Australia’s South West set for significant tourism boost when the Field of Light: Avenue of Honour light installation descends on Albany
As the world marks 100 years since the end of the Great War, Albany will pay tribute with a large-scale light installation crafted by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro.
The Field of Light: Avenue of Honour installation will glow with 16, 000 glass spheres planted along the Avenue of Honour at Mount Clarence in homage to the Anzacs, who departed Albany’s shores over a century ago. The immersive artwork is expected to draw more than 28,500 local and national visitors, marking a sophisticated and contemporary commemoration for the Anzac centenary.
The Field of Light: Avenue of Honour installation is expected to highlight the region’s extraordinary experiences to a national and international audience expected to drive an additional 28,500 visitors to Albany and the South West between October 2019 and April 2019.
Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said he was incredibly proud to be hosting Field of Light: Avenue of Honour in Albany as a free public art exhibition and he looked forward to the opportunity to showcase Albany nationally as a must-see tourism destination. “We have developed a number of tour packages which will connect visitors to the Field of Light with other experiences within our region, giving them the best Albany and Anzac experience possible,” he said.
Catrin Allsop, CEO of Australia’s South West said the Field of Light: Avenue of Honour offered a compelling reason to visit the historic and cultural highlights of Albany. “It provides the opportunity to explore the Great Southern’s natural attractions, food and wine trails and biodiversity hotspots in spring and the orca tour season in summer,” she said.
FORM’s Executive Director Lynda Dorrington said the Albany installation would translate the notion of memorial into an ephemeral and emotional encounter, inviting viewers to engage with Albany’s unique sense of place.
“As a new generation of Australians and New Zealanders reflect on their national identities; art, as a modern iteration of memorial, will invite dialogue, immersive reflection and a celebration of the Armistice through themes of hope, peace and sacrifice,” she said.
The installation was commissioned by independent, non-profit cultural organisation FORM with the City of Albany and made possible by funding from the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund and the State Government through Tourism Western Australia and Lotterywest and with support from Christine and Kerry Stokes AC. It will coincide with peak wildflower season and the conclusion of the Anzac Centenary commemorations, exhibiting from 4 October 2018 through to Anzac Day in April 2019.
Tickets now on sale for 2018 Margaret River Gourmet Escape, featuring Nigella Lawson and Rick Stein
Margaret River Gourmet Escape will return this November (16-18) for the seventh annual instalment of the extraordinary festival of food and wine described by returning star Nigella Lawson as an ‘astonishing‘ event in a ‘magical‘ destination.
Nigella will take part in a series of events over the festival weekend including the iconic Gourmet Beach BBQ (Friday 16 November, Lunch and Dinner), Nigella’s Tea Party at Howard Park Winery (Sunday 18 November), as well as appearances and a book signing at the Gourmet Village at Leeuwin Estate (Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November).
Not alone in her affection for the event, other returning stars include crowd-favourites Rick and Jack Stein, Tetsuya Wakuda, Matt Stone, Jo Barrett, Mitch Orr and Guy Grossi, who’ll be joined by an impressive lineup of new talent, to host over 45 events in more than 25 unique and breathtaking locations.
International stars visiting the festival for the first time in 2018 include Australian, London-based chef and author Skye Gyngell of Spring, London. Joining her from the UK is MasterChef: The Professionals and TV regular Monica Galetti of Mere, London. Also making their debut are Louis Tikaram who left Australia for the bright lights of West Hollywood to bring Fijian, Chinese and Indian flavours to the LA restaurant E.P. & L.P as well as Chef’s Table favourite Niki Nakayama of LA based modern Japanese kaiseki restaurant n/naka.
Hot off the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List announcement last month, Julien Royer (Odette SING, Number 28), James Lowe (Lyle’s UK, Number 38) and Ashley Palmer-Watts (Dinner by Heston Blumenthal UK, Number 42) will make their way to the food and wine mecca of Margaret River to host extraordinary and memorable dining experiences.
As well as the Gourmet Beach BBQ and Gourmet Village, other iconic and much-loved events including Feast in the Forest, Sunset, Beats & Bites, Fraser Gallop Estate Long Lunch and Dining by Twilight at Margaret River’s Secret Garden will return to the program.
New events on the menu at Margaret River Gourmet Escape 2018 include:
Amelia Park Spring Harvest Dinner will bring together Australian-born Skye Gyngell of Spring London, with Danielle Alvarez of Fred’s Sydney and Blair Allen from Amelia Park Restaurant to celebrate the incredible local produce and seasonal cooking philosophy shared by all three chefs. Expect a thoughtful, unforgettable dinner inspired by West Australian spring flavours paired with Amelia Park’s award-winning wines with commentary from winemaker Jeremy Gordon, overlooking the incredible vineyard and views of the Wilyabrup Valley.
Caves Road Cantina at Black Brewing Co. will see two of the world’s most accomplished Mexican chefs, Edgar Nunez from Sud 777 MEX (Number 64 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants) and Rosio Sanchez from her world-renowned taqueria Hija de Sanchez in Copenhagen, serve up a snack party of Mexican delicacies using amazing local produce. This will be washed down with a selection of local craft brews from five of the region’s top breweries.
Smith & Daughters 90s Trattoria Dinner will see chef and author Shannon Martinez of Melbourne’s Smith & Daughters transform the restaurant at Wise Vineyard into a vegan Italian trattoria. Taking inspiration from the Italian family restaurants of her childhood and years spent living in the Lower East Side of New York City, the party will be fuelled by a selection of Margaret River wines and a soundtrack of toe-tapping tunes that mirror the same fun vibe of her cooking.
Chow‘s Table Chinese Feast will bring together three young guns of modern Chinese cooking for one high-energy evening of food, drink and story-telling – Andrew Wong from London’s Michelin-starred A Wong, Victor Liong from the super hip Melbourne laneway diner Lee Ho Fook, and local hero and host Malcom Chow, owner of the recently opened Chow’s Table in Yallingup.
Fishtales with Rick Stein at Wills Domain will provide food for thought – how sustainable is the seafood we’re eating? That’s just one of the topics local seafood producers will be discussing at this thought-provoking event, with a seafood menu prepared by Stein’s son Jack and Seth James from Wills Domain, followed by a Q&A with Rick Stein.
Niki Nakayama’s Chef’s Table at Miki’s Open Kitchen will be an exclusive event with just 36 seats, showcasing the elegant Japanese cooking of Niki Nakayama from Los Angeles’ modern kaiseki restaurant n/naka, at local tempura hotspot Miki’s Open Kitchen. One of the stars of Chef’s Table on Netflix, this is the first-time Nakayama will bring her deeply personal, seasonally-inspired cooking to Western Australia.
Lyle’s V’s Ester Dinner at Larry Cherubino Winery will reunite James Lowe of London’s beloved Lyle’s, with Mat Lindsay – Australian Gourmet Traveller Chef of the Year 2018 and chef-owner of Ester in Sydney. The duo will serve up a menu that will showcase local produce from the South West, inspired by their last collaboration at James Lowe’s Game series in the UK back in 2015.
Guy Grossi Aboard Ocean Dream will transport guests along the stunning Geographe Bay in an Ocean Dream Charters luxury, 25-metre twin-catamaran. Enjoy the ultimate Italian summer canapé reception with matched beverages, prepared by Italian celebrity chef Guy Grossi, the man behind Garum at the new Westin in Perth, all surrounded by the blue hues of the Indian Ocean.
Wine-lovers will be equally spoilt for choice this year, with the prestigious Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting and Long Lunch with commentary by Sarah Ahmed (Friday 16 November), the Cullen Chardonnay Tasting & Lunch, with lunch by Tetsuya Wakuda (Saturday 17 November), and the annual Leeuwin Art Series Dinner (Friday 16 November). Vasse Felix, Arimia Estate, Cape Lodge, Yarri Restaurant and Fermoy Estate will also be joining the party in 2018, hosting distinct and unforgettable food and wine events over the weekend’s program of events.
The heartbeat of the festival is the Gourmet Village, set on the stunning grounds of Leeuwin Estate Winery. Over the weekend of Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November (11am to 6pm), the Gourmet Village will be food and wine central with more than 120 artisan food producers, winemakers and brewers from around Western Australia, alongside visiting chefs and wine experts. Guests can enjoy cooking demonstrations at the Chef’s Amphitheatre, hear intimate panel discussions at Consuming Conversations and enjoy live music. Children will have the chance to get their hands dirty, with kids cooking classes that will teach positive food habits through fun and interactive workshops. Tickets start at $40 with various packages available.
The full programme of events and visiting chefs and wine experts can be found at https://gourmetescape.com.au.
$100,000 Film Prize finalists announced for the 2018 CinefestOZ Film Festival
1%, Jirga, Ladies in Black and The Merger have been selected as the four Film Prize finalists at this year’s CinefestOZ. Each will go into the running to win Australia’s greatest film prize.
2018 marks the fifth year in which the significant sum of $100,000 is awarded to the producer of an Australian feature film, and the 11th CinefestOZ Film Festival. The prize was established to reward excellence in Australian filmmaking and is awarded by a five-member industry Jury, this year chaired by award-winning icon of Australian screen, television and stage, Sigrid Thornton.
These four films have been selected from an incredible range of submissions. Of the exceptional quality of finalists at this year’s festival, CinefestOZ Festival Chair Helen Shervington commented:
“The number and quality of entries for the $100,000 film prize increases every year, making it more and more challenging to narrow it down to just a handful of finalists. It’s a wonderful testament to Australian film making and story-telling. The industry continues to thrive and film makers are increasingly embracing the platform offered by CinefestOZ to showcase their works to appreciative audiences,” said Ms Shervington.
CinefestOZ is widely acknowledged as Australia’s premier destination festival and is committed to bringing the Australian film industry together in a supportive environment within the spectacular location of Western Australia’s stunning South West.
Set within the primal underworld of outlaw motorcycle clubs, crime drama 1%follows the heir to the throne of The Copperheads, who must betray his president to save his brother’s life. Directed by Stephen McCallum (Otherlife, Gallipoli), 1% is written by Matt Nable (Jasper Jones, Hacksaw Ridge, Son of a Gun, Riddick) who also stars in the film. The cast also features Ryan Corr (A Few Less Men, Hacksaw Ridge, Wolf Creek 2), Simone Kessell (The Crossing, Terra Nova, San Andreas) and model-turned-actress Abbey Lee (Gods of Egypt, Mad Max: Fury Road).
Modern fable Jirga tells the story of former Australian soldier, Mike Wheeler, who returns to Afghanistan seeking redemption from the family of a civilian man he accidentally killed during the war. Seeking forgiveness, he puts his life in the hands of the village justice system – the Jirga. Directed by Benjamin Gilmour, Jirga stars Sam Smith (Home and Away, Rake) in the lead role.
From Academy Award® nominated director Bruce Beresford (Mao’s Last Dancer, Driving Miss Daisy, Tender Mercies) comes the comedy-drama Ladies in Black, based on Madeleine St John’s best-selling novel, The Women in Black. Set in the summer of 1959, when the impact of European migration and the rise of women’s liberation is about to change Australia forever, a shy schoolgirl (Lisa) takes a summer job at the prestigious Sydney department store, Goode’s. There she meets the “ladies in black”, who will change her life forever.
Beguiled and influenced by Magda, the vivacious manager of the high-fashion floor, and befriended by fellow sales ladies Patty and Fay, Lisa is awakened to a world of possibilities. As Lisa grows from a bookish schoolgirl to a glamorous and positive young woman, she herself becomes a catalyst for a cultural change in everyone’s lives.
The film stars an outstanding ensemble cast including Julia Ormond (Mad Men, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Legends of the Fall, King Arthur), Angourie Rice (Spiderman: Homecoming, The Beguiled, Jasper Jones, The Nice Guys), Rachael Taylor (Jessica Jones, Gold, Red Dog) and Ryan Corr (Mary Magdalene, Ali’s Wedding, Hacksaw Ridge). The cast is rounded out with some of Australia’s best-known actors including Susie Porter, Shane Jacobson and Noni Hazlehurst.
The Merger, a comedy that pairs regional football and the refugee crisis, sees actor and comedian Damian Callinan in the lead role of Troy Carrington, a former player who returns to his country home town after an abrupt end to his sporting career. Upon returning home, it soon becomes clear that his political views aren’t welcome. When he is persuaded to take over coaching the struggling local footy team, his idea to recruit refugees to make up the numbers takes the community on a journey of change. Directed by Mark Grentell (Backyard Ashes), The Merger is written by Callinan, best known for his film and television roles in skithouse, Before the Game, Spicks & Specks and Backyard Ashes. He has been nominated 3 times for the Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Callinan is joined by Kate Mulvany (The Great Gatsby, Griff: The Invisible), John Howard (Last Cab to Darwin, Packed to the Rafters, All Saints, Sea Change), Nick Cody (Conan, Have You Been Paying Attention, Please Like Me) Fayssal Bazi (Down Under) and Logie Winner Penny Cook (Candy, Rake, A Country Practice).
Each of the four finalists will screen during CinefestOZ, along with an exciting program of other new Australian and French features, short films, documentaries, industry workshops and related events. The Festival program will present over 150 film related events, attracting large audiences over its 5 days.
The full CinefestOZ film and event program and ticket sales go live on 26 July 2018. Early Bird tickets and festival passes are available on the CinefestOZ website: www.cinefestoz.com.
CinefestOZ is supported by the State Government through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program, Rio Tinto is a proud Premium Partner of CinefestOZ. The festival acknowledges its strong partnership with Screenwest; Western Australia’s screen funding and development agency.
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