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From today, Australia's premier destination film festival — now in its 16th year — will host screenings of a diverse range of Australian films and provide a platform for the nation's best new filmmakers to showcase their latest works to festivalgoers and industry peers.

The 6-day festival will feature more than 200 free and ticketed screen-related events in around 25 venues across the South West region, including local wineries, galleries, cinemas and small bars. It will also offer festivalgoers a chance to connect with filmmakers and visiting talent.

The festival brings global media attention to the South West and attracts thousands of visitors to the range of events held throughout the region, including in Augusta, Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River, adding vibrancy and excitement during the cooler winter season, generating jobs and income for the local economy.

The event is funded by through the State Government's Regional Events Program, as well as supported by Screenwest, Lotterywest, and the Commonwealth Government through Screen Australia.

On offer for lovers of the big screen will be this year's $100,000 Film Prize finalists: Bromley: Light After Dark; Monolith; Melbourne International Film Festival films Shayda, and The Rooster, featuring a star-studded cast, including Hugo Weaving.

The $100,000 prize is the largest film award in the nation for an Australian-made film. It was established in 2014 to recognise excellence in an Australian feature film or feature-length documentary and entices a high standard of submissions each year.

This year's Film Prize Jury panel includes acclaimed director, producer and screenwriter Robert Connolly; Hollywood producer, Debbie Liebling; international award-winning actor and director, Mia Wasikowska; film, television and theatre actor, Rob Collins; and four-time Emmy award winner and production designer, Deborah Riley.

CinefestOZ also features a dedicated schools program, Cinesnaps, with the aim of inspiring local students to develop an appreciation for the filmmaking process, along with free community days featuring IndigifestOZ, which showcase First Nations filmmaking and talent.