The 14th annual CinefestOZ Film Festival returns for another exciting year after receiving funding support from the State Government through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program.
The partnership is an incredible opportunity to further showcase the State’s commitment to supporting the arts industry, as it helps CinefestOZ to develop and grow as a permanent fixture in WA’s cultural calendar. The 2021 festival will run from 25 – 29 August.
Hosted each year in Busselton, Augusta-Margaret River and Bunbury – the picturesque South West regions – the five-day event has grown significantly since it was first held in 2008, with this year’s festival potentially injecting $2 million into the local economy through visitor spend.
CinefestOZ is celebrated within the industry as one of Australia’s premiere film festivals as it continues to connect diverse people through related industries. The event provides an environment to spark future screen initiatives for WA, whilst promoting creative Australian storytelling in a setting unlike any other in the country.
The full film program for this year’s event will launch on Thursday 29 July with an exciting array of new and established filmmakers premiering their work. The festival also continues to diversify with the return of ‘Cinesnaps’, the dedicated schools program, and ‘IndigifestOZ’, a specific film program showcasing Aboriginal filmmakers. These initiatives offer insightful, creative and unique experiences for CinefestOZ audiences.
CinefestOZ also hosts Australia’s richest Film Prize of $100,000. A Jury of prominent Australian film guests award the Film Prize each year to an Australian feature film displaying excellence in the craft of filmmaking.
The new State funding honours an election commitment from the WA Government, with $100 million also committed for a new WA Film Studio and production facility in Fremantle and $20 million committed to a Screen Production Attraction fund to strengthen and develop the local film industry. In 2020, the Government also announced $16 million to a WA Screen Fund to encourage film production in the State’s regions.
CinefestOZ CEO Malinda Nixon says that the State Government partnership will allow the festival to expand and develop as it entices new audiences to Western Australia.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Tourism WA who support the festival, our community engagement expansions and the CinefestOZ Film Prize. The significance of the prize attracts national and international attention for the festival and State.
“Every year we develop our events and programs with the South West community in mind and proudly showcase the region by bringing a wider industry audience to our State. CinefestOZ continues to champion Australian creative arts, and we look forward to being a part of the developing film industry expansion happening in Western Australia.”
Earlier this year CinefestOZ launched its inaugural event in Albany, allowing audiences in the Great Southern to experience the excitement and buzz of hosting the festival for the first time, to incredible success.
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.
CinefestOZ 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.