MISSION
The Whistler Film Festival Society (WFFS) is a cultural charitable organization dedicated to advancing the art of film by providing programs that focus on the discovery, development and promotion of talent culminating with a must attend festival for artists, the industry and audiences in Whistler. WFFS produces one of Canada’s leading film festivals and industry Summits, plays a leadership role in offering project development programs for Canadian artists, and produces a series of year rounds events and programs that includes screening series and fundraising events.
ABOUT WFF
Based in North America's premier mountain resort just two hours north of Vancouver, British Columbia, ‘Canada's coolest film festival’ returns December 4 to December 8, 2019, and is expected to attract over 14,000 attendees including 1,000 industry insiders. The 19th annual Whistler Film Festival combines an esteemed international film competition with a concentrated industry summit organized to address the ever-changing landscape of filmmaking in the digital age. Featuring up to 90 innovative and original films from around the world and opportunities to connect with the people who made them, the five day Festival will feature film premieres and lively celebrations, honour leading artists of our time, and present unique industry initiatives that connect filmmakers and dealmakers through our slate of talent programs and industry Summit.
WFF’s Summit directly connects to WFF’s slate of project development programs designed to provide creative and business immersion experiences for Canadian artists including the Feature Project Lab, Praxis Screenwriters Lab, Aboriginal Filmmaker Fellowship, Power Pitch, Doc Lab, Digital First Lab, Music Showcase, Stars to Watch. WFF also collaborates with several industry organizations by hosting specific third-party initiatives at the Whistler Summit 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.
In just 18 years, Whistler has become one of Canada's most important and celebrated destinations for independent film, and has established itself as a filmmakers’ festival, an essential place for the industry to meet and do business, and a desirable destination for film lovers alike. The Whistler Film Festival has been recognized as 'one of the top 30 film festivals in the world' by Variety, ‘one of seven of the best film festivals in the world’ to attend by Travel & Style, and Whistler's 'Best Arts & Cultural Event'.
To recognize the vitality of this art form, the 2019 Festival will feature seven juried competitive sections and one audience award selected from over 1,000 submissions. Up to 90 films, including about 45 features and 45 shorts from Canada and around the world, will be presented. Canadian and international filmmakers are invited to submit films of all lengths and genres: April 30th for early film submissions (discount on application); June 30th for regular submissions; and August 15th for late submissions.
Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature ($15,000 cash prize)
Supported by Directors Guild of Canada BC
Post Production prize included from Encore Vancouver
Best Performance in a Borsos Competition Film
Best Director of a Borsos Competition Film
Best Screenplay for a Borsos Competition Film
Best Cinematography for a Borsos Competition Film
Best World Documentary
Best Mountain Culture Film
Best Canadian ShortWork ($1000 cash prize)
Best International ShortWork
Best BC Student ShortWork ($500 cash prize)
Audience Award