Queer Voices Amplified at the Whistler Film Festival
Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has announced the full lineup for its 23rd edition taking place in-person from November 29 to December 3, 2023 in Whistler, BC, with online screenings available from December 4 to 17.
Among some of the festival’s biggest highlights—which includes 35 features and 62 shorts from 14 countries, from Oscar contenders to new breakthrough Canadian features—is a strong emphasis on queer stories. There is also a notable cohort of 53% majority female directors showing at WFF this year, an all-time high for the festival.
THIS TIME, directed by Robert Vaughn, is a film about the power of connection. When a teen inherits her deceased father's journal, she discovers cryptic clues uncovering his secret life. Now, to fulfill his dying wish, she must blackmail an alcoholic hearse driver to race her cross-country to attempt a long-shot rendezvous with her father's friend: Liza Minnelli.
Set on the beautiful Nova Scotia coast, HAILEY ROSE, directed by Sandi Somers, is a contemporary family comedy about love in all its expressions. After years of successfully avoiding her family, newly-unemployed Hailey gets a frantic call from her sister with news compelling her to return to their east coast hometown—only to discover a stunning surprise waiting for her. This film was developed through the WFF19 Producers Lab.
QUEEN OF MY DREAMS makes its British Columbia premiere at WFF23. In the directorial debut of Fawzia Mirza, the film traces the emotional journey that follows after a Pakistani-Canadian woman comes out as a lesbian to her family.
Whistler Film Festival | In-Person
November 29 – December 3
WFF23 will present feature and short film programmes, including Oscar contenders, breakthrough Canadian films, and award-winning stories from around the globe. The festival will also hold après events, conversations with top talent, Q&As, and much more, all set in the world-class ski resort of Whistler, where there’s always time to hit the slopes, explore the fine dining, or relax in a steaming hot tub.
Whistler Film Festival | Online
December 4 – December 17
If you’re not in Whistler or are unable to make it to our events in-person, WFF23 will be available to you online through our virtual platforms. Easily stream the films showcased in the festival, access filmmaker Q&As, and attend virtual award ceremonies, wherever you may be WFF23 will be right at your fingertips.
