About Us
The Gold Coast isn’t just a beautiful backdrop where the world comes to film. It’s home to passionate filmmakers and an equally passionate film festival. Just like the GC never tried to be like anywhere else, The Gold Coast Film Festival embraces the same independent spirit. Over 12 days, you’ll soak up life-changing films, inspirational panels and discussions, swanky events and experience the magic of watching world-class films, including the incredible short film showcase, SIPFest (Shorts in Paradise). Let’s roll out the red carpet, the festival of the year is coming 22 April to 3 May 2026.
The Gold Coast Film Festival 2026 is possible thanks to the support of our Major Partners Screen Queensland, Invest Gold Coast, Tourism and Events Queensland along with venue partner HOTA, Home of the Arts.
History
Let us set the scene. It’s 2002 and the Gold Coast was missing something. A festival for film lovers fascinated with fantasy and sci-fi. We happily obliged. It was the thing at the time. By 2014, we broadened our (event) horizons and started to focus on a broader, international direction. The Gold Coast happily obliged. More and more people started attending and over the years of 2015-2018, we really stepped into our Main Character Energy…before that was even a thing.
The festival gained recognition nationally for the introduction of innovative initiatives to support gender equality in the screen industry in 2016 and was the venue for the launch of WIFT (Women in Film TV) Australia in 2018.
In 2017, with the support of Screen Queensland, the Gold Coast Film Festival became an AACTA-Award qualifying festival for feature films, one of only seven in Australia.
Since then, we have gone from strength to strength bringing diverse Australian and International films, filmmakers and film events to the Gold Coast. We do our bit to enhance the city’s cultural reputation, drive tourism and economic growth for the region, as well as create educational and professional development for film professionals.
The Gold Coast Film Festival 2026 is possible thanks to the support of our Major Partners Screen Queensland, Invest Gold Coast, Tourism and Events Queensland along with venue partner HOTA, Home of the Arts.