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.
Board of Directors
Lisa Milne – Co-Chair | Royal Theatre, Trail, BC
Mitchel Fleming – Co-Chair | Hall Webber LLP
Fred Fuchs – Treasurer | Independent
Sonya Yokota William – Secretary | Independent
Andy Willick | The Fox, Toronto; ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa, ON
Daniel Demois | The Fox, Toronto; ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa, ON
Èva Morin | Cinémas Beaubien, du Parc, du Musée, Montréal, QC
Keldon Bester | Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project (CAMP)
Wendy Huot | The Screening Room, Kingston, ON
Aude Renaud-Lorrain | Cinéma Public, Montréal, QC
Board of Directors
Lisa Milne – Co-Chair | Royal Theatre, Trail, BC
Mitchel Fleming | Hall Webber LLP
Fred Fuchs – Treasurer | Independent
Sonya Yokota William – Secretary | Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE)
Andy Willick | The Fox, Toronto; ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa, ON
Daniel Demois | The Fox, Toronto; ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa, ON
Èva Morin | Cinémas Beaubien, du Parc, du Musée, Montréal, QC
Keldon Bester | Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project (CAMP)
Wendy Huot | The Screening Room, Kingston, ON
Aude Renaud-Lorrain | Cinéma Public, Montréal, QC
Founding of NICE
NICE was founded in 2018, starting as an online discussion board with intermittent meetings.
Through various closures due to COVID-19, NICE was a key information-sharing network for film exhibitors. NICE supported the Canadian Cinema Worker Fund crowdfunding campaign, which raised funds for workers who experienced wage disruption.
In 2021, NICE 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.
In 2022, NICE formally incorporated as a federal non-profit organization and held a launch event at that year’s TIFF festival.
Founding of NICE
NICE was founded in 2018, starting as an online discussion board with intermittent meetings.
Through various closures due to COVID-19, NICE was a key information-sharing network for film exhibitors. NICE supported the Canadian Cinema Worker Fund crowdfunding campaign, which raised funds for workers who experienced wage disruption.
In 2021, NICE 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.
In 2022, NICE formally incorporated as a federal non-profit organization and held a launch event at that year’s TIFF festival.
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 are champions Canadian film, and that’s why we created the Canadian Movie Marketplace.
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 films.
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.