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Calling all Whistler filmmakers: Sea to Sky Shorts Showcase accepting applications

The amateur filmmaking competition is offering Sea to Sky locals the chance to win a $2000 prize.
taking a photo filming outdoors
Any Sea to Sky resident "with a phone, GoPro, or camera with a story to tell," is encouraged to apply for the Whistler Film Festival's short filmmaking competition until Aug. 21.

Have an idea for a short film?

The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) wants to hear it. Specifically, it wants to hear how the Sea to Sky region is inspiring the adventurers and storytellers who call the corridor home, while giving those individuals a shot to win a $2000 grand prize. 

The idea is to show off the place you live and why you love it. 

The film fest opened up its Sea to Sky Shorts Showcase competition to new or amateur filmmakers on July 20.

Organizers have since extended the deadline to submit applications until Oct. 10. All final films must run between three and 10 minutes, and must be submitted by Oct. 15.

The contest, presented by Pique, is free to enter.

Any local from Horseshoe Bay through Squamish and Whistler to the Pemberton Valley, Birken and D’Arcy "with a phone, GoPro, or camera with a story to tell," is encouraged to apply, the WFF explains in a release. "The showcase competition is about discovering great stories that bring the community together while highlighting the many amazing creative storytellers from the Sea to Sky region."

Applicants will be invited to access the Whistler Film Festival + Content Summit and participate in a one-hour workshop about creating short films, scheduled to take place during the last week of August. 

Aside from the run-time parameter of three to 10 minutes, "There are no limitations on how the film is shot or its theme," the WFF tells potential applicants. "You can shoot live-action, animation, stop-motion, documentary, use actors, cutouts, puppets, or animals; the choice is yours. There are no restrictions on your creativity or how you choose to capture the magic that makes the Sea to Sky region so unique."

Following the mid-October deadline, a panel will judge applications on each film's overall concept, creativity, and originality before selecting up to 20 of the locally-made short films to be shown on the big screen as part of the Sea to Sky Shorts Showcase during the film festival in late November. 

Every filmmaker who has their work presented during the Showcase will be in the running for the $2,000 grand prize. A $500 prize will also be given to the fan-favourite. 

More information about the contest is available on the Whistler Film Festival's website