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A trio of talented film and photo winners at WSSF

Intersection, Pro Photographer Showdown and 72 Hour Filmmakers Showdown put on good shows
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Ben Geisbrecht, left, Jordan Ettinger and Charles Nasby took home first prize in the 72 Hour Filmmakers Showdown. PHOTO BY DAVID BUZZARD/WWW.MEDIA-CENTRE.CA

A funny tale about a man trying to find his grandpa's buried treasure in Whistler, a veteran German snowboarding photographer, and an impressive work-in-progress were the winners of the World Ski and Snowboard Festival's showcase artistic competitions.

Grandpa's Treasure Trail, by Vancouver filmmaker and photographer Ben Geisbrecht, won the $10,000 first prize at the 2015 Olympus 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown.

Geisbrecht also took home an extra $5,000 for shooting the five-minute short on Olympus film equipment. Jordan Ettinger and Charles Nasby were also on the team.

The film was also the winner of the People's Choice Award, giving them another $5,000.

Thirty-one teams spent 72 hours from Friday, April 10 to Monday, April 13 filming and editing films from three to five minutes.

Giesbrecht and his team had no plan for their film before receiving the prop given to teams each year — this year's being a green spray bottle.

Lauren Everest of Whistler Blackcomb said: "Like always, all the films were very different. What was fun about (Geisbrecht's team) was they found out what the prop was going to be and they centred their film around that. Super witty, super quick on their feet."

Judges selected the winner at the Whistler Conference Centre on Wednesday, April 15.

"You guys are awesome!" Giesbrecht told the audience after being handed two big cheques.

The following night, Thursday, April 16, saw German photographer Lorenz Holder take home the $10,000 grand prize for his snowboarding shots.

Whistler ski and mountain bike photographer, Reuben Krabbe, was awarded the People's Choice Award, winning $1,000.

"I think the Pro Photographers Showdown was one of the best we've ever seen. The pool of talent was incredible and I'm not jealous of the judges for having to make this decision," said Everest.

At Intersection on Friday night, Europe and Whistler-based Legs of Steel won Best in Show for an edited section from their upcoming film Passenger, a two-year project filmed in Japan, Austria, France, B.C. and Alaska, which is due to be released in the fall of 2015.

The People's Choice award went to the all-women team Full Moon Films for their spoof film Whishalla.

"I think Intersection went really well and all the films were really different, from big spine segments in Alaska, to urban rail skiing in northern Canada. No matter what style of ski and snowboarding you like best, Intersection covered it all," Everest said.

The WSSF ended on Sunday, April 19.