CinefestOZ Film Festival has announced renowned Australian film director, producer and screenwriter, Scott Hicks as the jury chair.
Internationally acclaimed, Hicks has been nominated for and won many prestigious awards for his work and has collaborated with some of the industry’s best.
Based in Adelaide, Hicks is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Australian Academy, the Directors’ Guild of America and the Australian Directors’ Guild.
His film Shine was an international box office sensation and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including two for Hicks for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Hicks’ first Hollywood studio film, Snow Falling on Cedars starring Ethan Hawke, also received an Academy Award nomination and was followed closely by Hearts in Atlantis, an adaptation of the Stephen King novel, starring Anthony Hopkins.
Hicks said the $100,000 CinefestOZ prize money would provide a tremendous boost to the career of the winner.
“I’m honoured to be involved in the 10th anniversary of prestigious film festival, CinefestOZ,” he said.
Hicks will be joined on the jury by a selection of esteemed film industry professionals, to be announced soon.
Festival chair Helen Shervington said they were delighted to have such a respected Australian director head up the jury this year.
“Scott Hicks has carved out a stellar career in Australia and internationally,” she said.
“The Festival is a wonderful opportunity for the industry and wider community to come together in the spectacular South West region and enjoy and celebrate Australian film.”
The CinefestOZ Film Festival runs in Western Australia from August 23 to August 27.
The full film and event program and ticket sales go live on July 28. Early Bird tickets and festival passes will be available from July 7 at cinefestoz.com.
