The numbers are in.
The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) attracted 11,290 attendees across all platforms from Nov. 30 until Jan. 2. That included 6,443 in-person attendees at film screenings from Nov. 30 until Dec.4, which is on par with pre-pandemic levels, according to organizers.
The vast majority of movie-watchers—76 per cent—were from British Columbia. Of that total, 30 per cent were from the Sea to Sky corridor. Another 11 per cent were from Ontario and Quebec while three per cent were from elsewhere in Canada and 3.5 per cent were an international audience, mostly from the U.S.
Special events like the awards celebrations, talent talks, and networking events, meanwhile, drew 1,760 attendees.
The Content Summit, which ran at the same time as the festival, attracted 2,004 people, up 25 per cent from 2021's hybrid edition.
“The Whistler Film Festival and Content Summit was positively buzzing with energy as we welcomed our audiences, filmmakers, industry and talent back to Whistler, while remaining accessible to a wider audience online. We’ve been driven by innovation and adaption through these past few years and remain dedicated to creating the friendly atmosphere we’re known for while celebrating and championing the diverse stories that define us,” said Angela Heck, WFF executive director, in a release. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back to experience Whistler in 2023 to share in more premieres, inspiring conversations and celebrate the magic of storytelling on screen.”
