Whistleblower takes audience award in Whistler

Larysa Kondracki’s The Whistleblower has added the audience award to the top jury trophy already nabbed at the just-completed Whistler Film Festival.

The Canadian thriller that stars Rachel Weisz and Vanessa Redgrave was voted the most popular film by ordinary fest-goers among 68 movies that unspooled in Whistler, which ended its December 1 to 5 run on Sunday.

Whistler organizers also reported Wednesday that 8,189 people in all attended films at the tenth edition of the west coast fest, and that the industry component attracted 482 delegates, down 7% from last year’s attendance.

Whistler festival co-founder and executive director Shauna Hardy Mishaw declared this year’s festival a success in reaching a new plateau, while also retaining intimacy for industry delegates looking to network and do business.

“It was such an honor to be able to bring together so many talented filmmakers, supporters of the festival and film enthusiasts to celebrate our milestone,” she said.