CinefestOZ is back for its 17th year, lighting up screens in Busselton, Augusta, Bunbury, and Margaret River with a lineup that’s as diverse as it is exciting. From more than 200 movie screenings and special events, you’ll find everything from heartwarming family films, drama and comedy to horror, sci-fi, and thought-provoking documentaries.
Enjoy meet-the-filmmaker events at wineries, small bars, boutique breweries and galleries and hear from special guests such as Rachel Griffiths, Craig Silvey, Joel Jackson, Tasma Walton, Travis Jeffreys, Nel Minchin, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Jackie van Beek and Academy Award winning Adam Elliot.
The festival includes red carpet premieres, which are not to be missed and a $100,000 prize for the winner of the Film Prize award. There’s also Short Film Sets, dancers, musicians & DJs, art exhibitions and installations and free Deadly Days and Community Screenings.
Don’t miss this chance to head south, enjoy some incredible films and maybe even rub shoulders with industry greats. Whether you’re a film buff or just looking for a great weekend away, CinefestOZ is the perfect excuse for an escape.
Hurry, grab your tickets now!
WA Premieres & Film Prize finalists
Runt
WA Premiere Film Prize event
Fri 6 Sep 5.00pm, Reading Cinema Busselton
A heartfelt and hilarious contemporary Australian family feature film based on the best-selling and critically acclaimed novel by Craig Silvey. Set in the country town of Upson Downs, it tells the story of eleven-year-old Annie Shearer and her best friend, an adopted stray dog called Runt, as they try to save their farm and their family from drought and hardship. Every underdog will have its day.
Celeste Barber brings her signature humour to the role, lighting up the screen with a performance that’s both hilarious and relatable. With its clever dialogue and quirky characters, “Runt” is a film that’ll have you laughing out loud while rooting for the little guy.
Audrey
WA Premiere Film Prize event
Wed 4 Sep 5:30pm, Reading Cinema Busselton
Married couple Ronnie and Cormack have, with their teenage daughters, long-since lapsed into some unusual habits. High energy mum Ronnie (Jackie van Beek) has dreamed of becoming an actress forever but now mostly lives that dream through her child, who couldn’t care less. Meanwhile affable dad Cormack can’t stop pursuing his libido – as discreetly as he can… which is, not very discreetly.
Audrey is the kind of dark comedy that sneaks up on you, delivering laughs one minute and thought-provoking moments the next. The film cleverly balances its comedic undertones with a narrative that’s both satirical and insightful, making you laugh while also reflecting on the quirks of everyday life.
The Moogai
WA Premiere Film Prize event
Fri 6 Sep 8.15pm, Reading Cinema Busselton
Sarah and Fergus, a hopeful young Aboriginal couple, give birth to their second baby. But what should be a joyous time of their lives becomes sinister when Sarah starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby. Is the spirit real or is she in fact the biggest threat to the safety of their family?
For those who like their horror with a side of cultural depth, “The Moogai” delivers. This Indigenous horror film plunges into supernatural thrills tied to ancestral stories. Shani Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt shine in a story that’s both a gripping scare and a powerful exploration of indigenous cultural heritage.
Memoir of a Snail
WA Premiere Film Prize event
Thu 5 Sep 6.00pm, Reading Cinema Busselton
Oscar-winner Adam Elliot, one of Australia’s greatest filmmaking treasures, returns with an outstanding second feature. Memoir of a Snail concerns Grace Pudel (voiced by Sarah Snook), a reclusive woman who has been let down in life.
From the creator of “Harvey Krumpet,” Memoir of a Snail is a beautifully crafted drama that combines quirky animation with touching storytelling. Adam Elliot’s latest work follows a unique protagonist navigating life’s ups and downs, delivering a film that’s visually stunning, beautifully voiced and emotionally moving.
In need for accommodation down south? See Localista’s accommodation guide for Margaret River and Bunbury.
Special events
After each Film Prize screening, keep the good times rolling at the After Party, then continue the conversation the next day at an In Conversation dining event with the filmmakers and actors. There’s also the Film Prize Jury Breakfast and the incredible Film Prize Celebration event on September 7 that are not to be missed. This year’s jury includes Rachel Griffiths, US producer Gary Foster, documentary legend Nel Minchin and Tasma Walton-quite the lineup!
And, if you’re keen to delve deeper into the world of filmmaking hear from international and national guests as part of the Industry Program running September 5 – 6.
And for something a little different CinefestOZ brings you Baz Lurhmann’s digitally remastered classic Strictly Ballroom with a red carpet drag queen host. Or try your luck with a Blind Date with a French Film. Enjoy a glass of complimentary wine and mingle with new and old friends before the big reveal in cinema.
What to see
With more than 80 new feature and short films on offer at this year’s festival there’s plenty of options to suit all tastes, and most screenings are paired with a complimentary drink and special filmmaker Q&A.
Ashley Zukerman (Succession) stars in a gripping Australian sci-fi mystery thriller In Vitro set on a remote cattle farm in the near future. Film royalty Greta Scacchi and real life daughter Leila George, along with Sam Corlett (Vikings Valhalla) star in the emotional family drama He Ain’t Heavy that explores love and addiction. Go behind the bars with Guy Pearce in his new gritty prison drama Inside.
Embrace your inner hippie with the illuminating documentary Aquarius. Dive into The Pool – a spectacular cinematic portrait of the iconic Bondi Icebergs – the pool and the people who cherish it. Travel with legendary Australian musician Warren Ellis (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) on a guided tour through his world from Ballarat to one very special animal sanctuary in Sumatra in Ellis Park.
If you’re a fan of short films, CinefestOZ has you covered with five sizzling short film sets. From Deadly Shorts, showcasing the best of Indigenous Australian filmmaking, to Duck Soup for some belly laughs, there’s a short film for every taste. Lost In Translation will tug at your heartstrings, The Meaning of Life will make you reflect and The Twilight Zone will deliver some action-packed thrills. Don’t miss the WA Made Short Film Set and the Short Film Awards Party on September 5 in Margaret River.
Tickets for CinefestOZ are on sale now, grab yours here.
