Gold Coast Film Festival

The Gold Coast Film Festival is a celebration of film and filmmaking hosted in Australia’s most dynamic screen destination, the Gold Coast! Join us from 22nd April – 3rd May for the best of Australian and international cinema along with profiling local and independent films.

This year’s program shines a spotlight on the strength of our local film scene, with eight Queensland-made titles hitting the big screen alongside an exciting lineup of national and international features.

The 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival opens with Warwick Thornton’s WOLFRAM following its critical acclaim at the Berlin Film Festival. from the Berlin Film Festival. Set in the same universe as the acclaimed 2017 film Sweet Country , WOLFRAM features standout performances from Deborah Mailman and its remarkable young leads, delivering a moving story of survival, resilience and unexpected connection.

Film lovers from across the Gold Coast and beyond are invited to dive into the program, discover fresh stories and support the incredible filmmakers bringing them to life.

The Gold Coast Film Festival 2026 will close with the World Premiere of DON’T BE PREY, leaving an edge-of-your-seat adventure into one man’s fight to reclaim his life by taking on the world’s most dangerous marathon swims, the Oceans Seven. Featuring unforgettable characters, raw vulnerability and breathtaking ocean feats, it’s a gripping, uplifting journey of resilience, reinvention and what it really takes to survive.

Beyond the screen, the 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival is delivering an exceptional events program designed to inspire, celebrate and connect the screen community. Highlights include the always-inspiring Women in Film, presented by Screen Queensland, which shines a spotlight on the women driving innovation across the industry; the glittering Gold Coast Film Festival Awards Gala at Warner Bros. Movie World, celebrating the creative brilliance of Australian filmmakers; the EMERGE! Student Short Film Gala, giving emerging filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talent on the big screen; and SIPFest: Shorts in Paradise, a premiere short film competition celebrating outstanding storytelling from the Gold Coast, across Australia, and around the globe. Each event offers audiences and industry professionals alike the chance to network, be inspired, and experience the magic of film in unforgettable
settings.

Tickets are on sale now to all Opening and Closing Night Red Carpet Galas and our incredible featured events through  www.gcff.com.au  and full program will be announced and tickets available from Thursday April 2.

The Gold Coast Film Festival is supported by the Queensland State Government through Screen Queensland, Australia’s Gold Coast, Tourism and Events Queensland along with Experience Gold Coast and venue partner  HOTA (Home of the Arts).