MPPIA Short Film Award Pitch Candidates Announced

November 05 2010

The Motion Picture Production Industry Association of British Columbia (MPPIA), in association with British Columbia Film and the Whistler Film Festival, is pleased to announce the short-listed candidates for the 2010/11 MPPIA Short Film Award.

Based on an adjudication process administered by British Columbia Film, the five finalists and their projects are:

HENRY, Russell Bennett JOANNA MAKES A FRIEND, Jeremy Lutter LAST CHRISTMAS, Geoff Redknap MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER, John Penhall WHEN YOU WISH, Jason Fischer

Now in its fourth cycle, the MPPIA Short Film Award provides one filmmaker with an opportunity to further develop his/her directing career by realizing a unique creative vision. The Award was founded to recognize and celebrate the contribution of film and television to the Province of British Columbia.

The successful candidate will receive a $10,000 cash award from MPPIA, a $5,000 cash award from British Columbia Film, plus in-kind production services up to $100,000 for a short film project to be completed within 18 months after receiving the Award. The completed project will be eligible for screening at the 2011 Whistler Film Festival.

Hosted by the Whistler Film Festival (Dec. 1-5), the five finalists will compete for the Award in a special ?pitch session? taking place Saturday, December 4, 10 am at the Whistler Conference Centre. Pitches will be made before a panel of three judges and Whistler Film Festival delegates. The successful candidate will be announced at the Whistler Film Festival Awards Brunch on Sunday, December 5.

?We look forward to another lively pitch competition in Whistler for this valuable filmmaking Award,? says Whistler Film Festival Executive Director Shauna Hardy Mishaw. ?The MPPIA Short Film Award pitch is a vibrant highlight of our industry line up and adds to the exciting program delegates have in store for the 10thAnniversary celebration of the Whistler Film Festival,? Hardy Mishaw adds.