Closet Monster, a home-grown award-winning film, debuts in St. John's

A feature film made right here in Newfoundland and Labrador has been turning heads around the world and is now playing in St. John's. 

Stephen Dunn's Closet Monster has done the rounds on the global film festival circuit but is now showing at the very movie theatre the 27-year-old director frequently went to while growing up. 

"I have to say this is probably the most surreal experience," Dunn said.

Closet Monster screened Thursday night at the Avalon Mall Cineplex for a special audience.

For Dunn, it was a special showing

"It was amazing. It was the very first screening that we've ever had in St. John's and I was pretty nervous."

Film is set in St. John's

The movie features actor Sofia Banzhaf, Dunn's best friend, who plays a fictional version of herself in the film.

She explained the premise of the film without giving too much away. 

"Closet Monster is a coming of age story of a young Newfoundlander who tries to break away his toxic family as he is discovering his sexuality and trying to find his place in the world," she said.

Set and filmed in St. John's the movie shows off a more modern side of the city you won't see in tourism commercials. 

"It's a very unique film and it shows Newfoundland in a very different light then I think it has ever been seen in our history," said Dunn.

The St. John's director's first feature film has generated a lot of buzz in the industry, even earning an award from one the great movie makers.

"At the film festival in Morocco and Francis Ford Coppola was on the jury and and awarded us the jury prize there and afterwards," Dunn told CBC's St. John's Morning Show.

"He was talking about how much he loved and wanted to go to Newfoundland because it was nothing he's ever seen before."

The film officially opens in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and St. John's on Friday.