Aussie talent shines as festival wraps

The 11th annual CinefestOZ film festival wrapped up with a Directors’ Lunch on Sunday after five days of events across the South West.

Augusta, Margaret River, Dunsborough, Busselton and Bunbury played host to more than 150 Australian and international film events.

Sigrid Thornton, Zareh Nalbandian, Tasma Walton, Tania Chambers and Michael Caton made up the Film Prize jury and graced the red carpet at several screenings.

This year’s $100,000 film prize went to Jirga, directed by Benjamin Gilmour and produced by John Maynard.

The film was up against Ladies in Black, The Merger and 1%, and was voted the winner by the jury.

Thornton was named the 2018 CinefestOZ Screen Legend and a plaque was placed outside Busselton’s Orana Cinemas in her honour.

Local filmmaker Richard Todd premiered his documentary Dying to Live to WA audiences on Saturday.

Peter “Woody” Wood of Cowaramup, who features in the documentary was also at the screening.

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam said the festival proved there was an opportunity to grow the film industry in the South West.

“That potential was confirmed this past week by the high calibre of film industry talent who attended CinefestOZ in our region,” she said.

“This brings exciting new opportunities to our State and again CinefestOZ has shown its value in fostering film business in the region given it is an ideal place to live, shoot film and develop creative projects.”

The 12th annual CinefestOZ has been confirmed for August 28-September 1, 2019.

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