CinefestOZ acknowledges the Wardandi, Piblemen, Menang and Yawuru people, the spiritual and cultural custodians of this land on which we live and work. We honour and respect the significant role First Nations people play in our community and in guiding us and allowing our festival to flourish.
IndigifestOZ
We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land we live and work on and pay our respect to the Elders past, present and future.
IndigifestOZ showcases quality Indigenous film works and engages film-goers through a combination of Feature Films in General Screenings, Short Film events and in the free Community Screenings. This program has been designed to celebrate and promote Indigenous filmmaking, storytelling and culture. In promoting Aboriginal film works, new audiences develop, as does an increased awareness and understanding of culture and appreciation of Aboriginal talent.
By championing First Nations filmmakers throughout the festival, CinefestOZ encourages diversity on screens and ensures the Australian experience is available on screen for the wider community. CinefestOZ is a leader in inclusive community engagement presenting diverse and underrepresented voices throughout its screen program. This program provides a platform for Indigenous content to be consumed, raising awareness for the Indigenous experience and cultural understanding, as well as Indigenous talent, and importantly the power of storytelling across all cultures.
Our festival proudly supports all the work of the Indigenous Screen Community. For a film to be recognised under the IndigifestOZ banner, it must have a minimum of a writer and director who identify as Indigenous.
CinefestOZ proudly screens these films throughout the festival week under the IndigifestOZ banners and presents Community Day with IndigifestOZ in Bunbury and Busselton, as well as Kinjarling Koort in Albany.
Community Day in the South West presents various cultural activities and celebrations. The Community Day in Busselton hosts an IndigifestOZ Retrospective Guest who is acknowledged for their contribution to First Nations storytelling in the screen industry. The 2023 career retrospective was with Rob Collins. This included a screen of a short clip of his work, followed by an insightful Q+A hosted by CinefestOZ’s Indigenous Film Manager, Jodie Bell.
CinefestOZ IndigifestOZ now also hosts WA’s first First Nations Film Festival in Broome, presented with Goolarri Media Enterprises. This festival screens films created by First Nations filmmakers for Australia, Torres Strait Islands and New Zealand.
IndigifestOZ X Cinesnaps
Together with the Cinesnaps Schools Program, IndigifestOZ also offers school incursions and excursions, including engagement with established and emerging Indigenous filmmakers. This program is designed to inspire young creatives and provide evidence of career pathways for young Indigenous students who may not have considered a career in film before. If you’re an educator and would love to engage in this program, register your interest below and let the magic of storytelling come to you.
Register Interest
Community Day Stallholders
IN 2023… Fun times were had at the Community Day with IndigifestOZ events – across both Bunbury and Busselton in August and September. In each location, audiences immersed themselves in a range of film and media creativity, including visual storytelling and live music, whilst visiting market stalls with Aboriginal products for sale. Of course they also got to chat with Indigenous filmmakers and watch some fabulous short films – all free!
If you’d like to be a stallholder at future CinefestOZ Community events, register below!
Stallholder applicationFree CineOnline IndifestOZ Digital Pods
We’ve recently added some exciting content to our dynamic new platform, CINEONLINE. As part of this, these IndigifestOZ Experiences were created and can be accessed free by our community and school groups. Enjoy!
CinefestOZ presents this program under the astute stewardship of a passionate and dedicated Indigenous Advisory Group, offering council on strategic direction and offering industry expertise.