Whistler Film Festival Announces First Wave of Programming

With just 12 weeks to go until its 18th edition, the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) is offering a sneak peek of what audiences can expect at this year's fest including the first wave of confirmed films plus a roster of BC talent that will be honoured at Almost WFF, its' annual benefit in Vancouver. From November 28th to December 2nd, the Whistler Film Festival will welcome both fans and filmmakers to experience 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 remains a must-attend event for film fans, emerging filmmakers and anyone who cares about quality cinema. We continue to pursue our own unique festival niche by offering an impressive selection of films, featuring Oscar hopefuls and emerging talent, with a particular focus on female directors," stated Paul Gratton, Director of Programming for WFF. "We are confident that this year's edition of the Whistler Film Festival will be our best ever and are particularly gratified to note the large number of alumni returning to Whistler with new films for 2018"

Top lining this year's Canadian titles are selections from past WFF Alumni, three of which are eligible for WFF's coveted Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature which offers a $15,000 cash prize presented by the Directors Guild of Canada, British Columbia.

WFF is pleased to announce the first six films that will be playing at the 2018 festival:

AN AUDIENCE OF CHAIRS (2018, Canada, Western Canadian Premiere *) - directed by Deanne Foley (RELATIVE HAPPINESS screened WFF14) A concert pianist on a rural retreat has to deal with mental health issues and how it may affect the custody of her two children. A deeply moving story of artistic talent, motherly love and psychological imbalance all leading up to an emotionally shattering resolution.

FALLS AROUND HER (2018, Canada, Western Canadian Premiere *) - Directed by Darlene Naponse and starring WFF Alumnus Tantoo Cardinal, who gives the performance of her career as a First Nations singer who decides to return to the reservation to rekindle her creative batteries and extricate herself from an abusive relationship. A beautiful depiction of how the land and community can help heal the soul.

f YOU ALL - THE UWE BOLL STORY (2018, Canada, World Premiere) - Directed by Sean Patrick Shaul, this no-holds barred, warts and all documentary features one of BC's most controversial filmmakers Uwe Boll (TUNNEL RATS screened at WFF in 2008). Considered by some to be the world's worst directors, the feisty but now retired film entrepreneur, who once publicly boxed a number of film critics who did not like his movies, is still refusing to take guff from any of his detractors.

HUGH HEFNER'S AFTER DARK: SPEAKING OUT IN AMERICA (2018, USA, Canadian Premiere) - Academy Award winning Brigitte Berman's follow-up to 2009's HUGH HEFNER: PLAYBOY, ACTIVIST AND REBEL (WFF, 2009) focuses on the treasure trove of archival footage derived from Playboy's two groundbreaking late night Syndicated TV series (Playboy's Penthouse and Playboy After Dark) and features unforgettable performances by Sammy Davis Jr., Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Lenny Bruce and Smokey Robinson among many others. A time capsule through the racial and political times of the progressive 60s.

MAN RUNNING (2018, Canada, BC Premiere) - Director Gary Burns, who is arguably one of Western Canada's most important filmmakers ever since his breakout film WAYDOWNTOWN (WFF 2001), new film is set during a running marathon in the Kananaskis region. A doctor in questionable health questions his life and the decisions he made in the area of assisted suicide. An existential trek through the beautiful Rockies.

THE GREAT DARKENED DAYS (2018, Canada, Western Canadian Premiere) - From director Maxime Giroux, winner of WFF's Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature for FELIX ET MEIRA (WFF 2014), comes a completely new and exciting road movie about a Chaplinesque vagabond who walks and hitchhikes across a sometimes bleak rural American landscape, while learning that it is not safe for him to return home to Quebec.

Additional titles will be announced on September 19 at WFF's Almost WFF: Countdown Benefit from 7pm to 11pm at the Big Rock Urban Brewery in Vancouver. Join WFF as we mark the 10 week countdown to the festival by unveiling more films and talent you can expect to see at this year's fest plus honoring some of BC's top talent.

Get ready to discover, connect, party, repeat! Featuring hearty canapes, food stations and a host bar, the experience includes live musical entertainment performed by WFF Music Showcase Alumni, a Big Rock Brewery tour and tasting experience as well as a silent auction and raffle. Live music will be performed by Vancouver musician and actor, and WFF Music Showcase Alumnus, Alexandra Staseson, who will be performing as Alexandra and the Fellas.

Proceeds will support WFF's 2018 programs for Canadian talent, including our industry initiatives, talent programs and film festival.

WFF will shine the spotlight on five honourees at the event:

Industry Impact Award: UBCP/ACTRA

WFF's Industry Impact Award recognizes an organization whose contributions have led to the success of their members, their partners and the British Columbia Film and TV industry as a whole, and whose support in the community continues to put the province on the map. UBCP/ACTRA has been a partner of WFF since 2005 and has supported our Stars to Watch talent program, an immersion experience for four UBCP/ACTRA member actors poised for international recognition with features premiering at the festival, since 2015. WFF will honour UBCP/ACTRA for its ongoing support of the industry in BC and the WFF Stars to Watch program, which collectively have been vital to their ongoing success.

BC Woman on Top Award: Marie Clements

WFF's BC Woman on Top Award highlights a woman who has created her own niche in the film and media landscape while supporting and encouraging creators in the BC Industry. Marie Clements (WFF 2011) has ignited her brand of artistry within a variety of mediums including film, TV radio, new media and live performance. Marie wrote and directed THE ROAD FORWARD, a feature music-doc that premiered at Hot Docs and opened the 2017 DOXA Documentary Film Festival. The film received five Leo Awards including Best Production, Best, Director, and Best Screenwriter. THE ROAD FORWARD has screened at over 100 venues in North America, also receiving a Best Director Award at the North American Indian Festival in San Francisco, as well as a Writer's Guild Nomination for Best Documentary Screenplay in 2018. Her documentary LOOKING AT EDWARD CURTIS premiered at DOXA and The Yorkton Film Festival this spring and will broadcast on Knowledge Network this Summer. She is currently in post production for her feature drama, RED SNOW, a WIDC feature film award winner due to release in 2019. A multi-award-winner for her previous work, Marie Clements' films have screened at Cannes, TIFF, MOMA, VIFF, Whistler Film Festival, American Indian Film Festival and imagineNATIVE Film Festival. MCM is an independent media production company owned and operated by Clements specializing in the development, creation and production of innovative works of media that explore an Indigenous and intercultural reality.

BC Creates Award: Amber Ripley

WFF's BC Creates Award celebrates independent producers in the BC Film and TV industry who continue to nurture, create and or produce in the province. Amber Ripley was a finalist for the MPPIA Short Film Award at WFF in 2011 with her short film Mermaid in a Jar. She recently produced the comedy-horror DEAD SHACK, the debut feature from Peter Ricq, one-half of the Juno-nominated band Humans (WFF 2014), who also composed the score for the film. Ricq penned the script along with Philippe Ivanusic and Davila LeBlanc, the co-creators of the award-winning animated TV series "The League of Super Evil.". Currently, Amber is producing I'M NOT A BAD PERSON, the sophomore effort of the team behind the award-winning film VIOLENT, and Bruce McDonald's DREAMLAND, a noir thriller that is an international co-production shooting in Luxembourg and Belgium.

WFF Talent to Watch: Lawrence Le Lam

WFF's Talent to Watch Award recognizes a BC filmmaker or actor on a trajectory for success. Lawrence Le Lam is an award-winning filmmaker from Richmond, who loves exploring UNDERGROUND worlds. His short film, The Blue Jet, about a rebellious radio DJ broadcasting banned rock & roll in 1970s Taiwan premiered at Festival Du Nouveau Cinéma 2015, and has screened at festivals all around the world. It has won many awards including Best Student Production (Whistler Film Festival / Leo Awards 2016), and Best in Canada at the Toronto Shorts International Film Festival. His last short, Cypher, explores the conflict between the Korean and Black communities in LA during the 90s through the UNDERGROUND hip hop scene. Lawrence was a part of the TIFF Talent Lab program in 2017. He has also directed and co-wrote a feature documentary about the social enterprise movement, NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL which premiered at the Chicago Social Change Film Festival, and continues to spread online and in classrooms for free, accumulating more than 100,000 views. Lawrence is currently working as a co-director and editor on Ying Wang's conspiracy thriller feature docudrama, The Boy with a Guitar. His next project, and first narrative feature, currently titled Hongcouver will explore the world of real estate, wealth migration, and ultra rich Chinese kids with luxury cars.

Industry Toast: Angie Nolan

Angie Nolan has been involved with the Whistler Film Festival since its inception and has worked in WFF's Industry Programming since 2004. She most recently acted as Director of Industry Programming, overseeing all of WFF's industry, project development and talent programs associated with the Whistler Film Festival and Summit. Angie recently moved on from WFF to work on her own creative projects. To recognize her commitment to WFF and passion for our industry and talent programs that she helped to create and nurture over the years, WFF will honour her with our Industry Toast Award.

Almost WFF is hosted by Big Rock Brewery and presented by Re/max Sea to Sky Real Estate. Tickets are $65 per person and are available at whistlerfilmfestival.com/tickets or by calling 1-877-838-3456. Guests are invited to join the Whistler Film Festival Society's Patrons Circle to receive event tickets as part of an annual benefits package of benefits that includes exclusive access to the Whistler Film Festival. This is a 19+ event. WFF continues to be supported by many generous donors who contributed to the silent auction and raffle.

The Festival's online box office at whistlerfilmfestival.com/tickets is now open for Film, Industry and Patron Passes as well as Ticket Packages. Air travel and ground transportation deals as well as best accommodation rates are now available at whistlerfilmfestival.com/attend.

The Whistler Film Festival is funded by the Government of Canada through Telefilm Canada, and by the Province of British Columbia and the Resort Municipality of Whistler through the Resort Municipality Initiative, is supported by the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and the American Friends of Whistler, and is sponsored by Variety, Creative BC, Cineplex, Whistler Blackcomb, Tourism Whistler, RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate, and the Westin Resort & Spa Whistler.

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