There's meeting your favorite celebrity, and then there's meeting Spock. Though we all understand on some level that actors Leonard Nimoy, Zachary Quinto, and Ethan Peck aren't actually the beloved pointy-eared first officer "Star Trek" fans know and love, well, humans aren't really that logical, are we?
"Star Trek" has a long history of inspiring passionate fan reactions, and Peck, who plays the half-Vulcan, half-human fan-favorite character in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is certainly getting a taste of them. In a cover story for Variety about the future of the Paramount-owned franchise, Peck spoke about what it's been like adjusting to playing Spock and described fan encounters as a sort of ritualistic experience. "When I'm meeting fans, sometimes they're coming to be confirmed, like I'm kind of a priest," the actor told a reporter while in the middle of filming season 3 of the excellent Paramount+ prequel series.
"Star Trek" has a long history of inspiring passionate fan reactions, and Peck, who plays the half-Vulcan, half-human fan-favorite character in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is certainly getting a taste of them. In a cover story for Variety about the future of the Paramount-owned franchise, Peck spoke about what it's been like adjusting to playing Spock and described fan encounters as a sort of ritualistic experience. "When I'm meeting fans, sometimes they're coming to be confirmed, like I'm kind of a priest," the actor told a reporter while in the middle of filming season 3 of the excellent Paramount+ prequel series.
- 4/6/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
The DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee (Wsc) has announced the 2023 class of its Wsc Squad Mentorship Program. The latest class, which began in September, pairs 13 mid-career directors with well-established director-mentors.
“It is always exciting to kick off another year of the Wsc Mentorship Program,” said Shaz Bennett, cochair of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee. “The Wsc remains inspired by our community of mentors and mentees who have come together, united by a shared purpose — to uplift and empower one another. By joining forces on this journey of guidance and encouragement, we can all accomplish more than any one of us could alone. I can’t wait to see how these talented women lift each other up.”
The Wsc Squad Mentorship Program is led by directors DeMane Davis, Ashley Eakin, Morenike Joela Evans, Marie Jamora, Jen McGowan, and Rachel Raimist. The Wsc is cochaired by directors Shaz Bennett and Valerie Weiss,...
“It is always exciting to kick off another year of the Wsc Mentorship Program,” said Shaz Bennett, cochair of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee. “The Wsc remains inspired by our community of mentors and mentees who have come together, united by a shared purpose — to uplift and empower one another. By joining forces on this journey of guidance and encouragement, we can all accomplish more than any one of us could alone. I can’t wait to see how these talented women lift each other up.”
The Wsc Squad Mentorship Program is led by directors DeMane Davis, Ashley Eakin, Morenike Joela Evans, Marie Jamora, Jen McGowan, and Rachel Raimist. The Wsc is cochaired by directors Shaz Bennett and Valerie Weiss,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix’s official trailer for Outer Banks confirms season three will be the show’s most action-packed to date. The nearly three-minute trailer shows the Pogues are gearing up for what series creators and executive producers Jonas Pate, Josh Pate, and Shannon Burke call the granddaddy of all treasure hunts.
Season three stars Chase Stokes as John B., Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Madison Bailey as Kiara, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, and Rudy Pankow as JJ. Austin North plays Topper, Drew Starkey is Rafe, Carlacia Grant is Cleo, and Charles Esten stars as Ward Cameron.
The cast also includes Cullen Moss as Shoupe, Julia Antonelli as Wheezie Cameron, Caroline Arapoglou as Rose Cameron, E. Roger Mitchell as Heyward, Charles Halford as Big John, Elizabeth Mitchell as Limbrey, Andy McQueen as Carlos Singh, and Lou Ferrigno Jr as Ryan.
The 10-episode third season premieres on February 23, 2023.
Carole Sanders Peterman and Aaron Miller serve as producers,...
Season three stars Chase Stokes as John B., Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Madison Bailey as Kiara, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, and Rudy Pankow as JJ. Austin North plays Topper, Drew Starkey is Rafe, Carlacia Grant is Cleo, and Charles Esten stars as Ward Cameron.
The cast also includes Cullen Moss as Shoupe, Julia Antonelli as Wheezie Cameron, Caroline Arapoglou as Rose Cameron, E. Roger Mitchell as Heyward, Charles Halford as Big John, Elizabeth Mitchell as Limbrey, Andy McQueen as Carlos Singh, and Lou Ferrigno Jr as Ryan.
The 10-episode third season premieres on February 23, 2023.
Carole Sanders Peterman and Aaron Miller serve as producers,...
- 2/2/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Click here to read the full article.
My wood floor is barely visible. I’m organizing, which inevitably turns into sitting and thumbing through remnants from episodes of TV shows I’ve had the honor to direct. I have Post-Its in every size. Call sheets and shot lists that have made their way home in pockets and backpacks. (I’m still not fully down with Scriptation — don’t tell Rachel Raimist and Valerie Weiss!) And I have piles of scripts. The tallest stack is from Queen Sugar.
There is no way to quickly answer what Ava DuVernay’s decision to push for hiring female directors on Queen Sugar has done for my career other than to say I don’t think I would have a career directing for television if she didn’t. Ava making this decision, and Oprah Winfrey agreeing (the series airs on OWN), ushered an incredibly needed change into the industry.
My wood floor is barely visible. I’m organizing, which inevitably turns into sitting and thumbing through remnants from episodes of TV shows I’ve had the honor to direct. I have Post-Its in every size. Call sheets and shot lists that have made their way home in pockets and backpacks. (I’m still not fully down with Scriptation — don’t tell Rachel Raimist and Valerie Weiss!) And I have piles of scripts. The tallest stack is from Queen Sugar.
There is no way to quickly answer what Ava DuVernay’s decision to push for hiring female directors on Queen Sugar has done for my career other than to say I don’t think I would have a career directing for television if she didn’t. Ava making this decision, and Oprah Winfrey agreeing (the series airs on OWN), ushered an incredibly needed change into the industry.
- 11/29/2022
- by DeMane Davis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Brady organization against gun violence is calling on Hollywood writers, directors and producers to examine onscreen gun violence and depictions of gun safety, asking the creative community to sign a pledge that’s already garnered more than 200 signatures of such names as Judd Apatow, Shonda Rhimes, Damon Lindelof and Jimmy Kimmel and the writers of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The pledge, while noting that the “responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives,” acknowledges that “America’s storytellers” have the power to “effect change.”
“Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety,” the Brady pledge states, and goes on to ask writers, directors and producers to, whenever possible, to:
Use creativity “to model responsible gun ownership and...
The pledge, while noting that the “responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives,” acknowledges that “America’s storytellers” have the power to “effect change.”
“Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety,” the Brady pledge states, and goes on to ask writers, directors and producers to, whenever possible, to:
Use creativity “to model responsible gun ownership and...
- 6/13/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Photo: 'Mixtape' Netflix has newly released a family-friendly film that is sure to become an ultimate classic in the future. Through its quirky and rather sweet undertones, ‘Mixtape’ creates a world of fun and beautiful story through the characters and musically energizes the audience into an experience that makes this film utterly incredible. These days, quirky films tend to be a hit or miss in the realm of true enjoyment; but in the case of ‘Mixtape’, this film is certainly a home run. Related article: Exclusive: 'Dune' Full Commentary, Reactions, Making Of - Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac Related article: 'No Time to Die' Full Commentary, Behind the Scenes & Reactions, Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Bond Related article: 'No Time to Die' Royal Premiere & Reactions - Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux & More Related article: 'Halloween Kills' Full Commentary & Reactions, Behind the Scenes...
- 12/8/2021
- by Leah Donato
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Six years ago, a grandma in Arizona mistakenly invited a stranger to her Thanksgiving dinner. What started as an accidental text message — a humorous exchange that quickly went viral on social media — has turned into an unlikely friendship and a heartwarming holiday tradition.
Now, Netflix is turning the feel-good story into a feature film.
“The Thanksgiving Text” will recount the true tale that began in 2016, when Wanda Dench thought she was texting her grandson to check if he would be coming over for Turkey Day. Apparently, she had the wrong cell phone number. She actually texted Jamal Hinton, a high school senior at the time, who accepted her invitation anyway — and has attended her feast every year since.
In their initial exchange, Hinton received a text from an unknown number inviting him to Thanksgiving dinner (at 3 p.m. — but that’s neither here nor there). When he asked who it was,...
Now, Netflix is turning the feel-good story into a feature film.
“The Thanksgiving Text” will recount the true tale that began in 2016, when Wanda Dench thought she was texting her grandson to check if he would be coming over for Turkey Day. Apparently, she had the wrong cell phone number. She actually texted Jamal Hinton, a high school senior at the time, who accepted her invitation anyway — and has attended her feast every year since.
In their initial exchange, Hinton received a text from an unknown number inviting him to Thanksgiving dinner (at 3 p.m. — but that’s neither here nor there). When he asked who it was,...
- 12/2/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
“Family Was Always On Set”: Valerie Weiss on Mixtape, Covid Rehearsals and Why Directing TV is Great
In the new Netflix film Mixtape, 12-year-old Beverly (Gemma Brooke Allen) tries to learn about her late parents by tracking down the songs they loved, a task made difficult by the pre-iTunes and Spotify era in which the movie takes place. The quest to find the songs—a necessity for Beverly given the unwillingness and inability of her grandmother (Julie Bowen) to answer questions about her mom and dad—yields one of the sweetest, smartest, funniest, and most touching coming of age dramedies since Stand By Me, a film with which Mixtape both invites and earns comparison thanks to its skillfully calibrated […]
The post “Family Was Always On Set”: Valerie Weiss on Mixtape, Covid Rehearsals and Why Directing TV is Great first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Family Was Always On Set”: Valerie Weiss on Mixtape, Covid Rehearsals and Why Directing TV is Great first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 12/1/2021
- by Jim Hemphill
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
"A mixtape is a message from the maker to the listener." That is indeed an accurate description. Netflix has debuted an official trailer for a nostalgic dramedy film titled Mixtape, the latest from filmmaker Valerie Weiss. As the world approaches Y2K, a quirky 12-year-old sets out on a journey to find songs on a mixtape made by her late parents. When a young girl accidentally destroys the mixtape that belonged to her mother, she sets out to track down each of the obscure songs on the cassette. The film stars Gemma Brooke Allen as Beverly, with Audrey Hsieh, Olga Petsa, Jackson Rathbone, plus Nick Thune and Julie Bowen. As cute as this looks, it's pretty much like hitting gold in the nostalgia mine - combining late 90s nostalgia with cassette-tape nostalgia all in one! There's also toppings of Napster nostalgia and vinyl nostalgia, too. It does look like ...
- 11/11/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: The music-driven project Mixtape, which landed on the 2009 Black List, is finally turning up the volume at Netflix.
Outer Banks and The Archer director Valerie Weiss has come aboard to direct, with a number of actors joining the cast including two-time Emmy winner Julie Bowen, Gemma Brooke Allen, Nick Thune, Jackson Rathbone and newcomers Olga Petsa, Audrey Hsieh and Diego Mercado.
Stacey Menear penned the original script with revisions by The Half of It‘s Alice Wu.
In Mixtape, on the eve of Y2K, orphaned, awkward 12-year-old Beverly Moody (Allen) discovers a broken mixtape crafted by her teen parents. Raised by her grandmother Gail (Bowen), a former teen mom herself who finds it painful to speak about her late daughter, Beverly sees this mixtape as a chance to finally learn more about her parents. So she sets out on a journey to find all the songs on the tape.
Outer Banks and The Archer director Valerie Weiss has come aboard to direct, with a number of actors joining the cast including two-time Emmy winner Julie Bowen, Gemma Brooke Allen, Nick Thune, Jackson Rathbone and newcomers Olga Petsa, Audrey Hsieh and Diego Mercado.
Stacey Menear penned the original script with revisions by The Half of It‘s Alice Wu.
In Mixtape, on the eve of Y2K, orphaned, awkward 12-year-old Beverly Moody (Allen) discovers a broken mixtape crafted by her teen parents. Raised by her grandmother Gail (Bowen), a former teen mom herself who finds it painful to speak about her late daughter, Beverly sees this mixtape as a chance to finally learn more about her parents. So she sets out on a journey to find all the songs on the tape.
- 1/27/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
From VancouverFilm.Net, here is the Vancouver Film Production Update for March 2020, including "Arcadia", "Kung Fu", "Omens" and a whole lot more:
Feature
10-31
Local Production Company: 10-31 Productions Canada Ltd.
Producer: Eli Roth, Roger Birnbaum, Raynor Shimabukuro, Jonathan DuBois
3/2/2020 - 4/8/2020
Arcadia
Local Production Company: Gramercy Film Productions Inc.
Producer: Cecil O'Connor, Pat Crowley
Director: Colin Trevorrow
2/24/2020 - 3/6/2020
Ellington
Local Production Company: Swan Song BC Productions Inc.
Director: Ben Cleary
5/11/2020 - 7/10/2020
Lou
Local Production Company: Big Indie Lou Canada Inc.
Producer: JJ Abrams, Jonathan Cohen
Director: Anna Foerster
5/11/2020 - 7/2/2020
Mixtape
Local Production Company: Gjln Film Productions Inc.
Producer: Gil Netter, Jim Wedaa
Director: Valerie Weiss
4/20/2020 - 6/5/2020
Umma
Local Production Company: Umma Productions BC Inc.
Producer: Matt Black, Jonathan Schwartz, Zainab Azizi
Director: Iris K. Shim
4/6/2020 - 5/26/2020
Untitled Graham King Project
Local Production Company: Cold Hut Production Ulc.
Producer: Nan Morales
Director: Nora Fingscheidt
2/3/2020 - 4/9/2020
New Media Feature
Bonfire
Local Production Company: No Clocks Productions Ltd.
Feature
10-31
Local Production Company: 10-31 Productions Canada Ltd.
Producer: Eli Roth, Roger Birnbaum, Raynor Shimabukuro, Jonathan DuBois
3/2/2020 - 4/8/2020
Arcadia
Local Production Company: Gramercy Film Productions Inc.
Producer: Cecil O'Connor, Pat Crowley
Director: Colin Trevorrow
2/24/2020 - 3/6/2020
Ellington
Local Production Company: Swan Song BC Productions Inc.
Director: Ben Cleary
5/11/2020 - 7/10/2020
Lou
Local Production Company: Big Indie Lou Canada Inc.
Producer: JJ Abrams, Jonathan Cohen
Director: Anna Foerster
5/11/2020 - 7/2/2020
Mixtape
Local Production Company: Gjln Film Productions Inc.
Producer: Gil Netter, Jim Wedaa
Director: Valerie Weiss
4/20/2020 - 6/5/2020
Umma
Local Production Company: Umma Productions BC Inc.
Producer: Matt Black, Jonathan Schwartz, Zainab Azizi
Director: Iris K. Shim
4/6/2020 - 5/26/2020
Untitled Graham King Project
Local Production Company: Cold Hut Production Ulc.
Producer: Nan Morales
Director: Nora Fingscheidt
2/3/2020 - 4/9/2020
New Media Feature
Bonfire
Local Production Company: No Clocks Productions Ltd.
- 2/26/2020
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: “Wonder Woman” and “Black Panther” have helped to reinvigorate the superhero genre as a social and creative force, and the success of those films can be at least partially attributed to their directors. With that in mind, which filmmaker would you most like to see direct a blockbuster superhero movie next, and why?
Max Weiss (@maxthegirl), Baltimore Magazine
I’m firmly in the camp of not wanting my favorite actors or directors to either star in or helm superhero films. (I audibly groaned yesterday when the news surfaced that Joaquin Phoenix was going to be playing The Joker.) Yes, Waititi, Coogler, Jenkins, et al managed...
This week’s question: “Wonder Woman” and “Black Panther” have helped to reinvigorate the superhero genre as a social and creative force, and the success of those films can be at least partially attributed to their directors. With that in mind, which filmmaker would you most like to see direct a blockbuster superhero movie next, and why?
Max Weiss (@maxthegirl), Baltimore Magazine
I’m firmly in the camp of not wanting my favorite actors or directors to either star in or helm superhero films. (I audibly groaned yesterday when the news surfaced that Joaquin Phoenix was going to be playing The Joker.) Yes, Waititi, Coogler, Jenkins, et al managed...
- 2/12/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
SXSW 2017‘The Archer’ Delivers Thrills, Social Commentary, and a Dash of ExploitationImagine a fictional and highly entertaining remake of the documentary ‘Kids for Cash.’
The Hunger Games franchise may be over, but those of us who enjoy watching young women send pointy missiles of death towards evil-doers aren’t out of luck just yet. Ignore the unimaginative title — The Archer is a thrilling and highly compelling tale of young woman fighting back against a justice system gone rogue, and it’s inspired by a real-world travesty.
Lauren (Bailey Noble) is an A-student and an expert marksman on her high-school archery team, but she watches as her life crumbles following an altercation and the subsequent criminal proceeding. She’s charged with assault, and while it was in defense of her best friend the judge throws the proverbial book at her sentencing her to a remote detention facility for wayward youths for an “indeterminate” sentence.
She...
The Hunger Games franchise may be over, but those of us who enjoy watching young women send pointy missiles of death towards evil-doers aren’t out of luck just yet. Ignore the unimaginative title — The Archer is a thrilling and highly compelling tale of young woman fighting back against a justice system gone rogue, and it’s inspired by a real-world travesty.
Lauren (Bailey Noble) is an A-student and an expert marksman on her high-school archery team, but she watches as her life crumbles following an altercation and the subsequent criminal proceeding. She’s charged with assault, and while it was in defense of her best friend the judge throws the proverbial book at her sentencing her to a remote detention facility for wayward youths for an “indeterminate” sentence.
She...
- 3/14/2017
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
The steady rise of Donald Trump in this year’s presidential election has once again opened up questions about the negative effects of media celebrity and the weight and purpose of political journalism. Jonathan Sheldon’s new film “Swing State” takes that idea and spins a political satire that takes on America’s media obsession. The film follows liberal Seattle DJ Ethan Smith (Alex Beh) who creates a conservative radio personality named Charles Fern and becomes a national sensation. The film co-stars Taryn Manning (“Orange Is the New Black”), Angela Kinsey (“The Office”), Sean Astin (“The Lord of the Rings”), Billy Zane (“Titanic”), Elaine Hendrix (“The Parent Trap”), Nick Loeb (“Precious Cargo”) and Shane Black (“Iron Man 3”). Watch a trailer for the film below.
Read More: Will Ferrell Revives George W. Bush on ‘@midnight’ to Slam Donald Trump — Watch
“I set out to write and direct a political comedy...
Read More: Will Ferrell Revives George W. Bush on ‘@midnight’ to Slam Donald Trump — Watch
“I set out to write and direct a political comedy...
- 10/28/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Parent-child relationships are delicate even under the most ideal circumstances, but they can be extra trying or difficult when there’s an imbalance due to events beyond anyone’s control. Such is the case for the new film “A Light Beneath Their Feet,” about a mother-daughter relationship amidst a sea of change and turmoil. The film stars Taryn Manning as Gloria, a young mother struggling with bipolar disorder, and Madison Davenport as Beth, her daughter and the one source of stability in her life. Beth is about to leave for college soon and Gloria struggles with her imminent departure. As the two go through ups and downs, Beth weighs her options between staying local for her mother or pursuing her dream across the country while Gloria tries to learn to let go. Watch an exclusive clip from “A Light Beneath Their Feet” below.
Read More: ‘Orange Is the New Black...
Read More: ‘Orange Is the New Black...
- 7/28/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Gina Rodriguez will receive the CinemaCon Female Star Of Tomorrow Award at the Las Vegas convention on April 14.
Rodriguez earned a Golden Globe in 2015 for TV hit Jane The Virgin and will star later this year in Deepwater Horizon. CinemaCon runs from April 11-14.
Emerging Pictures will release A Light Beneath Their Feet in select theatrical markets across North America on May 6. Taryn Manning stars in the coming-of-age drama alongside Madison Davenport, Kurt Fuller, Nora Dunn, Kali Hawk, Maddie Hasson and Carter Jenkins. Valerie Weiss makes her feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Moira McMahon.
Rodriguez earned a Golden Globe in 2015 for TV hit Jane The Virgin and will star later this year in Deepwater Horizon. CinemaCon runs from April 11-14.
Emerging Pictures will release A Light Beneath Their Feet in select theatrical markets across North America on May 6. Taryn Manning stars in the coming-of-age drama alongside Madison Davenport, Kurt Fuller, Nora Dunn, Kali Hawk, Maddie Hasson and Carter Jenkins. Valerie Weiss makes her feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Moira McMahon.
- 3/29/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
'Orange Is the New Black' Star Taryn Manning's New Indie Says Something Novel About Bipolar Disorder
Distributors are sniffing around "A Light Beneath Their Feet" for very good reason. Not only does director Valerie Weiss’s latest effort straddle several genres simultaneously—among them, the coming-of-age drama and the social critique—it also features a pair of break-out performances: Madison Davenport (Tina Fey’s daughter in the upcoming "Sisters"), who plays high-schooler Beth Gerringson; and Taryn Manning ("Orange Is the New Black"), who plays Beth’s mother, Gloria. Another mother-daughter drama, you ask (or sigh, or whine, or moan)? Not quite. Beth has problems with her mother, and wants to flee their home in Chicago for UCLA. But it's not because she hates her. Far from it. It’s because, despite her academic achievements, Beth has been a full-time caretaker for her mother—who’s seriously bipolar—ever since her father left. She’s got caregiver burnout. And while she’s wracked by guilt over wanting to go,...
- 12/11/2015
- by John Anderson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The 15th anniversary celebration of the Whistler Film Festival wrapped Sunday night, living up to its title as ‘Canada’s coolest film fest’ by hosting more premieres, filmmakers, industry executives, and celebrities than ever before, including unique experiences from films, music and parties to high adrenaline races.
The Whistler Film Festival’s Pandora Audience Award went to British-American romantic drama "Carol," directed by Todd Haynes from the screenplay by Phyllis Nagy (Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch class of 2014) starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, which received its Canadian premiere at Whistler. The Wff Audience Award runner-ups were "The Legend of Barney Thomson," character-actor Robert Carlyle's first theatrical feature and directorial debut, which received its North American premiere at the festival, followed by Ricardo Trogi’s mid-life crisis dramedy, Quebec film "Le Mirage," the highest grossing and most popular Canadian film of the year so far. The Wff Audience Award is a non-cash prize presented to the highest-rated film as voted by the audience.
Paul Gratton, Director of Programming had this to say about this year’s event: "We were very fortunate to open this year's fest with the Canadian premiere of "Carol," a film we are convinced will be a major contender in this year's awards season race. The festival took off from there, with many sold out screenings, packed and newsworthy industry sessions, and over 450 guests who made a point of trekking out to beautiful Whistler to support their films and talk business with the high-level movers and shakers also in attendance. 2015 represented another step forward towards making Wff the coolest festival in the world. Can't wait 'til next year.”
Total attendance for this year’s fest was 13,233 attendees (a 18% increase over 11,273 in 2014) . This included 7,740 film-screening attendees and 3,533 special event attendees (Signature Series, Music Café, ShortWork Showcase, R-Rated Party, Awards Brunch, L’Oreal Men Expert Bobsleigh Race and Celebrity Challenge Ski Race), in addition to 2,530 Summit attendees. Several of the feature films were at or near capacity, including: "Born to be Blue," "Chasing Bansky," "Forsaken," "How to Plan and Orgy in a Small Town," "Legend,""Legend of Barney Thomson," "Numb," "The Lady in the Van," "the Steps," and "Trumbo."
Designed to facilitate international alliances and financial partnerships, Wff’s industry Summit program presented 30 interactive sessions that addressed a range of issues affecting the film, television, and digital media industry. Overall Summit attendance was at 86% capacity with 2,530 attendees (a 13% increase over 2,231 in 2014) including 855 delegates (on par with 2014). The Whistler Summit directly connects to Wff’s slate of project development programs designed to provide creative and business immersion experiences for 42 Canadian artists including its Feature Project Lab, Praxis Screenwriters Lab, Aboriginal Filmmaker Fellowship, and Music Café. Wff also collaborates with several industry organizations by hosting specific third party initiatives at the Whistler Summit 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. In addition to the
204 scheduled meetings (a 10% increase over 186 in 2014) that took place during the Summit, there was again a notable increase in unscheduled meetings that took place outside of scheduled blocks proving the festival remains an important place for the industry to meet and do business. Industry guests came from Canada, USA, UK, India, and China to participate, and included some of the top talent and executives in the business.
Film met music when Morning Show, one of the ten-featured BC artists from Wff’s Music Café, performed the live score for "He Hated Pigeons." Wff’s Music Café, which expanded to include two showcases over two days and featured five music supervisors, was well received with several deals in the works and over 526 guests in attendance.
Toronto’s first-time feature director Jamie M. Dagg’s "River" dominated Whistler prize-giving, winning for best Canadian feature, Best Director and Best Screenplay in the Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature presented by the Directors Guild of Canada – British Columbia. The jury also awarded French-Canadian actor Paul Savoie with Best Performance in a Borsos Film for his performance in "The Diary of an Old Man," as well as provided honorable mention for Rossif Sutherland’s work in "River" and Laura Abramsen’s roles in "Basic human Needs" and "The Sabbatical." Lastly, Best Cinematography in a Borsos Film, presented by I.A.T.S.E. Local 669, went to cinematographer Dylan Macleod for "He Hated Pigeons," directed by Ingrid Veninger. The Borsos Jury was comprised of three accomplished film industry artists that included the highly versatile director and screenwriter and WFF15 Alumni Carl Bessai ("Rehearsal), beloved actor and director Marc-André Grondin , and award-winning producer extraordinaire, Kim McCraw.
Other Whistler award winners included "Last Harvest" by first-time female director Hui (Jane) Wang that won the World Documentary Award presented by Tribute.ca with honorable mention for Brian D. Johnson’s "Al Purdy Was Here." The Best Mountain Culture Film presented by Whistler Blackcomb went to Anthony Bonello’s "Eclipse." The Canadian ShortWork Award went to "Withheld" directed by Johnathan Sousa, with an honorable mention to Amanda Strong and Bracken Hanuse Corlett’s Mia’. The International ShortWork Award was awarded to "Dissonance" by Germany filmmaker Till Nowak, with Langara College’s Canadian ShortWork Award for Best Screenplay given to Jem Garrard’s "The World Who Came to Dinner." Emily Carr University of Art and Design’s Lawrence Lam won the ShortWork Student Award presented by Capilano University Film Centre for "The Blue Jet," and Maja Aro won the Mppia Short Film Award for "Hoods" presented by Mppia and Creative BC, which consists of a $15,000 cash award plus up to $100,000 in services. The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (Awfj) Eda Awards gave Best Female-Directed Narrative Feature to Valerie Weiss’ "A Light Beneath Their Feet," Best Female-Directed Documentary to Hui (Jane) Wang’s "Last Harvest," with a special mention for Brian D. Johnson’s "Al Purdy Was Here." In addition, Céline Devaux’s "Sunday Lunch" took home the Best Female-Directed Short Award.
Receiving Wff’s Trailblazer Award and Tribute presented by Pandora, British-born Canadian actor, film producer, and film director Kiefer Sutherland discussed his extensive acting career spanning film, stage and television, with CTV Film Critic Jim Gordon , followed by the Western Canadian Premiere of his latest film, "Forsaken." Scottish-born Robert Carlyle , one of the most recognizable actors today, graced the Festival’s red carpet at this year’s Spotlight event as Wff’s Maverick Award honoree and sat down with Jim Gordon to discuss his bold choices that have led to the creation of some of the most dynamic, memorable, and beloved characters of our time before the North American Premiere of his directorial debut, "The Legend the Barny Thomson." One of Canada's hardest working and most accomplished character actors, Bruce Greenwood was the recipient of Wff’s Career Achievement Award, at the World Premiere of his latest film "Rehearsal," directed by admired Wff Alumni Carl Bessai.
The Whistler Film Festival proudly hosted the Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch for the fourth consecutive year hosted by Variety Vice President and Executive Editor, Steven Gaydos . This year’s slate of screenwriters in attendance included Bryan Sipe ("Demolition"), John Scott III ("Maggie"), Meg LeFauve ("Inside Out"), Mike Le ("Patient Zero"), and Emma Donoghue ("Room"), who also delivered a Master Class for the Wff Praxis Screenwriters Lab participants.
To top it all off, Lauren Lee Smith ("How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town"), Jakob Davies ("The Birdwatcher"), Taylor Russell and Rustin Gresiuk ("Suspension") were recognized as Wff’s Rising Stars sponsored by Ubcp/Actra at this year’s Keynote Filmmaker Luncheon presented by Pacific Northwest Pictures, and all had films premiering at the fest.
Over 400 guests attended the fest with other notable talent in attendance with films premiering at the fest including: actor Rossif Sutherland ("River"), director Jon Cassar ("Forsaken"), actor Callum Keith Rennie ("Born to Be Blue"), director/writer Sandy Wilson ("My American Cousin), actors Aleks Paunovic, Stefanie von Pfetten, Marie Avgeropoulos and Colin Cunningham ("Numb"), actors Chelah Horsdal and Alex Zahara ("Patterson's Wager"), actor Sage Brocklebank ("Suspension"), actors Gabrielle Rose and Camille Sullivan ("The Birdwatcher"), actor Rebecca Dalton ("The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship"), actor Paul Savoie ("The Diary of an Old Man"), director and founder of the Toronto Film Critics Association Brian D. Johnson ("Al Purdy Was Here"), director and co-founder of World Elephant Day Patricia Sims and co-director Michael Clark ("When Elephants Were Young"), "The Steps" director Andrew Currie and actor Steven McCarthy , and award-winning directors Philippe Lesage ("The Demons") and Ricardo Trogi ("The Miracle"). Veteran director Bruce McDonald attended as a mentor of the Wff Praxis Screenwriters Lab, as well as Canadian actress, writer, filmmaker, comedian, and social activist Mary Walsh , who participated in the Women In The Director’s Chair program and got a standing ovation as Wff’s Keynote Speaker at the Filmmaker Luncheon.
The Whistler Film Festival’s Pandora Audience Award went to British-American romantic drama "Carol," directed by Todd Haynes from the screenplay by Phyllis Nagy (Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch class of 2014) starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, which received its Canadian premiere at Whistler. The Wff Audience Award runner-ups were "The Legend of Barney Thomson," character-actor Robert Carlyle's first theatrical feature and directorial debut, which received its North American premiere at the festival, followed by Ricardo Trogi’s mid-life crisis dramedy, Quebec film "Le Mirage," the highest grossing and most popular Canadian film of the year so far. The Wff Audience Award is a non-cash prize presented to the highest-rated film as voted by the audience.
Paul Gratton, Director of Programming had this to say about this year’s event: "We were very fortunate to open this year's fest with the Canadian premiere of "Carol," a film we are convinced will be a major contender in this year's awards season race. The festival took off from there, with many sold out screenings, packed and newsworthy industry sessions, and over 450 guests who made a point of trekking out to beautiful Whistler to support their films and talk business with the high-level movers and shakers also in attendance. 2015 represented another step forward towards making Wff the coolest festival in the world. Can't wait 'til next year.”
Total attendance for this year’s fest was 13,233 attendees (a 18% increase over 11,273 in 2014) . This included 7,740 film-screening attendees and 3,533 special event attendees (Signature Series, Music Café, ShortWork Showcase, R-Rated Party, Awards Brunch, L’Oreal Men Expert Bobsleigh Race and Celebrity Challenge Ski Race), in addition to 2,530 Summit attendees. Several of the feature films were at or near capacity, including: "Born to be Blue," "Chasing Bansky," "Forsaken," "How to Plan and Orgy in a Small Town," "Legend,""Legend of Barney Thomson," "Numb," "The Lady in the Van," "the Steps," and "Trumbo."
Designed to facilitate international alliances and financial partnerships, Wff’s industry Summit program presented 30 interactive sessions that addressed a range of issues affecting the film, television, and digital media industry. Overall Summit attendance was at 86% capacity with 2,530 attendees (a 13% increase over 2,231 in 2014) including 855 delegates (on par with 2014). The Whistler Summit directly connects to Wff’s slate of project development programs designed to provide creative and business immersion experiences for 42 Canadian artists including its Feature Project Lab, Praxis Screenwriters Lab, Aboriginal Filmmaker Fellowship, and Music Café. Wff also collaborates with several industry organizations by hosting specific third party initiatives at the Whistler Summit 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. In addition to the
204 scheduled meetings (a 10% increase over 186 in 2014) that took place during the Summit, there was again a notable increase in unscheduled meetings that took place outside of scheduled blocks proving the festival remains an important place for the industry to meet and do business. Industry guests came from Canada, USA, UK, India, and China to participate, and included some of the top talent and executives in the business.
Film met music when Morning Show, one of the ten-featured BC artists from Wff’s Music Café, performed the live score for "He Hated Pigeons." Wff’s Music Café, which expanded to include two showcases over two days and featured five music supervisors, was well received with several deals in the works and over 526 guests in attendance.
Toronto’s first-time feature director Jamie M. Dagg’s "River" dominated Whistler prize-giving, winning for best Canadian feature, Best Director and Best Screenplay in the Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature presented by the Directors Guild of Canada – British Columbia. The jury also awarded French-Canadian actor Paul Savoie with Best Performance in a Borsos Film for his performance in "The Diary of an Old Man," as well as provided honorable mention for Rossif Sutherland’s work in "River" and Laura Abramsen’s roles in "Basic human Needs" and "The Sabbatical." Lastly, Best Cinematography in a Borsos Film, presented by I.A.T.S.E. Local 669, went to cinematographer Dylan Macleod for "He Hated Pigeons," directed by Ingrid Veninger. The Borsos Jury was comprised of three accomplished film industry artists that included the highly versatile director and screenwriter and WFF15 Alumni Carl Bessai ("Rehearsal), beloved actor and director Marc-André Grondin , and award-winning producer extraordinaire, Kim McCraw.
Other Whistler award winners included "Last Harvest" by first-time female director Hui (Jane) Wang that won the World Documentary Award presented by Tribute.ca with honorable mention for Brian D. Johnson’s "Al Purdy Was Here." The Best Mountain Culture Film presented by Whistler Blackcomb went to Anthony Bonello’s "Eclipse." The Canadian ShortWork Award went to "Withheld" directed by Johnathan Sousa, with an honorable mention to Amanda Strong and Bracken Hanuse Corlett’s Mia’. The International ShortWork Award was awarded to "Dissonance" by Germany filmmaker Till Nowak, with Langara College’s Canadian ShortWork Award for Best Screenplay given to Jem Garrard’s "The World Who Came to Dinner." Emily Carr University of Art and Design’s Lawrence Lam won the ShortWork Student Award presented by Capilano University Film Centre for "The Blue Jet," and Maja Aro won the Mppia Short Film Award for "Hoods" presented by Mppia and Creative BC, which consists of a $15,000 cash award plus up to $100,000 in services. The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (Awfj) Eda Awards gave Best Female-Directed Narrative Feature to Valerie Weiss’ "A Light Beneath Their Feet," Best Female-Directed Documentary to Hui (Jane) Wang’s "Last Harvest," with a special mention for Brian D. Johnson’s "Al Purdy Was Here." In addition, Céline Devaux’s "Sunday Lunch" took home the Best Female-Directed Short Award.
Receiving Wff’s Trailblazer Award and Tribute presented by Pandora, British-born Canadian actor, film producer, and film director Kiefer Sutherland discussed his extensive acting career spanning film, stage and television, with CTV Film Critic Jim Gordon , followed by the Western Canadian Premiere of his latest film, "Forsaken." Scottish-born Robert Carlyle , one of the most recognizable actors today, graced the Festival’s red carpet at this year’s Spotlight event as Wff’s Maverick Award honoree and sat down with Jim Gordon to discuss his bold choices that have led to the creation of some of the most dynamic, memorable, and beloved characters of our time before the North American Premiere of his directorial debut, "The Legend the Barny Thomson." One of Canada's hardest working and most accomplished character actors, Bruce Greenwood was the recipient of Wff’s Career Achievement Award, at the World Premiere of his latest film "Rehearsal," directed by admired Wff Alumni Carl Bessai.
The Whistler Film Festival proudly hosted the Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch for the fourth consecutive year hosted by Variety Vice President and Executive Editor, Steven Gaydos . This year’s slate of screenwriters in attendance included Bryan Sipe ("Demolition"), John Scott III ("Maggie"), Meg LeFauve ("Inside Out"), Mike Le ("Patient Zero"), and Emma Donoghue ("Room"), who also delivered a Master Class for the Wff Praxis Screenwriters Lab participants.
To top it all off, Lauren Lee Smith ("How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town"), Jakob Davies ("The Birdwatcher"), Taylor Russell and Rustin Gresiuk ("Suspension") were recognized as Wff’s Rising Stars sponsored by Ubcp/Actra at this year’s Keynote Filmmaker Luncheon presented by Pacific Northwest Pictures, and all had films premiering at the fest.
Over 400 guests attended the fest with other notable talent in attendance with films premiering at the fest including: actor Rossif Sutherland ("River"), director Jon Cassar ("Forsaken"), actor Callum Keith Rennie ("Born to Be Blue"), director/writer Sandy Wilson ("My American Cousin), actors Aleks Paunovic, Stefanie von Pfetten, Marie Avgeropoulos and Colin Cunningham ("Numb"), actors Chelah Horsdal and Alex Zahara ("Patterson's Wager"), actor Sage Brocklebank ("Suspension"), actors Gabrielle Rose and Camille Sullivan ("The Birdwatcher"), actor Rebecca Dalton ("The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship"), actor Paul Savoie ("The Diary of an Old Man"), director and founder of the Toronto Film Critics Association Brian D. Johnson ("Al Purdy Was Here"), director and co-founder of World Elephant Day Patricia Sims and co-director Michael Clark ("When Elephants Were Young"), "The Steps" director Andrew Currie and actor Steven McCarthy , and award-winning directors Philippe Lesage ("The Demons") and Ricardo Trogi ("The Miracle"). Veteran director Bruce McDonald attended as a mentor of the Wff Praxis Screenwriters Lab, as well as Canadian actress, writer, filmmaker, comedian, and social activist Mary Walsh , who participated in the Women In The Director’s Chair program and got a standing ovation as Wff’s Keynote Speaker at the Filmmaker Luncheon.
- 12/9/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
The 15th anniversary of what's considered ‘Canada's coolest film festival' is rapidly approaching. The 2015 Whistler Film Festival (Wff) will take place December 2 to 6 with new films, special guests, industry connections, great events and time to enjoy on of North America’s premiere mountain resort destinations. Wff has announced its first 18 confirmed films, plus industry and event programming highlights.
The Whistler Film Festival combines an international film competition with a focused industry Summit dedicated to the art and business of filmmaking in the digital age. Featuring over 80 innovative and original films from around the world and opportunities to connect with the people who made them, this year’s fest will be filled with a solid lineup of premieres, honored guests, lively celebrations, and unique industry initiatives.
Wff’s Director of Programming and industry veteran Paul Gratton had this to say about the 2015 lineup confirmed to date: “The Whistler Film Festival continues to be a must-attend event for hip, young, film buffs and emerging filmmakers, and we are pleased to carve out our own unique niche by offering an impressive selection of Canadian premieres. This year's titles cast a wide net in terms of subject matter, and our Summit will complement our film programming by addressing key challenges and opportunities facing the industry this year. WFF15 has something for everyone. "While our final line-up of titles is far from complete, early programming trends suggest a very strong year for female directors and innovative new voices from young directors hoping to find new ways of telling stories and connecting with audiences.”
A great example of innovation will be the World Premiere screening of Daniel Robinson's "Nestor," the first narrative feature ever made by one person, who wrote, produced, directed, edited and stars in this compelling tale of outdoor survival.
Another example of seeking out new narrative approaches, and leading this year's women directors present at Whistler, is Diy queen Ingrid Veninger’s latest "He Hated Pigeons" about a young man pushed to the border of sanity as he steps into manhood. Shot in South America, the film is designed to support a spontaneous live score to be performed during the screening. In other words, each screening will evoke different responses depending on the approach taken by the live musicians accompanying the showing. Other female directed highlights coming to Whistler include the World Premiere of Vancouver filmmaker Melanie Jones' "Fsm," a contemporary study of a female DJ trying to find love in a world of technological innovation and all-night raves.
Continuing its love of quirky musicals, Wff will present the Western Canadian premiere of Jude Klassen’s debut feature film "Love in the Sixth," an unromantic musical comedy of “enviromantic” angst. Another Canadian Premiere is Valerie Weiss' "A Lights Beneath Their Feet," a superb study of the mutually dependent relationship between a young student hoping to leave home for college and her bipolar mother who can't cope with the thought of letting her go. Taryn Manning, Maddie Hasson and Madison Davenport lead the cast. Another moving look at mother/daughter relationships can be found in the World Premiere of Siobhan Devine’s "The Birdwatcher," a family drama about a mother and daughter reconnecting starring WFF14 Rising Star Camille Sullivan and Gabrielle Rose.
Jeremy Lalonde's "How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town," featuring Lauren Holly and Katharine Isabelle; and Sergio Navarretta's "The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship," set during a mouth-watering winetasting tour of the Niagara region; focus on the challenge of maintaining interpersonal relationships. Darker still is the Canadian Premiere of Josh Hope's "The Life and Death of an Unhappily Married Man," in which a disillusioned young man decides to visit his past to see where it all went wrong. Brian Stockton's "The Sabbatical" is a comedic look at a photography professor's mid-life crisis and a young artist who rekindles the lost spirit of his youth, and Matthew Yim's "Basic Human Needs" follows a young couple whose plans to get out of Regina are thwarted by a missing prophylactic.
BC's own Fred Ewanuick stars as a man who can see two minutes into the future in Vancouver filmmaker O. Corbin Saleken's first feature "Patterson's Wager."
BC based genre specialist Jeffery Lando will be gracing the late night screens with the Western Canadian Premiere of his latest horror work "Suspension." John Ainslie will be unveiling the World premiere of his tense psychological thriller "The Sublet," about a new mother unraveling psychologically after and she and her fiance move into a sublet apartment, featuring Vancouver actress Tianna Nori in the lead.
On the documentary front, Wff will be presenting the North American premiere of Jan Foukal's "Amerika," a lyrical look at a unique Eastern European phenomenon known as 'tramping', as Vancouver-based Barbara Adler takes us on a mission into the mountains and the forests of the Czech Republic where she encounters social dropouts who choose to live what they consider to be a North American back-to-the-wilderness lifestyle. "Last Harvest," from director Jane Hui Wang, is a Canadian documentary feature that looks at an elderly Chinese couple forced to relocate by the government to make way for a mammoth water diversion project. Also, on the international front, Whistler is proud to present the Canadian Premiere of "Blood Cells" by Joseph Bull and Luke Seomore about a lost man wandering through the British countryside, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
As always, Whistler is pleased to feature the best of Quebec cinema, and this year the festival has two titles already lined up. Bernard Emond's "Diary of an Old Man" is a deeply moving adaptation of an Anton Chekov story about an old man fighting feelings of bitterness despite his privileged life as an academic, starring Paul Savoie in a Canada Screen Awards worthy performance. Finally, a haunting look at childhood innocence, at risk from the evils of an outside world is Philippe Lesage's "The Demons" starring Pascale Bussières and Laurent Lucas, about a tight-knit small-town community beset by a child serial killer.
Celebrating its 12th edition in 2015, Wff’s coveted Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature honors independent vision, original directorial style and the diversity of talent found in Canadian independent film. New for 2015, all Canadian feature films in the festival with Western Canadian premiere status will be included in the Borsos Competition and there is no longer a six film restriction to the number that can compete. An international jury of three will decide on four awards including a $15,000 Cdn prize.
Wff’s slate of special events confirmed to date include the Opening and Closing Galas, Signature Series including the Pandora Tribute and Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch In Conversation, ShortWork Showdown, Awards Brunch and a grand15th Anniversary Celebration, with more to come.
New for 2015, Wff introduces the L’Oreal Mens Expert Bobsleigh Race on December 3 at the Whistler Sliding Centre, one of the fastest tracks in the world, where celebrities, filmmakers, VIP guests and corporate teams will experience the thrill of a lifetime reaching speeds up to 125 km per hour. And the adrenaline continues to flow with Wff’s annual Columbia Celebrity Challenge on December 5, with corporate teams and festival guests joining the stars of the screen and the stars of the slopes in a fun, guess your time, dual slalom race on Whistler Mountain. Proceeds from these fun-raising” events will support Wff’s annual programs for Canadian artists, including the industry initiatives, labs and festival.
Film meets music at Wff’s Music Café, which has expanded to two days to include an evening showcase on December 4, and daytime showcase and dedicated industry panel on December 5, with the possibility of additional performances during the festival. Up to 10 export-ready British Columbia songwriters and artists from across the musical spectrum will be selected to each play a live 20-minute set and meet with key international music and film executives and delegates attending the festival.
Wff's Industry Summit will feature three concentrated days of business programs and networking that address the business and future of Canadian film, locally and in the international marketplace, as well as the ever-changing landscape of filmmaking in the digital age. Featuring over 20 interactive sessions, Wff's Summit is designed to provide practical business and creative intel, and foster business collaborations for filmmakers and deal-makers. Offering in-depth conversations, lively debates and critical insight into a broad range of issues vital to the domestic and international film communities while addressing crossing borders and platforms, Whistler is the place to be, connect and deal this December. 1,000 delegates are expected to attend.
The Whistler Summit directly connects to Wff’s slate of project development programs designed to provide creative and business immersion experiences for Canadian artists including the Feature Project Lab, Praxis Screenwriters Lab, Aboriginal Filmmaker Fellowship and Music Café. Wff also collaborates with several industry organizations by hosting specific third party initiatives at the Whistler Summit including the Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch, Women in the Directors 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. Application details and information for all Wff industry and project development programs are available at whistlerfilmfestival.com.
The Whistler Film Festival combines an international film competition with a focused industry Summit dedicated to the art and business of filmmaking in the digital age. Featuring over 80 innovative and original films from around the world and opportunities to connect with the people who made them, this year’s fest will be filled with a solid lineup of premieres, honored guests, lively celebrations, and unique industry initiatives.
Wff’s Director of Programming and industry veteran Paul Gratton had this to say about the 2015 lineup confirmed to date: “The Whistler Film Festival continues to be a must-attend event for hip, young, film buffs and emerging filmmakers, and we are pleased to carve out our own unique niche by offering an impressive selection of Canadian premieres. This year's titles cast a wide net in terms of subject matter, and our Summit will complement our film programming by addressing key challenges and opportunities facing the industry this year. WFF15 has something for everyone. "While our final line-up of titles is far from complete, early programming trends suggest a very strong year for female directors and innovative new voices from young directors hoping to find new ways of telling stories and connecting with audiences.”
A great example of innovation will be the World Premiere screening of Daniel Robinson's "Nestor," the first narrative feature ever made by one person, who wrote, produced, directed, edited and stars in this compelling tale of outdoor survival.
Another example of seeking out new narrative approaches, and leading this year's women directors present at Whistler, is Diy queen Ingrid Veninger’s latest "He Hated Pigeons" about a young man pushed to the border of sanity as he steps into manhood. Shot in South America, the film is designed to support a spontaneous live score to be performed during the screening. In other words, each screening will evoke different responses depending on the approach taken by the live musicians accompanying the showing. Other female directed highlights coming to Whistler include the World Premiere of Vancouver filmmaker Melanie Jones' "Fsm," a contemporary study of a female DJ trying to find love in a world of technological innovation and all-night raves.
Continuing its love of quirky musicals, Wff will present the Western Canadian premiere of Jude Klassen’s debut feature film "Love in the Sixth," an unromantic musical comedy of “enviromantic” angst. Another Canadian Premiere is Valerie Weiss' "A Lights Beneath Their Feet," a superb study of the mutually dependent relationship between a young student hoping to leave home for college and her bipolar mother who can't cope with the thought of letting her go. Taryn Manning, Maddie Hasson and Madison Davenport lead the cast. Another moving look at mother/daughter relationships can be found in the World Premiere of Siobhan Devine’s "The Birdwatcher," a family drama about a mother and daughter reconnecting starring WFF14 Rising Star Camille Sullivan and Gabrielle Rose.
Jeremy Lalonde's "How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town," featuring Lauren Holly and Katharine Isabelle; and Sergio Navarretta's "The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship," set during a mouth-watering winetasting tour of the Niagara region; focus on the challenge of maintaining interpersonal relationships. Darker still is the Canadian Premiere of Josh Hope's "The Life and Death of an Unhappily Married Man," in which a disillusioned young man decides to visit his past to see where it all went wrong. Brian Stockton's "The Sabbatical" is a comedic look at a photography professor's mid-life crisis and a young artist who rekindles the lost spirit of his youth, and Matthew Yim's "Basic Human Needs" follows a young couple whose plans to get out of Regina are thwarted by a missing prophylactic.
BC's own Fred Ewanuick stars as a man who can see two minutes into the future in Vancouver filmmaker O. Corbin Saleken's first feature "Patterson's Wager."
BC based genre specialist Jeffery Lando will be gracing the late night screens with the Western Canadian Premiere of his latest horror work "Suspension." John Ainslie will be unveiling the World premiere of his tense psychological thriller "The Sublet," about a new mother unraveling psychologically after and she and her fiance move into a sublet apartment, featuring Vancouver actress Tianna Nori in the lead.
On the documentary front, Wff will be presenting the North American premiere of Jan Foukal's "Amerika," a lyrical look at a unique Eastern European phenomenon known as 'tramping', as Vancouver-based Barbara Adler takes us on a mission into the mountains and the forests of the Czech Republic where she encounters social dropouts who choose to live what they consider to be a North American back-to-the-wilderness lifestyle. "Last Harvest," from director Jane Hui Wang, is a Canadian documentary feature that looks at an elderly Chinese couple forced to relocate by the government to make way for a mammoth water diversion project. Also, on the international front, Whistler is proud to present the Canadian Premiere of "Blood Cells" by Joseph Bull and Luke Seomore about a lost man wandering through the British countryside, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
As always, Whistler is pleased to feature the best of Quebec cinema, and this year the festival has two titles already lined up. Bernard Emond's "Diary of an Old Man" is a deeply moving adaptation of an Anton Chekov story about an old man fighting feelings of bitterness despite his privileged life as an academic, starring Paul Savoie in a Canada Screen Awards worthy performance. Finally, a haunting look at childhood innocence, at risk from the evils of an outside world is Philippe Lesage's "The Demons" starring Pascale Bussières and Laurent Lucas, about a tight-knit small-town community beset by a child serial killer.
Celebrating its 12th edition in 2015, Wff’s coveted Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature honors independent vision, original directorial style and the diversity of talent found in Canadian independent film. New for 2015, all Canadian feature films in the festival with Western Canadian premiere status will be included in the Borsos Competition and there is no longer a six film restriction to the number that can compete. An international jury of three will decide on four awards including a $15,000 Cdn prize.
Wff’s slate of special events confirmed to date include the Opening and Closing Galas, Signature Series including the Pandora Tribute and Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch In Conversation, ShortWork Showdown, Awards Brunch and a grand15th Anniversary Celebration, with more to come.
New for 2015, Wff introduces the L’Oreal Mens Expert Bobsleigh Race on December 3 at the Whistler Sliding Centre, one of the fastest tracks in the world, where celebrities, filmmakers, VIP guests and corporate teams will experience the thrill of a lifetime reaching speeds up to 125 km per hour. And the adrenaline continues to flow with Wff’s annual Columbia Celebrity Challenge on December 5, with corporate teams and festival guests joining the stars of the screen and the stars of the slopes in a fun, guess your time, dual slalom race on Whistler Mountain. Proceeds from these fun-raising” events will support Wff’s annual programs for Canadian artists, including the industry initiatives, labs and festival.
Film meets music at Wff’s Music Café, which has expanded to two days to include an evening showcase on December 4, and daytime showcase and dedicated industry panel on December 5, with the possibility of additional performances during the festival. Up to 10 export-ready British Columbia songwriters and artists from across the musical spectrum will be selected to each play a live 20-minute set and meet with key international music and film executives and delegates attending the festival.
Wff's Industry Summit will feature three concentrated days of business programs and networking that address the business and future of Canadian film, locally and in the international marketplace, as well as the ever-changing landscape of filmmaking in the digital age. Featuring over 20 interactive sessions, Wff's Summit is designed to provide practical business and creative intel, and foster business collaborations for filmmakers and deal-makers. Offering in-depth conversations, lively debates and critical insight into a broad range of issues vital to the domestic and international film communities while addressing crossing borders and platforms, Whistler is the place to be, connect and deal this December. 1,000 delegates are expected to attend.
The Whistler Summit directly connects to Wff’s slate of project development programs designed to provide creative and business immersion experiences for Canadian artists including the Feature Project Lab, Praxis Screenwriters Lab, Aboriginal Filmmaker Fellowship and Music Café. Wff also collaborates with several industry organizations by hosting specific third party initiatives at the Whistler Summit including the Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch, Women in the Directors 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. Application details and information for all Wff industry and project development programs are available at whistlerfilmfestival.com.
- 9/7/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
“Couples Retreat” star Kali Hawk will join Taryn Manning (“Orange Is the New Black”) in the coming-of-age dramedy “A Light Beneath Their Feet,” TheWrap has learned. Valerie Weiss (“Losing Control”) is directing from a script by Moira McMahon Leeper, who previously wrote for “Private Practice” and MTV's “Teen Wolf.” The film co-stars Madison Davenport (“Noah”), Maddie Hasson (ABC Family's “Twisted”) and Kurt Fuller (“Midnight in Paris”). Also read: Fox's ‘New Girl’ Cast Shares TV Upfront Survival Tips: ‘Don't Sleep With Strange Women – or Strange Dudes’ “A Light Beneath Their Feet” is a character-driven story that follows a high school...
- 5/19/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Maddie Hasson, who stars on ABC Family's “Twisted,” has signed on to join Madison Davenport, Taryn Manning and Kurt Fuller in the coming-of-age dramedy “A Light Beneath Their Feet,” TheWrap has learned. Valerie Weiss (“Losing Control”) is directing from a script by Moira McMahon Leeper, who previously wrote for “Private Practice” and MTV's “Teen Wolf.” Also read: ABC Family Sets ‘Ravenswood’ Return, Moves ‘Twisted’ to February In the vein of John Hughes’ teen movies, the character-driven story follows a high school senior (Davenport, “Noah”) who must choose between the college of her dreams and taking care of her bipolar mother (Manning,...
- 4/5/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Madison Davenport, who will appear in Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming biblical epic Noah and Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn, has been cast opposite Taryn Manning in A Light Beneath Their Feet. The coming-of-age dramedy follows a high school senior (Davenport) who must choose between escaping to the college of her dreams and staying close to home to take care of her bipolar mother (Manning). Photos: 18 Breakthrough Stars of 2013: Lorde, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tatiana Maslany and More Directed by Valerie Weiss (Losing Control) from a script by Moira McMahon Leeper, the film will begin shooting later in March.
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- 3/7/2014
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
John Wick
Bridget Moynahan ("I, Robot") has joined the cast of Chad Stahelski and David Leitch's contemporary revenge thriller "John Wick". Derek Kolstad penned the script and filming has begun in the New York area.
Keanu Reeves plays a former hit man forced to return to action after thugs steal his car and kill his dog. Moynahan plays Reeves' wife. Willem Dafoe, Alfie Allen, Michael Nyqvist, Adrianne Palicki and Dean Winters also star. [Source: THR]
Horrible Bosses 2
He was first linked last week, now he's confirmed - Chris Pine ("Star Trek") has joined the cast of the comedy sequel "Horrible Bosses 2" for Warner Bros. Pictures.
Pine will play half of a father-son duo who steal the idea for a new invention from the main trio of characters (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis). [Source: Variety]
A Light Beneath Their Feet
Taryn Manning ("Orange is the New Black," "Hustle & Flow") has...
Bridget Moynahan ("I, Robot") has joined the cast of Chad Stahelski and David Leitch's contemporary revenge thriller "John Wick". Derek Kolstad penned the script and filming has begun in the New York area.
Keanu Reeves plays a former hit man forced to return to action after thugs steal his car and kill his dog. Moynahan plays Reeves' wife. Willem Dafoe, Alfie Allen, Michael Nyqvist, Adrianne Palicki and Dean Winters also star. [Source: THR]
Horrible Bosses 2
He was first linked last week, now he's confirmed - Chris Pine ("Star Trek") has joined the cast of the comedy sequel "Horrible Bosses 2" for Warner Bros. Pictures.
Pine will play half of a father-son duo who steal the idea for a new invention from the main trio of characters (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis). [Source: Variety]
A Light Beneath Their Feet
Taryn Manning ("Orange is the New Black," "Hustle & Flow") has...
- 10/15/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Taryn Manning, who plays Orange is the New Black‘s favorite little meth head, has been cast as the bipolar mother in a “John Hughes-esque coming-of-age tale” called A Light Beneath Their Feet, Deadline reports. Her yet-to-be-named co-star will play “a high school senior who must choose between heading to college and taking care of” Manning’s character. No word on whether or not the mother in this Valerie Weiss-directed film is a crackhead, but considering this is just one of eight projects Manning currently has in the works (on top of Oitnb), we’d say she’s well on her way to breaking out of that typecast.
- 10/15/2013
- by Delia Paunescu
- Vulture
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