FREMANTLE Herald advertising director Matt Eeles has been awarded the Independent Spirit gong at this year’s WA Screen Culture Awards.
He was recognised for his tireless devotion to Australian film through his Cinema Australia website and WA Made Film Festival.
“His unwavering commitment to supporting local creatives and highlighting the diverse voices of our filmmaking community has earned him a well-deserved reputation as a key figure in the state’s and nation’s screen culture,” noted the WA Screen Culture Awards committee.
Founded by Eeles in 2013, Cinema Australia started out as a humble fan page devoted to homegrown films he loved watching.
Over the past decade it has gone from strength-to-strength and is now a popular hub for everything to do with Aussie cinema, especially up-and-coming talent.
• Ben Elton and Matt Eeles at the premiere of Three Summers
Eeles has interviewed literally everyone in the industry from indie filmmakers and cult actors to famous Aussie stars and directors including Eric Bana, David Wenham, Rachel Griffiths and Jack Thompson.
“My most memorable interview is my first ever interview with the great Robert Connolly, a filmmaker many consider to be the godfather of contemporary Australian cinema,” Eeles says.
“I had no idea if my questions were any good, and I told him that I was nervous.
“He comforted me by telling me that it’s very easy to confuse nerves with excitement, and he was right.
“This calmed me down and it’s advice that I still carry with me when conducting interviews or speaking publicly.”
Buoyed by the success of Cinema Australia, Eeles co-founded the WA Made Film Festival in 2020.
Held in Perth, the event was a celebration of locally-made films including premieres of WA movies, Q&A screenings, shorts, and even a category for films shot on a smartphone.
Only problem – four days before the Festival opened, Australia went into lockdown.
“That first event taught me more about event management than any school or university could ever teach me,” Eeles says
“That experience got us through another two years of covid interruptions which has been the most challenging aspect of running the festival.
“The most rewarding aspect has been the feedback from young up-and-coming filmmakers who have told me that they continue to make films because we accepted their debut film to screen at WA Made while no other festival would.
“One local filmmaker has a tattoo of a film reel with each frame of the reel filled with a film he has had accepted into WA Made. When I asked him what the empty frames are for he told me they’re for future films he hopes to screen at the festival. Incredible.”
• Suzie Worner and Eeles with his Independent Spirit Award.
After a turbulent launch, the annual festival proved a hit with filmgoers and the 5th and biggest-ever WA Made Film Festival, featuring a 10-day programme, was held earlier this year.
It holds the distinction of being WA’s only independently operated film festival featuring exclusively WA-made films.
Originally from Northam, Eeles’ down-to-earth persona and easygoing country charm has made him a popular figure on the Aussie film scene.
He’s frequently asked to host Q&A screenings and do red carpet interviews at film festivals.
He says his most memorable experience was hosting the WA premiere of Ben Elton’s Three Summers in Perth to an audience of more than 500 people.
“Imposter syndrome kicked in and I remember thinking, ‘Who the hell am I to be standing on a stage with a legend like Ben Elton?’” Eeles says.
“I was asked to host two more events with Ben following that, so I must have done something right.”
There was another local triumph at the WA Screen Culture Awards with Re-imagining Our Futures: birthing winning the Innovative Short Film award.
It was produced and co-written by Shari Hutchison, founder of Fremantle-based Kirri Media.
Directed by Kimberley Benjamin, the film is a testament to the power of storytelling, showcasing the strength, resilience and vision of First Nations women.
To find out more about Cinema Australia go to cinemaaustralia.com.au and for the WA Made Film Festival see wamadefilmfestival.com.au.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK