About the Collective
Northern Film Collective launched in October 2019 as a community to connect film photographers across Canada. We were the first film only Instagram community featuring photographic work located solely in Canada. We are based in Toronto, however our goal is to bring ideals and interests from all over the country together. It is our mission to celebrate the love of analog photography while supporting and uplifting members of our society to engage with each other and document the space and culture around us.
Meet the Curators
Becca Petersen, Founder & Curator
Born and raised in and around Toronto, Becca has been shooting film since 2009. She learned early on that she prefers the aesthetic and feel of analog over digital mediums, using disposable cameras for her work until 2016 when she got her first SLR: the legendary Canon T90. Becca and her T90 are still hard at work today, capturing urban decay and other inspiring sights of this world. She is most drawn to capturing imagery that evokes a feeling of human absence or abandonment.
Becca founded the NFC as a way to connect with other film photographers across the country and in the GTA, with the intention to promote and draw attention to the talents of the film photographic community here at home.
Follow @becccashootsfilm on Instagram
Merlin Boissonneault, Curator
Originally from Western Canada, Merlin had been living in Toronto since 2017. However he has recently relocated to Vancouver due to pandemic reasons. While growing up in Alberta and British Columbia he was immersed in photography at an early age by his mother who captured the family memories with her trusty Canon AE-1. Merlin spent some of his earlier years shooting street photography and live music on digital mediums. However, after relocating to Toronto he fell deep into the rabbit hole of analog. At first it started with Polaroid and instant film and then exploded into 35mm, medium and large format.
Merlin has been active with many creative communities locally and abroad ranging from Gallery 44 in Toronto and the Instant Film Society in Texas. He is excited to be a part of the NFC family and is looking forward to seeing the community grow.
Follow @merlindb on Instagram
Allie Bartlett, Curator
Raised up and down the East Coast, Allie recently moved out West to continue her interdisciplinary art practice in the mountains of Squamish, BC. She attended the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design as well as the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts, where she received her BFA in Studio Art and fell in love with analog photography. Working mostly in photography, drawing, and painting, Bartlett is interested in the aesthetics of memory and often reworks images to blur the line between her different mediums.
Outside of the darkroom, Allie can be found hiking with her Pentax KM and identifying local flora. She is excited to join NFC to share good photos, alternative processes and her love for all things analog.
Follow @alliesgallery on Instagram
