Village Gamer

The Whistler Film Festival is proud to announce the 12 writer/producer teams from across Canada selected to participate in this year’s second annual China Canada Gateway for Film® Script Competition. Presented by the Whistler Film Festival in association with Telefilm Canada and China Film Group, this dynamic pitching competition is the only national effort of its kind designed to stimulate international financing for Canadian feature film projects by introducing experienced Canadian writer/producer teams to Chinese studios with up millions of production financing on the table.
The top 12 finalists will take part in the competition at the Whistler Film Festival’s industry Summit on December 5, 2013. They will pitch their script synopsis to a panel of three international experts and three Chinese production companies, seeking to make films suitable for both the Chinese domestic and international markets. A Premium Industry Pass, Industry Pass or observer ticket are required to attend the competition. At least 3 projects will be chosen for development in 2013. The Whistler Film Festival is facilitating the opportunity by bringing the parties together and will not be in involved in the actual deals. The structure of each deal will vary with needs of the proponents. The expected average project budget is $5 million.

“We have spent the past three years expanding our relationships with the Chinese film industry in order to broaden the opportunities for Canadian creators,” says Jane Milner, WFF’s Director of Special Projects. “The Script Competition is an instrumental platform that introduces our writers to Chinese production houses looking for experienced storytellers to invest in.”

The 12 teams were selected by jury members Eva Cao, Head of Productions, Huayi Brothers International and Victoria Hon, Producer, Director of International Cooperation, Hairun Pictures and include:

• Clash – written by Chester Sit (The China Clipper – The Larry Kwong Story), produced by Josh Miller (Forsaken, I Think I Do, Freezer Burn: The Invasion of Laxdale
• Deception and Honour – written by Sandy Yates, produced by Shari Hamrick, Alianza Films International (Presumed Innocent)
• Hockey Sole – written and produced by Deborah Hu (Righteous Cut)
• Hunting Sasquatch – written by Mark Leiren-Young (The Green Chain), produced by Tony Wosk (The Sheepdogs Have At It, The Green Chain)
• Keyboard Warrior – written by Osric Chau (Supernatural), produced by Jessica Dhillon (Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Elysium)
• Little Big Fish – written by Simone Stock and Shawn Tanaka, produced by Misha Skoric (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
• Rebound! – written by Alistair Stewart (I Am The Temple, Off Label), produced by Chris Nanos, Radke Films (Everything’s Gone Green)
• The Art of Wushu – written by Sandra Feldman (Please Kill Mr. Know It All), produced by Tasso Lakas
• The Hot Pot Engagement – written by Rui (Mary) Zhang (Winter Break), produced by Massey Brothers Film (The Film Student, Earth Day)
• The Immortal – written by I-Fan Quirk (Violet & Dasiy), produced by Ori Kowarsky (Various Positions)
• The Shanghai Hotel – written and produced by Aria Budd Johnson and Eric Johnson (Best Day Ever)
• Zamboni – written by Brian Dick and Tricia Finn, produced by Brian Dick, Gun Lake Pictures, Executive Producer Sacha McLean (Wolverine, The Bourne Legacy)

Also named today were the six producers from across Canada have been selected to participate in the WFF’s new Feature Project Lab, an intense four day business and marketplace immersion experience presented by the Whistler Film Festival in association with Telefilm Canada. 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.

“We are pleased to have a good range of projects participating in our Feature Project Lab, and we look forward to connecting them with our industry experts to help move their projects from script to screen,” said Angie Nolan, WFF’s Programming Manager.

The six producers and projects selected for WFF’s 2013 Feature Project Lab are:

• Daniel Domachowski, Domogeneous Creative Film (BC) with hockey drama Hello, Destroyer written by Kevan Funk
• Geordie Sabbagh, Geordie Sabbagh Productions Inc. (ON) with alien comedy Two Guys written by Randall Lobb
• Jordana Aarons, Cedar Avenue Productions Inc. (ON) with crime thriller Needles written by Riel Stone
• Josh Epstein, Motion 58 Entertainment Inc. (BC) with coming of age comedy Public Schooled written by Josh Epstein & Kyle Rideout
• Laura Perlmutter, First Love Films (ON) with the crime drama Tenzin written by Joshua Reichmann & David Young
• Peter Harvey, Peter Harvey Films (ON) with the coming of age drama Talk Like a White Boy written by Natty Zavitz

Industry experts participating in the WFF’s Feature Project Lab include:

• Ellen Pittleman, Founder & President, Hybrid Entertainment
• Mimi Steinbauer, President & CEO, Radiant Films International
• Ariel Veneziano, President, Recreation Media
• Jon Gerrans, Co-President, Strand Releasing

WFF’s Feature Project Lab Marketplace Analysts and Facilitators include Peter Wetherell, President, Magus Entertainment, and Tim Brown, CEO, Joker Films.