Media Releases

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Whistler rolls out the red carpet at the 15th annual Whistler Film Festival, December 2-6

Suggested tweet: #WhistlerFilmFestival to honour Kiefer Sutherland; walk the red carpet with the stars at @WFF http://bit.ly/1MNxE5u #LittleThingWhistler

Whistler, B.C. – This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Whistler Film Festival (WFF), running from December 2 to 6 and featuring fresh films from around the world and opportunities to connect with the people who create them. For five blockbuster days in December, Whistler plays host to filmmakers and film lovers alike, boasting premieres, celebrations, show-stopping competitions and innovative industry sessions – not to mention a star-studded guest list. Cementing its place on the worldwide stage as one of Canada’s leading film festivals and industry summits, the Whistler Film Festival continues to offer development programs for Canadian film industry up-and-comers, alongside an ever-growing inventory of feature and short films.

This year, festivalgoers can look forward to 89 films, from 19 countries, selected from over 1200 submissions. The film lineup represents a broad spectrum of genres with 46 feature films and 43 shorts, including 17 world premieres – the most in the festival’s 15 year history. With over $147,500 in cash and prizing to be awarded, this year’s WFF is estimated to bring 12,000 attendees eager to witness all the theatrics you would expect – and maybe some you wouldn’t.

The Whistler Summit offers three days and 30 networking opportunities and business programs with debates, conversations and discussions among industry insiders. Highlights include: View from the Top Conversation featuring the most senior players in the biz, Power Pitch Bootcamp & Competition – where six teams pitch to win $1,000 prize money and a $10,000 credit for Studio Space, the MPPIA Short Film Pitch Competition with $15,000 cash and $100,000 production support up for grabs, and much more.

Opening and closing galas, the L’Oreal Men Expert Bobsleigh Race, the Celebrity Challenge Ski Race, the WFF Music Café, the Short Work Showcase and the Awards Brunch are some of the exciting events that help to round out the festival.

New to this year’s event, guests can enjoy daily programming at Festival Lodge (Whistler Conference Centre), including a series of Meet the Artist conversations, a historic installation of WFF over 15 years, a festival art gallery dedicated to local Sea to Sky artists, and Collectibles Store.

The Whistler Film Festival proudly honours Kiefer Sutherland at this year’s Festival Tribute presented by Pandora honouree. Sutherland will be awarded the WFF 2015 Trailblazer in Acting Award in an intimate evening conversation on December 4.

Scottish born Robert Carlyle is among the star-studded list being honoured at the 2015 festival, receiving the WFF Maverick Award – shinning the spotlight on Carlyle and his accomplished career within the film industry.

With Whistler Mountain already open and operating – one week early – and Blackcomb set to open this Thursday, November 26, guests can team mountains with movies and powder with premieres at Whistler Film Festival – 5 dedicated days to the illustrious film industry.

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 1.800.944.7853 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 Contacts

Patricia Westerholm
Manager, Communications
T: 604.938.2748
E: pwesterholm@tourismwhistler.com

Katie Brockett
Coordinator, Communications
T: 604.938.2726
E: kbrockett@tourismwhistler.com

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