CinefestOZ 2024 brings silver screen to life | Photos

CinefestOZ landed in the region and brought with it some of Australia’s most beloved film stars, with emerging talents on show as locals flocked to film screenings and got up close and personal with the country’s finest filmmakers.

The Moogai, written and directed by John Bell and starring Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt, took out Australia’s richest $100,000 Film Prize, at a special celebration in Busselton following selection by a panel of industry experts.

The Film Prize Jury included Chair Rachel Griffiths, US Producer Gary Foster, documentary maker Nel Minchin, actress Tasma Walton and in production-editor Gary Habib.

“The Jury were really blown away by the range of storytelling in this year’s official selection – from heart-warming, character filled, family film RUNT, to the singular labour of making deep time and soulfulness of Memoir of a Snail to the never seen this kind of screwed up family of Audrey, to the genre bending psychological thriller of The Moogai,” Rachel Griffiths said.

The Moogai’s co producer Alex White and actor Meyne Wyatt were presented the prize by the Hon. David Templeman MLA Minister for Culture and the Arts.

Griffiths was also recognised at the evening’s Gala for outstanding contribution to the Australian film industry and named the CinefestOZ Screen Legend.

“It says a lot about our industry that the range of storytelling in form and perspectives can be developed and be realised – in a single year.”