Hollywood star Kate Walsh launches first CinefestOZ Albany film festival

Hollywood actor Kate Walsh brought her star power to Albany on Thursday to celebrate the opening of the inaugural CinefestOZ Albany Film Festival. Film lovers from across WA were treated to three days of premieres, interactive screenings and special events which finished in style with a special celebration at Albany Entertainment Centre on Saturday night. The Grey’s Anatomy star headlined the list of special guests at the opening night at Orana Cinemas, which included Australian producer Jamie Hilton and Esperance drone photographer Jaimen Hudson. She arrived in Albany, staying in Middleton Beach, after stops in Margaret River and Denmark. “This whole area is really beautiful. It is my first time down this far south in WA and I have loved it. It is really incredible,” she said. On Saturday, the 53-year-old gave guests insight into life in the film industry in an intimate Q&A with The West Australian’s Ben O’Shea at Monty’s Leap Winery. Since moving to Perth last year at the height of the pandemic, Walsh has become an advocate for the local film industry, even helping Premier Mark McGowan reveal the State’s vision for a $120 million plan to build a world-class studio at Victoria Quay. She told the Advertiser that after a quick trip home to the US and some work in Europe, she planned to return to WA. “I think it is a great time for the world to see even more what great Aussie storytellers there are and artisans in every facet of film and television making and theatre,” she said.