With two-and-a-half months until the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) launches its 18th edition, organizers have unveiled the first wave of films confirmed for this year.
They include Canadian titles from past WFF alumni, with three eligible for the Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature, which includes a $15,000 cash prize.
The films unveiled so far include An Audience of Chairs by director Deanne Foley, Falls Around Her directed by Darlene Naponse, Fuck You All – The Uwe Boll Story with director Sean Patrick Shaui, Hugh Hefner's After Dark: Speaking Out In America by director Brigitte Berman, Man Running directed by Gary Burns and The Great Darkened Days by director Maxime Giroux.
On top of that, WFF has announced it has hired a new director of industry programming. Julie Di Cresce is a former HBO and SuperChannel programming and development executive who currently works as program advisor for the NSI's Totally Television program. Based in Toronto, she will oversee the industry, project development and talent programs that are part of WFF and its summit. "With a passion for storytelling and strong creative and market instincts, Julie is poised to elevate WFF's industry programming and talent development programs," WFF said in a release.
Di Cresce is replacing long-time WFF employee Angie Nolan. Nolan has been involved with the festival since it first started and has officially been part of the WFF team for the last 14 years. "We are very grateful for Angie's commitment to WFF, and passion for our industry and talent programs that she helped to create and nurture over the years," WFF said in a release. "She has been an integral part of the WFF village, and has left a lasting legacy. We wish Angie great success as her focus shifts to the writing and directing of her own film and theatre projects as well as other exciting endeavours that she is looking forward to announcing soon."
For more information, or to purchase early bird passes for the festival, visit whistlerfilmfestival.com.
Squamish Artwalk kicks off
If you find yourself shopping in Squamish this month, take a look around. Twenty local businesses are taking part in the Squamish ArtWalk 2018. For the event, around 30 local artists have teamed up to have their work on display in businesses in Squamish and Britannia Beach from Sept. 1 to 30. They range from the Brackendale Art Gallery to Moksha Yoga to the Squamish Adventure Centre, ending at the Britannia Mine Museum—with a cluster of participating businesses downtown.
Participating artists, meanwhile, include names like Zoe Evamy, Jessa Gilbert and Toby Jaxon, to name just a few.
To see the complete list of businesses and artist visit www.squamishvisuals.com/artwalk.
