Preparations for the regions much-anticipated CinefestOZ Film Festival have well and truly ramped up this month, with organisers now on the hunt for passionate and enthusiastic volunteers in the South West to bring the festival to life.

Homegrown and established in 2008 – CinefestOZ has provided a jam-packed week of film events to locals and visitors for 14 years, defying all odds to become Australia’s biggest destination film festival.

As the size of the event continues to grow each year alongside the Australian film industry, organisers rely more and more on their wonderful ‘movie crew’ to uphold the success of the not-for-profit.

Supported by community partner Rio Tinto, the Movie Crew program sees hundreds of volunteers tackle a variety of roles throughout the event.

CinefestOZ deputy chair Margaret Buswell said the good will and time its volunteers put into the festival every year was heartening to see.

“Since the inception of CinefestOZ, there has always been an opportunity for people to volunteer at the event,” Ms Buswell said.

“Countless people have snatched up the chance to be part of the Movie Crew over the last 13 years, and we expect to see this enthusiasm again.”

“Our volunteers make for a lively, joyous festival with people who want to be there who have given up their free time for a day or two, and in some cases for the duration of the entire festival,” she said.

Last year, more than 100 volunteers from Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River and Augusta took part in a range of events right across the region and Ms Buswell said the camaraderie between returning and new volunteers was always evident.

“The roles that are available at the festival are many and varied and some of our volunteers even take their annual leave just so that they are able to volunteer,” she said.

Some of the volunteer positions on offer for this year’s event include film hosts, event crew, bar attendants, ushers, hospitality crew, festival promoters, and VIP hosts and drivers.

A Movie Crew polo shirt will be provided to all volunteers.

People interested in volunteering can sign up online at https://cinefestoz.wufoo.com/forms/zpvxzga04d2m5f/

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.