Organ donor documentary’s WA premiere close to home

Locally made documentary Dying to Live will screen for residents during next month’s CinefestOz film celebration.

Directed by Margaret River man Richard Todd and featuring work by local animator Mike Dunn, the film explores Australia’s challenging organ donation system.

Todd travelled across the country to produce the doco, but found plenty of stories about organ donation close to home.

Cowaramup’s Peter “Woody” Wood also details his trials on the waitlist for his third kidney transplant in the flick.

“Cinefest is our WA premiere,” Todd said. “And after years of going to the event as a Margaret River local, I am so excited to be presenting our documentary.

“We had an amazing world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival and we are also doing our Victorian premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 14.

“It is such an honour to be invited into three very prestigious film festivals.”

CinefestOz chief executive Malinda Nixon said the festival aimed to showcase new projects and support West Australian filmmakers. “Richard Todd joins a large number of nationally recognised filmmakers who are not only premiering their films at Cinefest Oz, but taking part in the festival’s industry program,” she said.

Todd will appear at a question-and-answer session at noon on August 25 in Busselton, with more talent still to be announced.