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Arts Briefs

Early deadline for Whistler Stories grant program

By Nicole Fitzgerald

The Whistler Film Festival Society put out an early call for the Whistler Stories film commission competition this year with the proposal deadline closing in quickly on Wednesday, March 28.

“It will give filmmakers a chance to film when there is still snow on the mountains,” said Shauna Hardy Mishaw, festival founder.

The Whistler Stories program funds four short film projects a year leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Films, based on stories from the Sea to Sky corridor, must focus on Olympic themes of culture, education and/or sport.

Films can be documentary, fictional or animated and must demonstrate a creative approach to the subject matter.

“We are looking for films that tell the story of this magical place — its spirit, its inhabitants and what it is that draws people here,” said Bill Evans, festival programmer. “Anyone who has spent time in the Whistler area knows that the place is full of great stories.”

Each filmmaking team will be awarded a $5,000 grant to produce a five-minute short film.

Films will premier at the Whistler Film Festival in December. All Whistler Story films will culminate into a feature presentation at the Games.

“Whistler Stories is like passing the torch from one storyteller to the next,” said last year’s participant John Meadows. “It’s what filmmaking is all about — telling great stories and inspiring others.”

For submission guidelines, visit whistlerfilmfestival.com.

 

A screening education on global warming

Hilltrip hosts Step It Up with the Energy Film Festival on Friday, March 23 at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 24 at 1:30 p.m. at MY Millennium Place.

Fifteen films from the Sierra Club Energy Film Festival series will look at issues around global warming. Friday’s films will focus on climate change and Saturday’s films on oil and energy.

“Faced with the fear of not enough snow to accommodate the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, while simultaneously facing the prospect of two coal plants being built in our province, global warming and energy use are at the top of many British Columbian’s minds these days,” said Sarah Valentine, project coordinator of The Sierra Club Energy Film Fest. “The Sierra Club Energy Film Festival provides an entertaining way to educate about global warming, environmental sustainability as well as showcase alternative energy systems to our local and visiting Whistler population.”

Event facilitators will introduce each film and field questions afterwards. Speakers for the two nights include Marie Fortin, Hilltrip founder and AWARE director; Sarah Valentine, AWARE coordinator; and Tyler Bradley, Chum/CityTV’s Enviro guy.

The event aims to spark conversation in the community, raise discussion about how much energy we use, how we produce it and the costs we pay beyond our monthly hydro bills.

Tickets for the film evenings are a suggested $10 donation with proceeds benefiting AWARE, Whistler’s environmental watch dog group, and the Sierra Club, America’s largest grassroots environmental organization.

A Surfrider fundraising party will follow both nights with DJ Jamie Vale on deck at Maxx Fish. Proceeds will benefit the Surfrider Foundation, a stewardship group promoting healthy alpine and valley watersheds.

For film listings, visit sierraclub.org/filmfest.

 

Something worth losing your hair over

Men, women and children are invited to lose their locks to raise money at the fifth annual Balding for Dollars fundraising event on Sunday, April 1 at 3:30 p.m. at the Garibaldi Lift Company.

“We already have three ladies confirmed to shave their heads,” said Dave Clark, event co-organizer and Whistler Friends spokesperson. “We are hoping to go over the $100,000 mark in cumulative fundraising with this upcoming event.”

Balding for Dollars is a province-wide fundraiser that supports children with cancer at the B.C. Children’s Hospital. The Whistler fundraiser also supports the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada.

Participants will raise funds through pledge sheets then have their heads shaved at the public event with help from Amanda Stocks of Blackcomb Barber Shop.

The family fun event includes music from après legends The Hairfarmers with Guitar Doug and Grateful Greg, recently voted Whistler’s Best Musicians. There will also be opportunities to win great prizes, including certificates from the Four Seasons Resort, Outdoor Adventures Whistler, Trout Country Fishing Guides, Vancouver Canucks tickets and more.

To donate a prize or to sign up for the cause, contact Dave or Wendy at 604-905-2533 or info@whistlerfriends.ca . Pledge sheets are available at baldingfordollars.com.