Media Releases
Friday, November 28, 2014
Whistler aims for the stars as annual film festival takes centre stage
Tourism Whistler media release
For immediate release - November 28, 2014
Whistler aims for the stars as annual film festival takes centre stage
Suggested tweet: #WhistlerFilmFestival to honour Canadian actress Kim Cattrall; visit #Whistler+join the stars at this year’s festival http://bit.ly/1vdCX3T
Whistler, B.C. – For five days each December, Whistler plays host to filmmakers and film lovers alike, hosting premieres, celebrations, show-stopping competitions, innovative industry events – not to mention a star-studded guest list – and taking its place on the worldwide stage as home to one of Canada’s leading film festivals.
This year marks the 14th edition of the Whistler Film Festival, running from December 3 to 7 and featuring innovative and original films from around the world and opportunities to connect with the people who create them. In addition to film screenings, the Whistler Film Festival includes an impressive schedule with awards ceremonies and tributes, industry initiatives and charity events.
This year, festivalgoers can look forward to 87 films, from 18 countries, selected from over 700 submissions. The film lineup represents a broad spectrum of genres with 41 feature films and 46 shorts, including 22 world premieres.
The Whistler Summit offers three days of networking opportunities and business programs with debates, conversations and discussions among industry insiders while the Whistler Film Festival Feature Project Lab is a business and marketplace immersion experience, giving six producers a chance to focus and strengthen their projects. The China Canada Gateway for Film Script Competition aims to match experienced writers and producers with Chinese studios with three new projects arising from the initiative. The Paxis Screenwriters Lab in an intensive five-day workshop designed to advance Canadian creative talent, focusing on strengthening feature length scripts by facilitating feedback and mentorship from veteran screenwriters and story editors.
Opening and closing galas, the Celebrity Challenge Ski Race, the WFF Music Café and the awards brunch are some of the exciting events that help to round out the festival.
This year, the Whistler Film Festival will honour English-Canadian actress Kim Cattrall, whose acting career spans film, stage and television. Cattrall will be recognized as the festival’s Tribute and Maverick Award honouree. The tribute will take place at the Whistler Conference Centre December 6.
The Whistler Film Festival has also announced that Canadian actress Sarah Gadon will be honoured at this year’s Spotlight On presented by Elle Canada.
Guests attending the film festival can also take in the action on the local mountains, which are now open for the season. Whistler Mountain opened November 22, five days ahead of schedule, while Blackcomb Mountain opened November 27.
Visit www.whistler.com for winter packages and accommodation-only rates. Whistler-based travel consultants at whistler.com can customize vacation packages, taking care of flights, ground transportation, accommodation and activities. Whistler.com offers the largest selection with no booking fee for accommodation and activities. Call 1.800.944.7853 to request a no-obligation quote or visit whistler.com for more details and offers.
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Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.
Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.
Media can visit whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, local personality profiles and access to images and B-roll.
Broadcasters: Whistler now has the capability to take you live with our enhanced fibre network. The significantly expanded network of more than 200 kilometres of fibre optic cabling throughout the resort allows instant transmission of HD signals to any location at any time. Details on how to access, and book the fibre are available on our media site.
Media Contact
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