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Here Comes More Talent! Whistler Film Festival announces Director Masterclass with Robert Budreau and additional Content Summit and talent program guests.

by ahnationtalk on November 14, 2018387 Views

Whistler, B.C. (November 13, 2018)​– With two weeks to go until show time, the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) continues to turn up the heat by announcing a second wave of established industry leaders and creators, as well as the finalists for WFF’s Power Pitch, Producers Lab, Doc Lab and MPPIA Short Film Award talent programs. Award-winning writer, director and producer ​Robert Budreau​returns to the festival with the Canadian premiere of his latest feature STOCKHOLM and will be featured in a Director Masterclass sponsored by EOne at WFF’s Content Summit. Over 400 filmmakers, including screenwriters, producers, directors, actors, musicians and industry executives, are confirmed to be part of the 18th Whistler Film Festival and Content Summit.

“We are thrilled to be joined by award-winning director Robert Budreau as the featured guest for our Director Masterclass”, said Julie Di Cresce, WFF’s Director of Industry Programming. “With 80 creators from across Canada participating in 11 talent programs during the festival, it’s such a privilege to be a part of their creative journey, and support them in developing and advancing their projects, craft and connections.”

Budreau’s debut feature was the Genie-nominated THAT BEAUTIFUL SOMEWHERE, which starred Roy Dupuis, followed by WFF 2015 title BORN TO BE BLUE (2016) about jazz legend Chet Baker, which starred Ethan Hawke. BORN TO BE BLUE earned rave reviews and opened as the top specialty title at the US box office as well as won several Canadian Screen Awards. Budreau’s latest feature, STOCKHOLM starring Ethan Hawke, Noomi Rapace and Mark Strong, premiered this year at Tribeca to great reviews.

Additional industry guests confirmed to participate in WFF’s Content Summit and talent programs include:

  • Neil Ames​- Senior Director, Accounts, GoDigital, Inc.
  • Stephanie Azam ​-​​Feature Film Executive, English-language Market, Telefilm Canada
  • Howard Barish​- Executive Producer/President, Kandoo Films, Inc.
  • Michael Barker-Fyfe​- National Manager, Key Accounts, Western Union Business Solutions
  • Peter Belsito​- Partner and Co-Founder, SydneysBuzz.com
  • Susan Brinton​- Media Consultant
  • Steve Cohen​- Co-Founder/Board Chair, Chicago Media Project
  • Avi Federgreen​- President, Federgreen Entertainment & President, Indiecan Entertainment
  • Zach Feldberg​- Executive in Charge of Production, Digital Originals, CBC
  • Paula Froehle​- CEO, Chicago Media Project
  • John Galway​- President, The Harold Greenberg Fund
  • David Gross​- Principal, No Trace Camping
  • Kevin Krikst ​- Producer, Rhombus Media Inc.
  • Eric Lapointe​- General Manager, International Sales & Development, And Now Global
  • Brendan McNeill ​-​​President/CEO, Above The Line Media Service
  • Robin Mirsky ​- Executive Director, Rogers Group of Funds
  • Tina Pehme​- Co-Founder/Producer, Sepia Films
  • Marguerite Pigott​- Vice President, Outreach and Strategic Initiatives, Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA)

 

  • Christina Rogers​- Director, Content Acquisition Original Film, Netflix
  • Elizabeth Schofield​- Manager of Drama Development, Omnifilm Entertainment
  • Tim Smy​- Director, Theatrical Sales, VVS Films
  • Shirley Vercruysse​-​​Executive Producer, English Program, BC & Yukon Centre, National Film Board of Canada
  • Don Young​- President, Those Canadians Media Group

Additional notable talent confirmed with films premiering at the fest include: ​Natty Zavitz​(ACQUAINTED), Laysla De Oliveira​(ACQUAINTED), ​Adelaide Kane​(ACQUAINTED), ​Jonathan Keltz ​(ACQUAINTED) Deanne Foley​(AN AUDIENCE OF CHAIRS), ​Carolina Bartczak​(AN AUDIENCE OF CHAIRS), ​Bruce McDonald ​(CLAIRE’S HAT), ​Jen Walden ​(ELIJAH AND THE ROCK CREATURE), ​Tantoo Cardinal ​(FALLS AROUND HER),​Sophie Dupuis ​(FAMILY FIRST), ​Julia Sarah Stone​(HONEY BEE), ​Michelle McLeod (HONEY BEE), ​Rama Rau​(HONEY BEE), ​Brigitte Berman​(HUGH HEFNER’S AFTER DARK: SPEAKING OUT IN AMERICA), ​Steven Roberts​(IN GOD I TRUST), ​Jennifer Dale​(INTO INVISIBLE LIGHT), ​Renée Beaulieu​(THE NATURALLY WANTON PLEASE OF SKIN), ​Gary Burns​(MAN RUNNING), ​Jeff Zimbalist (MOMENTUM GENERATION), ​Michael Zimbalist ​(MOMENTUM GENERATION), ​Douglas Nyback​(THE DANCING DOGS OF DOMBROVA and NOSE TO TAIL), ​Genevieve Kang​(NOSE TO TAIL), ​Jason Tome (NOSE TO TAIL), ​Shane Mauss ​(PSYCHONAUTICS: A COMIC’S EXPLORATION OF PSYCHEDELICS, Kristian Bruun​(RED ROVER), ​Meghan Heffern​, (RED ROVER), ​Amrit Sandhu​(ROOBHA), ​Adisa Septuri (SKIN IN THE GAME), ​Arden Alfonso​(SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS), ​Stephanie Czjakowski​(SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS),​Darrin Rose ​(SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS), and ​Tom Donahue​(THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING).

This year, WFF’s slate of 11 talent programs will provide creative and business immersion experiences for 80 Canadian artists – including screenwriters, directors, producers, actors and musicians – with 78% of the talent pool coming from British Columbia and 46% being female. Geared towards the advancement of business and creative opportunities for emerging and mid-career Canadian screen content creators and their projects, programs include the Producers Lab, Praxis Screenwriters Lab, Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship, Power Pitch, Stars to Watch, Doc Lab, Women on Top Mentorship and Music Showcase. WFF also collaborates with several industry organizations by hosting specific third party initiatives including the Women in the Director’s Chair Industry Immersion, Women in Film & Television Film Market Preparation Mentorship, and the MPPIA Short Film Award Pitch with the Motion Picture Production Industry Association and Creative BC.

WFF’s ​Power Pitch​for Canadian producers with feature projects in development is designed to set them up for success by fine-tuning their project packages and pitching skills. The program culminates in a pitch competition with prize packages spanning a $41,000 prize that includes a $1,000 cash prize and a $40,000 production package featuring a $10,000 post production credit from Encore Vancouver, and a $10,000 studio credit, $10,000 lighting and grip credit and a $10,000 camera credit from ​Sim​.

The Power Pitch finalists include:

  • Jen Araki ​(BC) – SLIP INTO DARKNESS
  • Emmanuelle Heroux​(QC) – LAST RAY OF HOPE
  • Mostafa Keshvari ​(BC) – THE FORGIVER
  • Adelina Suvagau ​(BC) – BOX OF FREEDOM
  • Plus two producers will be selected from the Producers Lab.

The Power Pitch facilitator is industry veteran ​Carole Kirschner ​- Director of the WGA Showrunner Training Program & CBS Diversity Writers Mentoring Program, and Entertainment Career Coach. The jury includes ​Bill Bromiley​- President, Saban Films; ​Todd Brown​- Head of International Acquisitions, XYZ Films; and ​Tory Jennings​- Director of Programming, Bell Media Pay & SVOD. Power Pitch is sponsored by Creative BC, CMPA, ENCORE Vancouver and Sim.

WFF’s ​Producers Lab​is a project development and mentorship program for six independent Canadian producers prepping genre or high concept narrative feature projects. The Producers Lab​​finalists include:

  • Adria Budd Johnson​(ON) – S.O.S.
  • Rachelle Chartrand​(BC) – CHAINED
  • Scott Lepp​(AB) – HAILEY ROSE
  • Kyle McCachen​(BC) – HOTLINE
  • Kent O’Connor​(BC) – INVASION
  • Timo Puolitaipale​(BC) – MISTER SANDMAN

The Producers Lab facilitator is ​Peter Wetherell​- Executive Producer & President, Magus Entertainment, Inc., and the mentors include ​Tim Brown​- President, Joker Films Productions Inc.; ​Avi Federgreen​- President, Federgreen Entertainment & President, Indiecan Entertainment; and​David Gross​- Principal, No Trace Camping. The Producers Lab guest speakers include ​Todd Brown​- Head of International Acquisitions, XYZ Films; ​John Galway​- President, The Harold Greenberg Fund; ​Tory Jennings​- Director of Programming, Bell Media Pay & SVOD; ​Brendan McNeill​- President/CEO, Above The Line Media Services; and​Christina Rogers​, Director, Content Acquisitions, Netflix. The Producers Lab is supported by Telefilm Canada and sponsored by Creative BC, CMPA and NETFLIX.

The Canadian documentary filmmakers selected to participate in WFF’s ​Doc Lab​, an intensive multi-day program for Canadian documentary filmmakers with social issue focused feature projects in development, include:

  • Zoe Arthur​(BC) – A STRUGGLE FOR SPACE
  • Carmen Forsberg​(BC) – PLANET OCEAN
  • Sam Rose Phillips​(BC) – TURNING THE TIDE
  • Keith Robertson​(AB) – FAMILY ROUTES

The Doc Lab facilitator is ​Robert Hardy​- Executive Producer, Perfect Day Productions Inc. Guest speakers include ​Shirley Vercruysse ​-​​Executive Producer, English Program, BC & Yukon Centre, National Film Board of Canada;​Don Young​- President, Those Canadians Media Group; ​Kathleen Meek​- Manager, Original Content, Drama & Factual, Corus Entertainment; ​Michele McMahon ​- Production Executive, Original Programming B.C. and the Territories, Bell Media; ​Vanessa Case ​- SVP, Studio, VICE Canada, VICE Media; ​Robin Mirsky ​-Executive Director, Rogers Group of Funds; ​Paula Froehle​- CEO, Chicago Media Project; ​Steve Cohen​-Co-Founder & Board Chair, Chicago Media Project; ​Matt Shewchuk​- Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Mayhem Entertainment; ​Tyson Hepburn​- Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Mayhem Entertainment; ​Denis Paquette​- Principal/Producer, RealWorld Media Inc.; ​Cheryl Binning​- Showrunner, JADE FEVER; ​Brigitte Berman​- Director, HUGH HEFNER’S AFTER DARK: SPEAKING OUT IN AMERICA; ​Jaren Hayman​- Director, THIS IS NORTH PRESTON; ​Sean Patrick Shaul​- Director, FUCK YOU ALL: THE UWE BOLL STORY; and bothers ​Jeff and Michael Zimbalist​- Directors, MOMENTUM GENERATION. The Doc Lab sponsored by Creative BC.

Five previously announced Women on Top Mentorship finalists with projects in development will receive project mentorship from an established producer as well as the invaluable opportunity to attend three epic events in the Women on Top Series and attend the Whistler Film Festival and Content Summit. The Women on Top Mentorship is sponsored by Creative BC and Brightlight Pictures. The filmmakers, projects and mentors include:

  • Sara Beth​(SB) Edwards from KISS OFF Entertainment with her feature film THE ESTATE with Christine Haebler​- President/Producer, Terminal City Pictures
  • Kate Kroll ​from Black Moon Media with her feature film PORTRAITS FROM A FIRE with​Emily Alde​n – SVP – Acquisitions, Production & Development, Pacific Northwest Pictures
  • Alexandra Caulfield​from Alley Rock Films with her television series 3 WAYS with​Liz Levine​-Producer, Random Bench Productions
  • Christina Sicoli ​from Tilt 9 Entertainment with her feature film CHRIS RONSON: PROFESSIONAL POLICE OFFICER with ​Arielle Boisvert​- Director, Production & Development, Brightlight Pictures
  • Katie Weekley​from Goonworks Films with her limited television series NURSIE with ​Paddy Bickerton, President, Reunion Pacific Entertainment.

The ​MPPIA Short Film Award​, presented by MPPIA and Creative BC, consists of a $15,000 cash award plus up to $100,000 in services. The completed project will have its world premiere screening at the 2019 Whistler Film Festival. The MPPIA Short Film Award finalists pitching for the $115,000 prize at WFF on December 1 include:

  • Andy Alvarez​(BC) – ALMOST
  • Jay Cardinal Villeneuve​(BC) – GODS & DEVILS
  • Hayley Gray​(BC) – ALLIGATOR
  • Sunny Mohajer​(BC) – ATARAXIA
  • Alayna Silverberg​(BC) – B-SIDE

The ​WIFTV Film Marketing Preparation​program at WFF is a mentor focused program that prepares one director’s film project for market under the guidance of a senior female producer or director. The selected mentee is ​Jennifer Walden​with ​ELIJAH AND THE ROCK CREATURE, ​and the mentor is ​Tina Pehme ​-Co-Founder/Producer, Sepia Films.

Finalists for WFF’s Screenwriters Lab, Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship, Music Showcase and Women in the Directors Chair talent programs were previously announced, and are available on ​whistlerfilmfestival.com​. WFF’s Stars to Watch finalists will be announced on November 15.

From November 28th to December 2nd, the Whistler Film Festival will welcome film fans and filmmakers to experience its 18th edition featuring fresh films from Canada and around the world, special guests, epic events, unique industry and talent programs, and time to play in North America’s premier mountain resort destination. The Whistler Film Festival combines an international film competition with a focused Content Summit dedicated to the art and business of filmmaking in the digital age. Featuring four themed days with 30 interactive sessions designed to foster business connections and collaborations for filmmakers and dealmakers through high-level keynotes and panel discussions on topics that range from finance, marketing, distribution and technology to export. With up to 14,000 attendees expected including 1,000 industry insiders from across North America and beyond, Whistler is the place for industry to get intel, connect, deal and see great films.

WFF’s film lineup and schedule, and Content Summit schedule and guest lineup are now available at whistlerfilmfestival.com​, and will be updated regularly.

The Festival’s online box office at ​whistlerfilmfestival.com/tickets​is now open for Film, Industry and Patron Passes as well as Ticket Packages. Individual film tickets go on sale on November 15 and the WFF Box Office Kiosk opens for walk-up sales on November 23. Exclusive air travel and ground transportation deals, as well as best accommodation rates from WFF’s 20 accommodation partners, are now available at whistlerfilmfestival.com/attend​.

The Whistler Film Festival is funded by the Government of Canada through Telefilm Canada, and by the Province of British Columbia and the Resort Municipality of Whistler through the Resort Municipality Initiative, is supported by the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and the American Friends of Whistler, and is sponsored by Variety, Creative BC, Cineplex, Encore Vancouver, NETFLIX, RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate, Gibbons Whistler, Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and the Westin Resort & Spa Whistler.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Jacki St. Thomas | Senior Account Executive I Jive PR + Digital

jacki​@jiv​eprdigital.com | 310.625.7799

The ​Whistler Film Festival Society​is a charitable cultural organization dedicated to furthering the art of film by providing programs that focus on the discovery, development and promotion of new talent culminating with a must attend festival for artists, industry and audiences in Whistler. Find out more at ​whistlerfilmfestival.com​.

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