1. Gander International: The Airport in the Middle of Nowhere
In 1938 an airfield was built at the northeastern-most end of America, the descent went slowly but incessantly through the Cold War. This is the story of how its inhabitants gradually moved away from the great world stage and had to reinvent themselves as well as their home town.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
2. The Death of Jack Astor
Documentation of the legendary all ages hardcore punk show held at a Jack Astor's Sports Bar & Grill during operating business hours in St. John's, Newfoundland. Featuring performances from local hardcore heavyweights Carnage, GlitterGlue, Buck 50'd, and the debut performance of Life Jolt.
3. The Little Church That Could
Amidst a mostly Catholic community, a small tiny Anglican church offers more to the community of Placentia than people may think, and holds many connections and history to the rest of the world.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
4. Newfoundland at Armageddon
On July 1st, 1916, the Newfoundland Regiment took part in a massive First World War offensive on the Somme, led by the British. At Beaumont Hamel the regiment was nearly wiped out, as only 110 of 780 soldiers survived the day. To commemorate its 100th anniversary, Brian McKenna’s documentary film tells the story of this epic tragedy. Using a technique that brings new meaning to reenactment, McKenna recruits descendants of soldiers who fought this battle, offering them a unique opportunity to relive the experience of their ancestors in trenches built specifically for the film.
5. Newfoundland Scene
A portrait of Newfoundland that records a way of life that has all but disappeared.
6. Vistas: Red Ochre
Combining archival photos with new and found footage, this short film presents a personal, impressionistic rendering of what it's like growing up Mi'kmaq in Newfoundland, while living in a culture of denial. Vistas is a series of 13 short films on nationhood from 13 Indigenous filmmakers from Halifax to Vancouver. It was a collaborative project between the NFB and APTN to bring Indigenous perspectives and stories to an international audience.
7. Julie O'Brien
This short film depicts Newfoundland’s “old times” as seen by Julie O’Brien, an 11-year-old living in Tors Cove. Told in the first person with cutaway shots to the girl’s many activities, the film illustrates the way traditions are maintained, remembered and evolved. This film is part of the Children of Canada series.
8. Along Newfoundland's Shores
This short documentary includes three vignettes about life off the coast of Newfoundland. In Island of Birds, we visit Green Island, a sea bird sanctuary where puffins frolic. In Caplin Harvest, little silvery fish called caplin spawn by washing ashore along the waves, making an easy catch for fishermen. In Outports on the Move, off-shore houses are pried loose from their foundation and floated to the Newfoundland mainland, where schools, hospitals, stores and services are available to the community.
9. The Last Chinese Laundry
A documentary from 1987 featuring the life of early Chinese immigrants to the island of Newfoundland.
10. Cries from the Deep (Les Pièges de la Mer)
This documentary records the journey undertaken by Jacques Cousteau, his 24-member team, and an NFB film crew to explore the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, one of the world's richest fishing areas. They discover shipwrecks, film icebergs and observe beluga whales, humpback whales and harp seals. The film also includes a fascinating sequence showing Calypso divers freeing a calf whale entrapped in a fishing net.
11. Danish Seining
An instructional film profiling the dragnet fishing technique as practiced by Danish sailors.
12. Priory: The Only Home I've Got
A woman is forcibly placed in Priory, as the filmmakers follow her struggles to adapt.
13. The Mystery of Bay Bulls
A film on the "SAPPHIRE", the oldest identified wreck in Canadian waters. Parks Canada's underwater archaeology team is responsible for the excavation of the three-hundred-year-old frigate.
14. William Wells Talks About The Island
William Wells defends the viability of Fogo Island and expresses his apprehension about the exodus of young people.
15. A Little Fellow from Gambo: The Joey Smallwood Story
This feature-length documentary paints a lively portrait of Father of Confederation and first premier of Newfoundland Joseph Roberts Smallwood, or "Joey," as he is known to most Canadians. Following one of Canada’s most colourful political figures during a two-and-a-half-month period that included a stormy Liberal leadership convention, the film reveals a man misunderstood even by his close associates.
16. The Power Of Music - Darrell's Story
Ben Power interviews his father, Darrell Power of Great Big Sea, and asks what it was like on the road, being away from his family, and how being in one of the most memorable Newfoundland bands shaped his life.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
17. Tous Les Jours
In rocky Newfoundland, renowned French artist Jean Claude Roy gathers his paints and sets off to face the day. Whether it be freezing snow, violent wind, or pouring rain, he commits vibrant colors to canvas and conquers the day by weaving crooked beauty out of difficulties.
18. Confederation Film
Short doc/essay film exploring Newfoundland's relationship to film before and after confederation.
19. My Village in Nunavik
Shot during three seasons, Kenuajuak's documentary tenderly portrays village life and the elements that forge the character of his people: their history, the great open spaces and their unflagging humour. Though Kenuajuak appreciates the amenities of southern civilization that have made their way north, he remains attached to the traditional way of life and the land: its vast tundra, the sea teeming with Arctic char, the sky full of Canada geese. My Village in Nunavik is an unsentimental film by a young Inuk who is open to the outside world but clearly loves his village. With subtitles.
20. A Woman's Place
Two women discuss the roles and problems of women, education, and shopping on Fogo Island.
