by FilmInk Staff
- Leading Australian filmmakers, exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, special screenings and industry events headline the five-day celebration on the Gold Coast from 3–7 February 2027
- Australian actors Chloe Hayden, Christopher Chung, Gemma Chua-Tran and George Pullar are also announced as this year’s AACTA Festival Ambassadors
- The Festival will host the red-carpet world premiere of Fortitude Valley, set in Brisbane and starring Hunter Page-Lochard and Rupert Everett. The program also includes the world premiere of the Australian BINGE Original Tough Love with Miranda Otto, Rick Donald, Jay Ryan and Hugo Johnstone-Burt.
- Tickets are on sale now at aactafestival.com
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) has today unveiled the first line-up of events for the 2027 AACTA Festival, returning to the Gold Coast from 3 to 7 February 2027, with tickets now on sale.
Bringing together some of the biggest names in Australian and international screen entertainment, the five-day celebration will transform HOTA, Home of the Arts, into a hub of film, television and creativity.
AACTA has also announced its first cohort of 2027 AACTA Festival Ambassadors, with Australian actors, Chloe Hayden (Heartbreak High), Christopher Chung (Slow Horses, My Brilliant Career), Gemma Chua-Tran (Dustfall, Heartbreak High) and George Pullar (Posthumous) are on board to support.
Held alongside the AACTA Awards presented by BINGE and the AACTA Industry Awards Gala, the Festival will bring audiences closer to the people behind their favourite films and series through premieres, exclusive screenings, Q&A conversations and live demonstrations. Additional program highlights, including premieres and special guests, will be unveiled in the coming months.
AACTA Festival continues to establish itself as one of the most important celebrations of Australian screen, welcoming more than 15,000 visitors, across hundreds of events and participants, to the Gold Coast.
Program Highlights
From the creative decisions behind some of cinema’s most memorable moments to the next generation of Australian screen stories, the 2027 program offers audiences a rare opportunity to explore the craft of filmmaking with the people who know it best.
Emmy Award-winning costume designer Molly Rogers (Sex and the City, And Just Like That, Ugly Betty) takes audiences inside the wardrobe of The Devil Wears Prada 2, while Australian director Patrick Hughes will go behind the action of this year’s most-watched Netflix film, War Machine. Music supervisor Jemma Burns explores how music shapes what we see and feel on screen in a dedicated music deconstruction.
Acclaimed Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel will break down key scenes from Snowtown, Macbeth and Nitram, revealing how he builds tension and draws powerful performances from his cast. A director showcase with Jeffrey Walker explores his work on the recent Queensland-shot productions Bull, Who the Hell Is Hamish?, Allen and Fing!.
With Yellowjackets entering its final season, Australian stars Liv Hewson and Courtney Eaton will lead a discussion on the series’ enduring impact. Actors Temuera Morrison, Chloe Hayden and Christopher Chung also feature in the program, alongside acclaimed storyteller Leah Purcell and bestselling author Diana Reid who will explore adapting Sense & Sensibility for the screen. A range of Actor on Actor conversations and Meet the AACTA Nominees sessions will also bring audiences closer to Australia’s leading screen talent.
AACTA Festival Ambassador Christopher Chung said “I’m incredibly proud to be joining AACTA as a Festival Ambassador. Australia has always been home, and while my career has taken me around the world, it’s only deepened my appreciation for the extraordinary talent and stories that come out of our country.
“Australian storytelling has such a distinct voice, and it’s exciting to see our industry continue to grow and make its mark on the world stage. I think it’s more important than ever that we champion the diversity of voices and perspectives that make Australian storytelling so unique, while creating opportunities for the next generation of talent. I’m thrilled to be part of a festival that celebrates not only how far we’ve come, but also the exciting future of our industry.”
In a rare live demonstration, AACTA Longford Lyell Award recipient Bruce Beresford will rehearse actors on stage in a scene from the upcoming The Ballad of Les Darcy. Oscar-winning Australian cinematographer Dean Semler will revisit the action and sweeping landscapes of Dances with Wolves and Apocalypto, while Australian production designer Owen Paterson explores the worlds he helped create from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to Captain America.
Queensland Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek said “the AACTA Festival would once again put Queensland in the spotlight. The AACTAs bring some of the biggest names in film and television to the Gold Coast, showcasing Queensland’s screen industry, creative talent and world-class destinations to audiences around the world.”
“The 2027 event is anticipated to generate more than 10,300 visitor nights and deliver more than $5.8 million for Queensland, supporting our accommodation, hospitality and tourism businesses and the local jobs they create.
“Through Queensland’s Time to Shine and Destination 2045, the Crisafulli Government is growing our creative economy, backing Queensland’s screen sector and securing the major events that keep Queensland front and centre on the national and international stage.”
Premieres and Special Screenings
The screening program includes the world premiere of Australian BINGE Original Tough Love, with Miranda Otto, Rick Donald, Jay Ryan and Hugo Johnstone-Burt.
The Queensland production Fortitude Valley will have a red-carpet world premiere at AACTA Festival. Hunter Page-Lochard, Kat Stewart and Rupert Everett lead the cast of the Brisbane-set ABC crime series directed by Sian Davies.
Further premieres and screenings will be announced.
Screen Queensland CEO, Jacqui Feeney said that “The 2027 AACTA Festival delivers an array of events connecting audiences and the next generation of Queensland filmmakers with the Australian screen sector’s leading lights. The program profiles acclaimed talent like Queensland director Jeffrey Walker, presents premiere events including the Brisbane series Fortitude Valley, as well as opening industry pathways through the Screen Careers Expo.”
Industry Development & Screen Careers
Delivered in partnership with Screen Queensland and the Gold Coast Film Festival, and supported by Invest Gold Coast, Panavision, Sony and The Post Lounge, the first short films produced through the PROOF initiative will premiere at the 2027 AACTA Festival. Showcasing some of Queensland’s most promising emerging creative teams, the three proof-of-concept shorts: DEADLINE, THE WATER TANK and TICK, TICK, TICK, will screen in competition before a special Grand Jury, which will select a winning project with the potential to be developed into a feature film.
AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager Ivan Vukusic said that “We’re thrilled to be returning to the Gold Coast for another year of the AACTA Awards and Festival.
“The AACTA Screen Careers Expo, presented by Essential Screen Skills, is another important part of the Festival, giving aspiring creatives the opportunity to connect directly with industry professionals, explore career pathways and gain valuable insights into working in the screen industry. We’re proud to create a space that not only celebrates Australia’s screen talent but also inspires and supports the next generation.
“It’s lights, camera and action time for the fourth AACTA Festival on the Gold Coast,’’ said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.
“Through strong partnerships, we are growing the screen industry and supporting emerging talent locally, and nationally. AACTA plays a pivotal role in this growth and I look forward to the 2027 festival.’’
Meet the 2027 AACTA Festival Ambassadors
Supporting the Festival, this year’s ambassadors reflect the diversity and global impact of Australian screen storytelling:
● Australian actor, author and disability advocate Chloe Hayden is best known for her breakout role as Quinni Gallagher-Jones in Netflix’s Heartbreak High, for which she received the 2022 AACTA Audience Choice Award for Best Actress.
● Christopher Chung – Australian actor and BAFTA Award nominee for his role in the acclaimed series Slow Horses. He also stars in the 2026 television adaptation of My Brilliant Career.
● Gemma Chua-Tran – Since her breakout role in Netflix’s Heartbreak High, Gemma has won an AACTA Award for her work in Lesbian Space Princess and is currently appearing in Dustfall on ABC. She will soon star in the action comedy feature Kung Fu Deadly and alongside Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo in the hotly-anticipated Netflix feature Gundam.
● Queensland-born actor, writer and producer George Pullar is making his mark across Australian film and television. With screen credits including Posthumous and Evil Dead Burn.
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said: “The Gold Coast is no stranger to the spotlight, and we’re thrilled to once again roll out the red carpet for the AACTA Awards and Festival at HOTA, Home of the Arts,” Mr Warn said.
“With some of the biggest names in Australian film and television set to descend on our city, AACTA Festival is another opportunity to showcase the Gold Coast as a destination where creativity, culture and world-class events shine.
“Beyond the red carpet, visitors can experience everything that makes the Gold Coast a star attraction, from our iconic beaches and incredible dining to our thriving arts and cultural scene.”
Tickets and Information
The 2027 AACTA Festival returns to HOTA, Home of the Arts, on the Gold Coast from 3–7 February 2027.
Tickets are now on sale for the AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by BINGE, the AACTA Industry Awards Gala and Live by the Lake, alongside the AACTA Festival events.
For tickets, event details and the full Festival programme, visit aactafestival.com.
Key Dates
– Location: HOTA, Home of the Arts – Gold Coast, Queensland – AACTA Awards Industry Gala: Wednesday 3 February 2027 – AACTA Festival Industry Conference Day: Thursday 4 February 2027 – AACTA Awards Ceremony & Official After Party: Friday 5 February 2027 – AACTA Screen Careers Expo: Saturday 6 February 2026 – AACTA Festival: Wednesday 3 February – Sunday 7 February 2027
– For information on the AACTA Festival, click here.
