The Whistleblower Wins Whistler Film Festival

Congratulations to Ukrainian Canadian Filmmaker Larysa Kondracki who directed The Whistleblower which won the top-prize for Best New Canadian Feature Film at the Whistler Film Festival, held December 1-5,

Whistler, BC (December 5, 2010) – The Whistleblower, directed by Larysa Kondracki has won the $15,000 Borsos Competition for Best New Canadian Feature Film, presented by the Directors Guild of Canada – BC District Council and supported by Telefilm Canada at the Tenth Annual Whistler Film Festival. The film, which had its Western Canadian Premiere at the festival and stars Academy Award-winners Rachel Weisz and Vanessa Redgrave, is based on the true story of a Nebraskan police officer who takes a job working for the United Nations as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. The Jury stated that, “clarity, strength of narrative, and subject matter all came together into a tight but profoundly moving thriller.”

 The jury, comprised of distinguished actor Bruce Greenwood, legendary producer Don Carmody and last year’s Borsos Competition winner Sophie Deraspe, chose the film from a field of six films. The award recognizes films that embody the spirit of independent filmmaking in Canada.

 The 10th anniversary of the Whistler Film Festival took place December 1 - 5, 2010, and combined an esteemed international film competition, with a concentrated industry conference organized to address the ever-changing landscape of content creation.

 Larysa Kondracki was born in Toronto and studied English and theatre at McGill University. She received an MFA in film direction from Columbia University and directed the short film Viko (08).The Whistleblower (10) is her feature directorial debut and co-wrote the screenplay with Eilis Kirwan. Its Canadian Premiere was at the 35^th Toronto International Film Festival in September.