CinefestOZ Film Festival has officially begun this week as the film industry, tourists and WA cinema-lovers descend on the hubs of Busselton, Margaret River and Bunbury. This year’s festival consists of 270 exciting film and event options at over 35 incredible venues throughout the picturesque South West region.
In attendance throughout the festival week includes our Jury; actor Isla Fisher, director Zak Hilditch, producer Judi Levine and filmmaker Julia Redwood, who will decide the winning film of the 2021 Film Prize.
At tonight’s Opening Gala event, producer Greer Simpkin will walk the red carpet to showcase the film The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson – introducing the Film Prize screening alongside a virtual introduction from the film’s director, writer and star Leah Purcell, based in Sydney.
Last night the stunning surf documentary Facing Monsters opened at the Margaret River HEART as a World Premiere to a sold out crowd. Enigmatic free surfer Kerby Brown attended alongside the filmmakers and local cinema-goers.
Actor Isla Fisher will walk the red carpets for Film Prize finalists River, Here Out West and Closing Gala Night in Busselton. Currently undertaking her two week quarantine commitment, Fisher will join fellow Jurors virtually this week to discuss the other Film Prize finalists, ahead of her arrival to Busselton on Friday 27 August.
Presenter Rove McManus is excited to return to CinefestOZ this year as the Gala Night host on Saturday 28 August. The Gala will be live-streamed across the world to audiences on the edge of their seats, as the Film Prize winning film is announced live to air.
CinefestOZ proudly hosts actor Joel Jackson as he Chairs the Cinesnaps Jury on Thursday 26 at the finale event. He’ll also engage with local schools throughout the week to share his journey from a WA local to national film star.
Presenter David Genat will join this week as Gala Night red carpet host, whilst also attending Film Prize premieres, In Conversation events and exploring the best the South West has to offer.
Celebrating the WA premiere of Under The Volcano will be Cody Greenwood – a local WA filmmaker who has four projects premiering at CinefestOZ this year across features and the short film program. You can catch Cody on our Cinesnaps Jury panel this Thursday 26 August, or at her Q&A screening event for Under The Volcano at Margaret River HEART on Saturday 28 August.
The Industry Program will host a range of guests, both in-person in Busselton and virtually from around the world, as the two-day sessions kick off from Thursday 26 August. You can hear from actor Tasma Walton as she sits on the WIFT WA panel to discuss women in filmmaking, or listen to Jury Chair Nadia Tass as she dials in from Melbourne to discuss her career with fellow Juror Judi Levine.
Australian filmmaker Genna Chanelle Hayes will celebrate the World Premiere of her film Akoni as the Opening Night film in Augusta tonight. The film (directed, written, produced by and starring Hayes), explores the social and cultural struggles of a Nigerian refugee in Australia.
Now in its 14th year, the festival continues to deliver a diverse range of Australian films across feature, documentary, shorts and experiential releases to entice audiences to the cinema.
The CinefestOZ Jury, led virtually by innovative filmmaker Nadia Tass as Chair in Melbourne, will award the Prize to an Australian feature film or feature-length documentary showcasing excellence in the craft of filmmaking. Here Out West, Nitram MIFF@CinefestOZ, River and The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson are this year’s Film Prize finalists.
All of this year’s Film Prize screenings can be paired with their unique In Conversation dining experiences. Each event will showcase the best food and wine the South West region has to offer whilst entertaining audiences with enlightening film discussions.
There are only a handful of tickets remaining, so be quick in securing your In Conversation tickets for Here Out West, MIFF@CinefestOZ film Nitram, River and The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson.
Download the official CinefestOZ app to search session times, book tickets and build your calendar of events during the festival.
CinefestOZ would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we live and work on, and pay our respect to the Elders past, present and future.
CinefestOZ thanks Presenting Partner Tourism WA, Premium Partners Screenwest and City of Busselton and Community Partner Rio Tinto. The festival acknowledges its strong support from Lotterywest and Screen Australia.