Ready the popcorn, the coast’s favourite flick fest is back with a jam-packed program of world premieres and red-carpet events
Turning 20 is a pretty big deal. From humble beginnings as a sci-fi and fantasy film showcase, the Gold Coast Film Festival has grown to become a marquee event on the Australian cinema circuit as well as a much-loved and celebrated local event. This year, the team has gone and upped the ante once again to bring you a jam-packed showcase featuring more than 100 films, including world and Australian premiers, red-carpet events and panels spanning the length of the Gold Coast, from Coomera to Coolangatta – so get ready to break out the popcorn.
Running from April 20 to May 1, the Gold Coast Film Festival will be hitting the coast with a seriously impressive program to celebrate its 20-year milestone. Among the many, many highlights is the world premiere of The Curious Case of Dolphin Bay, a thrilling all-ages mystery filmed entirely in Queensland, alongside 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. In a nod to its 20-year birthday, the program features a number of celebration screenings including a gala event for Scooby-Doo, a beachside showing of the surf flick Blue Crush and the cheeky college comedy Van Wilder Party Liaison at Burleigh Brewing.
Kicking off proceedings will be the Queensland premiere of How to Please a Woman at HOTA, Home of The Arts. The red carpet gala event includes pre-screening drinks and canapes, as well as the chance to meet the cast and crew with a post-screening Q&A. Festival regulars will be pleased to know that some of the festival’s much-loved annual events are back in 2022 including the much-loved Movie & Music Trivia night, which is always a sell-out event, fan favourite, SIPFest Short Film Festival on Coolangatta beach, the annual Women in Film Lunch. To bring this brilliant showcase to a fitting finale will be the Closing Night Gala that 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 flick is a coming-of-age story set against the majestic (and recognisable) backdrop of Australia’s surf coast.
The Gold Coast Film Festival features an array of free and ticketed events, to view the full program head here.
To find out more about what’s on in the Gold Coast, head to our Event Guide.