CinefesOz jury chair announced

Australian director Gillian Armstrong has been announced as jury chair for the 2016 CinefestOz Film Festival.

The My Brilliant Career director and Women He’s Undressed producer is no stranger to the festival, having visited the region to attend CinefestOz three years ago.

“It was both an enlightening and entertaining event with great seminars, films, wine and networking,” she said.

“Since then the festival and the film prize have grown even more in status.

“CinefestOz should be commended for its continued support of the Australian and Western Australian film industry.”

Culture and Arts Minister John Day said Armstrong’s appointment was “great news” for WA film lovers.

As part of her role, Armstrong will work with a jury of film industry figures to determine the winner of the $100,000 CinefestOz Film Prize.

Last year’s winner was documentary Putuparri and the Rainmakers, which went on to screen at festivals in Tahiti and Toronto and was recently nominated by the Film Critics Circle of Australia for Best Documentary.

The full CinefestOz film and event program and ticket sales go live on July 31.