Vanessa McMahon

Producer/Director Bob Connolly (The Turning, 2013)

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-OFFICIAL CINEFESTOZ MEDIA RELEASE-

24th August 2013. CinefestOZ Gala Night wraps up star event with record growth: New vision opportunity

CinéfestOZ has exceeded expectations with over 39 film events extended from Bunbury to Augusta and a total of 81 feature films, documentaries and short films over the 5 days of the West Australian Premiere Destination Film Festival.

Festival Director Malinda Nixon says this year’s events have sold out faster than ever before with at least a 50% sales growth from last year, over 15,000 attendances and six major events selling out.

The highly anticipated West Australian Premiere Abbreviation: The WA Chapters of the Turning marked the Gala Night at CinéfestOZ last night with guest filmmakers and stars walking the Red Carpet at this sensational event.

This film is a presentation of the Melbourne International Film Festival MIFF Premiere Fund at CinefestOZ.

The Turning is the best-selling collection of short stories by Tim Winton set in the seaside town of Angelus, Western Australia across three decades and 17 interconnected stories.

“As this story has such a deep connection with Western Australia it is very exciting to be able to bring it to our film audience for the first time,” said Festival Director Malinda Nixon.

Producers Robert Connolly (Balibo, The Bank) and Maggie Miles (Hells Gates, Van Dieman’s Land) have collaborated with some of Australia’s best Directors, Actors and Filmmakers to bring The Turning to life.

Attendees from Abbreviation: The WA Chapters of the Turning included David Wenham, Myles Pollard, Claire McCarthy, Denson Baker, Jub Clerc, Tenielle Kennedy and Renee Newman Storen.

Abbreviation: The WA Chapters of the Turning Producer Maggie Miles will walk the red carpet with David Wenham (Lord of the Rings, Cosi, Moulin Rouge) as well as our other film celebrity guests.

“To have such a significant representation of some of Australia’s most successful and respected film industry talents from this film, is a huge compliment to have them here at CinéfestOZ celebrating and supporting this event.

“Robert Connolly and Maggie Miles deserve to be applauded for taking on this extraordinary film project and it is wonderful that we are able to have Maggie here presenting this film at CinéfestOZ.

“Festival Patron and International film star David Wenham, will make his directorial debut amongst acclaimed directors in this film, and it will be great to share this moment with the given he has been such a great support of our festival over the years.

“Abbreviation: The WA Chapters of the Turning is testament to the diversity and quality of contemporary Australian filmmaking, and it is fantastic to be able to celebrate this triumph with the filmmakers, stars and the CinéfestOZ audiences.”

CinéfestOZ Gala Night wrapped up the festivities in celebrity-style last night with Jack Thompson accepting his award as Screen Legend from Festival Patron David Wenham.

Over 40 film industry guests, including international celebrities Jack Thompson, Rachel Ward, David Wenham attended CinefestOZ 2013.

Gala Night was the sixth sell out event marking the end of the Festival’s social calendar. Other sell-out events included Opening Night, The Directors Lunch at Aravina Estate, In Conversation Lunch at Studio Bistro, Margaret River Premiere of An Accidental Soldier and Settlers Tavern Side Bar Event.

CinefestOZ 2013 included Gala Events and a Directors Lunch, but also a Schools Program, Script Workshops, Side Bar Screenings (Short Film Sessions) and Filmmaker Q and A Sessions.

NEWS VISION OPPORTUNITY: Video Production Company Lomax Media will be available to feed vision to media outlets on CinèfestOZ Gala Night

Gala Night Guests included the following; · Hon John Day MLA, Minister for Culture and the Arts · Jack Thompson , CinefestOZ Screen Legend 2013 · David Wenham, (directed The Turning Chapter, Festival Patron) · Gillian Armstrong, Hollywood director, My Brilliant Career · Rachel Ward An Accidental Solider, Beautiful Kate · Dan Spielman An Accidental Soldier, Offspring, The Secret Life of Us · Alex Williams (WA star of Underground: The Julian Assange Story) · Maggie Miles (Producer of the WA Chapters of the Turning) · Dean Daley Jones, (Mad Bastards, The Turning) · Zak Hilditch, (WA Director, These Final Hours) · David Barton, Festival Chair · Malinda Nixon, Festival Director

-OFFICIAL CINEFESTOZ MEDIA RELEASE-

Edited by Vanessa McMahon