Market Accelerator Program Helps Van De Woestyne Grow in Whistler
Kaitlyn Van De Woestyne is telling an important story.
Tuktoyaktuk, an Inuvialuit hamlet in the Northwest Territories, is on track to be the first Canadian community forced to relocate due to coastal erosion. Van De Woestyne’s film, On the Edge, is a documentary that follows a team of scientists as they work alongside the community to study the erosion and find mitigation strategies.
Kaitlyn Van De Woestyne
Van De Woestyne was able to pitch On the Edge at the Whistler Film Festival 23 as part of the Saskatchewan Market Accelerator, a new, unique program funded by Creative Saskatchewan in partnership with the Whistler Film Festival. She applied for funding to attend the festival after seeing an ad on Facebook and wanted to take advantage of the great networking and mentorship opportunities the festival had to offer.
One of just six producers selected to take part, Van De Woestyne enjoyed many networking opportunities, allowing her to connect with like-minded filmmakers and industry experts. “I was able to pitch my project to various broadcasters and executive producers, fostering potential collaborations,” she says.
“Attending the Whistler Film Festival has significantly supported my career as a filmmaker,” Van De Woestyne points out. “The festival provided a platform not only for showcasing my work but also for gaining invaluable insights from industry leaders. The feedback I received has significantly shaped the direction of my project, making it more impactful and refined.”
Being selected for this opportunity has helped move the needle forward in Van De Woestyne’s career. The support from Creative Saskatchewan has helped bridge the gap between On The Edge‘s development and realization.