Celebrating its 20th year, Queensland’s biggest celebration of cinema is back April 20 to May 1, 2022 with the Gold Coast Film Festival announcing its eagerly awaited program which this year spans the entire city, from Coomera to Coolangatta.
The line-up showcases brand new World and Australian premieres, exclusive preview screenings and filmmaking talent with an impressive line-up of exciting films, pop-up cinemas, red carpet screenings, industry panels, filmmaker Q&As, and special events.
In a nod to the 20th year milestone, there are a number of Celebration Screenings including; Scooby Doo which will include cast and characters as it also celebrates 20 years, the big surfing film Blue Crush which was also released 20 years ago and we will screen under the stars at a free beachside Cinema on Coolangatta Beach and Van Wilder Party Liaison at Burleigh Brewing.
The red car carpet will be rolled out at HOTA, Home of the Arts, as cast and crew assemble for the Opening Night headline film and Queensland Premiere; How to Please a Woman.
From award-winning director Renee Webster (The Heights) the film features an all-star Australian and international cast including Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones’s Diary), Erik Thomson (Packed to the Rafters, Aftertaste), Tasma Walton (Mystery Road), and Cameron Daddo in this delightfully entertaining and at times outright hilarious film about second chances.
Excitingly, the Closing Night Gala will see cast and crew assemble on the red carpet for the debut feature and Queensland Premiere of Tyler Atkins’; Bosch & Rockit. Starring Luke Hemsworth, Isabel Lucas, Leeanna Walsman and upcoming pro-surfer Rasmus King, the QLD premiere is a coming-of-age story set against the majestic backdrop of Australia’s surf coast.
Films set to debut during the festival include the World Premiere of The Curious Case of Dolphin Bay, a thrilling all ages mystery drama filmed entirely in Queensland, and the Australian Premiere of Waterman, a documentary narrated by Jason Momoa and featuring interviews with legendary surfer Kelly Slater and chart-topping musician Jack Johnson.
The program will showcase a world cinema section including the Australian premiere of the Karmalink, a Cambodian sci-fi drama, the Australian premiere of Casablanca Beats from Morocco and the Queensland premiere of Cannes award winner Murina.
The festival line-up also boasts a special red carpet preview screening of the debut feature film from Leah Purcell, The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson. Inspired by the Henry Lawson poem, this magnificent Australian feature film features striking scenery and superb performances.
Leah Purcell is also the recipient of the Gold Coast Film Festival’s 2022 Chauvel Award which will be presented at the Screen Industry Gala Awards at Warner Bros. Movie World on April 21.
Special events in the program also include Festival favourite, SIPFest Short Film Festival at Coolangatta Beach, the annual sell-out Women in Film Lunch, and Fright Night, bringing Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead back to the Festival’s screens.
An exciting addition to the Festival is the on ground involvement of 2022 Festival Ambassador and Gold Coaster, Lincoln Lewis. No stranger to the screen, the award-winning actor is thrilled to be a big part of the Gold Coast Film Festival.
“It is a true honour to be an ambassador for this year’s festival. I have filmed movies and TV series here on the Gold Coast throughout my career and it is wonderful to celebrate the immensely talented actors and filmmakers we have right on our door step. I love the Gold Coast, what a brilliant back drop for our Festival, I can’t wait for everyone to come out and celebrate our industry.” Lincoln Lewis says.
Gold Coast Film Festival CEO Josh Martin says this year’s program includes something for everybody and is a celebration of not only 20 years of our Festival, but the rich filmmaking history we have in South East Queensland.
“We have an incredible mix of national and international films as well as short films and documentaries starring some big names and showcasing immense talent.” says Josh.
“Celebrating our 20 years is a wonderful milestone, and our team has worked tirelessly to put together a program of incredible films and special events that we can all enjoy from free beachside cinemas through to walking the red carpet with the stars,” he adds.
“The prestigious Screen Industry Gala Awards will return at Warner Bros. Movie World, where we will celebrate the Festival’s award winners and finalists alongside an In Conversation with Director and Chauvel Winner Leah Purcell.”
“Pitch In Paradise will also take place with filmmakers invited to pitch their work as well as a great program of free industry panels designed for emerging filmmakers and industry students and professionals.”
The Gold Coast Film Festival is supported by its major partners Screen Queensland, City of Gold Coast, Major Events Gold Coast, Tourism and Events Queensland and HOTA, Home of the Arts.
Tickets are on sale Monday March 21 from 9am through www.gcfilmfestival.com
About Gold Coast Film Festival
The Gold Coast Film Festival has firmly established itself as a marquee event on the Australian film festival circuit, bringing films to life for 20 years since its inception in 2002.
Celebrating its 20th year in 2022, Gold Coast Film Festival runs from April 20 to May 1 and features over 100 films, panels, pop-up screenings and special events across the Gold Coast from Coolangatta to Coomera. Our cinema partners, HOTA, Home of the Arts and Event Cinemas, along with a valued range of festival, support, community and cultural partners will help bring this amazing festival to cinema goers and industry professionals alike.
We pride ourselves on featuring a diverse range of Australian and International films, heroing films and filmmakers with diverse backgrounds, enhancing the city’s cultural reputation as a premier filmmaking destination
The Gold Coast Film Festival is supported by its major partners Screen Queensland, City of Gold Coast, Major Events Gold Coast, Tourism and Events Queensland and HOTA, Home of the Arts.
EVENTS
GALA SCREENINGS
Opening Night Gala
How To Please A Woman
Wed 20 Apr, HOTA
Queensland Premiere of How To Please A Woman including the exclusive opportunity to walk the red carpet, meet with cast and crew and enjoy a post screening Q&A with the filmmakers. Your ticket includes pre screening drinks & canapés.
Closing Night Gala
Bosch & Rockit
Sun 1 May, HOTA
Starring Luke Hemsworth, Isabel Lucas, Leeanna Walsman and upcoming pro-surfer Rasmus King, Bosch & Rockit is a coming-of-age story set against the majestic backdrop of Australia’s surf coast and is the debut feature from Tyler Atkins. Walk the red carpet before this Queensland Premiere.
Feature Gala Screenings (3) Falling For Figaro, The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, The Curious Case of Dolphin Bay
Feature screenings within the Festival showcasing World / Australian / or Queensland Premieres.
20 YEAR CELEBRATION SCREENINGS
Scooby-Doo, 2002
Sun 24 Apr, Event Cinemas Coomera
Calling all Scooby lovers! Join us as we venture back to Spooky Island and celebrate 20 years of Scooby-Doo, famously filmed right here on the Gold Coast.
Grab the gang, walk the red carpet and get ready for some belly laughs with this cult classic.
In attendance will be cast and crew from the film and a walk down memory lane with memorabilia.
Blue Crush, 2002
Sat 30 Apr, Outdoor Coolangatta The explosive and exhilarating surf sequences of Blue Crush captured the attention of cinema audiences twenty years ago.
Join the Gold Coast Film Festival for a special outdoor screening reliving the joy of Blue Crush and the story of three friends who have one passion: living the ultimate dream of surfing on Hawaii’s famed North Shore.
Van Wilder Party Liaison, 2002 – Burleigh Brewing Co. Taphouse Event Thu 28 Apr
In keeping with the red cup party theme, Burleigh Brewing will hook it up with a live DJ, beer games, tasty Burleigh eats and an outdoor cinema experience with deck chairs and all. Get ready for a wild time because as Van says, “You shouldn’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out alive”.
FRIGHT NIGHT
Shaun of the Dead, 2004; Zombieland, 2009 Fri 22 Apr, Event Cinemas Coomera
The Gold Coast Film Festival has presented the best in cult and genre cinema across various programs in twenty years, from gory horror to suspenseful thrillers and everything in between.
As a nod to the best films that have featured in the Festival, film fans are invited to ‘Fright Night’ featuring two iconic films that opened and closed at GCFF in their respective years.
OTHER SCREENING EVENTS
SIPFEST – SHORTS
Fri 29 Apr, Coolangatta
SIPFest Short Film Festival – a festival favourite will be held at the free beachside cinema beside Coolangatta Beach.
The event would be followed by the screening of Blue Crush the following night.
EMERGE – SHORTS
Wed 27 Apr, HOTA
Highlighting filmmakers of the future, this competition showcases the best short films from graduating film students from South-East Queensland film schools and universities
Held at HOTA HOME OF THE ARTS Home of the Arts, the Emerge program will be presented by the Friends of the Arts Foundation
Regenerating Australia
Regenerating Australia is a 17-minute hybrid short film by the director and producer of the award-winning feature documentaries 2040 and That Sugar Film. The film is based on a four- month interview process with a diverse group of Australians who shared their hopes and dreams for the country’s future. This screening event is approximately 75 minutes and includes the 17-minute feature and a Q&A with filmmakers and special guests.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Screen Industry Gala Awards – featuring The Chauvel Award
Thu 21 Apr, Movie World
A gala dinner celebrating the Festival’s film and screen industry competition finalists with the announcement of the winners on the night.
The event culminates in the presentation of The Chauvel Award – a prestigious national screen industry award, named in honour of Charles Chauvel. The recipient takes part in an “In Conversation” interview on the night.
Women in Film Lunch
Fri 22 Apr, QT Hotel
A highly popular annual networking lunch featuring prominent film industry guest speakers celebrating gender equality in the film industry.
Hosted by Nicole Dyer, ABC Gold Coast. Keynote speakers Rosemary Blight and Kylie De Fresne are two of the founding partners of one of Australia’s leading and award-winning production companies, Goalpost Pictures.
Movie & Music Trivia
Tue 26 Apr, QT Hotel
A relaxed, fun night out where movie and music buffs collide to test their knowledge and battle it out for the title and fabulous prizes.
PANELS & INDUSTRY
Screen education is a key focus for supporting and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers and screen industry professionals on the Gold Coast.
PITCH IN PARADISE – Thu 21 Apr, HOTA HOME OF THE ARTS
Pitch In Paradise
Pitch in Paradise is one of Queensland’s key market events for narrative film and TV projects. Incorporating panels, pitching sessions and networking opportunities, this annual event enables growth and conversation in the local film industry.
Adaptable Gold Coast Film Festival and Queensland Writers Centre (QWC), with the support of Screen Queensland, have teamed up in 2022 to present a national author pitch competition, ADAPTABLE.
Twenty-five successful authors will have the opportunity to pitch published or publication-ready novels, short stories, biographies and non-fiction works to producers, showrunners and screenwriters at one-on-one pitch meetings held during the film festival.
Panel – “Meet the Production Companies” Meet the people behind some of Australia’s most prolific and innovative production companies. Gain insights into their development priorities for 2022 and their processes for selecting their next projects.
“From Novel to the Screen: the process of Adaptation” Queensland Writers Centre curates a panel of experienced screen creatives providing insight into moving a narrative from the novel to the screen.
REEL LIFE PANELS – Sat 30 Apr, HOTA HOME OF THE ARTS
Incentives and what about that tax
The business of film, PDV and producer offset – is it best to team up with someone to get your first major production off the ground?
Mental Health in the Screen Industry
Long hours, high pressure timelines, and needing to get the competitive edge. How are we going and what could we be doing better?? Presented by Griffith Film School this important conversation is stage two of the discussions that were started at BIFF in October 2021.
Documentaries for Change
Some docos raise awareness, others are designed to create a consciousness shift and others to inspire action. Meet our panel of film makers who are committed to the artform, and are making a difference with their projects..
Actors Are Doing it For ThemSelves
Increasingly screen actors are becoming content creators and producers of their own work. Join our panel of experienced performers who have a wide range of skills in the creation of both short and long form content. Join our panel of experienced performers who have a wide range of skills in the creation of both short and long form content.
Future Filmmakers – Thu 28 Apr, Bond University
Future Filmmakers is a free career seminar day at Bond University for year 11 & 12 students considering a career in screen. The day includes discussion panels with industry speakers, screenings and tours of film facilities.
Script to Screen – Sun 24 Apr, HOTA HOME OF THE ARTS
Script to screen offers a rare opportunity to experience a screenplay’s journey from the very beginning – with the script. The winning script will be played out with table reading and actors from QUT in front of the live audience. The winner will be awarded $5000 prize money thanks to our partners, The Heaton Group.
