Skeet

Screening presented by CBC NL

Q&A with Skeet director Nik Sexton to follow

 

The Last Tango

Director: Mochi Lin • Quebec • 2 minutes

Drawn to unorthodox materials and themes, Mochi Lin works with sheer stockings and acetate to depict courtship in the insect world. A stop-motion haiku on the themes of coupledom, confinement and ... decapitation.

 

Skeet

Director: Nik Sexton • NL • 102 minutes

After his release from prison, Billy Skinner returns to his St. John's neighbourhood to discover a transformed community—what was once a predominantly white working-class area is now home to Syrian refugee families. As Billy navigates his reintegration into society, he must confront not only his own demons and addiction struggles but also the evolving cultural landscape of his hometown. He forms an unlikely friendship with Mohamed, a Syrian refugee who is also learning to rebuild his life in unfamiliar surroundings.

Director Nik Sexton delivers unflinching social realism in this sophomore feature, exploring themes of displacement, belonging, and redemption against Newfoundland's stark yet beautiful backdrop. Shot in striking black and white, Skeet examines the universal experience of feeling like an outsider—whether you're an ex-convict trying to rebuild your life or a refugee family starting over in an unfamiliar place.

Raw and authentic in its portrayal of contemporary Newfoundland life, the film tackles the province's ongoing addiction crisis while weaving a story about human connection that transcends cultural boundaries. Sexton's careful, compassionate direction allows his characters to breathe and find hope amid hardship, creating a powerful portrait of resilience in Canada's easternmost province.

 

Runtime: 1h43