CinefestOZ: Program sneak peak

Over the last ten years, the festival has grown year on year and firmed up its reputation as a must do for independent Australian filmmakers. 

This year’s talent will include internationally acclaimed and Academy Award nominated writer and director, Scott Hicks, who will attend in the role of this year’s Film Prize Jury Chair.

Hicks will be joined by actor, playwright and screenwriter Reg Cribb (Last Train to Freo, Bran Nue Dae), leading costume designer Cappi Ireland (Lion), and actor Ewen Leslie (The Railway Man, Kokoda) as his fellow Jury members.

Also in attendance will be special guest and Dunsborough local, Myles Pollard (Wolverine, Drift) and Kelton Pell (Red Dog: True Blue, Looking for Grace).

Mr Pollard will attend on behalf of the Cinesnaps Schools Program, for which he has been Cinesnaps Patron since 2014.

This year the film and theatre actor will also chair the Cinesnaps Jury, and feature in the The Gateway which will be having its Australian premiere at CinefestOZ.

Kelton Pell is one of our finest indigenous actors and will be attending the festival as IndigifestOZ Koorda. “Koorda” is a widely used Noongar word for “friend”.

Together with the Cinesnaps, IndigifestOZ also offers school incursions and excursions, feature films, short films and side bar events including engagement with established and emerging Aboriginal filmmakers.

Also celebrating the ten year festival milestone in person will be multi-award winning writer, director, comedian, lyricist, occasional actor and director of film finalist, Three Summers, Ben Elton.

This will be Elton’s second consecutive year at CinefestOZ.

Rounding out this year’s list of special guests include one of Australia’s finest actors, Luke Ford (Red Dog, The Black Balloon, The Mummy), actor, writer and director, Matt Day (Dance Academy, Love and Other Catastrophes, Rake), and a host of other successful writers, producers, directors and industry heads.

The festival kicks off on Wednesday, August 23 and will be a great environment for filmmakers, talent, industry, community, families and guests to celebrate Australian film in the spectacular location of the South West.

CinefestOZ is supported by the State Government through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program. Rio Tinto is a proud Premium Partner of CinefestOZ. The festival acknowledges its strong partnership with Screenwest, Lotterywest and Screen Australia.

The full program will be announced on Friday, July 28. Early Bird tickets on sale now.

Tickets and Cinepasses available from CinefestOZ.com, the CinefestOZ iPhone app and local Visitor Centres.