The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has selected the six participants for its 2024 Screenwriters Lab.

The multi-phase lab, sponsored by Telefilm Canada, Creative BC and Netflix, supports writers in the development of a market-ready script and pitch deck, working closely with industry advisors and mentors.

Participants selected for this year’s lab include four from British Columbia, one from Alberta and another from Newfoundland and Labrador.

The four B.C.-based participants and projects are Brishkay Ahmed (Sama), Jade Tremblay (Two Types of People), Kyle D’Odorico (Strangers in Our Skin) and Kenny Walsh (A Storm).

Completing the cohort are Alberta’s Jason Filiatrault (Now, Iam a Bear) and N.L.’s Brianna Russell (Fairyland).

Script consultant and story editor Ruth Atkinson (U.S.), screenwriter and playwright Dennis Foon (B.C.) and writer-director Tarique Qayumi (B.C.) are the mentors for this year’s lab. A.W. Hopkins (Indian Road Trip), a director, producer and Screenwriters Lab alum, will be joining the mentors as an Indigenous Screenwriting Consultant.

Beginning this month, the first phase of the program will see participants engaged in a four-day workshop for script development, including one-on-one mentor sessions, masterclasses and industry sessions. This will be followed by four months of customized individual mentorship geared towards script development and pitch preparation.

The second phase, which runs from October to December, includes a five-day online intensive business and industry immersion experience and access to industry decision-makers. The participants will also receive an Industry Pass to the 2024 Whistler Film Festival and Content Summit.

The lab is facilitated by Atkinson and WFF Talent Program Coordinator Linda Hay (B.C.).

Previous Screenwriters Lab participants include Julia Lederer (With Love and a Major Organ), Dr. Jules Koostachin (Broken Angel) and Agam Darshi (Donkeyhead).

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