Global cycling films roll into Gold Coast
The Big Bike Film Night brings ten global cycling stories to HOTA on the Gold Coast.
What’s Happening?
The Big Bike Film Night will bring its 2026 Australian tour to the Gold Coast in September.
The international film festival presents cycling stories selected for both dedicated riders and cinema fans. Founder and curator Brett Cotter assembles the annual program from short films produced around the world.
This year’s screening covers endurance, environmental action, disability, family life, creativity, and the simple pleasure of riding. The Australian tour follows the event’s success in New Zealand and continues its aim of spreading enthusiasm for cycling.
Why It Matters?
The festival uses personal stories to show how cycling can support health, relationships, and stronger community connections.
Its films also examine how riders respond to physical setbacks, environmental concerns, and demanding conditions. Other entries focus on humour and the creative possibilities of travelling on two wheels.
Organisers have described the event as “a feast of short films devised and designed for the two-wheel devotee”.
Together, the stories give cycling supporters and general film audiences several ways to connect with the program.
Local Impact
The Gold Coast screening will begin at 7.00 pm on Tuesday, 1 September 2026. It will be held at HOTA Cinema in Surfers Paradise.
The local event gives residents access to an international film collection during its national Australian tour. It also offers cycling groups, families and cinema fans a shared evening centred on personal stories.
Information and tickets are available through the Big Bike Film Night website.
By the Numbers
The Gold Coast program will run for 2.5 hours and cover several cycling styles, countries and personal experiences.
The 2026 collection features 10 international short films chosen by New Zealand curator and self-described “Film Pedlar” Brett Cotter.
The festival began in Taupō, New Zealand, in 2015, giving it a 12-year history by the 2026 tour.
Zoom In
“Stories are at the heart of everything, and our dazzling 2026 collection features ten mesmerising films,” Cotter said.
“Each is as dynamic and diverse as you could hope for, and all are ready to spin your wheels. Audiences will be transported from gravel rides in New Zealand’s South Island to the breathtaking landscapes of Norway. We also visit Rwanda’s rolling hills and the lush forests of Canada’s West Coast. We’ll crown things off on the punishing slopes of Mont Ventoux in southern France.”
A major inclusion is the Australian premiere of Queen of the Mountain, filmed around Queenstown in New Zealand.
The documentary follows Tasmanian environmental campaigner Annie Ford during a demanding downhill mountain biking attempt. She tries to break the 24-hour Guinness World Record while raising money for local reforestation.
The funds will help reforest foothills across the Queenstown basin. Her attempt connects physical endurance with resilience and environmental commitment.
“Annie is known for combining extreme endurance challenges with environmental advocacy,” Cotter said. “This film showcases Annie’s grit and determination. It also shows how extreme challenges can inspire others.”
Another film follows a mountain bike ride through Norway under the midnight sun. The rider crosses sweeping landscapes while experiencing the country’s extended summer daylight.
The program also follows two cyclists through Te Waipounamu, New Zealand’s South Island. They completed the first known ride of the Southern Way 1,000.
The newly mapped gravel loop covers 1,000 kilometres. It runs from Queenstown in the Southern Alps to the coast and back.
Another entry captures some of the wettest and most difficult riding conditions imaginable. A separate film celebrates fun, silliness and creativity among riders pushing cycling to new heights.
In Rwanda, three colleagues develop a bold plan involving a folding bicycle and a brave salesperson. The small bicycle then tackles a 1,000-kilometre gravel race across the country.
Another film focuses on perseverance after a life-changing injury. It covers daily difficulties, personal progress and the role of adaptive design.
The technology changes what remains possible for the rider while supporting a fuller daily life. A moving family story follows a father and son as they reach an important milestone. Together, they learn what it means to ride a bicycle as a family.
The collection also includes a funny and heartfelt underdog story set during the 1990s. It takes audiences to Mont Ventoux in southern France for a battle between two cycling giants.
The film asks viewers to believe that ordinary people can become unlikely heroes within their own stories.
Zoom Out
Cotter founded the Big Bike Film Night in Taupō in 2015. Since then, it has grown into a global cycling film festival with screenings across several countries.
For 12 years, he has focused on finding short cycling films that celebrate fun, inspiration, and the possibilities created by bicycles.
“The power of storytelling is at the forefront of what we offer,” Cotter said.
“We believe the humble bicycle can help improve our health and inspire people with where it can take them. As I’ve said, nothing begins without a story. It’s a real privilege connecting communities with stories that captivate and uplift us.”
“Most importantly, these stories inspire us to get out and ride.”
What To Look For Next?
The Australian tour will continue after the Gold Coast screening, bringing the 2026 collection to more cinema audiences.
For local cycling supporters, the HOTA event may also encourage new rides and conversations within Gold Coast cycling groups.
Bookings remain open before the Tuesday evening screening through the festival’s official website.