A new film with Oscar-winner Olivia Colman will battle a feature by a rising WA director for the honour of claiming Australia’s richest film prize of its kind at CinefestOZ this year.

Transmasculine filmmaker Harvey Zielinski, a two-time Heath Ledger Scholarship finalist, could not be more invested in the Cinefest-shortlisted movie, Sweet Milk Lane, having written, directed and starred in the comedy-drama.

It follows Jake, a young trans man, who returns to his regional hometown, only to have his terminally ill father mistake him for his cisgender twin brother.

When Jake decides to lean into the ruse, it sets a train of events in motion that examines issues of identity and self-acceptance.

“Making Sweet Milk Lake has been such an incredible ride,” Zielinski told The West Australian, after becoming the first trans writer-director-actor shortlisted by the festival.

“I wanted to craft something romantic, funny and moving, exploring masculinity, family and the concessions we make to feel like we belong, from a transmasculine perspective.

“Being a CinefestOZ prize finalist is an unbelievable honour. I’m so grateful. It’s especially meaningful to me, given that WA is my home state and my upbringing in the Perth Hills has helped shape this story so significantly.”

Zielinski, who is best known as a series regular in White Fever and Deadloch, co-stars alongside Hunter Page-Lochard (Reckless), Kieran Darcy-Smith (Apple Cider Vinegar) and Ngaire Pigram (Sweet As).

To take home the $100,000, Zielinski will need to convince a jury of screen industry experts, who will be comparing the movie to three other shortlisted Australian films, including Colman’s latest effort, The Fox.

Shot in South Australia, the film sees The Favourite star provide the voice of a fox in a darkly comic fantasy with a star-studded cast, including WAAPA graduate Jai Courtney (Dutton Ranch), Emily Browning (One More Shot) and Miranda Otto (Lord of the Rings).

Also shortlisted at this year’s Cinefest are Wilderness, an inspiring drama from writer-director Martin McKenna and starring Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black); and a time-loop comedy, Yesterday Island, written and directed by Sam Voutas.

CinefestOZ returns to WA’s South West from August 29-September 6.