It's that passion that influences the voices of characters in her films - and her own voice, which will be heard as she launches the Brimbank Literary Festival on September 13.

"I grew up in Yarraville and spent my teenage years in St Albans and a lot of those experiences shaped and informed who I am," Kokkinos says.

At the festival's launch, Kokkinos will speak about writing original material for the screen based on personal experiences.

She will discuss the process of adapting novels and plays into films and of finding the courage to create a film by drawing on personal perspective.

Kokkinos has filmed extensively throughout the western suburbs for feature films such as Head On and Only the Brave. Her latest film, Blessed, shared this common thread. "I find myself increasingly drawn back to the west," she says.

"In my characters I can tell the stories of working-class life and do so with courage, humour and dignity. Those values I found in my personal experiences [of the western suburbs] and are the things I very much bring to my work.

"There's no bullshit about the people there [and] I find them extraordinary on some level. I hope that when I come out and talk I can convey that."

Her formula has been a successful one, with Blessed premiering at the Melbourne International Film Festival and then winning the Jury Prize for best screenplay at San Sebastian.

The film was also an official selection at the Toronto, London and Palm Springs international film festivals.

"The things I learned when I was in the western suburbs I carry with me [everywhere I go] and that's what audiences around the world love."

Kokkinos says her passion for sharing personal stories drove her to give up a possible career in law to take the step of enrolling in a filmmaking course at the Victorian College of the Arts.

"When I decided to become a filmmaker I followed that initial passion, the desire to talk about and tell stories," she says.

"The thing people noticed about me is that I had a particular voice and I have very much stayed true to that voice in my films."

Kokkinos credits her success in the competitive world of filmmaking to "sheer persistence, talent and determination".

Rotunda in the West – An Evening with Ana Kokkinos is a free event. Teachers from Victoria University will also run a series of writing workshops starting from 6.30pm at the Harvester Technical College. Bookings: 9361 6600.