by James Fletcher
With this year’s CinefestOZ Film Festival prepping to go live August 25, the Busselton and South-West based festival has announced an impressive program which includes no less than 270 exciting film and screening events incorporating 17 World Premieres, 4 Australian Premieres and 35 West Australian Premieres with screenings set to take place across 35 venues.
Marking its 14th year, the five-day festival is set to deliver a diverse range of Australian films across feature, documentary, shorts and experiential releases, designed to entice audiences back to the cinemas throughout the bustling hubs of Busselton, Augusta-Margaret River and Bunbury, as well as other unique venues such as wineries, boutique breweries, small bars and galleries.
2021 also heralds the return of the CinefestOZ Film Prize, with four films competing to take the coveted award valued at AU$100,000. Competing for the Film Prize this year will be Nitram, directed by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown), staring Judy Davis and Anthony LaPaglia; the sweeping environmental documentary River, narrated by Willem Dafoe and directed by Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa); Here Out West, a salient and contemporary family drama directed Fadia Abboud, Lucy Gaffy, Julie Kalceff, Ana Kokkinos and Leah Purcell, who incidentally also directs and stars in the Film Prize contender The Drovers Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, a poignant historical drama set in the remote wilderness of the Snowy Mountains.
Set to chair this year’s Jury, CinefestOZ has tasked Australian veteran filmmaker Nadia Tass, whose latest documentary film Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story will make its Australian debut as part of the CinefestOz Official Selection program, while her classic Australian comedy Malcolm will enjoy a free screening as part of the iconic film’s 35th anniversary celebrations.
“There is something so exciting, so vibrant and so pure about CinefestOZ. Many other festivals would love to be in their position,” explains Tass.
“I never wanted or needed to be part of the establishment; my films reflect a fierce independence and a strong voice that is intrinsic to my core values. I bring those values with me as Chair of the Jury – I value excellence, originality, diversity and collaboration; I love how young filmmakers push the boundaries and how the more experienced film makers find new ways to express new ideas. I’m looking forward to a wonderful ride.”