Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Filmmaker Forum finalized

While the Whistler Film Festival always offers up an impressive roster of independent cinematic offerings to the film-loving public, this year, organizers are focusing on the industry events.

While the Whistler Film Festival always offers up an impressive roster of independent cinematic offerings to the film-loving public, this year, organizers are focusing on the industry events.

Angela Heck, the manager of the Whistler Film Festival’s Filmmaker Forum, said this year, there is a very deliberate shift towards strengthening the industry aspect of the event.

This is the eighth year for the annual festival, which offers up screenings of some of the year’s top independent films to the movie-loving public, alongside seminars, meetings and other events geared towards members of the filmmaking industry.

“People who are aspiring filmmakers, people who have projects in the works, who are at different levels in their careers, as well,” she explained.

Basically, the WFF is a great networking opportunity for novice, midlevel and senior filmmakers and producers.

“That’s really the primary focus of the festival, is because it’s small, because it’s intimate, you have access to people that you wouldn’t have access to at a bigger festival,” Heck said.

Last year, the WFF created an environment that fostered some big, new relationships. And this year, they’re hoping that trend continues.

“We’re hoping that a lot more business gets done at the festival and deals are signed, and there were some pretty significant ones last year,” Heck said.

Organizers released the schedule for the Filmmaker Forum last week, and this year, many of the events again focus on creating networking opportunities through round table discussions and one-on-one meetings scheduled through the festival.

The forum kicks off with Pitch Fest West, which gives people a chance to see what filmmakers are pitching and how their ideas are received by editors and distributors. Then, they’re offering a master class with a master of the genre to discuss decision-making in the production and creative aspects. Another popular event is DOC Talk, which explores documentary production. There is also a new focus on how new media is changing the face of the industry, which is embodied by the tag phrase, “new terrain.”

“The new media aspect will really be quite large at this year’s festival,” Heck said.

There’s also a strong focus on making connections outside of Canada, with some big names making the trip to Whistler for the festival, including Amy Beecroft of GreenStreet Films International, Mark Durand, senior director of ESPN Films, and many other key players from the Los Angeles industry.

“It’s not just about the Canadian industry, but how can we reach across our borders in various ways,” Heck explained.

The Filmmaker Forum has naturally grown and evolved as the WFF gains a solid reputation within the local, national and international filmmaking industry.

“Whistler does have an amazing reputation in the industry,” Heck added, “We were all at the Toronto Film Festival earlier in September, and everywhere you go, it’s on people’s lips.”

The WFF takes place from Dec. 4 to 7. To view the schedule of events, visit www.whistlerfilmfestival.com.

 

Spooky stories

 

With Halloween just around the corner, the Whistler Public Library is offering an eerie twist on traditional story time this week.

They’re offering a special Halloween story time in the Burrow, complete with books, songs, rhymes and a craft that fit in with the haunting holiday theme. Costumes are encouraged, and there is room for 20 children to join in the fun.

Storytime takes place from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, and the event is suitable for children ages three to five years. While it’s free to participate, parents are asked to contact Libby at WPL to pre-register. Call 604-935-8436 or e-mail lmckeever@whistlerlibrary.ca .

 

Songs in the Key of EEEK!

 

The Whistler Children’s Chorus is also getting into the spirit of things this week, with a special Halloween performance on Sunday, Oct. 26.

This local children’s choir is made up of 60 performers who range in age from six to 17 years of age — a junior choir for Grades 1 to 3, an intermediate choir for Grades 4 to 7, and a youth choir for Grades 8 to 12.

The Children’s Chorus also has a workshop with composer Francois Houle planned for Oct. 29, and a concert with entertainer Norman Foote on the horizon in late November. They will also be participating in the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Whistler Firehall on Nov. 11.

For the upcoming Halloween-themed performance being held this coming weekend, choir members will be in costume, and audience members are also encouraged to don their all hallow’s eve attire a bit early. The concert is free, and takes place at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church.

 

Finally, don’t forget…

 

This week is a great time to have your thoughts and ideas about the local arts sector heard. The Whistler Arts Council is hosting their second artists’ meeting tonight (Thursday, Oct. 23). They’re asking members of the arts community to come out, have a drink and a chat, and share their thoughts and concerns about the sector. The meeting will run from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Alta Lake Station House.

And on Tuesday, Oct. 28, the arts, culture and heritage community is hosting an all-candidates meeting from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at MY Millennium Place to find out where municipal candidates stand on arts issues.