Oscar Wolfgang Triumphs in Whistler Film Festival’s 2023 Power Pitch Competition with “Ginger”
Short Summary:
BC-based producer Oscar Wolfgang wins Whistler Film Festival's 2023 Power Pitch with GINGER. The $36,000 prize, including a $25K production package, supports his project set in 1910 Vancouver Island. The film depicts an English immigrant's fight for workers' rights amid tragedy. Judges praise GINGER's universal appeal and potential impact beyond Canada.Whistler Film Festival (WFF) recently crowned Oscar Wolfgang as the champion of the 2023 Power Pitch Competition, awarding him a $36,000 production prize package for his project, GINGER. The film, set in 1910 on Vancouver Island, unfolds the gripping tale of an English immigrant confronting worker exploitation in the Cumberland No. 5 Mine. Wolfgang's victory includes a $25,000 production package with a post-production credit from Company 3 Method Ltd. and a $10,000 lighting and grip production credit, along with a $1,000 cash prize from William F. White.
The esteemed jury, featuring industry figures such as Kristen Figeroid, Sharon Stevens, and Paul Gratton, commended the high-quality presentations from all candidates. Figeroid noted the exceptional presence and passion in the projects, with GINGER standing out as a compelling Canadian narrative. Gratton emphasized the film's potential to resonate globally, shedding light on ongoing workplace exploitation.
The Power Pitch Competition, designed to refine project packages and pitching skills, included a workshop led by Kevin Wright, former Senior Vice President of Programming for The Movie Network. Participants received individual feedback, preparing them for the six-minute pitches to the jury.
WFF, known for its commitment to fostering talent, extends its support through initiatives like the Content Summit. This year's festival, running from November 29 to December 3 in Whistler, showcased 97 films, including Oscar contenders and breakthrough Canadian titles. WFF23 continues online until December 17, featuring a selection of the festival's best titles for a nationwide audience.
The Whistler Film Festival expresses gratitude for the financial support from the Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and the Resort Municipality of Whistler, as well as major festival sponsors Paramount+, Creative BC, Directors Guild of Canada - British Columbia, Tourism Whistler, RBC, William F. White International, and Whistler Blackcomb.
