Dot West joins CinefestOZ Film Festival Board
Accomplished Western Australian screenwriter and producer, and recent recipient of the Order of Australia for her service to First Nations media and communications, Dorothy ‘Dot’ West has been appointed to the Board of CinefestOZ – Australia’s largest destination film festival held annually in WA’s South West.
Director of Broome based Goolarri Media Enterprises and Ramu Productions, Dot has extensive experience in print, radio, television and film, and is best known for television projects The Heights (2019-20) and The Circuit (2007-10), short film Maap Mordak (2015), and award-winning children’s animation series Little J & Big Cuz (2017-21).
“Dot’s contribution to the development of Indigenous media and film – particularly in the Kimberley region of Western Australia – is outstanding,” said Margaret Buswell, our Chair.
“We’re honoured that Dot is joining the CinefestOZ team. Her experience in filmmaking and industry development is a huge win for the festival, particularly in relation to the upcoming CinefestOZ Broome – a new event dedicated to showcasing Australian and international First Nations content.”
Board member Dot West said, “Having recently seen first-hand the accomplishments of CinefestOZ in Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River – in terms of bringing together established and up-and-coming filmmakers from across Australia and overseas – I am excited to be joining such a passionate, creative and hard-working team.”
“I’m especially looking forward to launching the inaugural CinefestOZ in Broome this November (3-6) and continuing to build the capability of our young Indigenous filmmakers and share our stories with visiting filmmakers and festival goers.”
A Noongar woman from Western Australia’s South West, Dot is also the recipient of numerous honours and awards, including the Tudawali Award (2005); a WASA for Outstanding Contribution to the WA Screen Industry (2008); an AWGIE Award for her work on The Circuit (2009); an Honorary Doctorate from Swinburne University of Technology (2014); and, a First Nations Media Lifetime Achievement Award (2019).
Dot has served on numerous boards and advisory groups including Screenwest’s Industry Advisory Group and WA’s Screen Industry Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Group, and as a board member of NITV, Screenwest, Australian International Documentary Conference, the National Indigenous Radio Service, SBS and First Nations Media Australia.
Dot will join other dedicated members of the CinefestOZ board including Chair Margaret Buswell, Deputy Chair and Treasurer Gary Evershed, Deputy Chair Emma Scotney, co-founder Helen Shervington, Secretary Pauline Vukelic, Jub Clerc, Duncan Ord, and Diana Wearing Smith.
CinefestOZ is a not-for-profit organisation that has grown exponentially over its 15-year history with the board consisting entirely of volunteers who celebrate Australian film and dedicate their time to producing the festival.
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.