WIFT WA are delighted to announce today the eight creatives from Western Australia who have been selected for WIFT WA‘s first CinefestOZ Film Festival and Women in Film & TV Australia Writing Retreat.
The final participants chosen are Annabel Maclean, Heather Wilson, Jessica Russell, Lisette-Helene McAllister-Liew, Mimi Helm, Nikita Dunovits-Ferrier, Penny Harrold, and Zena Loxton.
Selected by an independent panel from over 40 applications, the participants were selected on their ability to demonstrate how the retreat would facilitate significant progress on a screen project they have in development.
Practitioners from WA of all experience levels and disciplines were encouraged to apply, with particular emphasis placed on attracting applicants from a diverse background including women of colour, women with disability, women over 50, gender diverse people, LGBTIQ applicants, and those based regionally.
“I’m so pleased with our panel’s choices. There’s such a great range of experience levels and backgrounds amongst the selected attendees. I can’t wait to start working with this incredible group on their projects”, said Miley Tunnecliffe, the group’s on-site mentor during the retreat.
With the support of Miley as well as special guests from CinefestOZ, from August 20, the eight participants will undertake five days of intensive work on each of their projects at the incredible Kaloorup Shipping Container House, 22 minutes from the festival’s base in Busselton.
From 26 to 27 August, the group will then attend the two-day CinefestOZ Industry Program which will address contemporary issues in the Australian film industry and reach a global audience with the addition of an online component this year.
The final two days of the retreat will facilitate any additional work required for the group to achieve their project goal or have the opportunity to explore the many events being held as part of the 2021 CinefestOZ Film Festival.
Details of the selected participants are:
- Annabel Maclean, actress and writer
- Heather Wilson, feature film and television writer
- Jessica Russell, emerging deviser, director, and cinematographer
- Lisette-Helene McAllister-Liew, third-year Bachelor of Film student
- Mimi Helm, emerging writer and director
- Nikita Dunovits-Ferrier, filmmaker and artist
- Penny Harrold, script development executive
- Zena Loxton, film and creative director
WIFT WA wishes to extend its thanks to all applicants who submitted to the program this year and looks forward to welcoming industry and their members to the CinefestOZ Film Festival next month where WIFT will be holding their annual networking event in Busselton as well as an exciting panel as part of the CinefestOZ Industry Program 2021 (more details to come this weekend).