So thrilled to chat with filmmaker Nik Sexton on SEA AND BE SCENE… And HEARD be sure to tune in to our show on CoveFM.com on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 3pm and Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 1pm. You can stream/download the podcast version here.
Official Release – Posted March 27, 2025
Against the backdrop of a small-town in Newfoundland desolated by drugs and poverty, Billy Skinner (Sean Dalton, nominated for ‘Performance in a Leading Role, Drama’, Canadian Screen Awards), is newly sober and released from prison following a slew of bad choices and battery charges. Returning to his neighbourhood, he finds ‘The Courts’ populated with new Syrian refugees. Hoping to turn a corner, Billy finds work and hopes to stay on the straight and narrow while forging an unlikely friendship with his neighbour, Mo, played by Hollywood actor and Syrian refugee Jay Abdo. SKEET solidifies itself as a ‘Canadian noir’ classic while exploring masculinity, immigration, poverty, addiction and the foster care system with an unyielding lens. Filmed over the course of seven years, the black-and-white SKEET tours select theatres across Canada beginning April 11th in St. John’s.
“Making a black-and-white film in a low income Newfoundland neighbourhood was a careful and deliberate choice, a place predominantly known for showing off its saturated colours and cinematic landscapes. In many ways, we wanted Newfoundland itself to play against type, and turn the camera inward, to a neighbourhood and a certain population that gets very little air-play,” says award-winning writer and director Nik Sexton, whose debut film How To Be Deadly (2014) earned him a Best Feature Film award at the Canadian Comedy Awards. “This was my first dramatic film. Sean and I grew up in St. John’s and really wanted to nail the world, and the characters. With low budget films you just can’t waste any time on set, so we rehearsed with key cast in an office for weeks ahead of shooting. We really wanted the weight of the performances to tell our story.”

In the film, Mo and Billy bond over their similar experiences, as the Syrian refugee camp where Mo and his family were stuck closely resembles that of a prison. Coming up against racial tensions and the lure of Billy’s violent past, Mo and Billy’s friendship helps them to become better father figures, and overall better men. Produced by Gemini-award and Canadian Screen Award winner Mary Sexton (Maudie, 2016) SKEET culminates in a tense stand-off between the old guard and the new, and is as provocative as it is timely.
“I’ve known Billy Skinner my whole life,” says Sean Dalton, award-winning actor (Best Actor, Atlantic International Film Festival 2024) and former drummer of Canadian rock band The Trews. “I grew up with guys like Billy. I’ve gotten into trouble with guys like Billy. I’m scared of him and, at the same time, I love him. These guys were very real when I was growing up and they would do anything for you, if they liked you. And if they didn’t like you, they would chase you to the ends of the earth. But I can relate to Billy Skinner–I think we all can. Billy is a refugee of sorts – trapped in his old ways and worse, trapped in himself.”
SKEET took home awards for Best Actor (Sean Dalton) and Best Cinematography at the 2024 Atlantic International Film Festival where it had its World Premiere. The film was also part of the 2024 TIFF Industry Selects and picked up the Audience Award at the Buffalo International Film Festival and the Best Actor award (Jay Abdo) at the Yellowstone International Film Festival in 2024. This is Sean Dalton’s breakout performance and first role in a film. Sean was recently nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for ‘Performance in a Leading Role, Drama’ alongside Oscar-nominee Sebastian Stan.

SKEET launches its cross-Canada tour on April 11th in St. Johns, Newfoundland, lands in Toronto at The Royal on April 16th and ends in Vancouver at the Rio Cinema on April 22nd, 2025.
See the full theatrical tour schedule below:
April 11: St. John’s, Newfoundland – Cineplex Scotiabank Theatres (talent in attendance)
April 13: Antigonish, Nova Scotia – St. Frances Xavier University Theatre
April 14: Halifax, Nova Scotia – Bus Stop Theatre
April 16: Toronto, Ontario – The Royal (talent in attendance)*
April 17: Calgary, Alberta – The Plaza Theatre
April 19: Edmonton, Alberta – Metro Cinema
April 22: Vancouver, British Columbia – Rio Cinema (Jay Abdo in attendance)
Sexton and Dalton will be in attendance for all screenings and Q&A’s, as more venues and dates continue to be added.

















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