Whistler Film Festival + Forum Attendance Almost Doubles
Results confirm festival’s reputation as the place to build industry relationships and discover new films;
Cadillac People’s Choice Award goes to SUCK.
 

Whistler, BC (December 8, 2009) – The 2009 Whistler Film Festival, which wrapped up Sunday night, continues to
solidify its reputation as an emerging force on the Festival circuit with a total attendance, including its industry Forum,
of over 10,929 people (a 46% increase over 2009), a 88% increase in attendance at screenings, and a record 33
feature premieres.

“What an amazing year! Visiting filmmakers flocked to Whistler, presenting their films to wildly enthusiastic crowds
and attendance almost doubled,” says Whistler Film Festival Artistic Director, Stacey Donen. “One of the most
successful filmmakers of our time, Ivan Reitman, received a special Whistler Tribute and presided as President of the
Borsos Competition, honouring new and unique Canadian voices. Stories were shared, ideas were presented, and
new friendships will undoubtedly continue to flourish.”

Winner of the Cadillac People’s Choice Award is Rob Stefaniuk’s SUCK, a rockn’ roll vampire movie starring Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Rob Stefaniuk and Jessica Paré, and produced by Whistler’s own Robin Crumley and Jeff Rogers.
The award is a non-cash prize presented to the highest-rated film as voted by the WFF audience. Runners up
include Tony Coleman’s MIGHTY UKE; Brigitte Berman’s HUGH HEFNER: PLAYBOY, ACTIVIST AND REBEL;
Peter Stebbings’ DEFENDOR; and Andrew Nisker’s CHEMERICAL: REDEFINING CLEAN FOR A NEW
GENERATION.

Fifty percent of the feature films were at or near capacity and included A Gun To The Head, Last Train Home, Chloe, Big Fan, Matchotaildrop, Defendor, A Single Man, Wild Hunt, J'ai Tué Ma Mere, Taylor’s Way, 44 Inch Chest, Year of the Carnivore, The Trotsky, Edge of Never, Chemerical, About Elly and High Life.  All of the special events, including Tribute to Ivan Reitman, Festival Party and the Awards Brunch, were also either sold out or very well attended.

“Overall, it is the intimate nature, unique content and festive vibe that sets Whistler apart. Canada’s filmmaking community joined a contingent of international representatives from the US, China and Australia for four days of movie going, deal-making, networking and fun,“ says Executive Director Shauna Hardy Mishaw. “Our results clearly indicate the momentum of the Whistler Film Festival + Forum, and that there is a appetite for our programs and that we are capable of growing and building capacity.”

The 2009 Whistler Film Festival took place from December 3 to 6 showcased 80 films, including 36 feature and midlength films and 44 shorts, and more than 60 percent were Canadian. The Festival featured a record 33 premieres, including three world premieres, one North American, five Canadian premieres, four English Canadian, eleven Western Canadian and nine BC premieres with five world premieres, eight Canadian premieres, and nineteen B.C. premieres, and awarded a record $54,500 in cash prizes and commissions and over $100,000 in production services. Festival highlights included a record number of sponsored parties and special events, and the Live@Whistler Studio presented by American Express which served as the Festival's live and interactive site featuring daily interviews with celebrity guests, artists and filmmakers. (Available at http://www.whistlerfilmfestival.com/livewhistler.html)

With a focus on the changing media landscape and designed to facilitate international alliances and financial partnerships, the Forum at the Whistler Film Festival presented 15 interactive sessions that address a range of issues affecting the film, television and digital media industry. Sessions were complimented by networking opportunities including one-on-one meetings, roundtable information sessions and receptions. Overall, the Forum attracted 519 delegates (compared to 646 in 2008), with the 24% decrease in attendance being attributed to the current economic climate and the relocation of the DOC Talk conference. Despite the decline, scheduled meetings that took place during the Forum remained on par at 337 (376 in 2008), and there was also a notable increase in
unscheduled meetings that took place outside of scheduled blocks that proves the festival remains an important place for the industry to meet and do business.

Dates for 10th anniversary of the Whistler Film Festival are December 1 to 5, 2010.

The ninth annual Whistler Film Festival, presented by American Express, ran from December 3 to 6, 2009. The Whistler Film Festival was sponsored by Cadillac, Directors Guild of Canada, Whistler Brewing, Vancouver Sun, Whistler Blackcomb, Dose.ca and Quick Mobile, and is supported by Telefilm Canada, Canadian Heritage, BC Film and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.

The Whistler Film Festival Society (WFFS) is a charitable, not for profit cultural and educational organization committed to promoting, developing and celebrating a strong film industry in Western Canada, and to showcasing the best films from Canada and around the world. WFFS offers two main programs for the international community to discover Canadian filmmakers and do business with the Canadian film industry: the Whistler Film Festival and the Forum at the Whistler Film Festival, Western Canada’s premier industry event.

For details, visit http://www.whistlerfilmfestival.com.

WFFS Media Contact
Jeanette Miller, Publicity Manager
Cell: 778.552.2949 / Office: 778.786.1495 / Jeanette@limelitepr.com