Margaret River: Lights, camera action

CinefestOz.

Margaret River wineries provide great neighbours for the CinefestOZ festival

There were at least five people passing around desserts, and the question on everybody's lips was, "have they tried all of them?"

There was a chocolate cake concoction, a rich cheesecake and a creamy panna cotta.

A debonair man in a scarf snaffled up the last panna cotta while a group of young actors kept an eye out for the cheesecake.

It was quite possible to feel very full and wellfed at this festival, and the wine from a nearby boutique winery was flowing too.

But this was no gourmet event. It was CinefestOz 2016, a festival celebrating new Australian and French films.

And although it looked like a VIP party, the decadence came free with the price of a movie ticket for the Orana cinema in Busselton, a city on Australia's southwest tip. Everyone in the tent had just seen Girl Asleep, the quirky Adelaide film that went on to win the film festival's $100,000 prize, Australia's richest film prize.

Over the treats concocted from the nearby wineries and farms in the beautiful Margaret River region, everyone had the chance to discuss the film and others they were looking forward to seeing.

CinefestOZ has been running in Busselton, a two-and-a-half hour drive south of Perth, for nine years. The full programme for this year's festival, which will be held in late August, has just been announced. Four films are in the running for this year's grand prize - Ali's Wedding, written by Sami and Andrew Knight (Hacksaw Ridge, The Water Diviner); Australia Day, starring Bryan Brown; Jungle, starring Daniel Radcliffe and directed by Greg McLean (Wolf Creek); and Three Summers, written by Ben Elton and starring Magda Szubanski - both WA celebrity residents.

Putting a film festival right beside the wineries of Margaret River feels somewhat like a minimiracle. Every event takes place in a new, stunning location and the CinefestOz community is committed and passionate.

Those trays of canapes are not brandished by corporate catering company employees but by festival volunteers, who proudly distinguish themselves from festival punters with their berets - the festival's nod to the inclusion of French films.

On last year's gala closing night, Szubanski was forced to pull out of her MC duties because of illness so Elton stepped in to help.

The British TV and film writer, who is now based in Fremantle with his wife and family, came armed with gags aimed at that "other" WA writer, Tim Winton, all in good spirit of course.

And the community spirit lasted even when the winners - and losers - found out their fate. When the director, writer and producer of Girl Asleep received the coveted film prize, their fellow filmmakers didn't appear envious but joyous.

It was a week of film screenings, discussions and creation not driven by money or accolades but by a collective passion for film.

FACT BOX

Getting there
Air New Zealand flies direct from Auckland to Perth, with one-way Seat fares from $523.

Playing there
CinefestOz</strong> takes place from August 23-27. Full programme and tickets are available now.

Other festivals coming up this year in regional WA:

Blues at Bridgetown - November 10 to 12.

Margaret River Gourmet Escape - November 16 to 19.

Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival - December 9.

- AAP