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 November 28 to December 2, 2018, and is expected to attract over 14,000 attendees including 1,000 industry insiders. The 18th 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 17 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 2018 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.

Awards & Prizes

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

Rules & Terms

Thank you for submitting to the 2017 Whistler Film Festival!

ALL submissions are accepted via FilmFreeway Online Screener, YouTube or Vimeo link only. You will be able to enter this info during the submission page.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT DVD SCREENERS.

You can contact our Programming Department if you have additional questions via Nikki Segovia, Film Programming Manager at 604.938.3203 or submissions@whistlerfilmfestival.com. *Please do not contact Nikki with questions or updates regarding your submission status or requests for waivers. WE DO NOT PROVIDE FILM FEE WAIVERS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,

GENERAL RULES:

Entry fees are payable by all major credit cards via FilmFreeway.

The Whistler Film Festival accepts submissions of films of all lengths, subject matters and countries of origin.

All submissions must have been completed after January 1, 2017.

Non-English language films must be presented in English-subtitled versions.

Works in Progress are eligible for submission. Please be aware programmers only view the first version of a submitted film and will not accept a revised cut version of the film later in the submission process.

Documentary films are not eligible for the Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature Film.

Entries previously submitted to the Whistler Film Festival will not be considered.

There are no submission fee refunds.

Films cannot have been publicly telecast or available on the Internet prior to December 4, 2018

Trailers are not eligible for selection purposes.

NOTIFICATION OF ENTRY STATUS:

Applicants will be notified by October 31, 2018 of their final entry status via email to the FilmFreeway contact.

Due to time constraints, the Selection Committee will not be able to respond individually to filmmakers if your film is not accepted.

The Whistler Film Festival’s Director of Programming and Selection Committees review all film submissions.

Decisions made by the Whistler Film Festival are final.

The date(s), time(s) and location(s) of exhibitions of the films shall be at the discretion of the Festival.

No film, once programmed, can be withdrawn.

All exhibition copies of accepted films must arrive at the Festival by November 10, 2017.

Each official selection will be required to provide a press kit upon acceptance containing the following:

A medium synopsis and one line synopsis
3-5 high-resolution stills of 1MB in size each minimum
Director Photo (also 1MB) and Bio
A full cast and crew list
Publicity contact if applicable
Premiere Status
Key Awards if applicable
A list of talent attending WFF with contact details
Canadian distributor and theatrical release date if applicable
Coverage restrictions
Secure online screener link and Blu-Ray
Minimum two copies of your poster for venue display
Print traffic information

EXHIBITION FORMATS:

Whistler Film Festival will accept ONLY the following screening exhibition formats:
Features: DCP (at our discretion), BluRay, HDCam
Shorts: Digital file (under 10 GB)

*Please note that not all WFF Screening venues can screen DCP formats. For this reason, WFF requires a BluRay backup of ALL feature films.

SHIPPING OF INVITED FILMS:

All shipments for exhibition to the Festival must be prepaid. If you are selected to screen at WFF18, we will cover the cost of return shipping.

The Festival will ensure the integrity of the prints from the time of delivery to the Festival from the time that the print is delivered to a shipping agent for return. In the event of loss or damage to a print, the Festival must be notified of such loss or damage in writing by January 15, 2019. The Festival’s obligation is limited to compensating the producer or distributor only to the cost of replacing the damaged print. The Whistler Film Festival does not assume liability for damage to prints due to improper shipping containers or otherwise.

PRIVACY & ANTI-PIRACY POLICY

The Whistler Film Festival Society (WFFS) endeavours to take all reasonable anti-piracy precautions for copyrighted materials in our possession. By submitting to the WFFS, you release the Society from all risk and liability in the event of theft or breach of copyright of your materials while on Festival premises.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

Upon selection, the entrant grants the Whistler Film Festival the right to utilize publicity materials related to the production (i.e. press kits, posters, stills, preview tapes, etc.) for promotional purposes in all mediums, including broadcast, print and internet.

All publicity materials for invited films (press kits, stills, posters, video clips) must arrive at the Festival at the sender's expense by October 10, 2018.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Whistler Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

The film has been submitted for consideration with the knowledge and consent of the Producer(s) listed in this form.

Participation in the Whistler Film Festival implies an understanding and acceptance of these regulations. The Festival reserves the right to rule on cases not foreseen by these regulations.

7 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Dita Gruze

    The communication regarding our film's acceptance into the festival was excellent, all our questions were answered promptly and professionally. Even though our team didn't have a chance to attend our Canadian premiere, we were very excited to screen at this solid high quality festival. I highly recommend to apply

    January 2018
    Helpful
  • Jason Karman

    This is a worthwhile festival to attend. Thank you to everyone who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

    December 2017
    Helpful
  • Pierre Brouillette-Hamelin

    Crystal clear communication, amazing programs, friendly follow up and invitation. A great canadian film festival!

    May 2017
    Helpful
  • Gloria Mercer

    Whistler was a really awesome film festival experience. They were really hospitable, and treated us really well. The setting is also very beautiful.

    Thanks so much!

    January 2017
    Helpful
  • Sandra Lahnsteiner

    2016 was my first time at the Whistler Film Festival and it was just amazing - great vibes, awesome networking, amazing dedicated people. I'll work hard to have another film at the WFF in the future, hope to be back every year!

    December 2016
    Helpful