by FIlmInk Staff
It seems that the Queensland capital can’t get enough of films about itself, with the romantic drama All My friends Are Back in Brisbane being set for a longer run in local cinemas.
The low-budget film, which had its world premiere at the Gold Coast Film Festival on 1 May, was originally given three sessions at Five Star Cinemas New Farm in Brisbane. These all sold out, prompting the cinema to put the film on for an encore week. Those sessions were so well attended that the movie has been extended indefinitely.
“We’re over the moon,” said the film’s director Louise Alston. “We figured we might get one or two screenings and some festivals, but Brisbane audiences have really taken it to heart. The response has been amazing.”
Reviews of the film have been strongly positive, with Scenestr calling it “a charming and witty dramedy” and The Urbanite declaring it “a rom-com told in a uniquely Australian way: heartfelt, very funny, and tragically honest.”
The popularity of screenings has been assisted by the presence of Alston and writer Stephen Vagg, who do a Q&A at every session. They have been accompanied at times by others who worked on the film such as stars Nelle Lee and Dan Ewing (Home and Away). Alston plans to use this Q&A method at the movie’s upcoming screenings in Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne.
“We really want to encourage people to see it in cinemas, and so we’re turning every screening into a mini event,” said Alston.
The success of the film – along with that of the Paramount+ Brisbane-set TV series Two Years Later – comes as some much-needed good news for the Queensland screen sector, which was rocked by the cancellation of the Brisbane International Film Festival for 2026. This followed on from a Screen Queensland review into the 2025 festival and involves the departure of festival organisers For Film’s Sake. The decision to “pause” the festival for 2026 was described by local filmmaker Helen Yeates as “both embarrassing and tragic.”
ALL MY FRIENDS ARE BACK IN BRISBANE
Brisbane screenings at Five Star Cinemas New Farm
Sydney screenings at Randwick Ritz June 18
