Geographe Film Harvest notches up a century of programs

After nearly nine years of weekly screenings, the Geographe Film Harvest will publish its 100th program of monthly films next month.

Film Harvest is the passion project of director and producer Adrian Gaspari, whose passion for film started when he projected his first movie aged just 15.

Inspired by Cinefest Oz but disappointed by the long wait between the festivals, Gaspari came up with the Film Harvest concept.

“We find art house, foreign language or crossover films that are not being screened in regional areas, and we bring them to an appreciative regional audience,” he said.

“Originally I thought it would be a monthly event, but I took a huge risk to build a program of weekly screenings.

“Over the last few years Film Harvest has screened a number of Australian films that otherwise would not have been seen.”

Film Harvest shows a diverse mix, from documentaries to surreal animations, along with some incredible visual treats, such as the remastered Apollo 11 documentary.

Some screenings deal with controversial topics.

“We don’t aim to deliberately stir the pot, but some of the Film Harvest films are thought-provoking and challenging,” Gaspari said.

The Film Harvest films are screened simultaneously every Wednesday evening in the four regional cinemas that comprise the Orana Cinema chain.

Sometimes all four cinemas have been filled to capacity for the screenings.

Busselton Film harvest regular Dale Mack was at the latest Film Harvest session.

“I come to almost every screening; every single movie is a surprise and a delight and I love independent films. It’s great being able to support our local cinema,” Ms Mack said.

Quindalup resident Nola Matthews is also a Film Harvest enthusiast and is keen to restart a film club she belonged to.

“Before COVID, I was in a film group. We met at Film Harvest every week, we would watch the movie and then discuss it over dinner afterwards,” Mrs Matthews said.

Orana Film Harvest chain owner Ron Siemiginowski said Film Harvest screenings had a loyal group of regulars.

“We package movies that are not quite commercial enough and bring them to a hugely loyal regional audience,” he said.

Recent changes to the cinemas’ scheduling has opened up an opportunity for repeat Film Harvest screening on Sunday afternoons.

The Orana in Busselton is also preparing to launch a new regular Sunday arts slot in February.

These Sunday art sessions will be showing films that are professionally recorded at theatres across the globe and will include ballet, theatre and opera.

“We will be able to bring performances from the venues such as New York Metropolitan Opera House to Busselton,” Mr Siemiginowsk said.

One of the recordings will be the musical Mimma that was written by Mr Siemiginowski, starring Sir David Suchet and Mr Siemiginowski’s music performed by the BBC Orchestra.