Nickel Independent Film Festival 2019

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Congratulations to the Nickel Independent Film Festival on 19 years of celebrating and inspiring independent film in Newfoundland and Labrador.

ELINOR GILL RATCLIFFE, CM,ONL,LL.D, Freedom of the City of St. John’s

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BUY TICKETS

ONLINE nickelfestival.com

IN P E RSO N

L S P U Ha ll, 3 V ictor ia St reet

BY P H O N E

70 9 -7 5 3- 4 5 31

#NICKEL2019 SCREENING SCHEDULE

ALL SCREENING LOCATIONS: LSPU HALL, 3 VICTORIA STREET

MON

TUE

WED

THU

THU

OPENING NIGHT SHORTS

5-MINUTE DOC CHALLENGE SCREENING

NARRATIVE VOICES SPOTLIGHT

A NEW LIFE

INTO THE DARK SPOTLIGHT

Over a few short months in 1990, more

FEATURING

JUNE 17 • 7:30PM

PRESENTED BY CBC NL

JUNE 18 • 7:30PM

A diverse collection of films from around the

Want to make a documentary? The

world to kick off the festival, from animation to documentary, from experimental to dramatic. An excellent sampler to celebrate the opening of Nickel 2019.

JUNE 19 • 7:30PM

PRESENTED BY COAST 101.1 FEATURING

JUNE 20 • 7:00PM

PRESENTED BY BUDDEN & ASSOCIATES

than 3,000 Bulgarian political refugees sought asylum after landing in Gander, Newfoundland. Taking advantage of

Nickel’s 5-Minute Doc Challenge is a

The Legend of Aiasheu

creative challenge to anyone to write,

From the Innu folk tales of Northern

travellers fled uncertain futures under the

shoot and edit a short documentary in 10

Labrador, The Legend of Aiasheu tells the

failing communist regime. Stepping out

days, between June 7th and June 16th. It’s

story of a young boy abandoned by his

into the stark, snowy unknown, they began

free to participate, open to all ages, and

father on a remote island. With the love and

to reconstruct their lives in Canada. While

FEATURING

registration is open until the challenge

guidance of his ancestors he makes his way

chronicling multiple individuals’ experiences,

Te Quiero (NL)

ends. This public screening will take place

home and exacts revenge for the wrong

A New Life offers a universal reflection on

Take Me Swimming (Ireland)

on the mainstage of the LSPU Hall as

done. Filmmakers: Christine Poker, Prote

exile and immigration. Director & Writer:

On Hold (Experimental • NL)

part of the Nickel! Submitted short films

Poker, Simeon Poker • Runtime: 38 Mins • NL

Stefan Ivanov • Producer: Les Ivanov

Pickin’ Time (Animation • NL)

must be 5 minutes long, and can be any

Solitudes (Quebec)

documentary style, such as: first-person,

ALSO FEATURING

Behind Banana Vacuum (Documentary • NL)

fly-on-the-wall, nature documentary,

Hope (NL)

ALSO FEATURING

Think of the Worst (BC)

adventure, mockumentary, reality TV, etc.

Stolen (NL)

River of Fire (Documentary • NL)

Are You Volleyball? (Iran)

Register for free at nickelfestival.com

Empty Skies (USA)

Opioid Scare (NL)

a refueling stop en route to Cuba, the

Productions • Runtime: 1:15 Mins • Canada

Letters From The Dead (NB)

JUNE 20 • 9:00PM

New Woman New Woman is a disturbing gothic tale set in 1888 Newfoundland. An attractive, wealthy woman and a male pickpocket enjoy an opulent dinner together. The evening takes a dark turn, revealing that all is not as it seems. Director & Producer: Benjamin Noah • Writers: Benjamin Noah, C.H. Newell • 20 Minute Director’s Cut •NL ALSO FEATURING Seven (UK) The Last Vacation (USA) Abraham’s Walk (NL) “I Feel Unholy” (Music Video • NL) Short Wave (Iran) Bagheera (India)

“Bruise” (Music video • NL)

FRI

SAT

INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE

CONTROVERSIAL THE FANTASTIC SUBJECTS TO THE SURREAL SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT

JUNE 21 • 7:30PM

An independent filmmaker blows the financial backing for his new film on everything but the movie he’s supposed to make. Fueled by booze and desperation, he and a friend devise a bizarre slasher/ sexploitation plot as a way to to create the film. On the film’s remote set, he ruthlessly manipulates and entraps a cast of actors and assumes the role of the villain. As he spirals deeper into obsessive madness, violence and misogyny reigns, and he turns his shrinking cast on one another in order to complete the film. Director & Writer: G. Patrick Condon • Producers: G. Patrick Condon, Ian Vatcher, Walter Lawlor • Runtime: 96 Mins. • Newfoundland & Labrador ALSO FEATURING Troll (NL)

JUNE 22 • 1:30PM

SAT

JUNE 22 • 3:30PM

FEATURING

FEATURING

Using extensive interview transcripts,

In 1930’s Seattle, 20-year-old Richard H.

police records, and child actors, the Oscar-

Lyford was an aspiring filmmaker who

nominated Detainment recreates police

used his own equipment to make 9 movies.

interviews with Robert Thompson and Jon

Unreleased until now, the silent sci-fi film

Venables, the 10 year-old boys who were

As the Earth Turns was an obvious labour of

convicted of the abduction and murder

love for Lyford and his friends, and is full of

of 2-year-old James Bulger in 1993. In this

energy and wit. The film portrays the main

deeply emotionally-charged film, director

character, PAX, as a mad scientist who will

Vincent Lambe asks viewers to reflect

stop at nothing on his quest for world peace.

on difficult questions about the ethics of

Lyford eventually went to work for Disney

applying an adult justice model to children.

and won an Academy Award in 1950 for

Director & Writer: Vincent Lambe • Producer:

his documentary work. Director & Writer:

Darren Mahone • Runtime: 30 Mins. • Ireland

Richard H. Lyford • Producers: Richard H.

Detainment

As The Earth Turns

Lyford, Ed Hartman • Runtime: 45 Mins. • USA ALSO FEATURING Black Hours (Switzerland)

ALSO FEATURING

Thick Skin (Iceland)

Lucienne Eats A Car (France)

A New Home (NL)

Concrete (Animation • Switzerland)

SAT

SUN

IT WAS ALL SO WONDERFUL: THE EVERYDAY MAGIC OF MARY PRATT

IT WAS ALL SO WONDERFUL: THE EVERYDAY MAGIC OF MARY PRATT

It Was All So Wonderful: The Everyday Magic

ALSO FEATURING

of Mary Pratt follows the beloved artist’s

Some Saturdays (NL)

development as one of the county’s great

Common Law (NL)

realist painters. In this touching and timely

Two (Animation • NL)

JUNE 22 • 7:30PM

PRESENTED BY DEACON INVESTMENTS

JUNE 23 • 1:30PM

ENCORE MATINEE SCREENING

documentary, Harvey captures Pratt’s humour, strength and beauty of spirit, but also Mary’s feminist significance as chronicler of women’s experiences, with her fascination with and elevation of domestic objects. Documentary • Director & Producer: Kenneth J. Harvey • Runtime: 73 Mins. • NL ALSO FEATURING Some Saturdays (NL) Common Law (NL) Two (Animation • NL)

The Empty Woods (Experimental • MB) Astray (Animation • NL)

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THANK YOU

Deepest thanks to our extended community of film lovers, filmmakers, workshop leaders, sponsors, community partners, friends and volunteers who help make the Nickel possible, and to all our funders who have helped us grow our festival over these 19 years. Many, many thanks to the excellent Nickel board of directors, the amazing Nickel staff, and everybody who has helped along the way.

Special thanks to all our funders, in particular Natasha Green at Canadian Heritage, Line Dezainde

at the Canada Council for the Arts, Libby Creelman at the Province of NL, Ken Murphy and Katrina Rice at ArtsNL, Jacqui Dupont and Michelle Madley at the TELUS Community Board, NIFCO, Laura Churchill and Dorian Rowe at the NLFDC, and Théa Morash at the City of St John’s.

Also big thanks to Alison Edmunds • Amanda Bulman • Andy Jones • Ani Brinson • Anna Petras • Bern

Hammond • Brad Gover • Bryhanna Greenough • Bruce Brenton • Calla Lachance • Chrissy Lee • Christopher Pratt • Curtis Rioux • Danielle Hamel • Danielle Edwards • Dave Lane • Dingus Films • Dorian Rowe • Duncan De Young • Drew Brown • Elinor Gill Ratcliffe • Elisabeth de Mariaffi • Elizabeth Cull • Elizabeth Hicks • Emily Bridger • Felipé Diaz • Gayle St. Croix • Glenn Gear • Graham Godden • Grind Mind • Heather Elliott at Newfoundland Chocolate Company • Ian Cornelissen • Ian Vardy • Jamie Stamp • James Grace • Joshua Jameson • Justin Fong • Justin Foley • Karen Monie • Kathryn Lear • Kate Lahey • Katrina Rice • Kelly Mansell • Ken Harvey • Ken Murphy • Kenneth J. Harvey • Kerri Mattie • Kerry Gamberg • Kevin Pomroy • Krissy Breen • Laura Churchill • Latonia Hartery • Logy Bay Groovers • Louise Moyse • Marilynn Thivierge • Matt Wright • Matthew Thomson • Mike Hickey • Mireille Eagan • Morgan Murray • Natasha Green • Noah Bender • Paul Warford • Pat Foran • Phil Winters • Rebekah Robbins • Renee Sharpe • Riley Harnett • Ronnie Walsh • Ruth Lawrence • Santiago Guzman • Sarah Smellie • Shane Mills • Steve Cook • Suzanne Mullett • Swervy Garland • Tiffany Martin • Tony Murray • Tonya Kearley-Russell • Vic Wells • Vickie Morgan • Victoria King • Wallace Hammond • Wanda Lawlor at Budden & Associates • Wanda Nolan • Will Pinsent at Coast 101.1

Also thank you to the businesses and organizations that help make the Nickel possible: ACTRA • Arts &

Culture Centres • ArtsNL • Battery Café • Budden & Associates • Business and Arts NL • CBC NL • Canadian Heritage • Common Ground Coworking • DGC-ARC • Dean MacDonald • Department of Tourism, Culture Industry and Innovation • Festival of New Dance • Gerry Rogers • Kerry Film Festival • Lawnya Vawnya • Living Planet • Music NL • NIFCO • NL Distillery • Newfoundland Film Development Corporation • NTV • Pedlar Press • Piatto • Posie Row • Pope Productions • Quidi Vidi Brewery • RIAC • Reel Canada • Resource Centre for the Arts • Rocket Bakery & Fresh Foods • Sci-Fi on the Rock • Service Canada • Sheilagh O’Leary • Spirit of Newfoundland & Labrador • St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival • TELUS • Toslow • The Button Shop • The City of St. John’s • The Newfoundland Chocolate Company • The Rooms • The Salt House • The Ship • The Telegram • VOCM • VOWR • Zapatas.

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And you! Thank you for reading this.

OUR SPONSORS THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO

2019 MAJOR FESTIVAL FUNDERS

2019 PLATINUM FESTIVAL FUNDERS

2019 GOLD FESTIVAL SPONSORS

2019 SILVER FESTIVAL SPONSORS

2019 BRONZE FESTIVAL SPONSORS

WE ❤ THE NICKEL SPONSORS THE BATTERY CAFE

POSIE ROW

CELTX

FESTIVAL OF NEW DANCE

SHEILAGH O’LEARY

DIRECTOR’S GUILD OF CANADA

DAVE LANE

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We celebrate and inspire independent film in Newfoundland & Labrador.

THE NICKEL INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

WHO ARE WE? 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

WHY IS IT CALLED FILMMAKING THE NICKEL? IN SCHOOLS We’re named after the first cinema in Newfoundland

challenges take place throughout the year and across the province.

The Nickel Theatre was the first movie

Our school tour program teaches filmmaking to youth across the province.

theatre in Newfoundland. Part of the five-

We are so proud of this program! Our school

We are an incorporated charitable, not-for-

cent picture show craze that brought daily

touring program brings filmmakers into

profit organization based in St John’s and

movies to almost every city and town across

classrooms across the province to screen

we happily accept donations. To donate to

North America, the Nickel opened in the

short documentaries made by youth, and

the Nickel Independent Film Festival, look

Benevolent Irish Society’s St. Patrick’s Hall on

then lead hands-on filmmaking workshops

us up on the Canada Helps website. Tax

July 1, 1907. The Roman Catholic Archbishop

with the students. Made possible by ArtsNL

receipts for donations can be issued upon

at the time, M.F. Howley, wasn’t a fan of the

and the NL Department of Education and

request.

city’s big new passtime, going so far as to

Early Childhood Development through its

adjust Newfoundland’s Regulations for Lent

Cultural Connections Strategy.

to specifically prohibit attending moving

This year filmmakers Lian Morrison,

picture shows, saying they were a source of

Vickie Morgan and Devin Shears lead the

CHARITY #

856136007 RR0001

MAIL

PO Box 1644, Station C

“frivolity and silliness.”

workshops in schools on the Burin Peninsula

St. John’s, NL A1C 5P3

“It is painful and shameful to see not only

and in the St. John’s area. In Labrador

EMAIL

info@nickefestival.com

children but grown-up persons, fathers and

—schools in Goose Bay and Sheshatshiu

WEB

nickelfestival.com

mothers of families, constantly frequenting

— Glenn Gear and Lian Morrison lead the

those places of amusement, wasting hours

workshops. You can watch videos made as

upon hours of time when they ought to be

part of this program online at nickelfestival.

attending to their work or household duties,”

com/schooltour.

FACEBOOK /nickelfilmfestival INSTAGRAM /nickelfestival TWITTER /nickelfestival 2019 HASHTAG #nickel19

he said.

CREATIVE FILM CHALLENGES We give filmmakers a creative push and help beginners see themselves as filmmakers.

Want to make a movie? Just do it. Every

POP-UP FILM SCREENINGS

NICKEL NEW VOICES PROJECT

The Nickel screens films across the province and throughout the year.

A project to foster more diversity in local filmmaking.

Jennifer Hawley

We team up with organizations and events

A project to foster more diversity in local

Vawnya.) This month we have our first ever

Shane Mills

across the province to hold screenings of

filmmaking. This new project, made

5-Minute Doc Challenge, happening from

Cara Powell

independent films that people would not

possible with funding support from the Telus

June 7-16, and coming up in August we will

Amanda Foote

otherwise have the opportunity to see.

Community Fund, is helping four beginner

have a 48-Hour Comedy Challenge.

To stay up-to-date, like us on Facebook

Newfoundland and Labrador filmmakers

Just as with the RPM Challenge,

@nickelfestival or check our site at

of diverse ethnic backgrounds create their

NaNoWriMo, or the Global Game Jam,

nickelfestival.com.

first short films. Project coordinated by

creators of all experience levels use time

Ruth Lawrence with 2018-2019 filmmaking

constraint challenges as an excuse to try

participants Karen Monie Kwasinwi,

new things and have fun making things. Join

Santiago Guzmán, Maryanne Aghalu, and

our growing community of DIY filmmakers

Nabila Qureshi. Two films created as part of

making movies for fun! Find out more at

this project will screen at this year’s Nickel:

nickelfestival.com/filmchallenges

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ane Christensen CHAIR Lauren Mills VICE CHAIR Christopher Wakeham TREASURER Tim Conway SECRETARY Lian Morrison

OUR 2019 FESTIVAL TEAM Elling Lien EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Devin Shears COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

We respectfully acknowledge the territory

Sandy May FESTIVAL COORDINATOR

in which we gather as the ancestral

Desmond Stephens COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

homelands of the Beothuk, and the

Katherine Harvey PROGRAM ASSISTANT

island of Newfoundland as the ancestral

Ed Tanasychuk TECHNICAL COORDINATOR

homelands of the Mi’kmaq and Beothuk.

Phil Winters TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

We would also like to recognize the Inuit

Elaine Pond SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR

of Nunatsiavut and Nunatukavut and the

Ruth Lawrence NEW VOICES PROJECT COORDINATOR

Innu of Nitassinan, and their ancestors as

Noah Bender POSTER DESIGN

the original people of Labrador.

year we hold several DIY challenges where participating filmmakers write, shoot, and edit a short film in a short amount of time.

This past year we held the 48-Hour Horror Challenge, the 48-Hour Sci-Fi Challenge (in collaboration with Sci-Fi on the Rock), and the 48-Hour Banana Vacuum Music Video Challenge (in collaboration with Lawnya

Te Quiero and Common Law.

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FILMMAKING WORKSHOPS

FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION VISIT

www.nickelfestival.com/workshops LEVEL: BEGINNER TO ADVANCED

The Director’s Guild of Canada presents: Building a Respectful Workplace MONDAY, JUNE 17, 9 AM - 1 PM The industry is changing, and this course is designed to help you navigate the shifting landscape. We’ll look at industry etiquette, best workplace behaviours, workplace harassment and discrimination, along with some bigger cultural elements that factor into building respectful workplaces in the #metoo era. Topics covered include understanding why harassment happens,

solid foundation for a department that is

culminating in a simple animation with

paragraph or resume outlining your musical

dependent on teamwork. Topics covered

those materials. $20

background to devin@nickelfestival.com by

responsibilities of the various roles in the AD department, understanding the most valuable skills an AD can develop, looking at set etiquette and best practices, and getting into the daily details of how to survive and thrive as an AD. We will also look at workflow, how to divide up tasks, and the challenges of working with a small vs. a large team. We will also discuss the challenges of how to adapt quickly on a working film set, and how to support one another in order to create a less stressful work environment, and an efficient and effective team.

resolution strategies are discussed, and real-life case studies are used to examine prevention, protocols, and procedures. The goal of this course is to develop a greater understanding of ourselves and how we interact with others, aiming to create

LEVEL: BEGINNER TO ADVANCED

Introduction to Pixel Art Animation with Angie Sutherland WED, JUNE 19, 3PM-5PM

Cinematography: The Essentials with Duncan De Young THU, JUNE 20, 1PM-5PM You can’t have Action without Lights and Camera. Spend an afternoon with accomplished local cinematographer Duncan DeYoung as he walks you through the essentials of cinematic photography, including camera operation, framing, and Whether you’re interested in narrative film, documentary or web video, and no matter the resources you have on hand, De Young can show you how to get that cinematic feel and help make your images pop. He’ll walk through how to effectively use a variety of cinematographic tools from beginners to more advanced, so all experience levels are

and sustain positive, productive work environments.

LEVEL: BEGINNER TO ADVANCED

lighting design.

what we can do about it, and the resources available to deal with it. Basic conflict

June 14th. $40

include breaking down the duties and

Gaming and filmmaking collide in this

SAT, JUNE 22, 10AM-5PM 40 KING’S ROAD • NIFCO Our super-popular series of one-hour presentations from local film professionals to give you the tools to make movies and get them out into the world. This is perfect for beginning and emerging filmmakers or people who just love gettin’ nerdy about film. $40 or $10 for individual workshops.

Screenwriting with Emily Bridger Learn how to bring your ideas down to the page with screenwriter and filmmaker Emily Bridger. Bridger is a director, writer and actress who has been making her own films for more than ten years, including shorts Epilogue (2008), Brad (2010) and In So Many

MUSICIANS • APPLICATION REQUIRED

Sound Recording with Michelle Lacour

animations that look like they jumped out

The Director’s Guild of Canada presents: Assistant Director Workshop

of a retro arcade game. Game designer

MONDAY, JUNE 17 2-5PM + TUESDAY, JUNE 18 9AM-5PM

anyone interested in filmmaking or video

Help make a movie sing! A two-session

game design.

workshop that gets into how to pair your

The workshop will cover how tools

film with the perfect music to evoke any

Assistant Directing is a demanding career,

like GameMaker Studio can be used in

emotion. The first session Duane Andrews

one that requires excellent communication,

the context of filmmaking, bridging the

will talk about his own approach to scoring

listening, and organizational skills, as well as

worlds between traditional filmmaking

for film and television. Then, participants

the ability to be a team player.

and interactive media. It will open with

have a week to score a short scene, with

In this course, AD fundamentals are

Angie explaining her process, and then

feedback from Duane.

covered, which may be a refresher for

with the collaboration of the participants,

Due to limited space, advance application

some, but is a crucial element of building a

make a pixel-art character, background,

is required. Please e-mail a short

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#Nickel19 Film School in a Day

welcome. $30

introductory dive into how to make LEVEL: ADVANCED

LEVEL: BEGINNER TO ADVANCED

Words (2016).

“Films are 50 percent visual and 50 percent

Challenge film TWO (playing on June 22,

Film Scoring Workshop with Duane Andrews

closing night) and shows how you can use

FRI, JUNE 21 + FRI, JUNE 28

with professional sound engineer Michelle

Angie Sutherland walks through the process of how she made her Nickel 48 Hour Sci-Fi

those same tools yourselves. Perfect for

sound,” says auteur director David Lynch.

Avoid the pitfalls of bad sound mixing Lacour. Lacour has a Masters degree in Sound Recording from McGill University and extensive recording and mixing experience with music and film.

Art Direction with Ane Christenson You’ve built a beautiful world on the page, now help bring it to the screen with set design advice from Gemini award-winning local production designer Ane Christenson.

Representing key creative and logistical personnel in the film and television industry, covering all areas of direction, design, production and editing in the Atlantic region since 1991.

Pre-production with Celtx

Film mentor Danielle Hamel — winner of the

Good organization goes a long way. Hear

Nickel’s 2018 Emerging Filmmaker Award

how to perfectly plan out your shoots

— will pick from a pool of applicants and

so that everything goes smoothly when

work along with them to create a video. The

1496 Lower Water Street, Suite 501

Tel: (902) 492-3424

it comes time to hit record. Celtx is a

resulting work will play as part of our 20th

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Newfoundland-based software company

anniversary festival next year.

Toll Free: 1 888 342-6151

with an all-in-one system for writing,

Musicians from Newfoundland and

B3J 1R9

www.dgcatlantic.ca

planning, and collaborating on video

Labrador are invited to submit a song for

and game productions used by 6 million

consideration by the deadline of June 14.

creatives in 190 countries — so they know

Free to apply. Check the musicnl.ca website

what they’re talkin’ bout.

for application details.

Directing with Kerry Gamberg You want to bring your unique vision to the screen, but aren’t sure how to get all of the elements working toward that goal?

Michelle Jackson Award-winning filmmaker Kerry Gamberg lends her expert advice in this workshop.

Navigating Film Festivals with Jenn Brown Once your film is complete, how do you get

APPLICATION REQUIRED LEVEL: BEGINNER TO ADVANCED

Screenplay Series: Character Development with Wanda Nolan FOUR CLASSES

it out in the world? Jenn Brown, Executive

Following our successful “First Ten Pages”

Director of the St. John’s International

screenwriting workshop with accomplished

Women’s Film Festival goes through the do’s

screenwriter Wanda Nolan last year, we

and don’ts of festival submissions.

have invited her back to lead another extended workshop — this time focused on nailing down the voice of a character on

MUSICIANS • APPLICATION REQUIRED

Nickel and MusicNL Music Video Incubator JULY TO AUGUST

the page. Over the course of 4 weeks, Nolan will walk through the process of honing a character’s journey through the narrative, and help participants shape an outline for their story based on these ideas.

Participants will submit a brief proposal for

The Nickel & MusicNL Music Video Incubator

a narrative film project and six individuals

is an exciting project to help local artists

will be selected. A great opportunity for

create high quality music videos. This project

emerging writers and filmmakers to hone

invites bands and individual musicians to

their craft.

collaborate with filmmakers on a music

Want to participate? Find application

video with professional-level mentorship

details online at www.nickelfestival.com/

and technical support. Last year we paired

workshops. Successful applicants will be

the band Weary with film mentor Lian

announced on the closing night show of the

Morrison whose collaboration resulted in

Nickel.

the video “Bruise”, and this year we want to encourage that same spirit of collaboration.

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166 DUCKWORTH STREET | AVALON MALL S I G N A L H I L L V I S I T O R I N F O R M AT I O N C E N T R E S T. J O H N ’ S I N T E R N AT I O N A L A I R P O R T W W W. N E W F O U N D L A N D C H O C O L AT E C O M PA N Y. C O M

MON JUNE 17 7:30PM

LSPU HALL

Opening Night Shorts Spotlight

PICKIN TIME

BEHIND BANANA VACUUM

THINIK OF THE WORST

PRESENTED BY CBC NL Te Quiero (NL)

Take Me Swimming (Ireland) On Hold (Experimental • NL) Pickin’ Time (Animation • NL) Solitudes (Quebec) Behind Banana Vacuum (Documentary • NL) Think of the Worst (BC) Are You Volleyball? (Iran)

TAKE ME SWIMMING

INTRODUCING THE F-RATING The Nickel Independent Film Festival’s mission is to celebrate and inspire independent film. We

ON HOLD

ARE YOU VOLLEYBALL?

work hard to encourage more people of all genders and all backgrounds to take their place behind and in front of the camera, and to showcase that work.

In the program this year you will notice that we are giving films that showcase women on screen and behind the camera an “F-rating”. This is a practice that began at the 2014 Bath Film Festival in the UK. Films with an F-rating have either a woman director or a woman writer. There are now more than 40 film festivals worldwide using this system, as well as the online film database IMDB. We at the Nickel recognize that women are drastically underrepresented in film, but with large Canadian organizations pledging to help create more women-led projects, and with film festivals like our friends at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival giving women filmmakers a dedicated place to screen their films, those numbers are slowly changing.

With our F-rating, we want to make a show of support for the efforts of those organizations and help highlight the work of women filmmakers.

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TE QUIERO

LSPU HALL

MON / 7:30PM SHORT FILMS

Opening Night Shorts Spotlight PRESENTED BY CBC NL

BEHIND BANANA VACUUM Banana Vacuum, one of the city’s loudest punk bands, is chronicled by filmmaker Lian Morrison in this documentary short. With behind-the-scenes, never-before-viewed footage, Morrison looks at this timeless punk band with a lead singer whose talent

A diverse collection of films from around the

and lyrical subject matter is unique on the

world to kick off the festival, from animation

local scene. Director, Writer & Producer: Lian

to documentary, from experimental to

Morrison • Runtime: 12 Mins • Newfoundland

dramatic. An excellent sampler to celebrate

& Labrador

the opening of Nickel 2019.

TAKE ME SWIMMING

THINK OF THE WORST Think of the Worst follows Guy throughout

​Thady returns home for a funeral and

his everyday struggles with his mysterious

is shocked by how much his mother’s

ability: Whenever he wishes for good

Alzheimer’s has progressed. Eileen now

things to happen, the opposite unfolds.

fails to recognise Marcus, her husband

He develops a series of habits and codes

of 40 years. Marcus, despite being upset,

for keeping his secret under control, but

underplays the significance. Later, Thady

ultimately leading to misunderstandings

finds a lover’s contract in which Marcus

and discord with those he cares about.

promises to “take her swimming” the day

Director, Writer, Producer: Chorong Kim •

she no longer recognizes him. Director:

Runtime 15 Mins • British Columbia, Canada

Claire Dix • Writer: Aibhe Keogan • Producer: Roisin Geraghty • 15 Mins • Ireland

TE QUIERO

ARE YOU VOLLEYBALL? A group of asylum seekers make their way to an English-speaking country border and are

A young man struggles to explain the

unable to enter. As everyday conflict with

cultural nuance of saying “I love you” in

border soldiers comes to a head, a young

Spanish to his English-speaking lovers. Te

boy who is both deaf and mute uses the

Quiero was produced through the Nickel

universal language of sport to lift barriers

New Voices Program, funded by Telus.

between the two groups. Director & Writer:

Director: Tamara Segura • Writer: Santiago

Mohammad Bakhshi • Producer: Nima

Guzman • Producers: Santiago Guzman,

Rabiei • Runtime: 15 Mins. • Iran

“If you want to be well dressed, you have to learn by reading good books, reading poetry. It’s when you put nice things into your soul that you understand how to [do anything] well.”

F R E N C H FAS H I O N C O LU M N I S T S O P H I E F O NTAN E L PEDLARPRESS.COM

Ruth Lawrence • 5 Mins • NL

SOLITUDES Lamine is a young Senegalese student in Quebec who decides to film his carpool route between Rimouski and Montreal. His passengers include Rémi, a young filmmaker

TUE

JUNE 18

interested in working with minorities, and Nataly, an indigenous woman. When Rémi inserts the plight of the Québécois into the narrative, consternation peaks. A mysterious time-travelling passenger hops in to warn them of the disintegrating state of the world in 2050. Director & Writer: Marwen Tlili • Producer: Cinema Politica • Runtime: 18 Mins • Quebec, Canada

ON HOLD Choreographer and visual artist Nicola Hawkins has created a striking dance piece that beautifully distills tenderness, honesty, and grief. Shot at the Ferryland lighthouse, the film features actor John Moyes and his daughter, dancer-storyteller Louise Moyes, in their 80th and 52nd years. Director & Writer: Nicola Hawkins • Producer: Louise Moyes • Runtime 9 Mins • Newfoundland & Labrador

PICKIN’ TIME Young love blossoms after stumbling. If at first you don’t succeed, consider the obvious.

Director: James Grace & David Martingale • Writer: College of the North Atlantic Digital Animation Class of 2019 • Producer: Tamara Murphy, College of the North Atlantic • Runtime: 4 Mins. • Newfoundland & Labrador

LSPU HALL

TUE / 7:30PM SHORT DOCUMENTARIES

5-Minute Doc Challenge Screening Part of our ongoing film challenge series, the 5-Minute Doc Challenge is a call to anyone to write, shoot and edit a short documentary in just 10 days, between June 7th and June 16th. It’s free to participate, open to all ages, and registration is open until the challenge ends at 8pm on June 16. A public screening will take place on Tuesday June 18th on the mainstage of the LSPU Hall as part of the Nickel Independent Film Festival 2019 (June 17-22.)

Submitted short films must be 5 minutes long, and can be any type of documentary style, ie.: first-person, fly-on-the-wall, nature documentary, adventure, mockumentary, reality TV, etc. Register at nickelfestival. com/docchallenge

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WED JUNE 19 7:30PM

LSPU HALL

Narrative Voices Spotlight

STOLEN

HOPE

LETTERS TO THE DEAD

PRESENTED BY COAST 101.1 The Legend of Aiasheu (NL) Hope (NL) Stolen (NL) Empty Skies (USA) Letters From The Dead (NB) “Bruise” (Music video • NL)

THE LEGEND OF AIASHEU

LSPU HALL

WED / 7:30PM SHORT FILMS

Narrative Voices Spotlight PRESENTED BY COAST 101.1

Martinez, Gordon Mihan, Lance Kenneth Blakney • Runtime: 12 Mins. • New Brunswick, Canada

WEARY — “BRUISE” A walk along the rugged terrain of a treacherous cliffside in Newfoundland and a meditation on how tenderness can be

THE LEGEND OF AIASHEU

an act of resistance. Under the tutelage of

From the Innu legends of Northern Labrador,

Lian Morrison, first-time filmmaker Kate

The Legend of Aiasheu tells the story of a

Lahey created the music video for “Bruise”,

young boy abandoned by his father on a

a song by her band Weary. Part of the 2018

remote island. With the love and guidance

Nickel and MusicNL Music Video Incubator.

of his ancestors he makes his way home and

Director & Writer: Kate Lahey • Producers:

exacts revenge for the wrong done. Director,

Lian Morrison, Nickel Independent Film

Writer & Producers: Christine Poker, Prote

Festival • Runtime: 5 Mins. • Newfoundland &

Poker, Simeon Poker • Runtime: 38 Mins. •

Labrador

Newfoundland & Labrador

EMPTY SKIES HOPE

Set against the backdrop of famine and

A young girl offers half her popsicle to a

Communist China’s Great Leap Forward

troubled older man. Her act of kindness

(1958-1961), a young boy is desperate to

provides him a brief respite. Director:

find food for his hungry and ailing elderly

Ethan Bickford • Writer: Ethan Bickford,

grandmother. Director: Wenting Deng Fisher,

Jake Delaney • Producer: Ethan Bickford •

Luke Fisher • Writer: Wenting Deng Fisher,

Runtime: 4 Mins. • Newfoundland & Labrador

Luke Fisher • Producer: Patrick Reasonover, Matt Edwards • Runtime: 18 Mins. • USA

LETTERS FROM THE DEAD While the eldest daughter suppresses

STOLEN

her grief, Abigail, finds she’s able to

Alex struggles with the consequences of her

communicate with their deceased

fractured childhood. Will she move forward

grandmother through handwritten letters.

to self-fulfillment or fall back on old self-

Through this, Abigail moves through her

destructive patterns? Director & Writer: Ian

grief, and also helps her family to heal.

Vardy. Producer: NIFCO • Runtime: 8 Mins. •

Director: Arianna Martinez • Writers: Arianna

Newfoundland & Labrador

Martinez, Gordon Mihan • Producer: Arianna 14

15

THU JUNE 20 7:00PM

LSPU HALL

RIVER OF FIRE

OPIOID SCARE

A New Life

PRESENTED BY BUDDEN & ASSOCIATES ALSO FEATURING River of Fire (Documentary • NL) Opioid Scare (NL)

9:00PM

LSPU HALL

Into the Dark Spotlight New Woman (NL) Seven (UK) The Last Vacation (USA) Abraham’s Walk (NL) “I Feel Unholy” (Music Video • NL) Short Wave (Iran) Bagheera (India)

A NEW LIFE

SEVEN

ABRAHAM’S WALK

BAGHEERA

NEW WOMAN

16

LSPU HALL

THU / 7:00PM FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

A New Life

PRESENTED BY BUDDEN & ASSOCIATES

Over a few short months in 1990 more

OPIOID SCARE

Newfoundland. Taking advantage of a refueling stop en route to Cuba, the travellers fled uncertain futures under the failing communist regime. Stepping out into the stark, snowy unknown, they began to reconstruct their lives in Canada. While chronicling multiple individuals’ experiences,

of the opioid crisis and its impact on one

and culture, tradition and modernity collide.

Unholy” by the band Property. Visually rich,

family struggling both to stay together and

Director & Writer: James Morgan • Producer:

the opulence of the video plays against

to stay safe. Director, Writer & Producer:

Johnny Langenheim, Emily Spicer • Runtime:

messages of a society and planet sick

Stephen Cadigan • Runtime: 6 Mins •

11 Mins. • United Kingdom

with overconsumption. Director, Writer &

Newfoundland & Labrador

LSPU HALL

THU / 9:00PM SHORT FILMS

Into the Dark Spotlight Late night collection of twisted short films.

Writer: Stefan Ivanov • Producer: Les Ivanov Productions • Runtime: 1:15 Mins • Canada

RIVER OF FIRE

ABRAHAM’S WALK Set in a time of constant winter, survivors of the new world have been pushed underground — only to face a new threat that lurks beneath. If your path was chosen

The Victoria Park Lantern Festival is one of

for you, how far would you follow it?

the most anticipated events of the summer

Director: Shane Mills • Writer: Francois Van

in St. John’s, with a spectacular paper

Zyl • Producer: Grind Mind • Runtime: 13 Mins.

lantern display among the majestic trees of

• Newfoundland & Labrador

the upper park. This charming documentary captures the whimsical sights, sounds, and spirit of the festival, celebrating the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into creating this labour of love. Director, Writer & Producer: Andrea Cass • 8 Mins. • NL

SEVEN In this thriller short film, Yohana, a teenage girl from a remote community in the

A Patrick Canning video for the song “I Feel

Producer: Patrick Canning • Runtime: 4 Mins.

THE ASHFORD CONNECTION

A New Life offers a universal reflection on exile and immigration. Subtitled • Director &

I FEEL UNHOLY

Seven occupies a space where wilderness

than 3,000 Bulgarian political refugees sought asylum after landing in Gander,

amongst rearing cliffs and vast seascapes,

This short film shows the devastating effects

• Newfoundland & Labrador

Three clueless burglars rob the wrong house and get more than they bargained for.

Director, Writer & Producer: Mike Simms • Runtime: 4 Mins • Newfoundland & Labrador

SHORT WAVE In this award-winning film, a man is desperate to escape the omnipresent speech of a dictator playing over

THE LAST VACATION

loudspeakers in the street. Needing sleep

In this short “found footage” film, snapshots

after a night of work, he tries everything

of a family vacation to the Jersey shore take

he can to stifle the noise and loses himself

an unexpectedly dark turn. Director, Writer

himself along the way. Director & Writer:

& Producer: Ryan Ann Davis • Runtime: 1 Min.

Mohamad Esmaeeli • Producer: Afsaneh

• USA

Polei • Runtime: 15 Mins. • Iran

NEW WOMAN

BAGHEERA

New Woman is a disturbing gothic tale

Inspired by real events, Bagheera is a whip-

set in 1888. An attractive, wealthy woman

smart young leader of a Girl Scout troop in

and a male pickpocket enjoy an opulent

India. When she’s kidnapped and confined

dinner together. The evening takes a dark

by a misogynistic psychopath, she relies

turn, revealing that all is not as it seems.

on her wits, survival skills, courage, and

Director: Benjamin Noah • Writers: Benjamin

determination to outmaneuver her capture,

Noah, C.H. Newell • Producer: Benjamin

serving up a satisfying, fiery retribution on

Noah • Runtime: 20 Minute Director’s Cut •

her way out. Director & Writer: Christopher R.

Newfoundland & Labrador

Watson • Producer: Sakar Raut • Runtime: 19 Mins. • India

Norwegian Arctic must decide the fate of an oil worker who has killed her father. Yohana’s life and death choice will not only mark her forever, but also determine the future of her people. Set 50 miles within the Arctic Circle

LSPU HALL

FRI JUNE 21 7:30PM

FRI / 7:30PM FEATURE FILM

Incredible Violence An independent filmmaker blows the financial backing for his new film on

LSPU HALL

Incredible Violence

everything but the movie he’s supposed to make. Fueled by booze and desperation,

ALSO FEATURING

he and a friend devise a bizarre slasher/

Troll (NL)

sexploitation plot as a way to to create the film. On the film’s remote set, he ruthlessly manipulates and entraps a cast of actors and assumes the role of the villain. As he spirals deeper into obsessive madness, violence and misogyny reigns, and he turns his shrinking cast on one another in order to complete the film. Director & Writer: G. Patrick Condon • Producers: G. Patrick Condon, Ian Vatcher, Walter Lawlor • Runtime: 96 Mins. • Newfoundland & Labrador

TROLL In this short crime drama a serial killer outmaneuvers police detectives. Will they catch her before she strikes again? Director: Tyler Burry. Writer: Bruce Brenton, Tyler Burry, Erica Kean. Producer: Justin Foley. Country: Canada, Runtime: 5 Mins. • Newfoundland & Labrador.

INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE

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barristers and solicitors

Providing skilled and compassionate legal representation to survivors of abuse and motor vehicle collisions and other personal injuries. General legal services also available.

709.576.0077 • 1.844.647.0077 (toll free) info@buddenlaw.com • www.buddenlaw.com @buddenlaw

@buddenlaw

5 Hallett Cresent, Unit 4 | St. John’s, NL A1B 4C4

A proud supporter of the Nickel Independent Film Festival

SAT JUNE 22 1:30PM

LSPU HALL

Controversial Subjects Spotlight Detainment (Ireland) Black Hours (Switzerland) Thick Skin (Iceland) A New Home (NL)

3:30PM

LSPU HALL

Fantastic to the Surreal Spotlight As the Earth Turns (USA) Lucienne Eats A Car (France) Concrete (Animation • Switzerland) The Empty Woods (Experimental • MB) Astray (Animation • NL)

DETAINMENT

7:30PM

LSPU HALL

It Was All So Wonderful: The Everyday Magic of Mary Pratt

PRESENTED BY DEACON INVESTMENTS ALSO FEATURING Some Saturdays (NL) Common Law (NL) Two (Animation • NL)

THE SHIP PUB

Closing Night Party

FEATURING THE TEXMESTICS

BLACK HOURS

LSPU HALL

SAT / 1:30PM SHORT FILM MATINEE

Controversial Subjects Spotlight

THICK SKIN

Writer: Jake Delaney • Producer: Catching

flirting with each other at a party among

Amistad Productions • Runtime: 10 Mins. •

friends. Glances are exchanged, then

Newfoundland & Labrador

kisses, then more. The next day the two have woken up in different worlds with very

BLACK HOURS Igor is a factory worker being pushed to his

and with a crime having been committed by

limits by his boss. When his co-worker Frank

Using extensive interview transcripts, police

one of them. Set in the suburbs of Reykjavik,

burns himself to death at work to protest

records, and child actors, the Oscar-

Iceland, Thick Skin explores rape and rape

inhumane working conditions, it’s Igor who

nominated Detainment recreates police

culture and raises important questions

finds Frank’s body and suicide note. Igor

interviews with Robert Thompson and Jon

about boundaries, masculinity and society.

struggles with a question of whether to

Venables, the 10 year-old boys who were

Director & Writer: Erlendur Sveinsson •

conceal the letter and protect his job, or

convicted of the abduction and murder

Producer: Gunnhildur Helga Katrínardóttir •

give it to Frank’s wife, who is desperately

of 2-year-old James Bulger in 1993. In this

Runtime: 12 Mins • Iceland

seeking the truth. Director: Wendy Pillonel.

deeply emotionally-charged film, director Vincent Lambe asks viewers to reflect on difficult questions about the ethics of

Writer: Milena Colla • Producers: Filippo

A NEW HOME As Katie waits for her new foster parents

applying an adult justice model to children.

to arrive and rescue her from an unstable

Director & Writer: Vincent Lambe • Producer:

home, she worries about leaving her

Darren Mahone • Runtime: 30 Mins. • Ireland

current caretaker, Tina, alone with an abusive boyfriend. Soon, news of a devastating plane crash puts her future

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into question. Director: Ethan Bickford •

Thick Skin finds a teenage boy and girl

different experiences of the night before,

DETAINMENT

THICK SKIN

Bonacci, Elena Pedrazzoli • Runtime: 29 Mins. • Switzerland

LSPU HALL

SAT / 3:30PM SHORT FILM MATINEE

From the Fantastic to the Surreal Spotlight AS THE EARTH TURNS In 1930’s Seattle, Richard H. Lyford was an aspiring young filmmaker who used his own equipment to make 9 movies. Unreleased until now, the silent sci-fi film As the Earth Turns was an obvious labour of love for the 20-year-old Lyford and his friends. The film portrays the main character, PAX, as a scientist with the singular goal of world peace. He manipulates the world’s climate

CONCRETE

from his secret base in Labrador to fulfil his mission and it falls on a young newspaper reporter to stop PAX from destroying himself and the rest of the world. Lyford eventually went to work for Disney and won an Academy Award in 1950 for his documentary work. Director & Writer: Richard H. Lyford • Producer: Richard H. Lyford, Ed Hartman • Runtime: 45 Mins. • USA

CONCRETE With gorgeous 3D/2D mixed animation, this short portrays a restless traveller troubled by his recurring transformations. Searching for his place in the world, he encounters a mysterious character in a concrete building in the midst of a barren swampland.

Directors & Writers: Pirmin Bieri, Aira Joana, Luca Struchan, Nicolas Roith. • Producer:

AS THE EARTH TURNS

HSLU Lucerne University of Applied Sciences • Runtime: 8 Mins. • Switzerland

THE EMPTY WOODS A woman escapes a group of bizarre patrons at an art gallery by entering the surreal world of an image in the nature photography exhibit — but is she safe?

Director: John Barnard. Writer: Suzanne Pringle, John Barnard • Producer: Suzanne Pringle, John Barnard • Runtime: 5 Mins. • Manitoba, Canada

ASTRAY Curiosity kills the cat in this unsettling animated short. Director, Writer: Kyle Sharpe • Runtime: 5 Mins. • Newfoundland & Labrador

LUCIENNE EATS A CAR Lucienne’s emotionally absent father has always preferred his car to his daughter. As dementia takes him further away from her, she decides to consume his beloved car in the hopes of finally feeling his love. Director & Writer: Geordy Couturiau • Producer: Eliott Brunet • Runtime: 30 Mins. • France

LUCIENNE EATS A CAR

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SOME SATURDAYS

TWO

IT WAS ALL SO WONDERFUL

COMMON LAW

LSPU HALL

SAT / 7:30PM FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

It Was All So Wonderful: The Everyday Magic of Mary Pratt

PRESENTED BY DEACON INVESTMENTS

It Was All So Wonderful: The Everyday Magic of Mary Pratt follows the beloved artist’s development as one of the country’s great realist painters. The documentary features Mary’s final interviews and appearances on film, highlighting her career and life as an artist. Displaced and isolated, Mary Pratt’s life was a highly complicated one of delicate rebellion. In this touching and timely documentary, Harvey captures Pratt’s humour, strength and beauty of spirit,

22

but also Mary’s feminist significance as chronicler of women’s experiences, with her

SOME SATURDAYS Hank and his wife Jules, both in their

fascination with and elevation of domestic

40s, set out for a leisurely boat ride on a

objects. Director & Writer: Kenneth J. Harvey.

calm, overcast day. As they drift out into

Producers: Katherine Harvey, Emma Harvey,

the harbour, their awkward but familiar

Jordan Harvey, Kenneth J. Harvey • Runtime:

exchanges reveal a relationship under strain.

75 Mins. • Newfoundland & Labrador.

Director: Steve Cochrane • Writer: Renée Hackett • Producers: Ruth Lawrence, Renée

TWO

Hackett • Runtime: 9 Mins. • NL

Themes of love, loss and loneliness are explored in this touching pixel-art animation. The two last inhabitants

COMMON LAW Jay puts off introducing his girlfriend, Sam,

of a forgotten world share their lonely

to his conservative Cameroonian parents

surroundings and remaining time

until he can no longer avoid it. A light-

together. Director, Writer & Producer:

hearted comedy about the customs of

Angie Sutherland • Runtime: 4 Mins. •

dating and marriage in the Cameroonian

Newfoundland & Labrador

community overseas. Common Law was made with the Nickel New Voices Program, funded by Telus. Writer & Director: Karen Monie • Producers: Karen Monie, Ruth Lawrence • Runtime: 6 Mins. • Newfoundland & Labrador

LSPU HALL

SUN / 1:30PM FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

Encore Matinee It Was All So Wonderful: The Everyday Magic of Mary Pratt

PRESENTED BY DEACON INVESTMENTS ALSO FEATURING

Some Saturdays (NL) Common Law (NL) Two (Animation • NL)

JUNE 22ND | SATURDAY | CLOSING NIGHT | 7:30 PM | LSPU HALL JUNE 23RD | SUNDAY | ENCORE MATINEE | 1:30PM | LSPU HALL

PRESENTED BY