Whistler Film Festival unveils film lineup, books Jay Baruchel tribute

November 15, 2011 by Etan Vlessing

The Whister Film Festival has booked world premieres for three Canadian films, including Ben Addleman’s Kivalina vs Exxon from Phi Films and DRM Productions.

The mountain festival is also giving Canadian actor/director Jay Baruchel a screenwriting award.

Addleman’s feature documentary Kivalina vs. Exxon chronicles the struggle of the Inupiat community in Alaska to save their village and to force Exxon to pay for the consequences of global warming.

Whistler programmers also booked world bows for Foreverland, from director Maxwell McGuire and Screen Siren Pictures and Bron Studio, and Christopher Petry’s Marilyn.

Foreverland, which stars Juliette Lewis, Thomas Dekker, Laurence Laboeuf and Max Thieriot and portrays a young man stricken with cystic fibrosis that travels to Mexico, was shot in British Columbia and Mexico.

Marilyn, which stars Allison Mack (Chloe) and Ryan Robbins, was directed by Petry, who helmed two Smallville episodes and is already entered in Whistler’s Borsos competition with his theatrical feature.

There’s also a North American premiere for Hail, by Australian director Amiel Courtin-Wilson.

Canadian Rob Leickner’s Lost Lagoon will screen in Whistler as part of the festival’s inaugural Work-in-Progress program.

Director Jason Reitman will present a special screening in Whistler of Young Adult, starring Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, and Patton Oswalt, ahead of the picture’s theatrical release in December.

The mountain festival tribute will include Montreal-born Baruchel receiving the festival’s inaugural Screenwriter to Watch Award on December 1 at the Whistler Conference Centre.

“Each year our tributes showcase individuals who have made significant contributions to the movies, and the informal conversation format will really allow fans to see the talented man behind Jay’s exceptional body of work,” Whistler festival artistic director Stacey Donen said in a statement.

Tags: Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Ben Addleman, Christopher Petry, Foreverland, Hail, Jason Reitman, Jay Baruchel, Kivalina vs Exxon, Lost Lagoon, Marilyn, Maxwell McGuire, Rob Leickner, Stacey Donen, Whistler Film Festival, Young Adult

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