In its 15th year, the festival continues to go from strength to strength as it showcases the very best films made across the region.

Held at the Inverell Town Hall on November 29 and 30, the public is invited to experience the spectacular selection of work made by festival entrants as well as the highly acclaimed and award-winning films of the special guests.

A highlight will undoubtedly be the Festival Awards - The Oscars in the Bush! On Friday evening at 7pm. The outrageously brilliant Rob Carlton will host this glittering night showcasing the very best films in the region created by our remarkably talented filmmakers.

Short films will be presented by a dazzling array of industry professionals. Enjoy a drink at the festival bar operating from 6:30pm and throughout the evening.

The event provides a rare opportunity not only to meet the festival judges but also to view some of their work.

Special guests for 2019 include Rachel Ward, Rob Carlton, Jason van Genderen, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Kate Auld, Ben Daley and Tim Dennis.

Rachel Ward is a former actress who starred in the CBS's biggest rating mini-series ever, The Thornbirds as well as the films, Against All Odds, Sharkey's Machine with and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid. She has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award three times.

For the past 15 years Rachel has been directing/writing films and TV in Australia. Her film Beautiful Kate screened at the Sydney Film festival, garnered eleven AFI nominations and screened in competition at Toronto and Palm Springs Film Festival. Don't miss it when it screens at the Festival on Saturday at 8pm.

Rob Carlton is a Logie Award winning Australian actor and writer, best known for his starring role in the ABC's Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo in which he played the charismatic king of Australian media, Kerry Packer.

Rob has appeared in numerous television series from Home and away, Blue Heelers, Water Rats, Fireflies, McLeod's Daughters and Wanted with Rebecca Gibney.

Prior to the screening of Beautiful Kate, Rob Carlton will interview Rachel Ward about her extraordinary career on Saturday at 7pm, in an unmissable and highly entertaining hour.

Further festival highlights include the screening of Emu Runner, featuring Rob Carlton. Rob will introduce the remarkable new Australian film.

Emu Runner tells the story of a young girl seeking comfort in her ancestral lands following the death of her mother, where a bond she forms with a wild emu rebuilds her spirit.

Shot in Brewarrina, Emu Runner is a lyrical and poetic film grounded in social realism and emphasising the importance of Country, community and storytelling. Emu Runner will screen on Saturday at 4pm.

Workshops will also be held on Saturday, conducted by Rachel Ward, Rob Carlton, Lewis Fitz-Gerald and Jason van Genderen.

Lewis Fitz-Gerald has worked extensively in film, television and the theatre at home and abroad. His career in Australian film began with Bruce Beresford's landmark feature Breaker Morant.

He has since worked for every Australian network and been nominated for awards as both actor and director. Don't miss Lewis when he conducts a workshop on Saturday morning, sharing his insights and experiences into the Australian film industry. A new face on the Tropfest scene in New York back in 2008, Jason van Genderen blew judges away with his poignant mobile phone produced film, Mankind is no Island.

The short film, which portrays homelessness using street signage and words, was shot on a budget of just $57. It has since clocked up millions of views on YouTube. Jason will screen his new experiential documentary about the highs and lows of crowd funding on Saturday at 2pm.

The Festival would not be taking place without vital funding from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and Create NSW, whose support is greatly appreciated.

The full program is available on the festival website: www.northwestfilmfestival.com. All events are free and open to the public.