Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
June 21, 2017

Provincial Government Supports Annual Nickel Independent Film Festival

Kicking off its 17^th year in St. John�s last night (Tuesday, June 20), the Nickel Independent Film Festival is a premier event that offers a selection of documentaries and films, informative panel discussions and workshops, as well as networking sessions and special events.

This year�s festival runs from June 17 to 24 at the LSPU Hall, and features gifted local artists and artists from around the world, in a variety of disciplines. The Nickel Independent Film Festival plays a key role in fostering homegrown talent, in addition to supporting the career development of emerging filmmakers.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, through the Cultural Economic Devolvement Program, provided $18,000 to help assist with this year�s festival operations.

Quotes
�For 17 successful years, the Nickel Independent Film Festival has helped develop homegrown talent, and showcased the fantastic artistic endeavors of our province�s film makers. The Nickel plays an important role in a film industry that continues to grow in Newfoundland and Labrador. I encourage everyone to support, invest and celebrate these talented independent filmmakers and be sure to check out the many film screenings taking place this week.�
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

�The Nickel staff and board of directors are extremely grateful for the generous support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation. With this funding, the Nickel continues to grow and develop into its 17^th year. The Nickel�s alumni, the filmmakers in, of and from our community, are a huge resource of talent. We want to celebrate them, help share their brilliance with others, and encourage emerging artists to view the festival as their way into this multi-million dollar, diverse and highly skilled industry. We have developed several projects that occur throughout the year to encourage more filmmakers and grow more independent local film. Support is vital to promoting the immense cultural talents that Newfoundland and Labrador has fostered over the years. We're delighted to work with our government partners to ensure that independent film lives and thrives here."
Ruth Lawrence,
Director, Nickel Independent Film Festival

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Learn More
Nickel Independent Film Festival - nickelfestival.com

Cultural Economic Devolvement Program - www.tcii.gov.nl.ca/artsculture/cedp

Follow on Twitter: @GovNL , @TCII_GovNL and @NickelFestival

Media contacts
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4918, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

Krysta Rudofsky
Nickel Independent Film Festival
709-576-3378
rudofskyk@gmail.com

2017 06 21                              10:15 a.m.