Last week saw the launch of the CinefestOZ program. Spanning from August 22 to August 26, Western Australia’s South West Region will host over 150 screenings and events as part of the festival. From a total of 117 film screenings, the Festival will present 11 World and 18 Australian Premieres, showcasing some of the incredible homegrown cinematic tales which have been brought to life over the past 12 months.
It also has the honour of hosting one of Australia’s richest film prizes.
Award-winning Australian feature film, television and theatre actor Sigrid Thornton has accepted the role of Jury Chair for the 2018 Festival. Other guests joining her will be multiple award-winning actor and Festival Patron David Wenham, acclaimed actress and Logie Winner Tasma Walton, much loved writer, actor and singer Lucy Durack, one of the small screen’s most recognisable talents and Logie Winner John Howard, one of Australia’s finest indigenous actors Kelton Pell, and AACTA Award winning WA actress Emma Booth.
Finalist for this year are;
Ladies in Black: Bruce Beresford’s view of the changing social landscape of 1959 Australia, from behind the fashion counter of prestigious Sydney department store.
Jirga: This story of an Australian soldier travelling to Afghanistan to seek forgiveness, is a work of true guerilla film-making, as the cast and crew risked dangerous conditions to film in the troubled country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsMVPyc22Hs
The Merger: a comedic and heartfelt tale of a small country town recruiting players from a nearby refugee support centre to try and ensure the survival of their local footy team.
1%: A near Shakespearean take on a power struggle within a Bikkie club, as old and new guard attitudes clash for control.
CinefestOZ runs from August 22 to August 26 across the South West region of WA (Busselton, Bunbury, Margaret River, Dunsborough, Yallingup, Augusta). Check website for further details and program.
