First-Run Programming
The Nickelodeon’s first-run theatrical programming provides the community with the best of current independent film. Relying on the advice of our film booker, we present award-winning independent feature films and documentaries from around the world.
Festivals and Series
Our film festivals and film series augment our first-run programming with curated collections of films designed to spark community dialogue and provide community members with the opportunity to understand diverse perspectives. Planning for most of the festivals and series involves consultations with guest curators or advisory committees made up of diverse members of the community. We provide frequent opportunities for conversations before and after screenings, pulling together experts and community members as speakers and respondents.
Each of our festivals and series has a unique focus and audience:
- Black History Month film series
- Women’s History Month Film Festival
- Kids Summer Movies series
- Hispanic Heritage Month film series
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month film series
- Native American Heritage Month film series
- ReelTalk
- Docuseries: Powerful documentaries with post-film discussions that dive into timely topics and diverse perspectives.
- Foreign Films: Acclaimed films from around the world, featuring unique stories and cultures rarely seen on the big screen.
- Classics: Cinematic masterpieces and fan favorites with engaging discussions on their lasting impact and artistry.
- Community Impact: Screenings that highlight local issues, followed by discussions with community leaders and advocates.
Community Partners Series
Our ultimate measure of success in involving the community is the demand for partnerships from other community organizations. Our Community Partners Series provides community organizations the opportunity to partner with the Nickelodeon on special screenings beneficial to both organizations. As a core member of Columbia’s arts community, the Nickelodeon has developed strong partnerships with an extremely wide range of non-profit organizations and local colleges and universities. These collaborations are central to our mission of providing the opportunity for critical dialogue related to films.
The Community Partner Series includes a wide range of events. Organizations may request screenings of specific documentaries and organize a panel of local experts for a talk-back after the film. Independent filmmakers may screen their finished or almost-finished films and solicit feedback or conversations. And over time all of these partnerships ideally lead to more involvement of these organizations in planning, executing, and promoting our other programming.
Media Literacy and Education Programs
The Nickelodeon is a center for media education and a space for supporting media-makers. Our media literacy and media education programs work to foster the 21st Century skills necessary to be an active citizen in our increasingly media-heavy society and to plant the seeds for the film and media artists of the future by offering training, space, and resources for the creation of new film and video work.
We have sponsored a wide variety of in-school and after-school media literacy programs for children of all ages, summer camps, adult workshops, media workshops, and field trip programs. Additionally, the speakers, panels, and talk-backs provided by our regular theatrical programming are an integral part of our media literacy efforts.
Honoring Helen Hill at The Nickelodeon
The Helen Hill Media Education Center was established in memory of Helen Hill, an innovative filmmaker, educator, and community activist whose impact on The Nickelodeon and the Columbia arts scene continues to resonate. Helen’s films were showcased at The Nick to a full house on the day of her funeral in 2007, symbolizing her deep connection to our community. Inspired by her passion for film and her dedication to social justice, the Center was created to empower young people with media literacy and production skills.
For several years, the Helen Hill Media Education Center provided afterschool and summer programs, teaching local students how to harness the power of film and media to tell stories and engage with their communities. Participants learned essential skills such as cinematography, editing, and scriptwriting, culminating in public screenings of their work at The Nick. Beyond technical training, the Center aimed to foster civic engagement and critical thinking, reflecting Helen’s lifelong commitment to activism and education.
Although the media literacy education program is no longer active, we are dedicated to preserving Helen’s memory and the spirit of the Center. Her vision for empowering young people through media remains a guiding force, and we are working toward restarting the program in the future. We look forward to once again offering a space where students can develop their media skills, explore important social issues, and make their voices heard—just as Helen did throughout her life.