Gold Coast to host film festival to 2028

The Gold Coast has won the right to host the increasingly popular AACTA Festival and Awards for the next three years.

The event, hosted by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, involves five days of movie premieres, masterclasses, awards, screenings and a careers expo.

The AACTA Festival returns to the Gold Coast in February next year with internationally acclaimed filmmakers and storytellers including Anna Torv, Baz Luhrmann, Bruce Beresford, Chloe Hayden and Thomas Keneally, joining more than 300 other on-stage talent across more than 100 events.

Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin were announced as the official ambassadors for the Academy, supporting Russell Crowe (President), Nicole Kidman (Vice President), Cate Blanchett (Ambassador) and Dr. George Miller (Patron).

Baz Luhrmann said he and Ms Martin had been connected to AACTA (previously known as AFI) for more than 35 years, since his movie Strictly Ballroom won multiple AFI awards.

“We are honored to be named ambassadors of AACTA, an organization that does so much to celebrate Australian storytellers and the stories we tell, elevating them on the world stage and lifting up new generations of Australian talent, not just through the Awards, but now through the brilliant AACTA Festival, returning to the Gold Coast in February, bigger than ever,’’ he said.

“It’s especially fitting, given the Gold Coast has been our inspiring creative home for the past few years, that we will be holding the Australian premiere of EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert at the AACTA festival.

“It’s not a documentary, it’s not a concert film, it’s EPiC. And so will be the AACTA Festival right here at HOTA on the Gold Coast! Looking forward to seeing you there.”

AACTA also announced the partnership extension with the Queensland Government and Experience Gold Coast. It will coincide with AACTA’s 70th anniversary.

Queensland Minister for Education and Arts John-Paul Langbroek and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, represented the state and city, with

Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell, said that retaining the AACTA Awards on the Gold Coast through to 2028 was a coup for the state.

“The AACTA Awards and accompanying festival are pivotal in elevating Queensland’s standing within the screen industry while amplifying its global profile,” Mr Powell said.

“This celebration of Australian film and television is expected to deliver a $4.85 million boost to the state’s economy in 2026 and shine a spotlight on the Gold Coast during the internationally recognised awards season.

“We are determined to make Queensland the events capital of Australia.”