by FilmInk Staff
A cross-cultural tale of healing and resilience, a biting satire of literary ambition, and a West Australian feature rooted in place and belonging are among the bold new projects being developed at this year’s WIFT Australia x CinefestOZ Writers Retreat.
Alicia Walsh, Jessica Londono, Hannah Lehmann, Madeleine Parry, and Lou Sanz were selected for the structured writing experience taking place in Busselton, Western Australia from Friday 29 August to Sunday 7 September.
The five projects the writers are developing represent a diverse range of genres, subject matters, style and tone but are all connected by the fact they feature a female protagonist. Led by WIFT Australia and hosted by CinefestOZ Film Festival with support from Minderoo Pictures, the retreat is designed to champion exciting new Australian screen stories from underrepresented voices.
The program is now in its 4th iteration, having supported 16 writers to date by providing them with the time and space in the beautiful South West region of Western Australia and the opportunity to expand their professional networks by participating in CinefestOZ’s Industry Program.
See-Saw Films/Picking Scabs’ Executive Producer Shay Spencer, the retreat’s official mentor, said this year’s cohort is the most diverse to date.
“The depth and originality of the nearly 100 applications we received this year made the process of choosing just five participants near impossible,” said Spencer.
“Together, these writers showcase a rich spectrum of voices, genres, and career stages, all united by their commitment to telling bold, resonant stories that challenge, entertain, and inspire. Myself and WIFT, along with our partners CinefestOZ and Minderoo Pictures, are honoured to support their development.”
Alicia Walsh, a seasoned writer and script editor originally from WA, whose past credits include many award-winning shorts as well as Dance Academy and Wonderland, will use her experience to develop the second draft of her feature film set in her home state currently in development with a West Australian creative team.
Jessica Londono, an emerging Colombian-Australian writer and director based in Perth, channels the solitude and strength of navigating motherhood away from the support of her family and cultural roots into her bold, emotionally charged sci-fi feature E-MUM, a haunting exploration of maternal love and artificial intelligence based on a proof of concept playing in this year’s festival.
Sydney-based writer Hannah Lehmann joins the retreat with a strong background in digital and heightened storytelling, having created the hit Snap Originals series Two Sides and comedy series The Unboxing for Seven Studios. Her psychological thriller It’s Probably Nothing! follows a young woman who gradually realises she is being stalked by a shadowy creature as she attempts to walk from her car to her apartment, in a chilling reflection of gendered violence.
Madeleine Parry, director of Netflix’s Emmy-winning Nanette, brings her signature blend of documentary insight and dramatic storytelling to her deeply personal Ελευθερία, a feature about a widowed Greek grandmother whose secret friendship with a refugee child rekindles her spirit and forces her to confront long-buried trauma.
Rounding out the group is writer/producer Lou Sanz, whose credits include SXSW-premiering debut feature Audrey, who will use the retreat to progress her pitch-black satire Auto Fiction which follows a failed novelist turned Uber driver who exploits tragic real-life stories for literary fame, spiraling into a dangerous game of “Who’s story is it anyway?”.
Supported by Minderoo Pictures for the first time this year to expand the program’s impact, the WIFT Australia x CinefestOZ Film Festival takes place alongside the CinefestOZ Film Festival in Busselton, Western Australia from Friday 29 August until Sunday 7 September.
Industry professionals attending the festival who wish to connect with the writers or learn more about their projects are encouraged to contact Maya Kavanagh at maya@wiftaustralia.org.au.
Image: (from left) Madeleine Parry, Lou Sanz, Jessica Londono, Alicia Walsh, Hannah Lehmann
