The Whistler Film Festival has announced that it has opened the call for applications for its 2021 Producers Lab.

According to a press release, the program is "designed to accelerate the careers of up to six independent Canadian producers with original narrative feature projects in development while providing valuable script feedback and mentorship for its writers."

New this year, producers must have a writer attached to their projects to apply for the program, which is facilitated by Harold Greenberg Fund president John Galway and WFF talent programs manager Shelly Quade.

“We’re excited to include writer/producer teams in this updated edition of the Producers Lab,” WFF managing director Angela Heck says in the press release. “With the inclusion of writer/producer teams, we maintain that high standard and enhance the creative and market potential of projects which are the cornerstone of success in the industry.”

Phase I of the Producers Lab takes place online from June to September and focuses on creative development, while Phase II takes place from October to December and focuses on business and market preparation in the lead-up to the Whistler Film Festival and Content Summit in December. 

The deadline for Canadian producers to submit an application is March 31 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. The application form and guidelines are available here.