By Travis Johnson

THE 2018 Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF) program saw the light of day this morning, unveiling a roster of  40 feature films including one world premiere, seven Australian premieres and seven Queensland premieres.

In addition, this year’s festival, which runs from from Tuesday, April 17 to Sunday, April 29, boasts an impressive array of short films, events, filmmaker Q&As, plus Virtual Reality experiences.

This year’s opening night film is the Australian thriller The Second, a Stan Original film directed by Mairi Cameron and starring Rachael Blake (Lantana, Sleeping Beauty), Susie Porter (The Monkey’s Mask, Better Than Sex, Two Hands), Vince Colosimo (Chopper, Stingers, The Secret Life Of Us, Underbelly), Martin Sacks (A Place To Call Home, The Cup, Love in Limbo) and Susan Prior (The Rover, Puberty Blues, Muriel’s Wedding). Cameron and some of the cast, including Blake and Colosimo will be in attendance.

Australian black comedy Brothers’ Nest, by brothers Clayton and Shane Jacobson (Kenny), will make its Australian premiere as the closing night film, with the brothers Jacobson attending.

Simon Baker’s keenly anticipated Tim Winton adaptation, Breath, will make its Queensland premiere at a special red-carpet gala event at Pacific Fair on Thursday, April 19. Baker and cast members Samson Coulter and Ben Spence will be attending and participating in a post-screening Q&A.

A must-see for industry folks and avid cinephiles alike, the documentary Jill Bilcock: Dancing The Invisible, which is making its Queensland premiere, tells the story of one of the world’s most legendary film editors, Jill Bilcock, whose work includes Strictly Ballroom, Australia, and The Dressmaker. Bilcock will take part in a special Q&A after the film.

Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira said, “The Gold Coast Film Festival continues to grow becoming one of the most important events on the Gold Coast cultural calendar as well as in the Australian film industry. We are so proud to support the GCFF which continues to grow in stature and ambition, screening compelling stories and engaging the local community and screen industry. This year’s program is testament to the world-class festival it has become as it continues to think outside the screen and zoom in on innovative ways filmmakers are telling their stories including Virtual Reality.”

“At its core, the Gold Coast Film Festival celebrates film and filmmaking,” said Festival Director Lucy Fisher.

“The Film Festival will be the Gold Coast’s first major event following the Commonwealth Games and will continue to enrich the city through the dozens of special film events being held at 11 venues across the Gold Coast. We are proud to announce such a strong line-up today and look forward to once again bringing the magic of film to film enthusiasts, aspiring filmmakers and the screen industry here on the Gold Coast.”

For the full rundown, head over to the official site. Tickets are on sale now.

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