Whistler Watch

This content was taken directly from the Whistler Film Festival Newsletter. WWW.WHISTLERFILMFESTIVAL.COM

2008 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

3 Seasons Wins Borsos Competition at Whistler Film Festival Best Documentary is Art Star and the Sudanese Twins; Best Mountain Culture is Journey of a Red Fridge; Best Short Film is Next Floor; The Gray Matter wins MMPIA Short Film Award; RiP: A Remix Manifesto wins People’s Choice; and The Apology wins Pitch Fest West

3 Seasons (QC; B.C. premiere), directed by Jim Donovan has won the $15,000 Borsos Competition for Best New Canadian Feature Film, presented by the Directors Guild of Canada – BC District Council and supported by Telefilm Canada at the eighth annual Whistler Film Festival. The film follows two couples and a distraught father as they seek redemption from their fate.
The jury, comprised of legendary actor Donald Sutherland, Oscar-nominated and Genie Award winning director Sturla Gunnarsson and Emmy winning director/writer Patricia Rozema, chose the film from a field of six finalists. The award recognizes films which embody the spirit of independent filmmaking in Canada. In accepting the award, Director Jim Donovan said, “Coming to Whistler and seeing the festival emphasis on Canadian film and helping filmmakers meet executives, which is a challenge to everyone, is the perfect next step in this process. I am honoured to be the recipient of this prize and will remember this experience all my life.”
The other 2008 Borsos Competition finalists were: Alison Reid’s The Baby Formula (ON; BC Premiere), Ileana Pietrobruno’s Girlfriend Experience (BC; World Premiere), Charles Officer’s Nurse.Fighter.Boy., Who is KK Downey? (ON; BC Premiere), Darren Curtis and Pat Kiely’s (QC; BC Premiere), and Marie-Helene Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu’s Before Tomorrow (QC; BC Premiere).
“We looked at six films and all were terrific but we also wish to honour the film Before Tomorrow as it too was great work,” said Donald Sutherland, Borsos Jury President.

The $500 awards for the Best Actor and Best Actress in the Borsos Competition went to Clark Johnson of Nurse.Fighter.Boy and Carrine Leduc of 3 Seasons.

The $5,000 Best Documentary Award was awarded to Art Star and the Sudanese Twins, directed by Pietra Brettkelly. The jury was quoted as saying, “This is a film that makes all documentary filmmakers envious because everything you could ever want to happen in front of the camera did. Real life and tragedy collides with the passion of art before our eyes.”

The jury also gave an honorable mention to RiP: A Remix Manifesto, directed by Brett Gaylor and described it as a risky, self-reflexive and reflective film that expands the language of genre and pushes the envelope of creativity. “It is thought-provoking, passionate, and of contemporary relevance to everyone who consumes media.”

The $1,000 Best Short Film Award presented by Movieola - The Short Film Channel went to Next Floor, directed by Denis Villeneuve. “With its lush visuals, intense entertainment value and subtle commentary on the human condition, this film achieves everything a short film could hope to be.”

The $500 Best Mountain Culture Film presented by Whistler Blackcomb went to Journey of a Red Fridge, directed by Lucian Muntean and Natasa Stankovic. The jury was quoted in saying, “This is a wonderfully simple story that unfolds gradually with a central character who is so uncomplaining and hardworking, he will win the hearts of audiences everywhere.”

The jury also gave a special mention to the short film The Way Bobby Sees It, directed by Jason Watkins and Wendy Todd, for producing an inspiring film with a sympathetic and articulate central figure.

MPPIA Short Film Award went to The Gray Matter, writer/director Steven Denault. The award consists of a $10,000 cash award from the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC, a $5,000 cash award from British Columbia Film, plus in-kind production services up to $100,000 for a short film project to be completed within18 months after receiving the Award. The completed project will be eligible for screening at the 2009 or 2010 Whistler Film Festival depending on its completion date.

Jury representative said, “It wasn’t an easy decision or process for the jury as the pitches were very good. It was important to us that we support a director who provides a new voice, original vision and, because of the generous prize, is embarking upon a challenging project that requires a director mentorship. Steven’s passionate presentation convinced us that the prize provide the means to create an ambitious production.”

Winner of the Cadillac People’s Choice Award is RiP: A Remix Manifesto, directed by Brett Gaylor. The film is described an edgy and fascinating glimpse into one of the more pressing issues of our Internet age. The award is a non cash prize presented to the highest-rated film as voted by the WFF audience.

The winner of Pitch Fest West was The Apology, writer/director Mitch Miyagawa of Up and Away Productions (Whitehorse, Yukon) and producer Josh Miller of Panacea Entertainment (Edmonton, AB). The Apology has now been renamed Apologies to reflect the multiple apologies Miyagawa’s family have received from the Federal Government. As someone from a Canadian Japanese/Chinese/Aboriginal family, Miyagawa says the win is fantastic and an important first step, “This win provides us with the opportunity to proceed forward with the development of the film.” The film receives the National Film Board of Canada a $2,000 development prize and the Audience Choice Award, which includes a Whistler Film Festival Industry Pass to the 2009 Festival and 3-night accommodation.

The festival wrapped with the B.C. premiere and Closing Film screening of Bruce McDonald’s PONTYPOOL starring Stephen McHattie as a shock-jock who is faced with a deadly dilemma. Described by Kirk Halford of TwitchFilm.net as “perhaps, the world’s first semiotic zombie flick”, McDonald’s film is bound to be a Whistler crowd-pleaser. McDonald will be in attendance.
The 2008 Whistler Film Festival showcased 92 films, including 37 feature and mid-length films and 55 shorts. This premiere event also featured innovative industry programming and networking opportunities through the Whistler Filmmaker Forum, as well as a record number of parties, networking sessions and special events.

The 2008 Whistler Film Festival is sponsored by Cadillac, Directors Guild of Canada – BCDC, Canwest Broadcasting, National Post, The Vancouver Sun, Whistler Blackcomb, and Dose.ca, and is supported by Telefilm Canada, Canadian Heritage, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, BC Film and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.