The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has announced the six-person cohort for its Producers Lab International: The Emerald Lens, part of the WFF’s year-round Talent Programs.

The initiative – developed to mentor Canadian storytellers in an international environment – was created in partnership with industry experts and organizations in Ireland, WFF’s 2024 Country of Focus, to hone both storytelling and business strategies needed to bring the participants’ creative projects to life.

The cohort will head to Ireland’s Galway Film Fleadh from July 8 to 13 as part of a business development mission where they will pitch and engage with international partners. The mission is followed by a four-month customized mentorship program, culminating in December at the WFF, where the participants will pitch their projects to industry professionals.

The cohort includes two Ontario-based producers: Natalie Remplakowski with the feature Emily and Andrew’s Grand Finale and Virinderpaul Singh with the feature Frostbite.

Ronald Lee with the feature Galway Girl and Michael Osbourne with the documentary Maze of Life both hail from B.C.

Manitoba’s Meg Robinson brings the documentary Let Her Fly while N.L.-based Ruth Lawrence joins with the feature Head House.

John Galway, president of Corrib Entertainment and former head of the Harold Greenberg Fund, is the lab facilitator. The cohort will also receive mentorship from writer, actor and producer Josh Epstein (Youngblood).

“Targeted initiatives like this are essential to advancing the competitiveness of our domestic industry by strengthening the creative, business and market readiness of local talent to succeed at home and on the global stage,” said Prem Gil, Creative BC CEO, in a statement.

The 25th annual Whistler Film Festival runs from Dec. 3 to 7.

Images courtesy of WFF; pictured (L-R) (Top row), Ruth Lawrence, Ronald Lee, Virinderpaul Singh, (Bottom row), Natalie Remplakowski, Michael Osbourne and Meg Robinson