CinéfestOZ has announced the five finalists in contention for its second annual $100,000 Film Prize.
Backtrack, Now Add Honey, Pawno, Miff@CenfestOZ film Putuparri and The Rainmakers and The Daughter have been shortlisted for Australia’s biggest film prize, to be announced at the festival on Saturday, 29th August.
The Film Prize is awarded to the producer of an Australian feature film or feature-length documentary and is the only cash film prize focused on Australian feature films.
In 2014, the inaugural CinéfestOZ Film Prize was won by the family-friendly, Robert Connolly-directed film, Paper Planes, which has enjoyed massive success at the Australian box office since its 15th January 2015 cinema release. The film has gone on to screen at the Toronto and Berlin International Film Festivals and will be released by distribution companies Lionsgate in the UK and in North America by Eone.
CinéfestOZ received more than 30 submissions for the prize, which is voted on by a jury of five esteemed members of the film industry headed by Australian actor David Wenham.
Backtrack and Now Add Honey will be Australian premieres at CinéfestOZ while the festival will also host the Western Australian premieres of The Daughter, Pawno and the MIFF@CinefestOZ film Putuparri and the Rainmakers.
“We have had a very strong response to this year’s Film Prize,” said Deputy Chair of CinéfestOZ Helen Shervington. “The calibre of films is a wonderful reflection on the vibrancy of Australia’s film industry. These are great Australian films, worthy of international recognition and I would encourage people to see them for the first time at CinéfestOZ.”
The Film Prize was established to encourage excellence in Australian filmmaking, support the nation’s progressive film industry and attract new audiences to Australian film.
It underlines CinéfestOZ’s commitment to the Australian film industry by creating, attracting and supporting filmmakers and opportunities within the industry.
The prize also builds on the success of CinéfestOZ, which in 2014 premiered 15 Australian feature films in WA and attracted more than 18,000 attendances.
“The buzz that surrounded the inaugural Film Prize – and the subsequent success of the winning film, Paper Planes – has generated an even greater interest second time around,” Ms Shervington said.
“We are heartened by the diversity of new films being produced by Australian filmmakers and are proud to be able to champion them through the festival and this important prize.”
Head to www.cinefestoz.com for the complete Festival lineup.
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