Whistler Film Festival Unveils ‘Power Pitch’

Six producers from across Canada will be selected to participate in Whistler Film Festival’s Power Pitch, a two-step boot camp and pitch competition to take place November 30th to December 2nd during the festival’s industry Summit. Power Pitch is an unprecedented opportunity for Canadian producers to pitch their projects to some of the world’s top independent motion picture sales agents.

Pitching is one of the most coveted skills filmmakers must have to succeed in the film world. The skills are key and yet sometimes difficult to master. Power Pitch is designed to enable the selected filmmakers to master the art of the pitch and provide them with an opportunity to hone their skills to ultimately sell their projects.

On November 30th, finalists will participate in boot camp training including a Pitcher Perfect Workshop and rehearsal sessions under the direction of industry veteran and pitch master, Jan Miller, who will direct them on the ins and outs of how to successfully pitch their project as well as moderate the Power Pitch Competition and debrief with each producer. Finalists will have one day to hone their pitches before the showdown begins.

On December 1st, the six finalists will have 10 minutes to pitch their feature film to a live audience and three senior executives from recognized international sales companies, who will provide feedback on the quality and marketability of the projects presented, and select the winning project. The winner will receive $1,000 cash prize as well as a private meeting with all of the jurors and key executives attending the festival.

Following the presentations, producers will be eligible for one-on-one meetings with industry experts attending the festival to determine if there is any interest in putting development money into their project on an exclusive option basis. Whether a project is chosen for further development or not, the feedback received on each chosen project will be invaluable, as many individuals in the industry have traditionally had to pay significant amounts of money to access the wisdom of these senior individuals in workshops and educational forums.

“We hope that participants will find that professional market feedback on their projects‎ will enhance their development process by providing invaluable information on what is selling today,” said Shauna Hardy Mishaw, WFF’s Executive Director. “This reconnaissance from the front lines of the film marketplace should inform and facilitate their next stage of project development.

The six finalists, including one Wild Card participant from WFF’s Feature Project Lab, will be chosen to participate by a selection committee. The application deadline is October 3rd, and the finalists will be announced by October 17th. Long-form narrative projects of all genres will be eligible. A full script, character outline, synopsis, and project summary, along with casting and budget aspirations will form part of the material submitted. Selected producers will receive an Industry Pass to attend the Whistler Film Festival + Summit as well as preferred accommodation and travel rates.

Power Pitch is one of WFF’s nine talent programs that in 2024 will serve 52 Canadian artists. 2024 Power Pitch winner, Joe Balass is going to camera this week with his winning project VENUS, and he credits the program for his momentum. Balass is also a participant in WFF’s 2024 Feature Project Lab with CALORIE, which went through WFF’s Praxis Screenwriters Lab in 2024.

The Whistler Film Festival gratefully acknowledges support for Power Pitch from Telefilm Canada, Creative BC, Canadian Media Producers Association, and Canadian Media Producers Association – BC Producers Branch.

From November 30th to December 4th, the Whistler Film Festival will welcome film fans and filmmakers to experience its 16th edition featuring fresh films, special guests, epic events, unique industry and talent programs, and time to play in North America’s premier mountain resort destination.

The Whistler Film Festival is supported by Telefilm Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and the American Friends of Whistler, and is sponsored by Variety, Creative BC, Western Economic Diversification, The Harold Greenberg Fund, Cineplex, Whistler Blackcomb, Tourism Whistler, and the Westin Resort & Spa Whistler.