Albany film Edward and Isabella to make debut screening at CinefestOZ film festival

A premiere of local film Edward and Isabella at this year’s CinefestOZ Albany film festival aims to help cement the region as a filmmaking hotspot.

The award-winning film by Albany writer and director Adam Morris is set to be the centrepiece at this year’s festival.

It will be screened at an event titled with the Menang Noongar name Koort meaning ‘heart’.

Menang Noongar elder Vernice Gillies said the film festival was happening in the heart of Menang country.

“For us Menang Noongars, koort means heart, and I’m pleased that CinefestOZ Albany is calling its celebration of Albany films and film-makers Koort,” she said.

CinesfestOZ Albany will take place from April 28 to May 1 allowing an audience of movie lovers to experience and celebrate the very best in Australian cinema.

Morris’ debut feature film Edward and Isabella, starring Hollywood actor Chloe Hurst, was shot entirely in the Great Southern with an all-Albany crew.

It claimed the prize for Innovation in Narrative Feature Film under a $1 million budget at the WA Screen Culture Awards.

The film will be premiered alongside a performance from The Albany Shantymen during CinefestOZ Albany festivities on Saturday, April 30.

Edward and Isabella joins Breath, H is for Happiness and Rams on the expanding list of films set in the Great Southern in recent years.