Kieran Kershaw wins 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown

Ever since his first foray into the 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown last year, Kieran Kershaw has been thinking about how to up his game.

Consider it upped.

Kershaw and his team—producer Beth Andrews, cast members Josh Kahle, Natasha Morley, Shae Poulin and Callum Anderson—placed first in the 2025 Showdown to earn $5,000 on Monday night at the Whistler Conference Centre. They also netted a $500 Gibbons gift card for the People Choice's Award, which is decided by audience vote.

The winning entry is named "I Could Kill Them Sometimes," featuring Kahle and Morley as two irritated retail workers fielding the requests of difficult patrons. Morley's character quips about how she could "kill" these types of customers, setting up a decidedly morbid plot twist.

"For the crowd, it's knowing we made something relatable … and people feel a connection. It made people go, 'yeah, I've had customers like that,'" says Kershaw. "For the judges, it's like that ultimate recognition. It's saying this film stands up in the eyes of peers, critics and fellow filmmakers—people who I respect."

Contained stress

Each Showdown entrant has three days to produce their movie. Kershaw's crew had access to only six hours of filming time because they chose an active local retail store as their setting: F as in Frank Vintage Clothing.

Kershaw works in retail, but it took approximately a year of brainstorming to decide he wanted to draw inspiration from his day-to-day life. He started by jotting the words "retail murder" down on his phone, and fleshed out the concept during bus trips, chairlift rides and solitary sessions in hotel lobbies. Proofreaders from Whistler and Kershaw's native United Kingdom gave vital feedback, transforming version No. 1 of the script into version No. 7—which came to life.

Kershaw and company began filming each day around 8 a.m., when the store manager arrived. They had to wrap things up within 30 minutes of the store opening to public access. Many ideas were left on the cutting room floor as a result: on Day 1, the team only got through 11 of a planned 40 shots.

Andrews played a pivotal role in helping it all coalesce. Kershaw lauds her for keeping production on schedule, grabbing snacks for her crewmates and remaining poised when they accidentally besmirched $450 of store stock with fake blood.

"We're super grateful to [F as in Frank] for letting us film in their space," remarks Kershaw. "Figuring out how to navigate that conversation with the store was tricky, but winning this competition goes a long way to covering costs of this film so we can only be grateful."

Kahle wants to make sure his director receives due credit as well.

"Based on the first day and the second day [of filming], it was a very motivational optimism, but there was also an understanding that we [weren't] able to get to everything Kieran had in his original mind," Kahle says. "I really applaud Kieran's ability to differentiate between what's necessary, what's creative and what's frilly."

'A real step up'

No movie can shine without the right cast, and Kershaw's actors delivered.

For example, Kahle has a six-year background in retail management and states "if there's one thing I know how to be, it's freaking disgruntled … that wasn't even acting, that was genuine." He's also a fashion stylist who knows how to get in touch with his creative side.

Kahle was impressed, however, by Morley's work ethic. "My background is theatre so there's no way I'm going to learn this entire script within a day, and I have to work as well," he recalls. "So when we showed up on the first day of filming and [Natasha] had it all memorized, I was just dumbfounded by her persistence and being able to make sure that nothing on her end was going to hold this shoot back."

Likewise, Poulin and Anderson held up their part of the bargain as supporting actors.

"I come from a directing and writing background [in Vancouver] so I'm used to being completely behind the camera," Poulin admits. "I was surprised that I got lines at all. I haven't seen myself on screen for eight years, but [the team] really made me feel like I had an important part. Honestly, I felt so passionate about this that I really want to get back into [filmmaking]."

Finally, Kershaw made a point to praise the Showdown as an event that unites creatives with their local community. He doesn't take for granted the opportunity to share his passion on a wider stage.

"This year was a real step up from the previous year that I entered," Kershaw opines. "The teams that got into the final again this year really stepped up the game, but the newcomers—the faces we hadn't seen before—produced some insanely creative work. I only wish we all had more time in Whistler to make stuff together, because if we could all get together and make some crazy stuff, I think the world's our oyster."

Watch "I Could Kill Them Sometimes" at youtube.com/watch?v=jJx03O2BZSg&t=106s&ab_channel=WorldSkiandSnowboardFestival-WSSF.