The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has announced an extra dose of stars to watch this year.
On top of the Festival's 9th annual Stars to Watch program, its also adding 10 Canadians to Watch to its list.
The new program, run in conjunction with Variety, aims to shine "a light on talent poised to breakthrough in the international market," according to a release.
“Whistler Film Festival has proven to be a wonderful destination for Variety, first with a focus on screenwriters and now with the 10 Canadians to Watch program,” says Steven Gaydos, executive VP of content at Variety, in a release. “It’s inspiring to be able to celebrate the diverse talent in this convivial atmosphere where international film professionals gather to experience the best in the screen industry.”
The 10 honourees will be profiled in Variety, and featured in a conversation with Michael Schneider, Variety’s TV editor and producer, on Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. at the Maury Young Arts Centre. They will also be formally honoured at WFF's RE:U:NITE Gala later that day at 7 p.m.
They include: Britt Kerr of Halifax-based Brass Door Productions; Sophie Dupuis , Quebec director and screenwriter; Justin Delorme , a Winnipeg-based Métis composer; Daniel Roher, Toronto documentarian and film director; Chandler Levack, Toronto journalist and director; Bilal Baig, a Mississauga playwright, performer, showrunner, and producer; Sasha Leigh Henry , Toronto-based writer, director, and producer; Gail Maurice, Saskatchewan director, writer and actor; Kelly McCormack, Vancouver-based writer, director and actor; and Jules Koostachin, a Vancouver-based WFF Screenwriters Lab alumn and her son, actor Asivak Koostachin, named a Star to Watch in 2021.
Meanwhile, four actors have also been chosen for this year's Stars to Watch program, presented by UBCP/ACTRA, which offers a "multi-day festival immersion, promotion and professional development experience." The actors all have features premiering at the festival with performances or careers that are considered worthy of recognition, according to a release.
For 2022, they include: Matreya Scarrwener and Michael Taylor in Soft Spoken Weepy Cult Child, Sera-Lys McArthur in Broken Angel, and Viva Lee in Polaris.
“We are excited to be honouring this stellar line-up of gifted and talented performers this year and celebrate their accomplishments,” says Angela Heck, WFF’s executive director, in a release. “The Stars to Watch program is a proven winner in identifying talent on the path to international success.”
For more information on the festival visit whistlerfilmfestival.com.
