-OFFICIAL CINEFESTOZ MEDIA RELEASE-

Young luminaries add to star-studded line up at CinèfestOZ

CinèfestOZ 2013 is thrilled to announce an exciting line-up of Festival Guests for this year’s events, which include some of Australia’s best known actors, young rising stars and talented filmmakers.

Some of Australia’s greatest new talents including West Australia’s rising star Alex Williams (Underground: The Julian Assange story) and the star of Patrick, Jackson Gallagher (Patrick Home and Away, Saddle Club), Dan Spielman (An Accidental Soldier, Offspring, One Perfect Day) and West Australian Director Zak Hilditch (These Final Hours).

“Alex Williams is a graduate from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and is already pitched to become one of Australia’s top young actors so it is fantastic to have him here at CinefestOZ supporting his film,” said Festival Director Malinda Nixon.

“Alex Williams plays the lead role in Underground: The Julian Assange Story, a fascinating insight into one of the world’s most well-known hackers. It is directed by Australian Director and writer Robert Connolly (The Bank, Three Dollars, Balibo), for which he was nominated for a TV Week Logie Award for Best New Talent.”

“It’s great that CinefestOz is providing support such exciting talent. It’s a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills during a national festival,” said Ian Booth, Chief Executive, ScreenWest.

In 2013, Alex filmed a lead role in John V. Soto’s The Reckoning opposite Luke Hemsworth and Johnathan LaPaglia. It is due for release later this year and Alex is currently filming Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS, appearing as Kirk Pengilly.

“(I am) Extremely excited to be attending the festival, especially in such a beautiful part of my home state. Looking forward to the new Australian films and can’t wait to see 'After May',” said Alex.

Dan Spielman is one of Australia’s most successful young actors. He recently starred in One Perfect Day in which he was nominated for an AFI award for Best Leading Actor and he is also well-known for his roles in television series such as Offspring and The Secret Life of Us.

“Spielman is here to present the World Premiere of An Accidental Soldier along with international feature film star and Director Rachel Ward which certainly adds to the celebrity element of this exciting event.”

Jackson Gallagher plays the central figure in the West Australian Premier MIFF@CinefestOZ film, Patrick. Jackson will appear for the first time as one of the new bad boys on Home and Away later this month.

“He has taken a short break from the set of Home and Away to attend the festival supporting his film, which I am sure will add great value to this event,” said Festival Director Malinda Nixon.

“These young stars will be supported by some of Australia’s most well-known actors including David Wenham , Rachel Ward (An Accidental Soldier, Beautiful Kate), Jack Thompson (Mystery Road) , Myles Pollard (Wolverine, X Men, MacLeods Daughters) and Dean Daley-Jones (The Turning, Mad Bastards) at the festival.

“These actors are all internationally recognised feature film stars and it is a credit to the rapid growth of this festival that they are able to attend.”

“We will also be hosting WA Actresses Amanda Woodhams, who will be flying in from LA on Thursday, and Amanda McGregor who will make the trip from Sydney for this event. Both of these fantastic actresses are now making a name for themselves – the latter just finished appearing in The Crucible for Melbourne Theatre Co with David Wenham, and Amanda Woodhams was one of the stars of Cloudstreet, the television mini-series filmed in Perth.

“CinefestOZ 2013 will represent a great culmination of some of Australia’s best film talent both from in front of the camera and filmmakers behind the lens.”

-OFFICIAL CINEFESTOZ MEDIA RELEASE-

Edited by Vanessa McMahon