Capilano University and the Whistler Film Festival Society have partnered up to help grow the local film talent in the Sea to Sky.
On Feb. 27, the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to expand film industry training and skills for students at the CapU Squamish campus.
“Capilano University is powered by imagination, and we are thrilled to be partnering with a powerhouse like the Whistler Film Festival Society to fuel creativity and innovation in our community,” CapU Squamish associate vice-president, Brian Storey said in a press release.
“With B.C.’s global reputation, there is great potential to elevate the film and screen sector in the Sea-to-Sky corridor and enhance the overall economic strength of B.C.’s film industry.”
The new partnership will bring several of WFFS’s talent programs to CapU’s Squamish campus. The programs will also take advantage of the networking opportunities available through the annual Whistler Film Festival and Content Summit held in December.
In addition, CapU will also be launching a new certificate in filmmaking starting in fall designed for students to experience small-scale filmmaking while navigating diverse natural surroundings.
CapU’s Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts programs are only offered at the Bosa Centre for Film and Animation at their North Vancouver campus. These will not be offered at the Squamish campus.
Whistler Film Festival Society’s executive director Angela Heck hopes the partnership can create more space for independent Canadian storytelling.
“This partnership with Capilano University is a bold step toward establishing a world-class hub for professional development and continued learning in the screen industry in British Columbia,” Heck said in the press release.
“We’re excited by the opportunities to take full advantage of CapU’s undeniably gorgeous Squamish campus to develop and deliver advanced training programs where filmmakers, content creators and industry professionals can access the top-tier training, visionary mentorship and career-defining industry opportunities that are a hallmark of WFFS’s successful and highly lauded talent programs.”
For more information on the partnership, visit Capilano University or the Whistler Film Festival Society’s websites.
