Jury role for Beresford
Australian directing great Bruce Beresford has agreed to take on the role of jury head for the $100,000 CinefestOZ Film Prize.
Beresford was one of the key figures in the renaissance of Australian cinema during the 1970s, directing such key works as The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, The Getting of Wisdom, Don's Party, Breaker Morant and The Club before establishing a successful Hollywood career.
So it is fitting he will head the five-person jury for the inaugural edition of Australia's richest film prize and one of the biggest of its kind anywhere in the world.
"Having someone of Bruce Beresford's calibre playing a central role assists CinefestOZ in providing an outstanding showcase dedicated to Australian film," Helen Shervington, film selector for the Busselton-based festival, said.
Beresford said he believed the prize would be important in boosting film and television production in Australia.
The prize will be announced on the closing night of the August 20 to 24 festival.
