Jon Bell's "The Moogai" was named winner of the Film Prize at the CinefestOZ festival in Western Australia on Saturday. At A$100,000 ($67,000), it is one of the richest film festival prizes in the world.
THE MOOGAI – TRAVEL FILM FESTIVAL 2021
Sarah and Fergus, a hopeful young Aboriginal couple, give birth to their second baby. But what should have been a joyous time in their lives turns sinister when Sarah begins seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to steal her baby. Fergus cannot see it but desperately wants to believe her. He does not know if the child-stealing spirit is real or if Sarah is in fact the greatest threat to their family's safety. The film stars Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt.
It is produced by Kristina Ceyton, Mitchell Stanely and Samantha Jennings and co-produced by Alex White. International sales are being handled by the UK-based Bankside Films.
"Genre films have long dealt with ideas of grief and loss. With 'The Moogai,' Australia now has one of the best examples, all our own. 'The Moogai' vividly captures how the trauma of the Stolen Generations intersects with motherhood anxiety," the festival said in a statement. Three other films were in the running for the prize: "Runt," "Audrey" and "Memoir of a Snail."
