Press release from WA Screen Academy
A staggering ten films produced by the WA Screen Academy have been selected to screen at one of Australia’s most prestigious and unique film festivals ‘The Dungog Film Festival’. Four documentaries and six dramas will be featured at the festival, from May 27 – 30.
Laura MacDonald, Dungog’s Screen Programmer commented, “We were sincerely blown away by the quality of content submitted by the WA Screen Academy. We're proud to include almost every entry sent to us in our festival this year. Congratulations to the talented filmmakers.”
The selected films are:
Pig Skin – this innovative collaboration between the Aboriginal Theatre Program at ECU and the WA Screen Academy was written by Ceiwen Langley, directed by Simon Larkins and produced by Jules Fortune. The writer, Ceiwen Langley currently has an attachment in the script department of Neighbours.
Trolley Boys – written by Kazimir Sas, directed by Ngaire O’Leary and produced by Claudia J. Rondon. The film features WAAPA actor Felix Jozeps.
Hidden Clouds – written by Hugo Belviso, directed by Michael McCall and produced by Cal Nichols. WAAPA graduates Chantelle Jamieson and Hannah Greenwood perform the lead roles.
Stuffed – written by Magdalena Wozniak, who was recently awarded ‘Best Screen Play’ at the WA Screen awards. Directed by Oyvind Opshaug and produced by Alex Giles, the film features a cast of WAAPA graduates Jennifer White, Shannon Rae, Adele Querol and Lizzie Schebesta.
Sorrento – written by Ceinwen Langley, directed by Simon Larkins and produced by Sophie Mathewson. Features cast from WAAPA Matt Levett, Megan Holloway and Scott Sheridan. Producer Sophie Mathewson has recently obtained a position as Executive Assistant to the Executive Producer on Neighbours, Fremantle Media Australia.
The Bucks Party – written and directed by Mike Hoath, who recently was awarded ‘Young Filmmaker of the Year’ at the WA Screen Awards. The film was produced by Freya Brueschke.
Four documentaries will also show at the festival, ‘The Bubbleologist’ written and produced by Kazmir Sas, directed by Oyvind Opshaug; ‘Rock’n Roll Mudwrestling’ written and directed by Mike Hoath, produced by Alex Giles; ‘Back to Burlesque’ written by Ceinwen Langley, produced by Alex Giles and directed by Michael McCall, and ‘Living Colour’ written and produced by Freya Brueschke and directed by Eva Ramdhor.
With the catchphrase, “Done Sundance, done Cannes, Dungog,” the small town 230 kilometres north of Sydney triples in size during the four days of the festival. It is billed as a celebration of Australian screen culture with independent features, classics introduced by their creators, short films, forums, readings of new scripts and great parties. It is widely regarded as Australia’s answer to the Sundance Festival, the place to be discovered and make those essential contacts.
Acting Director of the WA Screen Academy, Barbara Connell, is thrilled to have ten films selected. “Dungog is a highly-regarded festival so it an honour to have our films shown alongside the nation’s best. It consolidates our reputation as one of the leading screen training programs in the country. We’re extraordinarily proud of our students and thrilled that their work is being recognized.”