CinefestOZ Film Festival has named iconic WA actress and much-loved comedic star Isla Fisher as its Screen Legend for 2021.
The Screen Legend is recognised for playing a valuable role in supporting excellence in Australian filmmaking, which CinefestOZ proudly showcases through a variety of film events and screenings across Western Australia’s South West region over the five-day festival from 25 – 29 August.
Fisher is known internationally as a comedic powerhouse, with a wealth of experience and range across dramatic roles and voice-acting in animation that has earned her industry award wins since her debut.
Born in the Middle Eastern country of Oman, Fisher’s family moved to Perth, Western Australia when she was a young girl. At the age of nine, Fisher was already appearing in commercials broadcast on Australian television. She then became best known for her role as ‘Shannon Reed’ in the popular soap Home & Away.
Internationally Fisher is most widely recognised for her critically-acclaimed performance as Vince Vaughn’s off-kilter love interest in the blockbuster The Wedding Crashers. Other credits include Gore Verbinski’s award-winning animated feature Rango with Johnny Depp, Baz Lurman’s The Great Gatsby, Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals, the romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe with co-star Ryan Reynolds, Now You See Me opposite Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Melanie Laurent and Morgan Freeman, Hot Rod with Andy Samberg, The Brothers Grimsby alongside her husband Sacha Baron Cohen, Rebel Wilson and Penelope Cruz, and more recently Blithe Spirit with Judi Dench, Dan Stevens and Leslie Mann.
She also studied commedia dell’arte in Paris at the renowned L’école Jacques Lecoq performance school. In June 2016, Fisher made her debut as a children’s author with ‘Marge in Charge’.
“I am so honoured to be receiving this award and to be able to support this important festival in the state where I grew up,” said Fisher. “I feel at home in Perth, and I am delighted to be able to support CinefestOZ and the arts industry.”
The CinefestOZ Screen Legend award honours an Australian actor or filmmaker of international repute and will be presented at the CinefestOZ film festival Gala Night in Busselton on Saturday 28 August.
Fisher joins a formidable line up of past recipients of the award who include Kelton Pell, Sigrid Thornton, Hugo Weaving, Joel Edgerton, Jack Thompson, Bryan Brown, David Wenham, Jacqueline McKenzie, filmmakers Fred Schepisi, Bruce Beresford, Gillian Armstrong and Scott Hicks.
Fisher will walk the CinefestOZ red carpets this week for Film Prize finalists River, Here Out West and Closing Gala Night. Currently undertaking her two week quarantine commitment, the actor will join her fellow Jurors virtually this week to discuss the other Film Prize finalists, ahead of her arrival to Busselton on Friday 27 August.
The full film program for this year’s CinefestOZ has officially launched with an exciting array of new and established filmmakers premiering their work this week. Download the official CinefestOZ app to search session times, book tickets and build your calendar of events during the festival.
Download the official CinefestOZ app to search session times, book tickets and build your calendar of events during the festival.
CinefestOZ would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we live and work on, and pay our respect to the Elders past, present and future.
CinefestOZ thanks Presenting Partner Tourism WA, Premium Partners Screenwest and City of Busselton and Community Partner Rio Tinto. The festival acknowledges its strong support from Lotterywest and Screen Australia.
