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Whistler Film Festival rescued by Resort Municipality of Whistler

Municipality contributes $150,000 to keep festival going

Emergency municipal funding is likely coming to the rescue of the Whistler Film Festival to save the 2011 event.

Council has agreed to give festival organizers almost $150,000 in provincial RMI (Resort Municipality Initiative) grant money. Without it, the festival may have been cancelled.

This year it lost its presenting sponsor, American Express, after a seven-year partnership. The company gave the festival $300,000 - half for activations and half in cash. Film festival organizers have been unable to secure another presenting sponsor this year.

The emergency funding comes with conditions. It must be used specially for the rental of technical equipment and fees for use for the various festival venues.

The hotel tax grant money was originally slated to go to the Film Festival Society for renovations to the Rainbow Theatre. That project has been pushed back for one year, freeing up $250,000.

Whistler still needs to get provincial approval before reallocating the RMI grant money.

The film festival is 10 weeks away, set to take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4.