Whistler Film Festival
The Whistler Film Festival was founded in 2001, not just to create opportunities for new and original voices to be heard in independent film, but to put Whistler on the map as a cultural destination and to promote British Columbia’s burgeoning film industry. From there, the festival has grown beyond what was ever imagined in terms of its size, scope, and scale.
Renowned as “Canada’s coolest film festival” and recognized by media as “one of Canada’s best film festivals”, WFF has become one of the Canadian film industry’s liveliest gatherings and one of Whistler’s signature cultural events—all taking place in a beautiful mountain setting.
Today, the organization produces a well-respected, credible event on the international film festival circuit, augmented by film presentations and market-driven development programs for Canadian talent throughout the year. WFF programs serve up to 15,000 attendees annually, with the festival attracting over 12,000 attendees, including up to 1,000-plus industry insiders, and 3,000 attendees through its year-round initiatives.
The Whistler Film Festival Society is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the art and business of film by providing programs that focus on the discovery, development and promotion of talent culminating with a must-attend festival for artists, the industry, and audiences in Whistler each December.
The festival has had a significant impact on the world of film: of the 1,475 movies that have been presented over the years, hundreds launched at the event have gained critical recognition and acclaim as a result, propelling Canadian content and our domestic talent worldwide. WFF has proudly presented 162 awards and commissions valued at $1.7 million, attracted and launched some of the top talent of our time, and established a community of over 2,805 filmmaker and industry alumni.
The 23rd edition of the Whistler Film Festival will be taking place in-person from November 29 to December 3, 2023. The chance to connect audiences, filmmakers, and industry with the films viewers love, industry insights, and the human connection that we crave. Events include film premieres, industry summits, talent programs, parties, and special guest appearances by actors and directors. Online screenings will be available from December 4 to 17.
They’ll be competing in juried Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature at event December 4 to 8
Documentary follows B.C. filmmaker Dianne Whelan’s 24,000-kilometre trek along the Trans Canada Trail
Picturesque 25-year reunion between old college friends brings up nostalgia as a sombre secret lurks in the background
Sean Garrity’s feature gets at both sides of the lies
B.C. filmmaker-photographer braved snow, bears, rapids, and other challenges in six-year journey, in Whistler Film Festival premiere
The darkly fun Zoe.mp4 and the mountain bike doc Adaptation
Vancouver director’s longtime collaborators make the most of their mother-and-daughter roles—amid kidnapped dogs, sex as currency, and a Kitsilano real-estate caper
Featuring film premieres, industry summits, parties, and more, annual event is also the perfect opportunity to enjoy a relaxing, pre-festive getaway to a winter wonderland
Live event November 29 to December 3 features three locally directed world premieres, including Bruce Sweeney’s She Talks to Strangers
Fascinating characters, and some dark times, as documentary travels from 1950s through WWE to today
Human Extreme, Offside: The Harold Ballard Story, and Diaspora among the 2022 fest’s compelling titles
The multidisciplinary artist’s feature has its Western Canadian premiere at the 2022 fest
Highlights include White Noise starring Adam Driver; Thierry Donard’s Human Extreme; and the Canadian fest premiere of Guillermo del Torro’s Pinocchio
Nouveau Quebec’s Sarah Fortin, $avvy’s Robin Hauser, and Fanmi’s female-directing team honoured at WFF, running online to December 31
Valerie Buhagiar’s Malta-set Carmen, Rebecca Campbell’s shocking egg-donor doc The Secret Society, and more
The feature documentary by director Cassie De Colling explores the athlete’s Haida and Kwakwakw’wakw cultural awakening
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter opens a lineup with a strong female contingent
Christopher Plummer, warped sci-fi time travel, a Winnipeg fable, and much more
The documentary about French-Canadian TV legend and his whimsical sculptures won viewers’ hearts
The feature offers a breathtaking look at birds of prey and people who devote their lives to them
Breakout performance brings to life a different kind of female teen character
Filmmakers had 20 days to shoot, edit, and submit a work for the new competition
The revered Irish actor will be honoured at the 20th annual festival’s signature Talent Talks series
Julien Temple crafts the definitive documentary about the Pogues’ frontman