FRANCES O’CONNOR HEADS UP FILM PRIZE JURY
Western Australian actor and director Frances O’Connor (Wednesday, Emily, Mansfield Park) will return home next month to head up the CinefestOZ Film Prize Jury, which will decide the winner of Australia’s richest $100000 Film Prize at this year’s festival, running 30 August to 6 September, in the Margaret River wine region.
Prolific actor and director Wayne Blair (Mystery Road, Top End Wedding), Shari Sebbens (Thor: Love and Thunder; The Moogai😉 and Nathalie Morris (Bump, The Twelve) will join Frances and together they will decide which of which of the four short-listed films – We Bury The Dead, Birthright, Songs Inside and One More Shot a MIFF@CinefestOZ film – will take home the title of Film Prize Winner and $100,000.
Speaking about her new role as Film Prize Jury Chair, Frances said: “I am so excited to come home to be part of this inspiring festival!”
“I am really looking forward to a week of discussing my favourite topic – film! And I look forward to meeting filmmakers and audiences in WA during this time. It’s great that we have an event like this to support and celebrate our filmmakers!”
CinefestOZ Chair Margaret Buswell said: “The 2025 CinefestOZ Film Prize is one of the highlights of the Australian film festival circuit, attracting Australia’s finest filmmaking talent from both sides of the camera.”
“We are honoured that our 2025 Film Prize Jury – Frances, Wayne, Shari and Nathalie are generously providing their time and expertise, as well as sharing their filmmaking experience and inspiring us at the festival’s special meet the filmmaker events.
“The CinefestOZ Film Prize was established 11 years ago to recognise and reward excellence in Australian filmmaking, and we know that our Film Prize Jury will again have a tough decision with such unique films that traverse drama, horror, comedy and real-life stories.”
The Jury will attend each of the Film Prize red carpet premieres (Wednesday 3 – Friday 5 September) and the special Film Jury In Conversation breakfast at Shelter Brewing (Saturday 6 September), ahead of their announcement of the winner at the Film Prize Celebration in the evening at Sabina River Farm.
Comments attributed to Minister for Creative Industries Simone McGurk:
“The Cook Government is proud to be able to recognise significant Australian films and film makers through our support of CinefestOZ Festival and the Film Prize.
“We understand the immense value that fostering arts and cultural activities and industries brings to communities.
“Supporting Australia’s richest film prize is part of the WA Government’s strong commitment to support the growth of our local Screen Industry and supporting WA filmmakers to get their stories to the world and showcase our State as a popular destination for film production.”
Previous year’s Film Prize winners include The Moogai (2024) Shayda (2023); Of An Age (2022); Nitram (2021), H is for Happiness (2019), Jirga (2018), Ali’s Wedding (2017), Girl Asleep (2016), Putuparri and the Rainmakers (2015), and Paper Planes (2014).
The CinefestOZ 2025 Program features over 200 film screenings and events and celebrates its 18th year. The nine-day festival will be held from 30 Aug – 7 Sep in Western Australia’s South West and will provide festival-goers with the opportunity to see some of Australia’s best new films first, and connect with filmmakers and visiting talent at the region’s cinemas, boutique breweries, small bars and popular venues in Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River.
Alongside the Feature and Short Film programs, celebrate the rich Indigenous culture of the South West as part of the free Deadly Day; support young filmmakers of the future as part of the Cinesnaps schools program; and, learn more about our flourishing screen industry at the dedicated Industry Program.
BROWSE PROGRAM