The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has unveiled participants in two of its marquee talent programs.
The Doc Lab mentors five Canadian documentary filmmakers and is designed to provide an inclusive environment for project development and career acceleration. This year its participants are Ivanna Samuel, Jay Trusler, Norm Coyne, Ben Cox and Brendan Post.
Producer mentors for Doc Lab include advisor Jessica Hallenbeck and consultant Selwyn Jacob.
Meanwhile, Women in Focus is meant to develop the skills and strengths of women in the industry and emphasize that making media equitable is an ongoing pursuit. Jane Diokpo, Louisa Phung Suk Lee, Steph Song, Jovanna Burke and Malka Martz-Oberlander have been chosen to take part.
The mentor for Women in Focus is Sharon Stevens, while both talent programs are overseen by Shelly Quade, WFF programs manager.
“We are excited to welcome this talented group of filmmakers to our 2024 Doc Lab and Women in Focus Mentorship programs,” says WFF executive director Angela Heck in a press release. “Training to develop creative and business skills is an essential part of the Canadian screen sector ecosystem. It’s here where people gain insight and confidence to take their projects and careers to the next level.”
“By providing these opportunities for mentorship and professional development, we aim to empower diverse voices and foster a vibrant, inclusive screen industry. This is just one of the ways we are investing in the future of storytelling in Canada.”
The 2024 WFF lineup will be announced Nov. 5.
