Love movies and seaside holidays? Try the Gold Coast Film Festival

Gold Coast Film Festival

Movies are a huge part of modern entertainment, and the Gold Coast is a popular Australian holiday destination. So if you love both, why not combine the two? The Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF), happening this April, is the perfect way to bask in the sights and sounds of this sunny seaside area, while also indulging in contemporary filmmaking culture. What's better, as it happens in a variety of venues across the area, you have plenty of holiday accommodation options to choose from.


Gold Coast Film Festival

Now in its 13th year, the GCFF is a 10-day event lasting from April 9-19, celebrating Australian and international films, and the culture that surrounds them.

All across the Gold Coast area during this time you can catch an eclectic mix of feature, indie and foreign language films, as well as plenty of industry workshops and seminars. The event's patron is John Cox, who has won an Academy Award and whose Creature Workshop is renowned for its realistic and creative fantasy creature creations. On the board is also Michael Selwyn, Managing Director and Vice President Australia/New Zealand of Paramount Pictures Australia, Chris Brown, who produced the award-winning UK/Aussie film 'The Proposition' and numerous other industry heads.

Making their Australian premiere here are acclaimed films such as 'The Homesman', featuring Tommy Lee Jones, 'I Survived a Zombie Holocaust', made in NZ just recently, and numerous other must-watch flicks!

As for the seminars, during the festival you can attend a number of evenings where industry professionals will tell you about their experiences, and hopefully teach you something new. For example, aspiring writers could attend the From Script to Screen event on April 10, hosted by filmmaker Robert Connolly. There will be an hour-long talk, followed by a network and drinks event.

There will also be talks on directing, animation and acting, so make sure you know the dates and times of each one, and head to as many as possible. These can be found online at the GCFF's website.

You can also check out plenty of child-friendly flicks throughout the week (for free), such as 'The Goonies', 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' and 'Paddington'.


"Now in its 13th year, the GCFF is a 10-day event lasting from April 9-19, celebrating Australian and international films, and the culture that surrounds them."


Venues and accommodation

Make sure you check out the list of venues and see which events they host before booking anything, as it may largely define where you choose to stay on the Gold Coast. Granted, you can easily get around via public transport, but being able to walk to and from your venue of choice will allow you to take in the fresh, seaside air (and perhaps grab a few pics on the way).

If you like the look of The Arts Centre Gold Coast, or any other Surfers Paradise venue, why not book a hotel here as well? Mantra has plenty of contemporary options, including Mantra Circle on Cavill, a stylish high-rise hotel with multi-bedroom apartment options, a lagoon-style swimming pool, spa and even a theatrette. This hotel is also a short stroll away from Surfers Paradise Beach, where the Shorts in Paradise short film festival will take place on April 12.

About an hour south, Birch Carroll and Coyle (BCC) Coolangatta Cinemas will be hosting some of the festival's films as well. If this is where you want to be based, rather than drive every day, why not stay almost next door in Mantra Coolangatta Beach? Overlooking the sparkling waters of its namesake, this hotel has spacious, multi-bedroom apartments, which it combines with modern hotel amenities such as a swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis court and spa.

So whether you're a part of the industry or just a fan, make sure you check out the Gold Coast Film Festival to immerse yourself in the international filmmaking culture.




Gold Coast hotels

Mantra Coolangatta Beach
Mantra Coolangatta Beach

Located on Marine Parade overlooking the internationally recognised surf beaches of...Read More »


Mantra Sierra Grand
Mantra Sierra Grand

Mantra Wings has a choice of rooms with internet access, tour desk and complimentary parking...Read More »


Mantra Legends Hotel
Mantra Legends Hotel

Walk from Mantra Legends Hotel to some of the most popular attractions on the Gold Coast...Read More »

Mantra Broadbeach on the Park
Mantra Broadbeach on the Park

The hotel offers guests comfort and style, just metres from restaurants, nightlife and...Read More »


Mantra Wings
Mantra Wings

Offering One, Two and Three Bedroom apartments with ocean and hinterland views...Read More »


Mantra Circle on Cavill
Mantra Circle on Cavill

Located in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, this resort is just a stroll to the beach...Read More »


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