Visit Whistler in early December for a winter getaway that combines adventure with the best of film and screen. At the Whistler Film Festival (WFF), happening December 4 to 8, you’re invited to take in a curated collection of short and feature-length films featuring everything from top local talent to international superstars.
Plus, the Mountain Culture program will leave you eager to hit the slopes the next day, giving you a taste of living like a local. Chances are good you’ll be rubbing elbows with more than one industry star or exec on the ski lifts!
If you’re coming for adventure, WFF is the perfect complement to your vacation or weekend escape. Catch a lineup of Oscar contenders, Canadian films and award-winning stories from around the world. A number of films have their world premieres right here in Whistler Village, with the majesty of Whistler Blackcomb in the background. Picture the red carpet experience and resort-style after-parties with the filmmakers themselves – many of which are accessible to the public with a ticket!
Beyond the screen, join filmmaker après events, a FUN’raiser complete with A&M Grands Duelling Pianos, and meet top talent at the Signature Series.
Whistler Film Festival Film Highlights 2024
This year’s opening night film on Wednesday, Dec 4, The Last Showgirl, starring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis and Dave Bautista, is a poignant cinematic portrayal of a seasoned Vegas performer suddenly facing uncertainty when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run. Driven by exquisite storytelling, this moody feature film directed by Gia Coppola is generating a great deal of awards buzz.
WFF’s closing film on Sunday, Dec 8 is Better Man, directed by Michael Gracey, is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
Music is a prominent theme this year at WFF—so much so that the festival added a new program aptly titled Play It Loud!, launching Thursday, Dec 5, with the world premiere of Blue Rodeo: Lost Together. As one of Canada’s most beloved acts, fans won’t want to wait on tickets as band founders Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy, and director Dale Heslip will be in attendance.
Another particular standout at WFF this year is Canada’s Oscar contender, Universal Language, an absurdist tryptic of seemingly unconnected stories which find a mysterious point of intersection in director Matthew Rankin’s autobiographical fever dream set somewhere between Winnipeg and Tehran.
Whistler Film Festival: Mountain Culture Program
The Mountain Culture program is stacked with stoke, adventure and thirst for the great outdoors! Check out feature films such as:
X Trillion (international premiere) which traces the journey of 14 women across 3,000 miles and trillions of pieces of plastic. It’s a journey that promises to change not only the women’s lives but the very future of our planet.
Altitudes (Canadian premiere) follows the lives of activists, shepherds, guides and scientists, all ordinary people who found themselves summiting mountains almost by chance.
Maya And The Wave (Western Canadian premiere). After a brush with death, Maya Gabeira makes history in the male-dominated world of big-wave surfing.
Skategoat (Canadian premiere), Leandre Sanders was born in Venice Beach, LA, into a world of gangs and crime. The only thing that kept him out of trouble was his love of skateboarding.
If you’re into shorts check out the Mountain Culture Shorts: Arc’teryx Film Showcase.
Borsos Competition 2024
The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has announced a lineup of 13 Canadian feature films competing in its prestigious Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature, overseen by a jury of some of the country’s most accomplished film and screen talent.
Now in its 21st year, the competition – named after the legendary Canadian filmmaker Philip Borsos – awards a $35,000 cash and in-kind prize for Best Canadian Feature, making it the second-largest in the country. Shining a spotlight on Canadian feature films, the competition puts an emphasis on innovation and artistic merit.
Check out these titles to get a gist of the quality and content you’ll find in this ultimate program of Canadiana: Aberdeen; The Birds Who Fear Death; Darkest Miriam; Hunting Matthew Nichols; Kryptic; Lucky Strikes; Phoenixes; Please, After You; Really Happy Someday; Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties: The Bubbles and the Sh*trockers Story; Sway; Sweet Angel Baby; Who Do I Belong To.
Whistler Film and Event Tickets + Passes
Choose from a variety of ticket options, including movie tickets and three, six and 10-packs, and events that grant access to the ultimate WFF: Movies In The Mountains experience.
Book 3+ Nights and Receive a free $100 CAD Whistler Shopping Voucher
Rooms start at $175 CAD per night during the Whistler Film Festival, and if you stay for three or more you receive a free $100 shopping voucher when you book with Whistler.com.
What To Do When You’re Not Watching a Movie
Stretch Those Legs
After sitting still, enraptured in the latest release you might want to stretch it out on a winter walk. Depending on snowfall, you could try one of the routes suggested in our Walking in Whistler’s Winter Wonderland blog, opt for a snowshoe or cross-country ski, ice skate in Olympic Plaza, or of course get a few ski laps on Whistler Blackcomb.
More Culture
Visit the Audain Art Museum and take in their permanent collection featuring works from BC artists like Emily Carr. A trip to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is always something we suggest. Connecting with the Cultural Ambassadors as they guide you through the centre is a great way to learn about the richness of First Nation’s traditions and culture in the Sea to Sky.
Relax
Another way to enjoy the mountains is to relax in them. Head to the Scandinave Spa for a few rounds of hydrotherapy and a soothing massage. Before the film fest parties, you could treat yourself to a body wrap, facial, manicure, or pedicure at one of Whistler’s spas.
Dine
If you’re heading out for dinner pre- or -post-movie, then you have a lot of options near the Whistler Conference Centre, the hub of the festival. For fine dining, there’s Araxi, Bearfoot Bistro, Il Camineto and Wild Blue. And for a more relaxed vibe, there’s The Mexican Corner, Sushi Village, Stonesedge Kitchen and Earls.
If you’re looking for coffee or lunch in-between flicks then head to Forecast, Flute & Fromage, or Moguls Coffee House. And for a casual place to compare movie notes, do that over a beer or glass of wine at The Beacon or Dubh Linn Gate. Take a look at our dining guide for more ideas.
WFF24 passes are on sale now. Rooms start at $175 CAD per night during the Whistler Film Festival, and if you stay for three or more you receive a free $100 shopping voucher when you book with Whistler.com.
Editor’s Note: This blog was written by Kirsten Andrews, Marketing & Communications Manager at the Whistler Film Festival.