Talent Talk: The Art of Adventure with Bristol Foster & Alison Reid [Free Event]]

Adventure takes many forms and is often about pushing physical or mental boundaries in an adrenaline-fueled pursuit, but sometimes it can take a quieter form.

The Art of Adventure follows biologist Bristol Foster and wildlife artist Robert Bateman as they set off on their 30,000 kilometre life-changing expedition in their beloved Land Rover, “The Grizzly Torque”. Through director Alison Reid’s precise, heartfelt direction, their adventure stands in time as a tribute to nature, curiosity, and the enduring call of the wild that resonates powerfully in an age transformed by technology. This year, the Whistler Film Festival celebrates their story as a reminder that adventure is not defined by speed or risk, but by the depth of one’s encounter with the world.

Join Bristol Foster and Alison Reid moderated by Squamish filmmaker Zanny Venner, exploring travel, curiosity, and how we can deepen our connection or inspire a renewed sense of care for the natural world.

Talent Talks are intimate conversations with talent from films premiering at the Whistler Film Festival that are free for the public and Industry Passholders to attend. Seating is first-come, first-served; space is limited, please be sure to RSVP!

Don’t miss the premiere of The Art of Adventure https://www.whistlerfilmfestival.com/festival-events/2025/art-of-adventure, screening only on December 4th, at 5:30pm at the Maury Young Arts Centre.


Guest Details

Bristol Foster
Bristol Foster is a naturalist, conservation biologist and documentary filmmaker with a PhD in Ecology. He has over forty years of experience as an ecologist and educator, is an avid birder and the co-author of The Giraffe, the definitive book about the species. Bristol’s illustrious career has included Head of Wildlife Ecology Graduate Studies program at the University of Nairobi (Kenya), Director of the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, BC., and Director of the Provincial Ecological Reserves program for the Province wherein over 100 areas have been set aside for research. He then became ecological consultant, spending much of his time trying to protect the last remnants of temperate rainforest on the British Columbia coast and making TV documentaries all over the world.

Alison Reid, Director, Free Spirit Films
Alison Reid is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker who began her career as a stunt performer and stunt coordinator, amassing over 350 stunt credits and breaking ground as one of the first female stunt coordinators in North America. Her feature directorial debut, LGBTQ2+ comedy The Baby Formula screened at over 50 film festivals worldwide (including WFF!) and was frequently selected as an opening or closing night film. Her critically acclaimed feature documentary The Woman Who Loves Giraffes enjoyed a wide theatrical release in Canada and the U.S., won multiple Best Film and Audience Awards, and received glowing reviews from The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Variety, and The Wrap, leading to its 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Along with pursuing her own creative ventures, Reid also enjoys directing episodic television.

Zanny Venner, Producer, Well Travelled Collective
Zanny Venner is an award-winning documentary and commercial producer, and the founder of Wild Butter Productions. Her work bridges the worlds of film, branded content, and global campaigns to bring bold, meaningful stories to life. Holding a Master of Science in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons School of Design in New York City, Zanny brings a multidisciplinary lens to every project, shaped by her interest in place, environment, and human connection. Drawn to narratives about real people living unconventional lives, she is motivated by curiosity and persistence to uncover the lives and landscapes that are often overlooked.

You may also like the following events from Whistler Film Festival:

• Next Wednesday, 3rd December, 12:00 am, Whistler Film Festival + Content Summit in Whistler
• Next Wednesday, 3rd December, 01:00 pm, WRITING WORKSHOP: Episodic Storytelling: Scenes, Seasons, Series in Whistler
• Next Wednesday, 3rd December, 08:00 pm, Opening Night Party in Whistler

Also check out other Entertainment events in Whistler, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Whistler, Arts events in Whistler.