Film lovers in the Great Southern and throughout WA are being advised to mark a new date in their calendar with the launch of CinefestOZ Albany.
CinefestOZ Albany will take place from 29 April to 1 May, allowing a new audience of film lovers to experience a taste of what those in the South West have been enjoying for the past 13 years.
Albany locals are being encouraged to invite friends and family to join them in the beautiful Great Southern for three days of premiere film screenings and special events in the region’s cinemas and picturesque venues, where they will get the chance to rub shoulders with filmmakers and special guests.
CinefestOZ Albany will feature Opening and Closing Night events, free community screenings, a Short Film set and will also incorporate the Cinesnaps schools program, which offers extraordinary opportunities through a program of carefully selected films, visiting filmmakers, online film content and an exciting Short Film Competition.
Albany artist and curator Annette Davis has taken on the role of CinefestOZ Albany Event Coordinator and said she is delighted CinefestOZ has recognised the potential for a brand new festival in the Great Southern.
“The Great Southern audience has been a hugely supportive home to many TV series and films over the past five years, including the 2019 CinefestOZ $100,000 Film Prize winner H is For Happiness, so having our own film festival here is thrilling,” Davis said. “We are excited about the opportunity CinefestOZ Albany will give local practitioners in the region through its industry elements and networking opportunities. This Great Southern festival will also act as a platform to attract producers and productions to experience the region alongside the festival and support Western Australian films.”
CinefestOZ has been working with the City of Albany for several years to ensure the delivery of a festival relevant to the local community and attractive to all attendees. CinefestOZ Albany is set to benefit dozens of local businesses, venues, accommodation providers, food and beverage supplies along with the local film industry and emerging practitioners.
The City’s recently refurbished Town Hall will serve as the Festival hub while CinefestOZ’s strong partnership history with Orana Cinemas will continue through to CinefestOZ Albany.
The Festival will also work with Film Harvest, which offers local art-house screenings to the Albany audience weekly. The Closing Night party with short films will be held at the Albany Entertainment Centre and include locally produced food and beverages.
Located on Western Australia’s southern coast, Albany is approximately a five-hour drive from Perth. Regional Express Airlines (REX) flies daily between Albany and Perth. The breathtaking beauty of Albany’s rugged coastline creates a fitting backdrop to dramatic whaling, convict and settler history and a sensational south coast adventure.
Mayor of Albany Dennis Wellington said having CinefestOZ in Albany is something the whole community can be excited about.
“The magic of cinema is something we all love to experience so having that on a large scale in our own backyard will set Albany buzzing and bring a vibrant atmosphere to the community,” he said. “Our partnership with CinefestOZ to bring such an exciting and dynamic event to Albany is something we are incredibly proud of and will benefit our residents and visitors over the event period.”
CinefestOZ is regarded as Australia’s premier destination film festival. Heading into its 14th year, CinefestOZ 2021 will take place in the South West from 25-29 August.
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CinefestOZ Albany respectfully acknowledges the Menang Noongar people as the traditional custodians of this land we live and work on and pays respect to Elders past, present and future.