Hi, we're NICE

Celebrate the power of watching films in community. NICE is an alliance of Canadian independent cinemas, festivals and professional programmers offering curated film programs to public audiences.

Through exclusive programs, industry roundtables and an active online community, NICE supports the magical work of film exhibition as conducted by innovative and dedicated professionals across the country. 

Contact

Sonya William – Director 
sonya@nicecinema.ca

Board of Directors

Andy Willick – Chair | The Fox, Toronto; The Apollo, Kitchener; ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa, ON

Eleanor Stacey – Vice Chair Nelson Civic Theatre, Nelson, BC

Fred Fuchs – Treasurer The Westdale, Hamilton, ON

Sonya William – Secretary Independent

Daniel Demois The Fox, Toronto; The Apollo, Kitchener; ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa, ON

Mitchel Fleming | Hall Webber LLP, Toronto, ON

Wendy Huot The Screening Room, Kingston, ON

Aude Renaud-Lorrain | Cinéma Public, Montréal, QC

Jessica Smith TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto, ON

Contact

Sonya William – Director 
sonya@nicecinema.ca

Board of Directors

Andy Willick – Chair The Fox, Toronto; The Apollo, Kitchener; ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa, ON

Eleanor Stacey – Vice Chair Nelson Civic Theatre, Nelson, BC

Fred Fuchs – Treasurer The Westdale, Hamilton, ON

Sonya William – Secretary Independent

Daniel Demois The Fox, Toronto; The Apollo, Kitchener; ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa, ON

Mitchel Fleming | Hall Webber LLP, Toronto, ON

Wendy Huot The Screening Room, Kingston, ON

Aude Renaud-Lorrain | Cinéma Public, Montréal, QC

Jessica Smith | TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto, ON

Past activities

Supported Telefilm’s Movie Memory campaign across member venues, encouraging a return to the communal film-going experience. 

Officially incorporated and held a launch event during TIFF. 

Partnered with Reel Canada to support National Canadian Film Day

Shared information about and participated in Telefilm’s Theatrical Exhibition Program roundtables.

Partnered with member organization Hot Docs to implement and share the Hot Docs Independent Cinemas Relief Fund. Donations from Hot Docs Festival patrons were shared with struggling venues across Canada. 

Through various closures due to COVID-19, NICE was a key information-sharing network for film exhibitors who benefited from fundraising ideas, “online cinema” resources, community support and more. 

Through various closures due to COVID-19, NICE was a key information-sharing network for film exhibitors who benefited from fundraising ideas, “online cinema” resources, community support and more. 

Supported the Canadian Cinema Worker Fund crowdfunding campaign, which fundraised for workers who experienced wage disruption from closures due to COVID-19.

An impacted NICE member filed a complaint with Competition Bureau Canada to request an investigation into what was perceived as Cineplex’s undue influence on non-Cineplex cinemas’ ability to book films. This complaint was dismissed.

NICE was founded, starting as an online discussion board with intermittent meetings.

Past activities

Supported Telefilm’s Movie Memory campaign across member venues, encouraging a return to the communal film-going experience. 

Officially incorporated and held a launch event during TIFF. 

Partnered with Reel Canada to support National Canadian Film Day

Shared information about and participated in Telefilm’s Theatrical Exhibition Program roundtables.

Partnered with member organization Hot Docs to implement and share the Hot Docs Independent Cinemas Relief Fund. Donations from Hot Docs Festival patrons were shared with struggling venues across Canada. 

Through various closures due to COVID-19, NICE was a key information-sharing network for film exhibitors who benefited from fundraising ideas, “online cinema” resources, community support and more. 

Through various closures due to COVID-19, NICE was a key information-sharing network for film exhibitors who benefited from fundraising ideas, “online cinema” resources, community support and more. 

Supported the Canadian Cinema Worker Fund crowdfunding campaign, which fundraised for workers who experienced wage disruption from closures due to COVID-19.

An impacted NICE member filed a complaint with Competition Bureau Canada to request an investigation into what was perceived as Cineplex’s undue influence on non-Cineplex cinemas’ ability to book films. This complaint was dismissed.

NICE was founded, starting as an online discussion board with intermittent meetings.

Sharing Canadian stories

NICE members are champions of Canadian films and a crucial part of our ability to tell our own stories.

Across the country, audiences trust their local cinemas, film festivals and film clubs to introduce them to movies they will love. Many viewers prefer to watch movies at a cinema, and a theatrical release ensures better performance on other platforms.

We are delighted to see increasing support of Canadian filmmakers. We know that nurturing our homegrown talent, especially with an eye to equity, is crucial to a thriving national culture. NICE members can support audience development for this expanding slate of exciting shorts and features.

Sharing Canadian stories

NICE members are champions of Canadian films and a crucial part of our ability to tell our own stories.

Across the country, audiences trust their local cinemas, film festivals and film clubs to introduce them to movies they will love. Many viewers prefer to watch movies at a cinema, and a theatrical release ensures better performance on other platforms.

We are delighted to see increasing support of Canadian filmmakers. We know that nurturing our homegrown talent, especially with an eye to equity, is crucial to a thriving national culture. NICE members can support audience development for this expanding slate of exciting shorts and features.

For me, the movies are like a machine that generates empathy. If it’s a great movie, it lets you understand a little bit more about what it’s like to be a different gender, a different race, a different age, a different economic class, a different nationality, a different profession, different hopes, aspirations, dreams and fears. It helps us to identify with the people who are sharing this journey with us. And that, to me, is the most noble thing that good movies can do and it’s a reason to encourage them and to support them and to go to them.”
Roger Ebert, 2005

For me, the movies are like a machine that generates empathy. If it’s a great movie, it lets you understand a little bit more about what it’s like to be a different gender, a different race, a different age, a different economic class, a different nationality, a different profession, different hopes, aspirations, dreams and fears. It helps us to identify with the people who are sharing this journey with us. And that, to me, is the most noble thing that good movies can do and it’s a reason to encourage them and to support them and to go to them.

Pictured on this page: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Toronto, ON. Photo credit: Gabriel Li. The Paramount Theatre, Kamloops, BC. Photo credit: MLAZZ Creative. Kay Meek Arts Centre, West Vancouver, BC. Photo credit: Alex Barrera. Film.Ca Cinemas, Oakville, ON.