Whistler Film Festival Awards Milton Ng in 2024 Power Pitch Competition
The Whistler Film Festival, one of Canada’s premier platforms for film and talent development, announced Milton Ng as the winner of its 2024 Power Pitch competition. The event took place on December 5 and concluded with Ng receiving a $36,000 prize package for his project "New Diamond Restaurant."
Angela Heck, executive director of the Whistler Film Festival (WFF), commended the participants, stating, "The Power Pitch competition continues to serve as a foundational platform for emerging Canadian filmmakers, and we congratulate Milton Ng for his outstanding pitch." She highlighted Ng’s creativity and passion as key factors in his success.
The Power Pitch program, a hallmark of WFF’s talent development initiatives, offers Canadian producers intensive workshops, personalized consultations, and the opportunity to present feature-length projects to an esteemed panel. This year’s facilitator, Kevin Wright, noted the exceptional caliber of participants and praised Ng’s ability to integrate action, family, and zombies into a compelling pitch.
“I’m in awe of the phenomenal talent on display in this year’s Power Pitch competition,” said Wright. “Milton’s pitch ultimately won over the audience and the jury with its heartfelt core.”
Ng reflected on his experience, describing the competition as both challenging and rewarding. “It feels good to be recognized for the hard work that my team and I have put into ‘New Diamond Restaurant,’” Ng shared. “This win will definitely boost our confidence going into upcoming conversations and help elevate our film to the next level.”
The jury, composed of industry leaders such as Melanie Nepinak-Hadley (Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada) and Adam Koehler (IFC Films/RLJE/Shudder), praised the participants for their creativity and dedication. Other competitors included Jordan Waunch (British Columbia), Samantha MacAdam (Ontario), Jessica To (British Columbia), and Style Dayne (Saskatchewan).
The prize package, valued at $36,000, included a $25,000 post-production credit from Company 3/Method, a $10,000 lighting and grip production credit, and $1,000 cash from Sunbelt Rentals.