Locals and visitors to the Margaret River region will couple their love for wine with a luxurious film experience this month when Australia’s premier destination film festival CinefestOZ returns to the South West for the 14th time.Loaded with a stack of cinematic events in Margaret River as well across the areas of Augusta, Busselton, and Bunbury – CinefestOZ will have film buffs on the edge of their seats with its biggest offering yet of more than 270 exciting events.
Wine lovers not wishing to venture far from the sights of the State’s most beautiful vineyards can still be fully immersed in the action as a broad range of screenings, premieres, In Conversation dining experiences and workshops go full speed ahead right in the HEART of Margaret River.
Kick off the five-day Festival week on Tuesday August 24 at Margaret River’s Opening Night, headlined by the World Premiere of Facing Monsters. Taking place at Margaret River HEART, this intriguing documentary details a remarkable portrait of enigmatic free surfer Kerby Brown as he defies logic to take on some of the world’s most dangerous slab waves off the rugged coast of Western Australia.
Going ahead in the home of the much-loved Margaret River Pro surfing competition, viewing the World Premiere of this engaging film couldn’t be done in a better way. A red carpet event prior to the screening at 6pm will set the stage perfectly for this highly anticipated film. Back it up with an In Conversation lunch with filmmakers the following day at Burger Baby to get all the ins and outs of how this doco was brought to life.
Going ahead just down the road to open the Festival in Augusta on Wednesday August 25 will be the World Premiere of Akoni, headed by wonderful pre screening party at Augusta Community Resource Centre. CinefestOZ is thrilled to return to this beautiful town in 2021 to host such an engaging film that tells the story of a homeless Nigerian refugee who struggles to integrate into Australian society after escaping the clutches of Boko Haram.
But wait, that’s just two days of the Festival out of a whopping five! There’s still so much more to jump into while in the Margaret River Region.
Travel a little further on Thursday August 26 to the bustling hub of Bunbury for a wine experience like no other. Watch the West Australian premiere of Blind Ambition, documenting the story of four refugees who conquer all odds to become South Africa's top sommeliers, before an intriguing virtual Q&A with the filmmakers. Then, roll on down to Mojos Restaurant to enjoy canapes and a blind wine-tasting journey of your own with experienced Sommelier, Jake Atkinson.
Friday August 27 will have you a little closer to home with the World Premiere of Film Prize Finalist, River at Orana Cinemas Busselton. River is one of four Australian films competingfor the Country’s richest Film Prize of $100,000AUD and will be backed up by a fun-filled after party at the Esplanade Hotel.
Finally, wrap the week’s festivities in the best way possible with the WA Premiere of Under the Volcano on Saturday August 28. Charting the rise and fall of AIR Studios Montserrat, the recording studio at the centre of the pop universe in the 1980s, this is a cracking film to end the week on. A pre screening event will go ahead at Margaret River HEART from 6pm and an immersive Q&A will follow.
Grab a glass of wine and view the full CinefestOZ festival program online for further insight into all the Festival has to offer.
Tickets to events can be purchased here, and the CinefestOZ App is available now for your added booking convenience.