-fact narration.

animation student films France

Swing to the Moon

Swing to the Moon follows an ambitious spider on an impossible quest to reach the moon. Adorable character design, studio-quality animation, and a story full of heart and adventure make this film a stand-out for audiences of all ages. This was a thesis short film from students at French digital a...

animation short films Canada

Boat People

A short but powerful look at survival and the lasting impacts of history on human lives. Based on the widely celebrated storybook The Paper Boat from Toronto children's author and illustrator Thao Lam. As a child, Thao's mother would save ants from drowning, and later, in a twist of fate, ants he...

#local

View local

local documentary features films adoption Canada

A Quiet Girl

local short films Canada

A Fish Story

An eccentric old man in a local pub tells tales too tall to be true. This great local short from filmmaking duo Majchrzak and Peers recently received a nomination for Best Atlantic Short at the Silver Wave Film Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

local documentary short films indigenous Canada

Hebron Relocation

In 1959, residents of the community of Hebron were told that hey would be divided up and relocated to more southerly communities across Labrador. Weaving together intimate stories from her community with rare footage that gives us a glimpse of community life during this upheaval, director Holly ...

local short films drama Canada

Ballad of North Whale

After Raam, an international student, moves to Newfoundland to pursue his dreams and education, his housemate Joseph loses his job amidst the global pandemic. As they set out on a whale watching trip together, tragedy strikes leaving Raam questioning everything he knows.

local short drama films Canada

Fishbowl

A poetic drama about COVID’s shadow pandemic: domestic abuse. Amidst global lockdowns and restrictions, a former dancer is increasingly cut off from the world by her husband. When a goldfish is her only remaining friend, she’s forced to choose between placating her husband and freeing herself fro...

local experimental short films Canada

Scored by Time

After surviving a brutal attack, an older woman grapples to keep hold of her mind amidst Europe’s 19th-century social hierarchy. As she faces the end of her life, her long suffering from persecution is revealed, along with the deep sadness of having lost her young child years ago.

local short films Canada

Poster Child

An up-and-coming pianist is set to take the role of her childhood idol at the most prestigious orchestra in the country. When the virtuoso (Rhiannon Morgan) is not interested in being so easily replaced, the younger player has a choice to make.

local short films Canada

The Same

In the wake of an abusive father's death, two brothers contemplate the different paths they’ve taken in life, and their relationship to one another.

local documentary short films Canada

The Healing Jar

In this short meditative documentary, viewers are offered a space through ASMR techniques and poetic imagery, to relax and reflect on their own healing in a fast-paced, consumerist, and push-button world.

local documentary films indigenous Canada

Land of the Mi'kmaw: Travel by Canoe

For the Mi’kmaq community in Miawpukek First Nation, the revival of Birch Bark Canoe building is a vital link to their heritage and a crucial step in preserving their culture.

local documentary short films Canada

After Heather

Before suffering a severe traumatic brain injury overseas, Heather Williams was a rising Canadian dancer. This poignant documentary reveals a portrait of Williams’ lifelong love of dance, her resilient creative spirit, and her journey towards healing and recovery with the support of family friends.

local documentary short films art Canada

The Gaze

Through the eyes of painter Ginok Song, viewers travel from her girlhood in Pusan, South Korea to Petty Harbour, Newfoundland. Song uses Atlantic Realism in her paintings to challenge traditional gender roles and examine how women perceive the world. "The Gaze" showcases Song's distinctive artist...

local documentary films art Canada

Lessons from the Loom

Modern life has seen traditional weaving fall by the wayside, but in Newfoundland and Labrador a new generation of artists is working to revive the craft. Lessons from the Loom follows two younger loomers as they weave strands of the past and present together through mentorship and connecting to ...

local documentary short films indigenous art Canada

Women of This Land: Jennie Williams

A captivating short documentary about the life of Inuk artist and teacher, Jennie Williams. With the vibrant cityscape of St. John's as its backdrop, the film considers the challenges urban Inuk individuals face in preserving their cultural identity and connection to the land. The documentary cel...

local experimental music short films Canada

Calamus Variations

The final installment of Newfoundland filmmaker Kenneth J. Harvey’s experimental short series inspired by Walt Whitman. The film features a score by Andrew Staniland, played by cellist Vernon Regehr, set to a backdrop of abstract visual imagery reflecting on human relationships.

local documentary other experimental time lapse films Canada

Variations in Light and Shadows

A condensed look at the beautiful shifting landscapes of Bay St. George, NL. A short but sweet journey through time.

local short comedy Canada

Bounce

Darcy is a fifteen-year-old mix of energy, perfectionism, and insecurity. When an ultra-cute boy from her cadet corps insists that she attend that night’s Trampoline Social, Darcy raids her sister’s drawers and sets off for a dramatic evening of self-acceptance and sweet backflips.

local short comedy films Canada

Ghost Roommate

Desperate for an apartment, George finally lands a great spot - only to discover her new roommate is less corporeal than expected. Ghost Roommate is a funny and heartfelt film about first impressions, new friendships, and the ghastly state of the rental market

local short student comedy films Canada

Boy Toy

In this classic romance, Jane meets the perfect guy — who also happens to be a hand puppet. Is this real love, or could Jane maybe-possibly-perhaps be deluding herself?

local experimental short films Canada

Me No Pause

Menopause will impact every woman. It will change relationships, the way women feel about themselves, how they interact with others, and their perception of the world. In this experimental short comedy, "Me No Pause," we see the struggles of this midlife biological shift in a dark but playful light.

local short films Canada

The Odds of That

Two sisters who had given birth to sons just before the COVID pandemic commiserate about the trials and tribulations of motherhood over drinks, but while catching up they make a shocking discovery that may tear their family apart.

local short horror monster films Canada

Don't Let Them In

After escaping an abusive relationship, Heather is stalked by a vampiric monster that can change its shape to trick victims into inviting it inside. This film has some great effects, and a fresh-but-familiar creature, brought to life with inspired costuming. Local horror fans rejoice!

local short drama thriller films Canada

If Not To Die

A police detective recounts an investigation into a cold case with his late father’s old partner as he finds himself being pressed for answers from his station Chief. A local neo-noire full of twists and turns brought to life by great excellent NL talent. A great exercise in tension and restraint.

local short thriller drama films Canada

Pearls

A young man is forced to confront his past traumas after following his first day of work on a logging camp in the 1930s. An impressive period drama with gorgeous cinematography and great performances from a local cast.

local short student films Canada

Look Up

A hopeful look at how technology changes our perception of the world around us, this film follows Samuel who is challenged to give up his phone for a week. Boredom and emotional distance soon turn to an exciting new view of the world around him.

local documentary sports films Canada

The Golden League

Every winter in St. John’s, Newfoundland, a group of women, largely new to the sport and ranging in age from late teens to seventies, meet once a week to play recreational ice hockey. The Golden League is a heartwarming story of community-building, friendship, and sport.

local short student comedy drama films Canada

World's Greatest Dad

After his daughter makes him a “World’s Greatest Dad” bracelet, a distracted father sets out to do a long list of errands. After several encounters with another man sporting a “World’s Greatest Dad” bracelet, the father comes to realize where his attention should lie. A touching story that urges ...

local documentary short student films Canada

The Bearded Beekeeper

An engaging short documentary about Ian Hussey’s journey from farmer to Newfoundland's "Bearded Beekeeper". Hussey discusses his love of Newfoundland bees, the uniqueness of their honey, and his quest to sustainably share these gifts.

local documentary short films Canada

Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher

Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher tells the story of Evelyn Campbell, a Inuk K-12 teacher who blazed a trail for an Inuit-led educational system in Rigolet, Labrador. Director Heather Campbell combines watercolour paintings, home movies, family photos and animation to celebrate her grandmother’s spirit...

local films features documentary Canada

The Governor of Georgetown

local films features thriller Canada

The King Tide

local films features adaptation Canada

Sweetland

#comedy

View comedy

local short comedy Canada

Bounce

short comedy films Ireland

Jill and Lill Do Knick Knacks

Two teenage girls find themselves in deep water after a seemingly innocuous prank ends in manslaughter. Jill and Lill is laugh-out-loud funny, with an absurd series of events paired with perfectly delivered dialogue that is equal parts poetic and dumb.

local short comedy films Canada

Ghost Roommate

local short student comedy films Canada

Boy Toy

In this classic romance, Jane meets the perfect guy — who also happens to be a hand puppet. Is this real love, or could Jane maybe-possibly-perhaps be deluding herself?

short drama comedy films Canada

Making Babies

After many years together, a couple decides to have a baby but after many unsuccessful attempts, the partners struggle to maintain their love and unity. Making Babies is a minimalist comedy drama that lays bare how love is sometimes tested and torn by forces we cannot control.

short narrative comedy experimental films Canada

Late Summer

A mute loner encounters ambivalent feelings, first loves, and the heart break of pre-adolescence at a haunted summer camp. Late Summer brings the retro camp aesthetic to life with fantastic use of practical and visual effects paired with sets and costumes that bring this charming film to life.

short comedy drama films France

Peter the grave

Matthias & Victoria wander through the labyrinthine Saint-Ouen Cemetery in search of a grave. With no help from the groundskeeper the search seems hopeless but this young couple will find something else they were looking for on this adventure. Romantic, charming, and humorous, Peter the Grave bri...

comedy films short Canada

Dead Cat

When the family cat suddenly dies, rather than having a tough conversation with their young daughter two parents opt to have it taxidermied. A funny look at the consequences of trying to protect others from an uncomfortable truth.

local short student comedy drama films Canada

World's Greatest Dad

#experimental

View experimental

documentary experimental short films Ireland

Cumha

In this moving experimental documentary, a young Irish filmmker contemplates her Gaelic roots, and their intersection with language, land, and identity.

documentary short films experimental Netherlands

Neighbour Abdi

Somali-born Abdi, now a furniture designer and support-worker in the Netherlands, teams up with his filmmaker and special effects expert neighbor to reenact his tumultuous past marked by war, violence and crime. Using special effects and reconstructions, they explore Abdi's painful history in a p...

animation experimental student short films Australia

Caffeinism

local experimental short films Canada

Scored by Time

experimental short films Canada

In the Whiteness

In the Whiteness is a poetic exploration of language, land, and identity through the eyes of a Harari-Ethiopian woman displaced by war. Now living in Canada, she uses poetry and movement as a meditative method to reconnect with her roots and establish magical bonds with her ancestors.

local experimental music short films Canada

Calamus Variations

experimental short student films Canada

Gags N' Gals: Male Order

Inspired by the works of Lucas Cranach the Elder, a Renaissance painter renowned for his vivid portrayals of mythological and religious themes, 'Gags N’ Gals: Male Order' reinterprets these classical images through a modern lens. This experimental short film explores the empowerment of female sen...

local documentary other experimental time lapse films Canada

Variations in Light and Shadows

A condensed look at the beautiful shifting landscapes of Bay St. George, NL. A short but sweet journey through time.

short narrative comedy experimental films Canada

Late Summer

local experimental short films Canada

Me No Pause

#horror

View horror

local short horror monster films Canada

Don't Let Them In

short horror thriller Spain

Knock

Emma is studying alone at night when she hears noises coming from inside her apartment. As she investigates she makes a terrifying discovery. A psychological horror that will have viewers questioning what is real.

short horror drama films Spain

Óbito

Eugenia’s relationship is failing and her home is in jeopardy. When her boss offers her an opportunity to make an easy $50,000, she accepts. But at what cost?

short horror drama violence films Spain

Who Calls

A couple wakes up in the middle of the night to the sound of a stranger knocking on their door and trying to get inside. A thriller that ratchets up the tension with claustrophobic cinematography and powerful performances.

#documentary

View documentary

documentary films features Palestine

Three Promises

local documentary features films adoption Canada

A Quiet Girl

documentary experimental short films Ireland

Cumha

In this moving experimental documentary, a young Irish filmmker contemplates her Gaelic roots, and their intersection with language, land, and identity.

local documentary short films indigenous Canada

Hebron Relocation

documentary short films experimental Netherlands

Neighbour Abdi

local documentary short films Canada

The Healing Jar

local documentary films indigenous Canada

Land of the Mi'kmaw: Travel by Canoe

For the Mi’kmaq community in Miawpukek First Nation, the revival of Birch Bark Canoe building is a vital link to their heritage and a crucial step in preserving their culture.

local documentary short films Canada

After Heather

documentary films short art USA

Dandelion

In this heart-warming film, Kelvin Jackson turns the inside of the Ze Mart store where he works into a photo collage of customers. Residents of this Southside Syracuse community have been stigmatized by crime and violence, but through the store's photo collage, Jackson reminds residents to see th...

local documentary short films art Canada

The Gaze

local documentary films art Canada

Lessons from the Loom

local documentary short films indigenous art Canada

Women of This Land: Jennie Williams

documentary films short Iceland

Puffling

Each summer, on a remote island off the coast of Iceland, teenagers Birta and Selma rescue at-risk pufflings (young puffins) during the night. As the young birds embark on their first flights they’re often drawn inland to the town’s lights and lost. This film follows Birta and Selma as they save ...

local documentary other experimental time lapse films Canada

Variations in Light and Shadows

A condensed look at the beautiful shifting landscapes of Bay St. George, NL. A short but sweet journey through time.

local documentary sports films Canada

The Golden League

local documentary short student films Canada

The Bearded Beekeeper

local documentary short films Canada

Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher

documentary short student films USA

The (Other) 700 Club

At the intersection of Broadway and Thornton St in Brooklyn, a loose community of delivery workers gathers every day to hang out and share their experiences while waiting for their next job. The (Other) 700 Club opens the door to a microcosm of street philosophers that discuss about their own bel...

local films features documentary Canada

A celebration of independent filmmaking in Newfoundland & Labrador.

Screenings

Sweetland

The King Tide

A Quiet Girl

The Governor of Georgetown and others: Docs on people often overlooked

Stronger Together: Films on community and family

Under Cover of Night: Thrillers and horror

Laughter and Tears: Dramatic Comedies about Love and Friendship

The Edge of Reality: Mind-Bending Films after Dark

Three Promises and others: True stories about survival and legacy

Creative Resilience: Films about artists and their work

Undercurrents: Moving dramatic shorts

Reflecting on Truth: Stories about memory and reconstructing the past

Plan 709 from Outer Space

Nickel 2024

Other Events

Film Labs

Film School in a Day

2024 Festival Program

#features

Three Promises

A Quiet Girl

The Governor of Georgetown

Sweetland

The King Tide

#animation

Summer '96

Slow Light

Caffeinism

Pirouette

Ice Merchants

Witch Woman

Electra

Human Resources

My Name is Edgar and I Have a Cow

Swing to the Moon

Boat People

#local

A Quiet Girl

A Fish Story

Hebron Relocation

Ballad of North Whale

Fishbowl

Scored by Time

Poster Child

The Same

The Healing Jar

Land of the Mi'kmaw: Travel by Canoe

After Heather

The Gaze

Lessons from the Loom

Women of This Land: Jennie Williams

Calamus Variations

Variations in Light and Shadows

Bounce

Ghost Roommate

Boy Toy

Me No Pause

The Odds of That

Don't Let Them In

If Not To Die

Pearls

Look Up

The Golden League

World's Greatest Dad

The Bearded Beekeeper

Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher

The Governor of Georgetown

The King Tide

Sweetland

#comedy

Bounce

Jill and Lill Do Knick Knacks

Ghost Roommate

Boy Toy

Making Babies

Late Summer

Peter the grave

Dead Cat