The third annual Whistler Film Festival takes place December 4-7 with eight dynamic workshops that promise to inspire the budding filmmaker and the seasoned pro. Offering an interactive and educational environment where filmmakers can share insights on the innovation in filmmaking, media artistry, and digital technology, the forum attracts some of the best Canadian filmmakers in the business. All workshops take place at Village 8 Cinema in Whistler, British Columbia.
“Whistler Film Festival offers an exceptionally intimate environment for filmmakers to interact with experts in the field,” said Festival Programmer, Kasi Lubin. “We have a stimulating menu of topics and presenters at this year’s forum. We are particularly pleased to present the Local Digital Feature Success Stories panel – the West Coast is a digital filmmaking hotbed boasting five stellar digitally produced feature films in one year that have held their own on the international stages of the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver film festivals. We’re proud to be bringing these films to the Whistler audience.”
Local Digital Feature Success Stories panelists include Nathaniel Geary (On the Corner), Ben Ratner (Moving Malcolm), Pete McCormack (See Grace Fly), Trent Carlson (The Delicate Art of Parking) and Neal Miller (Raising Flagg). Vancouver film critic Katherine Monk will moderate the session.
An incredible selection of the latest and greatest camera equipment will be on site for the IATSE 669-supported Digital Cinematography Defined workshop. Director of Photography James Tocher and other digital cinematographers including Jan Kiesser (Robert Altman’s Dr. T and the Women), Brian Johnson (The Delicate Art of Parking and On the Corner) and the prolific Richard Leiterman will conduct a fascinating hands-on experience with the newest digital tools for independent filmmakers, including high definition alternatives, lightweight “digital 16mm” standard definition technologies, 24P DV alternatives as well the newest line of 24P “blue laser” disk camcorders and HD MiniDV.
In The Creative Producer presented by BC Film, Elizabeth Yake (Mile Zero) will moderate an in depth discussion with Ogden Gavansky (My Life Without Me), Stephen Hegyes (Much Music Movie; Last Wedding) and Wendy Hyman (On the Corner) about the importance of a producer’s role in the overall success of a film.
Moderated by Leslie Anthony, the Adventure & Action Sport Filmmaking panel is a unique opportunity to understand how some of the best adventure and action sport filmmakers, including Director Jack Silverman (Vanishing Tattoo), DP Christian Begin (Best known for Locomotion, Tao of Riding, Kranked 1,2,3, No Mans Land and SKI BUMS), DP Scott Fulmer (IMAX & Warren Miller), managed to capture adventure, adrenaline and action on film.
Digital Distribution Choices for Independents – Pipedreams for the Pipeline will challenge the perception about the quality of digital projection and offers the unique opportunity to engage with digital filmmakers about their first hand experiences with complete digital pathways. Participants will see stunning examples of digital projection as well as participate in discussions on distribution solutions through super efficient High Definition projection systems like Windows Media 9.
Final Cut Pro 4 for Emerging Digital Filmmakers is a hands-on workshop for established editors or up-and-comers that want to get comfortable with the versatile features of the Final Cut Pro 4 software. It is hosted by well-known instructor Alex McNeil Richardson.
In Script Analysis – Elements of a Feature Screenplay, participants will leave with a better understanding of how to analyze and sharpen their own feature film projects. First off, professional actors will read from the feature comedy screenplay, “The Big Nickel” by John Barker and then, moderator and filmmaker Carl Bessai will lead a discussion with the screenwriter on character development, story arcs, effective dialogue and the importance of taking risks.
Kathleen Murphy (Former Programmer for NY Film Festival, Seattle Film Festival) will interview a groundbreaking filmmaker in The Mystery Guest Interview – Pushing the Boundaries of Content and Technology.
All this and more at the third annual Whistler Film Festival.
For more info, visit the Whistler Film Festival website.
