Here​ ​Comes​ ​More​ ​Talent!​ ​WFF​ ​announces​ ​Actor​ ​Masterclass​ ​from​ ​Canada’s​ ​official​ ​Oscar​ ​entry,​ ​more industry​ ​Summit​ ​and​ ​talent​ ​program​ ​guests,​ ​plus​ ​Stars​ ​to​ ​Watch​ ​and​ ​Digital​ ​First​ ​Lab​ ​finalists.

Press Release

Whistler,​ ​B.C.​ ​(November​ ​21,​ ​2017)​ – With one week to go until show time, the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) continues to turn up the heat by announcing character actor Raoul​ ​Trujillo​ ​(HOCHELAGA, LAND OF SOULS) in an Actor Masterclass presented by EOne at WFF’s Industry Summit. The film is Canada’s official entry in this year’s Foreign-language Oscar category and is directed by Francois Girard, who won an Oscar for THE RED VIOLIN. Trujillo’s career spans more than 30 years in film and theatre. Trujillo is best known for playing Zero Wolf, the Mayan villain in APOCALYPTO, directed by Mel Gibson, the Iroquois chief Kiotseaton in the film BLACK ROBE and more recently Rafael in SICARIO, directed by Denis Villeneuve. Currently Trujillo is starring as Opechancanough in the new television series JAMESTOWN.

“With over 95 film and television credits to his name, we are thrilled to have Raoul Trujillo join us as the guest of honour in this Actor Masterclass”, said Angie Nolan, WFF’s Director of Industry Programming. “We are also excited to celebrate other masters-in-the-making including our 2017 Stars to Watch, a diverse and impressive group of four talented actors arising from Western Canada, each on a trajectory for international success. With more than 82 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 watch these creators and their projects grow.”

Over 350 filmmakers including actors, producers, writers, directors and industry executives are part of the 17th Whistler Film Festival and Summit including an impressive lineup of star-studded guests and honourees. Additional industry guests confirmed to participate in WFF’s industry Summit and talent programs include:

• Anne-Claire Villeneuve – Director, Acquisitions, Les Films Seville
• Bryan Michael Stoller – Author, Filmmaking for Dummies; Director, SANTA STOLE OUR DOG!
• Daniel Mirvish – Co-Founder, Slamdance , Director, BERNARD & HUEY
• Darcy Hennessy-Turenne – Producer & Director, THE MOMENT
• David Milchard – Creator, Tilt9 Entertainment
• David Miller, President, A71 & V71 Entertainment Groups
• Emily Alden – Vice-President, Pacific Northwest Pictures
• Gareth Seltzer- Founder, DAIS
• Ingrid Veninger – Writer, Director, PORCUPINE LAKE
•  J. Joly – Producer, ANOTHER WOLFCOP
• Joanna Miles – VP, Marketing, Films Canada, eOne
• Josh Spector – Director of Acquisitions, Gravitas Ventures
• Kim Wakefield – Co-executive Producer and Head of Sales Canada, Nasser Group North
• Kristin Harris​ ​-​ ​VP, Acquisitions and Distribution, Good Deed Entertainment
• Lauren Davis – Regional Feature Film Executive for the Western Region, Telefilm
• Matthew Clarke – Creator, Tilt9 Entertainment
• Michael Barker-Fyfe – National Manager, Key Accounts, Western Union
• Mike Douglas – Producer, Director, Editor, Switchback Entertainment
• Peter Belsito, Partner and Co-Founder of SydneysBuzz.com
• Prem Gill -​ ​CEO, Creative BC
• Shirley Vercruysse -​ ​Executive Producer of Pacific and Yukon Centre, National Film Board of Canada
• Stephanie Azam​ ​-​ ​Feature Film Executive – English-language Market, Telefilm Canada
• Tania Natscheff – Director of Programming, VICE Media Inc.
• Tim Smy – Director, Theatrical Sales, VVS Films
• Valerie Creighton – President and CEO, Canada Media Fund
• Viviana Zarragoitia – Vice President, Three Point Capital
• Krysanne Katsoolis, CEO Liquid Media Group

The Whistler Film Festival is also pleased to announce the finalists for two more of its talent programs, including the Stars to Watch and Digital First Lab.

The Western Canadian performers connected to films at this year’s festival as the WFF’s Stars​ ​to​ ​Watch​ and include: Julia​ ​Sarah​ ​Stone​, A WORTHY COMPANION; Jessica​ ​Parker​ ​Kennedy​, SOMEONE ELSE’S WEDDING; Tiera​ ​Skovbye​, PRODIGALS; and Tyler​ ​Johnston​, STORY OF A GIRL. WFF’s 4th annual Stars to Watch program is a four-day immersion experience for four UBCP/ACTRA member actors, all of whom are poised for international recognition and are connected to features premiering at the festival. The initiative draws on homegrown talent from the four Western Provinces, with a specific focus on British Columbia. WFF will formally acknowledge the four Stars to Watch with an official awards presentation at its Awards Celebration on December 3. The selection committee included Casting Directors at K&K Casting, Kara​ ​Eide​ ​& Kris Woznesensky​; President of UBCP Alvin​ ​Sanders​, and VP of Film & Entertainment at Jive PR + Digital, Jenny Bloom​. Stars to Watch is sponsored by the Union of BC Performers (UBCP/ACTRA).

Additional notable talent confirmed with films premiering at the fest include: David​ ​Alpay​ (PRODIGALS),​ ​Sara Canning​ ​(PRODIGALS), Jack​ ​Kesy​ ​(JUGGERNAUT), Yvette​ ​Rachelle​ (actor SANTA STOLE OUR DOG), Delphine​ ​Roussell​ ​(​actor PORCUPINE LAKE), Ingrid​ ​Veninger​ ​(​director PORCUPINE LAKE), Erin​ ​Karpluk (​actor, A SWINGERS WEEKEND),​ ​Hannah​ ​Cheesman​ ​(​actor, director, writer THE DEFINITES),​ ​Mackenzie Donaldson​ ​(​Director, Producer THE DEFINITES), Brad​ ​Dryborough​ ​(​PRODIGAL DAD), Linwood​ ​Barclay
(​Author and Writer NEVER SAW IT COMING), Eva​ ​Gardos​ ​(​Director BUDAPEST NOIR), Pat​ ​Kiely​ ​(​director SOMEONE ELSE’S WEDDING) and Alan​ ​Zweig​ ​(​Director THERE IS A HOUSE HERE).

The Canadian creators selected to participate in the Digital​ ​First​ ​Lab​, a multi-phased immersive program designed to empower the next generation of storytellers by providing first hand insight into the interactive world of narrative short-form storytelling and promotion, include Rebecca​ ​Campbell​, THE GIRL WHO TALKS TO THE MOON, and Farah​ ​Merani​, SUPER ZEE as well as six filmmakers who are also participating in WFF’s Aboriginal Filmmaker Fellowship including Oliver​ ​King​, RISER; Sonya​ ​Ballantyne,​ REVISION; Bretten
Hannam​, WILDFIRE; Sage​ ​Daniels​, THE LAUGH TRACK and Nikita​ ​Weiss​ ​Day​, SWEETGRASS ROAD. WFF’s DIgital First Lab facilitator is Kryssta​ ​Mills​, producer, consultant most recently the Executive Producer of THE DRIVE and former Manager of TV programs at the Canadian Film Centre. Guest mentors and advisors include: Christina​ ​Davila​ – Creative Executive, Stage 13/Warner Bros Digital Network; Matthew​ ​Clarke​ and David​ ​Milchard​ – Co-Founders, Titl9 Entertainment; Tania​ ​Natscheff​ – Director of Programming, VICE Media Inc.; Olivia​ ​Thomas​ ​Steier​ – Original Programming Executive, Fullscreen and Gareth​ ​Seltzer​ – Founder, DAIS. The Digital First Lab is supported by Creative BC and CMF.

WFF’s slate of 11 talent programs are designed to provide creative and business immersion experiences with a final count of 82 Canadian artists – including directors, producers, screenwriters, actors and musicians – with more than 50% of the talent pool coming from British Columbia. Geared towards the advancement of business and creative opportunities for emerging and mid-career Canadian screen content creators and their projects, programs include the Feature Project Lab, Praxis Screenwriters Lab, Aboriginal Filmmaker Fellowship, Power
Pitch, Stars to Watch, Doc Lab, Digital-First Lab 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.

From November 29 to December 3, the Whistler Film Festival will welcome film fans and filmmakers to experience its 17th edition featuring 87 fresh films, 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 Industry Summit dedicated to the art and business of film making in the digital age. WFF’s film lineup, events and industry Summit schedule are now available at whistlerfilmfestival.com, and will be updated regularly.

The Festival’s online box office at whistlerfilmfestival.com/attend/ is now open for VIP Patron Passes, Industry Passes and Ticket Packages, and single film and event tickets (until December 3). The Festival Box Office is open for phone sales (1-877-838-FILM) and on November 24 for walk-up sales.

Air travel and ground transportation deals as well as best accommodation rates are now available on whistlerfilmfestival.com/attend/. WFF has 20 accommodation partners to choose from including host hotel, the Westin Whistler Resort and Spa and VIP hotel the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort.

The Whistler Film Festival is funded by the Government of Canada through Telefilm Canada and Western Economic Diversification, and by the Province of British Columbia and the Resort Municipality of Whistler, is supported by the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and the American Friends of Whistler, and is sponsored by Variety, Creative BC, The Harold Greenberg Fund, the Canadian Media Producers Association, Cineplex, SW Event Technology, Remax Sea to Sky Real Estate, Whistler Blackcomb, Tourism Whistler, and the Westin
Resort & Spa Whistler.

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Media​ ​inquiries,​ ​please​ ​contact:
Jacki St. Thomas | Account Executive I Jive Communications
jacki@jiveprdigital.com | 310.625.7799

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, and plays a leadership role in offering project development programs for Canadian artists. Find out more at whistlerfilmfestival.com.

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