Whistler Film Festival

FÉLIX AND MEIRA

Whistler Film Festival announced the winners of the 14th annual Festival, and FÉLIX AND MEIRA, by Canadian director Maxime Giroux, won the 11th edition of the prestigious Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature Film. This unusual love story, between a lonely francophone man in Montreal and the married Hasidic Jewish mother to whom he feels a connection, uncover themes of tradition, loneliness and desire, making for strange bedfellows in this contemporary Canadian tale of longing. FÉLIX AND MEIRA had its Western Canadian premiere at the festival and stars Martin Dubreuil, Hadas Yaron and Luzer Twersky.

The Borsos Jury commented, “It was a very eclectic and diverse group of films this year, which made for a deep and interesting deliberation. After thoughtful consideration, we came to a unanimous decision to award FÉLIX AND MEIRA with the Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature.” Now in its 11th year, the Borsos Competition is the second largest festival prize for a Canadian film in the country. The competition is named after the legendary Canadian filmmaker Phillip Borsos, and is presented by the Directors Guild of Canada, BC, and supported by Telefilm Canada and Encore Vancouver.

http://youtu.be/P8CeBCNrwvU

FÉLIX AND MEIRA adds to its WFF accolades, receiving Best Screenplay, and awarding Maxime Giroux with Best Borsos Director. Hadas Yaron, the lead in FÉLIX AND MEIRA, also won WFF’s Best Performance in a Borsos Competition Film Award this year.

The other 2014 Borsos Competition finalists were: AFTER THE BALL, dir: Sean Garrity (World Premiere);  BANG BANG BABY, dir: Jeffrey St. Jules (Western Canadian Premiere);  MOUNTAIN MEN, dir: Cameron Labine (World Premiere);  RELATIVE HAPPINESS, dir: Deanne Foley (Western Canadian Premiere); and THE WOLVES (Les Loups), dir: Sophie Deraspe (World Premiere).

THE BACKWARD CLASS directed by Madeleine Grant

The World Documentary Award presented by Tribute.ca was awarded to THE BACKWARD CLASS directed by Madeleine Grant. The thoughtful documentary examines the first graduating class of a special private school for promising low-caste children in India. After thirteen years of living away from their impoverished families, they nervously prepare to write national ISC high school graduation exams in competition with all the other students in India. The documentary unveils the consequences if few or none of them pass, where it will leave them, and how it will reflect on the future of the financially challenged private institution. The Jury recognized Grant for “making an inspiring and uplifting film with a purposeful message and strong artistic viewpoint.” The Jury would also like to give a honourable mention to A LIFE IN DIRTY MOVIES, a beautiful film about the art of cinema.

The Canadian ShortWork Award went to RUNNING SEASON, directed by Grayson Moore. The Jury commented: “The Running Season is a darkly comic film that captures the deadpan wit of the Cohen brothers while remaining uniquely, and proudly Canadian. Full of uncomfortable laughs and slow burning tension, the stylish and wonderfully acted film is extremely deserving of this recognition.” The jury also gave honourable mention to THE ORPHAN AND THE POLAR BEAR.

The International ShortWork Award went to THE TIDE KEEPER directed by Alyx Duncan. “Gripping, poetic, beautiful, and visually stunning, this is a lyrical allegory of someone who literally gave his life to the sea. A great example of a filmmaker who is relentlessly dedicated to a strong theme,” commented the Jury.

The ShortWork Student Award presented by Capilano University Film Centre went to GODHEAD by University of Victoria’s Connor Gaston. The Jury praised the film for “smart direction, strong visuals, framing, and great performances. This story reminded us that the people with the most special minds often go unnoticed or are dismissed the easiest. But we certainly noticed Gaston as a British Columbian filmmaker with a strong, clear voice.

The Best Mountain Culture Film Award presented by Whistler Blackcomb went to SNOWMAN, directed by the local and emerging director Mike Douglas. “Beautifully shot, with real personal issues, the decisions we make, the sacrifices, triumphs and what it means to follow our hearts. For its commitment to the mountains, the community and the snow, we have selected SNOWMAN for this award,” said the Jury.

The MPPIA Short Film Award, presented by MPPIA and Creative BC, was won by Andrew Rowe for VEHICULAR ROMANTICIDE. The completed project will have its world premiere screening at the 2015 Whistler Film Festival.

Variety’s Vice President and Executive Editor Steven Gaydos acknowledged the Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch, six of whom were present: Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer (LOOMIS FARGO); Chris Sparling (THE SEA OF TREES); Melissa Stack (THE OTHER WOMAN); Phyllis Nagy (CAROL); Suha Arraf (VILLAGE TOUMA); Ben Schwartz (MAJOR!); Graham Moore (THE IMITATION GAME); Matt Charman (SUITE FRANCAISE); Michael Starrbury (THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER & PETE); and Taylor Sheridan (SICARIO).

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THE IMITATION GAME

The Whistler Film Festival taking place December 3 to 7, unveiled its complete 2014 film lineup featuring original films from around the world and more feature premieres than ever before. THE IMITATION GAME (Western Canadian Premiere) and Audience Award winner at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival is this year’s Opening Night Gala presentation starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing in his efforts to break the Nazi’s Enigma Code during World War Two at Britain’s top secret Blectchley Park. WFF’s Closing Night Gala film is the World Premiere of SNOWMAN by Whistler filmmaker and ‘godfather of free skiing’, Mike Douglas, following avalanche controller Kevin Foglin’s close call with the mountains in Douglas’ tribute to mountain culture lifestyle and living in Whistler.

Five films make up this year’s Special Presentations including the Canadian Premiere of crime drama A MOST VIOLENT YEAR from director J.C. Chandor and starring Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac, as an immigrant and his family trying to expand their business in New York City’s most violent year in its history, 1981. The Western Canadian premieres include STILL ALICE directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland and starring Julianne Moore as the titular character battling Alzheimer, and thriller ’71, directed by Yann Demange, which has received nine nominations in the Independent British Awards, and follows a British solider accidentally abandoned by his unit following riots on the streets of Belfast. Other Special Presentations include the BC Premiere of American remake of Spanish language hit ELSA & FRED starring Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer directed by Michael Radford and the Whistler 

Premiere of Academy Award front runner and portrait of a marriage, James Marsh’s THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING starring Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones as his wife Jane as they fight the odds of his ALS diagnosis to change the face of science in the 20th century.

Returning programming strands include the 11th annual Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature presented by the Directors Guild of Canada – British Columbia featuring six diverse titles competing for $15,000 cash prize and a $15,000 Post Production prize, the second highest award of its kind in Canada. This year’s Borsos competition will also showcase three World Premieres AFTER THE BALL, WOLVES (LES LOUPS) and MOUNTAIN MEN and three Western Canadian Premieres BANG BANG BABY, RELATIVE HAPPINESS and FELIX AND MEIRA, which won Best Canadian Film at TIFF14.

The World Documentary competition returns with five titles in addition to SNOWMAN, including A LIFE IN DIRTY MOVIES (Canadian Premiere) from director Wiktor Ericsson highlighting the lives sexploitation director Joe Sarno and his devoted wife Peggy, POINT AND SHOOT (Western Canadian Premiere) by two time Academy Award nominated documentarian Marshall Curry and winner of Best Documentary at Tribeca 2014 which follows Matt Van Dyke’s 35,000 mile motorcycle trip that leads to his involvement in the Libyan fight against Muammar Gaddadfi, and MERCHANTS OF DOUBT (Western Canadian Premiere) in whichRobert Kenner investigates the shadowy world of professional skeptics for corporations, think tanks and special interest groups who cast doubt on climate change. Other documentaries include the previously announced STAY AWHILE (World Premiere) directed by Jessica Edwards, the daughter of two of the members of the Canadian supergroup The Bells who are affectionately profiled, THE BACKWARD CLASS by Madeleine Grant following a class of students from India’s lowest Castes working toward college entrance exams, and THAT GUY DICK MILLER, following Hollywood character actor Dick Miller from Elijah Drenner.

WFF’s World Now will showcase four films from diverse corners of the world including the Western Canadian Premieres of IN HER PLACE (Canada/South Korea) directed by Albert Shin; GEMMA BOVERY(France) from Anne Fontaine; Hitchcockian thriller THE NEW GIRLFRIEND (France) directed by François Ozon, and the Simon Pegg starrer KILL ME THREE TIMES (Australia), directed by Kriv Stenders.

Late Night selections will showcase four great genre films including the World Premiere of BAD CITYdirected by Carl Bessai; the North American premiere of DEADLY VIRTUES directed by Ate de Jong; andthe Western Canadian premieres of TIFF14 Midnight Madness winner WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS directed by Jemaine Clement (one half of musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords) and Taika Waititi,and the UK’s THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY directed by Peter Strickland.

A selection of all age friendly flicks make up the Family program, including the Western Canadian Premiere of the 24th entry in the TALES FOR ALL series, legendary Canadian family content producer Rock Demers’ THE OUTLAW LEAGUE directed by Jean Beaudry, and the Whistler Premiere of Irish animated film SONG OF THE SEA by Academy Award Winner Tomm Moore (SECRET OF THE KELLS).

WFF’s second From The Vault strand includes the Western Canadian premiere of three long lost shorts featuring legendary comedic actor Peter Sellers in the Peters Sellers Trilogy, COLD COMFORT (1957),DEARTH OF A SALESMAN (1957), and INSOMNIA IS GOOD FOR YOU (1957).

New for 2014, the Gen Next strand features five Canadian titles including the World Premieres of AFTER FILM SCHOOL directed by Joel Ashton McCarthy, PRETEND WE’RE KISSING from director Matt Sadowski and produced by Whistler’s own Peter Harvey, THE COCKSURE LADS MOVIE directed and written by Murray Foster, and WHAT AN IDIOT directed and produced respectively by Vancouver couple Peter and Julia Benson. The Western Canadian premiere of BACKCOUNTRY directed by Adam McDonald and starring Missy Peregrym is also included.

The Discoveries strand includes the Western Canadian Premieres of I PUT A HIT ON YOU directed by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart, prairie noir BIG MUDDY directed by Jefferson Moneo and WE WERE WOLVES by Jordan Canning. Also included is the BC Premiere of ALLY WAS SCREAMING by Jeremy Thomas.

WFF’s American Indies strand covers the gamut from the ‘Do It Yourself’ filmmaking of Jeffrey P. Nesker’s ELSEWHERE NY to the major Hollywood production of Whistler Premiere THE HOMESMAN directed by Tommy Lee Jones starring Jones and Hilary Swank, to the Canadian Premiere of Jay Craven’s NORTHERN BORDERS starring 2013 Academy Award Nominee Bruce Dern and Geneviève Bujold in between.

This year’s ShortWork Competition is comprised of 44 diverse shorts curated into six programs, including strands devoted to comedy and Aboriginal shorts.

WFF 2014 Complete Feature Film Listing:

World Premieres:
AFTER FILM SCHOOL (Canada) Dir. Joel Ashton McCarthy
AFTER THE BALL (Canada) Dir. Sean Garrity
BAD CITY (Canada) Dir. Carl Bessai
ELSEWHERE NY (Canada) Dir. Jeffrey P. Nesker
THE COCKSURE LADS MOVIE (Canada) Dir. Murray Foster
MOUNTAIN MEN (Canada) Dir. Cameron Labine
PRETEND WE’RE KISSING (Canada) Dir. Matt Sadowski
SNOWMAN (Canada) Dir. Mike Douglas
STAY AWHILE (Canada) Dir. Jessica Edwards
WHAT AN IDIOT (Canada) Dir. Peter Benson
WOLVES (LES LOUPS) (Canada) Dir. Sophie Deraspe

North American Premieres:
DEADLY VIRTUES (Netherlands) Dir. Ate de Jong

Canadian Premieres:
A LIFE IN DIRTY MOVIES (Sweden) Dir. Wiktor Ericsson
A MOST VIOLENT YEAR (USA) Dir. J.C. Chandor
NORTHERN BORDERS (USA) Dir. Jay Craven
THAT GUY DICK MILLER (USA) Dir. Elijah Drenner

Western Canadian Premieres:
’71 (United Kingdom) Dir. Yann Demange
THE BACKWARD CLASS (Canada) Dir. Madeleine Grant
BANG BANG BABY (Canada) Dir. Jeffrey St Jules
BIG MUDDY (Canada) Dir. Jefferson Moneo
DUKE OF BURGUNDY (United Kingdom) Dir. Peter Strickland
FELIX AND MEIRA (Canada) Dir. Maxime Giroux
THE IMITATION GAME (United Kingdom) Dir. James Marsh
I PUT A HIT ON YOU (Canada) Dir. Dane Clark, Linsey Stewart
IN HER PLACE (Canada/South Korea) Dir. Albert Shin
KILL ME THREE TIMES (Australia) Dir. Kriv Stenders
PETER SELLERS TRILOGY (United Kingdom) Dir. James Hill, Leslie Arliss
THE NEW GIRLFRIEND (France) Dir. François Ozon
THE OUTLAW LEAGUE (Canada) Dir. Jean Beaudry
RELATIVE HAPPINESS (Canada) Dir. Deanne Foley
STILL ALICE (USA) Dir. Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
WE WERE WOLVES (Canada) Dir. Jordan Canning
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (New Zealand) Dir. Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi

British Columbia Premieres:
ELSA & FRED (USA) Dir. Michael Radford
GEMMA BOVERY (France) Dir. Anne Fontaine
MERCHANTS OF DOUBT (USA) Dir. Robert Kenner
ALLY WAS SCREAMING (Canada) Dir. Jeremy Thomas

Whistler Premieres:
SONG OF THE SEA (Ireland) Dir. Tomm Moore
THE HOMESMAN (USA) Dir. Tommy Lee Jones
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (United Kingdom) Dir. James Marsh

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Six producers from across Canada have been selected to participate in the Whistler Film Festival’s annual Feature Project Lab, held from December 2 to 5, 2014 during the Whistler Film Festival + Summit.  Designed to advance Canadian creative talent, the WFF Feature Project Lab focuses on strengthening dramatic feature projects from script to screen by facilitating feedback as well as collaboration on and investment in film projects that have US and international appeal.

The six producers and projects selected for WFF’s 2014 Feature Project Lab are:

Amber Ripley, Goodbye Productions (BC) with the darkly comedic DREAMLAND written by Tony Burgess.

Angela Heck, Fringe Filmworks, Inc. (MB) with the family drama BUMPERSHINES written by Cathryn Atkinson.

Farah Merani, Lifeguard Productions (ON) with the suspense drama GOOD NIGHT AMHERST written by James Fanizza.

Jason James, Resonance Films (BC) with the empty-nester road trip film THE MOTHER OUTLAWS written by Garfield Lindsey.

Luke Black, Pretty Okay Pictures (ON) with the Sci-Fi/Action story TO BE CONTINUED written by Grant & Stu Marks.

Martin de Valk, Chiaro Productions (BC) with the claustrophobic thriller CONTAINER written by Brian Paisley, Keith Digby and Martin de Valk.

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BANG BANG BABY

22 Canadian feature films, including 13 by first-time feature film directors and six directed by women, will screen at the upcoming 14th Annual Whistler Film Festival (WFF) taking place December 3 to 7, 2014 in Whistler, British Columba, Canada.  6 films will compete in the 11th annual Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature Film including AFTER THE BALL, BANG BANG BABY, FÉLIX AND MEIRA (Félix et Meira), MOUNTAIN MEN, RELATIVE HAPPINESS, and WOLVES (Les Loups).  

Following is the list of eleven Canadian features having their World Premiere at this year’s Whistler Film Festival:

AFTER FILM SCHOOL Joel Ashton McCarthy, Canada World Premiere
A hilarious mockumentary made by, and about, film school graduates who can’t raise financing for their first feature. Over 100 Vancouver area filmmakers and musicians devoted their time and talent to this chance-taking comedy that will have you rolling in the aisles. Get ready for High School Murders – The Musical, a film within a film that you won’t believe.

AFTER THE BALL Sean Garrity, Canada World Premiere
This charming Cinderella story is set in the world of fashion design, a daughter must disguise herself in order to win the approval of her rejecting father who owns a fashion design shop. One of this year’s Borsos competitors, it is written by Borsos Winner Kate Melville (PICTURE DAY, WFF 2012). Starring Portia Doubleday, Chris Noth, Lauren Holly and Marc-André Grondin.

BAD CITY Carl Bessai, Canada World Premiere
Canada’s most prolific filmmaker, Carl Bessai, returns to Whistler after last year’s triumphant genre bender No Clue, with another film homage, but this one to blaxploitation flicks from the 70s and the reverence that certain film intellectuals maintain for Canucksploitation films of the same era. So, dust off your Afro wigs and come out and play. Can you dig it? Right on! Starring Dustin Milligan and Amanda Crew.

ELSEWHERE, N .Y. Jeffrey P. Nesker, Canada World Premiere
A first feature directed by Canadian Jeffrey P. Nesker, entirely shot on the streets of New York with a cast of four and a crew of two. The style will evoke the work of Amos Kollek or the street grit of ONCE. The film follows the romances and yearnings of a small group of young adults trying to connect in the big city. Starring Andrew Leland Rogers, Fiona Graham and Andrew Ruth.

THE COCKSURE LADS Murray Foster, Canada World Premiere
A toe-tapping musical comedy that looks at the split-up of a British boy band when they land in Toronto for a gig. This is a first feature directed by Murray Foster, the bassist with Moxy Fruvous and Great Big Sea, and it has the joyous feeling of Cliff Richard or Dave Clark Five movies from the 60s. With Lyndon Ogbourne and Luke Marty, and great original songs.

LES LOUPS (WOLVES) Sophie Deraspe, Canada World Premiere
A haunting new drama from the director of previous Borsos winner Vital Signs, about an attractive Montreal woman who arrives on a North Atlantic island during whale hunting season for no apparent reason. The locals are a rough and tumble group living a harsh life off the land, but they become very curious about why the young lady has chosen to join them. Starring Evelyne Brochu, Gilbert Sicotte and Louise Portal.

MOUNTAIN MEN Cameron Labine, Canada World Premiere
Whistler provides the perfect setting for the World Premiere of this Borsos entry of hilarious banter, nail-biting suspense and charismatic leads in Chace Crawford and Tyler Labine as estranged brothers forced to reconcile when a fire leaves them no choice but to descend a dangerous wintery mountain landscape and fight for their lives.

PRETEND WE’RE KISSING Matt Sadowski, Canada World Premiere
A first feature from director Matt Sadowski, this is a charming comic romance between a classic uber-nerd played by Dov Tiefenbach, whose character personifies neurotic self-doubt, and a dream girl played by Zoe Kravitz who shows some interest in him. Reminding you of early Woody Allen, the sex scenes are laugh out loud awkward.

SNOWMAN Mike Douglas, Canada World Premiere
Whistler filmmaker and ‘Godfather of free skiing’ Mike Douglas returns to WFF with his documentary feature debut, SNOWMAN, which pays tribute to mountain culture lifestyle and to living in Whistler in particular. It doesn’t sugarcoat the dangers of living life on the edge of a mountain, as a helicopter crash during a routine inducement of a controlled avalanche provides the film with some real-life jeopardy.

STAY AWHILE Jessica Edwards, Canada World Premiere
Anyone over a certain age may not necessarily remember the name The Bells, but they will certainly recognize the signature theme song that was a worldwide monster hit back in the early 70s before the era of radio quotas for Canadian content. Canada’s first super-group, The Bells appeared on US television, toured extensively andmade the rounds of Canadian variety and musical shows of the time. Other hits included ‘Little White Dove’ and ‘Moody Manitoba Morning’. An intimate insider’s look at the group The Bells, as told by the daughter of two of its principals, Jessica Edwards.

WHAT AN IDIOT Peter Benson, Canada World Premiere
Borrowing a plot line from the Rock Hudson/Doris Day movie SEND ME NO FLOWERS, a man (played by first-time director Peter Benson) pretends to be gay in order to befriend his gorgeous new boss at work, who seems to have a real soft spot for gay men, while treating all others with disdain. Julia Benson plays the boss, and in real life, Peter and Julia are a Vancouver based couple, which explains the genuine romantic connection between the two leads in this classic romantic comedy.

 Following is a list of the many other fine Canadian films being showcased at this year’s Whistler Film Festival:

ALLY WAS SCREAMING: Jeremy Thomas, Canada BC Premiere
A tense but darkly funny exploration of the thin line between greed and morality, follows two buddies who find a dead friend’s winning lottery ticket, but her do-gooder sister stands in the way of redemption. Nice Canadian boys would never think of knocking her off, now would they? Starring Charlie Carrick, Giacomo Baessato and Camille Sullivan.

BANG BANG BABY Jeffery St. Jules, Canada Western Canadian Premiere
A wildly unique and original take on the musical genre is a first feature from Jeffrey St. Jules. The Borsos entry tells the story of a 60s teenager who dreams of making it big as a singer, if only that pesky nearby chemical plant leak wasn’t turning the townsfolks into genetic mutants. Starring Jane Levy, Justin Chatwin and Peter Stormare.

BACKCOUNTRY Adam MacDonald, Canada Western Canadian Premiere
An extremely well made true story of two ill-prepared campers who were attacked in their tent by a ferocious black bear. The bear footage was shot in Squamish BC, because that’s where the producers found the most ferocious (trained) bear, who could roar and bare his fangs on cue. This true-life horror movie is a remarkable first feature by Adam MacDonald and starring Eric Balfour, Missy Peregrym and Nicholas Campbell.

THE BACKWARD CLASS Madeleine Grant, Canada Western Canadian Premiere
Cheer-out-loud documentary filmmaking and winner of the Audience Award at this year’s Hot Docs, this is a remarkable look at the link between education and class. The film focuses on the first graduating class of low-caste individuals plucked from their impoverished families in India and given a European style education for the last thirteen years. They are about to write their first college entrance exams. How will they do as individuals, and how will this reflect on this privately funded project that has nearly bankrupted its chief proponents? A first feature directed by Vancouver-based Madeleine Grant.

BIG MUDDY Jefferson Moneo, Canada Western Canadian PremiereFirst feature from director Jefferson Moneo, this is a visually stylish look at a crime spree set in the prairies. A Saskatchewan mother gets by performing low-level cons, but must go into hiding when an escaped murderer comes looking for her and her son. This is a film that could best be described as Prairie Noir, and may remind you of Terrence Malick’s classic Badlands. Starring Nadia Litz, Stephen McHattie and Rossif Sutherland.

FÉLIX AND MEIRA: Maxime Giroux, Canada Western Canadian PremiereVoted the Best Canadian Film at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, this is a delicate, quiet study of a forbidden romance between a depressive francophone Montrealer, and the married Hasidic mother that attracts his romantic attention. The conflict between desire and duty has never come into sharper focus. Directed by former Borsos competitor Maxime Giroux (JO FOR JONATHAN, WFF 2010) with Martin Dubreuil and Hadas Yaron.

I PUT A HIT ON YOU: Dane Clark, Linsey Stewart Western Canadian PremiereDirected by first-timers Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart, this very funny thriller follows a jilted fiancée who drunkenly offers her engagement ring online to anyone who wants to kill her boyfriend for her. Someone takes her up on the offer, and in the sober light of the next morning’s hangover, what do you do when your would-be assassin is anonymous and can’t be called off? Starring Sara Canning and Aaron Ashmore

IN HER PLACE Albert Shin, Canada/South Korea Western Canadian PremiereA second film from Canadian director Albert Shin, this is a meticulously authentic South Korean shot film, with Korean actors, and a distinctly Korean storyline, about a rich city woman who comes to live with some poor country bumpkins, a woman and her teenage daughter, for reasons that are not immediately apparent. With Yoon-Da-Kyung and Ahn Ji Hye.

THE OUTLAW LEAGUE (LA GANG DES HORS-LA-LOI) Jean Beaudry, Canada Western Canadian PremiereDirected by Jean Beaudry, this is veteran family film producer Rock Demers’ 24th entry in the Tales for All series. A rare film to be shot in French in New Brunswick, it tells the story of some local kids who fight for the right to clear a lot full of junk, so that they can have a baseball diamond to play on. City planners oppose them, of course. Starring Guy Thauvette and André Kasper Kolstad.

RELATIVE HAPPINESS Deanne Foley, Canada Western Canadian PremiereThis previously announced Borsos entry follows a pleasingly plump and plucky Nova Scotia bed and breakfast operator who needs to find a date for her gorgeous sister’s wedding. In walks the hunk of her dreams… A second film directed by Deanne Foley, starring Melissa Bergland and Aaron Poole

WE WERE WOLVES Jordan Canning, Canada Western Canadian PremiereA first feature directed by Jordan Canning, this is another perfect Whistler film as two estranged brothers reconcile in a cabin in the Kawartha Lakes region following the death of their father. They discover secrets of their father’s life that they never suspected, and must reconcile with their memories and each other. Starring Lynda Boyd, Steve Cochrane and Peter Mooney.

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THE HUSBAND, by Canadian director Bruce McDonald

THE HUSBAND by Canadian director Bruce McDonald, won the prize for Best Canadian Feature Film in the 10th edition of the Borsos Competition at the 2013 Whistler Film Festival. THE HUSBAND is described by the festival as a unique film about the other side of an adulterous affair follows Henry (McCabe-Lokos) as he deals with raising a child while his wife serves a prison sentence for an affair with a 14 year old student. THE HUSBAND had its Western Canadian premiere at the festival and stars Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, Sarah Allen, Dylan Authors, August Diehl and Joey Klein.

Tatiana Maslany won WFF’s Best Performance in a Borsos Competition Film Award for the second year in a row, for her role in CAS & DYLAN. In 2012, she won the award for her role in Kate Melville’s PICTURE DAY.

 The other 2013 Borsos Competition finalists were:

CAS & DYLAN, dir: Jason Priestley (Western Canadian Premiere)
LOUIS CYR, dir: Daniel Roby (QC, Western Canadian Premiere)
PATCH TOWN, dir: Craig Goodwill (Canadian Premiere)
SIDDHARTH dir: Richie Mehta (Western Canadian Premiere)
UVANGA, dirs: Marie- Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu (Western Canadian Premiere)

The World Documentary Award was awarded to JINGLE BELL ROCKS! directed by Mitchell Kezin. Described as a personal look at the director’s obsession with Christmas tunes, JINGLE BELL ROCKS! features two dozen of Mitchell’s favorite unknown Christmas songs.

The Canadian ShortWork Award went to ANXIOUS OSWALD GREENE, directed by Marshall Axani, the International ShortWork Award went to A GRAND CANAL directed by Johnny Ma, and the ShortWork Student Award went to BACKWARD FALL by UBC’s Andrew Pollins. 

Best Mountain Culture Film Award went to THE CRASH REEL, directed by Academy Award nominee Lucy Walker. MPPIA Short Film Award, was won by Nick Citton for THE FUTURE PERFECT, with the completed project having its world premiere screening at next year’s 2014 Whistler Film Festival.

Best Female Directed Narrative Feature was awarded to THE ANIMAL PROJECT directed by Ingrid Veninger; Best Female Directed Documentary was awarded to THE CRASH REEL directed by Lucy Walker; and Special Mention for Documentary Excellence was awarded to HI-HO MASTAHEY directed by Alanis Obomsawin.

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 THE CRASH REEL

The 13th Whistler Film Festival (WFF) taking place from December 4th to 8th, 2013, in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada has unveiled its lineup of films . WFF’s Closing Night Gala film is the Western Canadian Premiere of THE CRASH REEL by two time Academy Award nominated documentary director, Lucy Walker, and is about champion half-pipe snowboard legend Kevin Pearce’s inspiring rehabilitation following a devastating neck injury.

The festival previously announced Canadian director and actor Jason Priestley’s CAS & DYLAN (Western Canadian Premiere) is this year’s Opening Night Gala presentation.

Additional feature film World Premieres include: snowbound romantic comedy THREE NIGHT STAND directed by Pat Kiely; and late night thriller ICE SOLDIERS directed by Sturla Gunnarsson. Returning programming strands include the 10th Anniversary Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature featuring six diverse titles including CAS & DYLAN, THE HUSBAND, PATCH TOWN and UVANGA, LOUIS CYR and Richie Mehta’s SIDDHARTH.

The Documentary competition returns with five titles, including Barry Avrich’s FILTHY GORGEOUS: THE BOB GUCCIONE STORY, and the Canadian Premiere of Whitney Ransick’s MISFIRE: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE SHOOTING GALLERY.

Mountain Culture is back with three Western Canadian premieres, and includes THE RIDGE, THE CRASH REEL, and the Latvian snowboard doc SKLMNTI.

WFF’s World Now will showcase four films from diverse corners of the world including the Canadian Premieres of Chinese box office giant FINDING MR. RIGHT (China) directed by Xiao Lu Xue; CINCO DE MAYO: THE BATTLE (Mexico) from director Rafa Lafa; and Benecio Del Toro starring JIMMY P: PSYCHOTHERAPY OF A PLAINS INDIAN, directed by Arnaud Desplechin.

Nine films make up this year’s Special Presentations including, LE DEMANTELEMENT (Sébastien Pilote), SEX AFTER KIDS (Jeremy LaLonde), THE GRAND SEDUCTION (Don McKellar), and the Canadian nominee for the Best Foreign Language category at this year’s Academy Awards GABRIELLE (Louise Archambault).

Late Night selections will showcase great genre films including the World Premiere of ICE SOLDIERS directed by Sturla Gunnarsson; the Canadian premiere of SAVAGED directed by Michael S. Ojeda; and the Western Canadian premieres of ODD THOMAS directed by Stephen Sommers and Austria’s THE STATION directed by Marvin Kren.

A selection of all age friendly flicks make up the Family program, including the World Premiere of BC film IF I HAD WINGS directed by Allan Harmon and starring Lorne Cardinal and Jill Hennessey; and the Western Canadian nature doc AMAZONIA, WFF’s first ever 3D presentation.

Finally, WFF’s American Indies strand features a particularly edgy collection this year with Justin Long and Tyler Labine in BEST MAN DOWN; Lukas Haas in METH HEAD from director Jane Clark; THE WAIT starring Chloe Sevigny & Jena Malone, directed by M. Blash; and the jaw-droppingly shocking CHEAP THRILLS featuring David Koechner.

WFF 2013 Complete Feature Film Listing:

World Premieres:
AFTERPARTY (Canada) Dir. Michelle Ouellet
DOWN HERE (Canada) Dir. Teach Grant
IF I HAD WINGS (Canada) Dir. Allan Harmon
ICE SOLDIERS (Canada) Dir. Sturla Gunnarsson
NO CLUE (Canada) Dir. Carl Bessai
THREE NIGHT STAND (Canada) Dir. Pat Kiely

Canadian Premieres:
CINCO DE MAYO: THE BATTLE (Mexico) Dir. Rafa Lara
BEST MAN DOWN (USA) Dir. Ted Koland
FINDING MR. RIGHT (China) Dir. Xiao Le Xue
JIMMY P: PSYCHOTHERAPY OF A PLAINS INDIAN (USA/France) Dir Arnaud Desplechin
JINGLE BELL ROCKS! (Canada) Dir. Mitchell Kezin
METH HEAD (USA) Dir. Jane Clark
PATCH TOWN (Canada) Dir. Craig Goodwill
MISFIRE: THE RISE & FALL OF THE SHOOTING GALLERY (Canada) Dir Whitney Ransick
SAVAGED (USA) Dir. Michael S. Ojeda
WAIT, THE (USA) Dir. M. Blash

Western Canadian Premieres:
ANIMAL PROJECT, THE (Canada) Dir. Ingrid Veninger
AMAZONIA 3D(France) Dir Thierry Ragobert
CAS & DYLAN (Canada) Dir. Jason Priestley
CITIZEN MARC (Canada) Dir. Roger Larry
CHEAP THRILLS (Canada) Dir. E.L. Katz
CRASH REEL, THE (USA) Dir. Lucy Walker
DARK BLOOD (USA) Dir. George Sluizer
DEVIL’S KNOT (USA) Dir. Atom Egoyan
EMPIRE OF DIRT (Canada) Dir. Peter Stebbings
FILTHY GORGEOUS: THE BOB GUCCIONE STORY (Canada) Dir. Barry Avrich
HI-HO MISTAHEY! (Canada) Dir. Alanis Obomsawin
HUSBAND, THE (Canada) Dir. Bruce McDonald
LE DEMANTELEMENT (Canada) Dir. Sébastien Pilote
LIFE’S A BREEZE (Ireland) Dir. Lance Daly
LOUIS CYR, STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD (Canada) Dir. Daniel Roby
ODD THOMAS (USA) Dir. Stephen Sommers
RIDGE, THE (UK) Dir. Pablo Iranburu
SIDDHARTH (Canada) Dir. Richie Mehta
STATION, THE (Austria) Dir. Marvin Kren
SKLMNTI (Latvia) Dir. Ernests Cerbul
UVANGA (Canada) Dir. Marie-Hélène Cousineau, Madeline Piujuq Ivalu

BC Premieres:
GRAND SEDUCTION, THE (Canada) Dir. Don McKellar
SEX AFTER KIDS (Canada) Dir. Jeremy LaLonde

Whistler Premieres:
CALIGULA (USA) Dir. Tinto Brass/Bob Guccione
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (USA) Dir. Jean-Marc Vallée
GABRIELLE (Canada) Dir. Louise Archambault

Special Presentation:
PRISONERS (USA) Dir. Denis Villeneuve

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Located in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia, and just two hours north of Vancouver, the 13th annual Whistler Film Festival will run December 4 to 8, 2013. The Whistler Film Festival will open with the Western Premiere of Jason Priestley’s “heart-warming and inspiring” road movie CAS & DYLAN, also starring Tatiana Maslany and Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss. This story follows a couple of mismatched road travelers and the festival says that the film “will not leave a dry eye in the house.” CAS & DYLAN is one of six titles that will be competing for this year’s coveted Borsos award.

WFF’s closing night film is described as an outstanding documentary that transcends the traditional sports storyline to tell a true tale of courage and rehabilitation against all odds. The Canadian premiere of THE CRASH REEL, directed by Lucy Walker, highlights the life-long rivalry between two half-pipe snowboard legends, heading towards Olympic glory, until a near fatal crash results in major trauma for one of the childhood buddies, Kevin Pearce. Culled from over fifteen years of home movies and archival footage, the film can truly be described as a story of courage and acceptance that will inspire anyone who has ever had to fight back against adversity and physical trauma.

The Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature presented by the Directors Guild of Canada, British Columbia celebrates its 10th anniversary this year offering the second largest cash prize for a Canadian film in the country. Amongst the Borsos films confirmed at this time includes the North American premiere of PATCH TOWN. Expanded from an award-winning BravoFact short, Craig Goodwill’s first feature is a unique parable about a psychically damaged man who tries to escape with his wife and child from the drudgery of an oppressive society.

Breathtaking scenery from the Far North is showcased in the Western Premiere of UVANGA from the producers of Atarjuanat – The Fast Runner. Co-directed by Marie-Helene Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu, UVANGA tells the story of a single mother who returns to Nunavut with her son, so that he can discover his roots and learn about his deceased father. Other confirmed titles include the World Premiere of AFTERPARTY diredted by Michelle Ouellette, this is a film that captures the vital energy and spirit of young people today. SEX AFTER KIDS is another BC premiere that features an ensemble cast in a sex comedy, featuring the likes of Jay Brazeau, Mimi Kuzyk, Katie Boland and Kristin Booth, to name but a few.

The Canadian Premiere of METH HEAD is described as director Jane Clark’s very human but brutally realistic descent into addiction hell, featuring a searing and courageous performance by former child star Lukas Haas (Witness, Testament), whose character resorts to turning tricks to support his out-of-control habit. Similarly, the Canadian Premiere of JIMMY P. (Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian) features a mesmerizing performance by Benicio Del Toro as a First Nations war vet suffering from a head trauma injury, mistakenly assumed to be a form of mental illness by the medical establishment not used to administering medicine to First Nations people. Directed by Arnaud Desplechin, with Mathieu Almaric as the therapist, this film premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Other highlights include the Western theatrical premiere of Barry Avrich’s FILTHY GORGEOUS: THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF BOB GUCCIONE, a surprising and ultimately sympathetic exposé of the private life of the man who founded Penthouse and produced the infamous Caligula, still the most expensive XXX movie ever made. Finally, as part of the China Canada Gateway for Film, the festival will screen the Chinese box office blockbuster FINDING MR. RIGHT one of the top grossing Chinese films of all time. This contemporary romantic comedy directed by Xiao Lu Xue was largely shot in the Vancouver area with an all-star Chinese cast. 

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[caption id="attachment_2930" align="alignnone" width="550"]Still[/caption]

The Whistler Film Festival opens on Wednesday, November 28 and runs through Sunday, December 2, 2012 in Whistler, British Columbia Canada.

Canadian writer and director Michael McGowan’s STILL (Western Canadian Premiere) is this year’s WFF Opening Night Gala presentation, an inspirational film based on the true story of 88 year old Craig Morrison, who took on the bureaucrats and the challenges of building a home from scratch with equal aplomb. WFF’s Closing Night Gala film is the World Premiere of THE SHEEPDOGS HAVE AT IT by Canadian director, John Barnard and featuring Saskatchewan rock band The Sheepdogs.

Additional World Premieres include: BIRD CO. MEDIA by Vancouver director Jason Bourque, THE MOVIE OUT HERE directed by David Hicks, MAD SHIP directed by David Mortin, STATUS QUO? directed by Karen Cho; and TEMPTING FEAR directed by Mike Douglas.

The complete 2012 lineup:

World Premieres:
BIRD CO. MEDIA (Canada) Dir. Jason Bourque
THE MOVIE OUT HERE (Canada) Dir. David Hicks
BRUCE COCKBURN PACING THE CAGE (Canada) Dir. Joel Goldberg (World Premiere of Director’s Cut)
MAD SHIP (Canada) Dir. David Mortin
STATUS QUO? (Canada), Dir. Karen Cho
THE SHEEPDOGS HAVE AT IT (Canada) Dir. John Barnard
North American Premiere:
BLOOD PRESSURE (Canada) Dir. Sean Garrity

Canadian Premieres:
BETWEEN US (USA) Dir. Dan Mirvish
FEW WORDS (France) Dir. Candide Thovex
I AM NASRINE (UK/Iran) Dir. Tina Gharavi
KNIFE FIGHT (USA), Dir. Bill Guttentag
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROSALIND LEIGH (Canada) Dir. Rodrigo Gudiño
WHITE DEER PLAIN (China) Dir. Wang Quan’an
56UP (UK) Dir. Michael Apted

English Canadian Premieres:
BEAUTY AND THE BREAST (Canada), Dir. Liliana Komorowska
DRIVING TO THE EDGE (Dérapages) (Canada) Dir. Paul Arcand
FAIR SEX (Canada) Dir. Martin Laroche
KARAKARA (Canada/Japan) Dir. Claude Gagnon
OMERTÄ (Canada) Dir. Luc Dionne

Western Canadian Premieres:
AMERICAN MARY (Canada) Dir. Jen and Sylvia Soska
ANNA KARENINA (UK) Dir. Joe Wright
ALL THAT YOU POSSESS (Tout ce que tu possèdes) (Canada) Dir. Bernard Émond
FROM UP ON POPPY HILL (Japan) Dir. Goro Miyazaki
HIT ‘N STRUM (Canada) Dir. Kirk Caouette
HOME AGAIN (Canada) Dir. Sudz Sutherland
IN THE HOUSE (Dans La Maison) Dir. François Ozon
LOVE MARILYN (USA) Dir. Liz Garbus
MEET THE FOKKENS (Netherland) Dir. Rob Schröder and Gabrielle Provaas
MY AWKWARD SEXUAL ADVENTURE (Canada) Dir. Sean Garrity
PICTURE DAY (Canada) Dir. Kate Melville
STILL (Canada) Dir. Michael McGowan
THE PAINTING (France) Dir. Jean-François Laguionie
THE RABBI’S CAT (France) Dir. Antoine Delesvaux and Joann Sfar
ZARAFA (France) Dir. Rémi Bazançon

BC Premieres:
ALTER EGOS (Canada) Dir. Jordan Galland
IT’S A DISASTER (USA) Dir. Todd Berger
MARS AND AVRIL (Canada) Dir. Martin Villeneuve
READY TO FLY (USA) Dir. William Kerig

Whistler Premiere:
THE MOUNTAIN RUNNERS (USA) Dir. Brian Young and Todd Warger

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[caption id="attachment_1958" align="alignnone"]Monsieur Lazhar[/caption]
Quebec director Philippe Falardeau’s Monsieur Lazhar, starring Fellag, Marie-Ève Beauregard, Marie Charlebois and Evelyne de la Chenelière, took home the Audience Award at the eleventh annual Whistler Film Festival (WFF), which wrapped on Sunday night. Winner of Best Canadian Film At TIFF and Canada’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, Monsieur Lazhar follows Bachir Lazhar, a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant, who goes to a Montreal elementary school to offer his services as a substitute teacher having learned of a teacher dying abruptly in the newspaper. Quickly hired to replace the deceased, he finds himself in an establishment in crisis, while going through his own personal tragedy. WFF Audience Award runner up was Rasta: A Soul’s Journey (dir: Stuart Samuels). Other audience favorites included three BC films: Foreverland (dir: Maxwell McGuire), and Marilyn (dir: Christopher Petry), which both had their world premieres at the Festival, and Doppleganger Paul (Or A Film About How Much I Hate Myself), directed by Dylan Akio Smith and Kris Elgstrand.

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