Heart of the Man
Gold Coast Film Festival 2024 full program is now available and the line-up showcases twelve days and nights of film featuring world, Australian and Queensland premieres, exclusive preview screenings and filmmaking talent with an impressive line-up of exciting films, outdoor cinema, red carpet screenings, industry panels, filmmaker Q&As, and special events.
The Red Carpet will be rolled out for Opening Night on Wednesday April 17 from 5:30pm for the Queensland Premiere of Bill Bennett’s captivating film; The Way, My Way.
Based on the best-selling Camino memoir of the same title, The Way, My Way follows one man’s extraordinary journey along the 800km pilgrim’s trail, the Camino de Santiago in Spain. As he searches for meaning, he discovers that the answers he seeks lie right in front of him, one step at a time.
Joining the event will be Author and Director, Bill Bennett, along with Actress and Producer, Jennifer Cluff, Actor Chris Haywood (Sleeping Beauty, Muriel’s Wedding, Wolf Creek), and legend Johnny Walker Camino.
GCFF is excited to announce the return of our Festival Ambassador and Gold Coast local, Lincoln Lewis and this year, we are presenting the World Premiere and Red-Carpet Gala of his new film; He Loves Me Not. Also starring Rhiannon Fish and shot on location in K’gari, this romantic comedy sees an aspiring actress chosen as a wild card for a reality TV dating show use a secret elixir to win the heart of the star, but when her deception is revealed, she discovers a messy but real chance for love.
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GCFF is excited to announce Festival favourite, SIPFEST the Gold Coast’s premier short film competition will be held on the incredible HOTA Outdoor Stage for the second time. Showcasing 15 of the best short films from finalists’ submissions from around Australia and Internationally. The night culminates in the live announcement and presentation of the SIPFEST award categories after the audience has the opportunity to vote for their favourites on the night
Your biggest fear will get bigger with the Queensland Premiere and Red-Carpet Gala of the horror; Sting. After raising an unnervingly talented spider in secret, 12-year-old Charlotte must face the facts about her pet-and fight for her family’s survival-when the once-charming creature rapidly transforms into a giant, flesh-eating monster.
Showing the depth of humankind comes the World Premiere of two incredible documentaries with the Red-Carpet Galas of Growing Happiness and Diamond of the Sea.
In the midst of a devastating drought, Growing Happiness follows the journey of two incredible farmers near Kalbar in Queensland’s Scenic Rim who stage a Sunflower Festival to save their struggling farm.
A story of determination, isolation and overcoming the odds is Diamond of the Sea, following Gold Coast Ironwoman Bonnie Hancock as she embarked on her world record attempt to circumnavigate Australia in an ocean ski.
The festival brings tough stories to life with the World Premiere of Fight to Live, telling the story of bare-knuckle boxing champ, Australia’s “Rowdy” Bec Rawlings who has been through hell and come out a woman living on her own terms, and dominating in one of the world’s toughest sports.
The Gold Coast Film Festival runs April 17 to 28 2024. Details here.
Here’s your full list of Australian feature films and documentaries screening at the festival.
Birdeater
Birdeater
Directed by Jack Clark and Jim Weir
Starring Mackenzie Fearnley, Shabana Azeez and Ben Hunter.
A bride to be is invited to her own fiancé’s buck’s party, but when uncomfortable details about their relationship are exposed, the night takes a feral turn. This psychological thriller from an Australian directing duo, tells the story of a bride-to-be being invited to her own fiancé’s bucks party, as the night continues it starts to take a very dark turn.
Demon Disorder
Directed by Steven Boyle
Starring John Noble, Charles Cottier, Liam Wallace, Dirk Hunter and Tobie Webster.
Graham is a man haunted by his past since the death of his father and the estrangement from his two brothers. Jake, his middle brothers contacts Graham claiming that something is horribly wrong. Phillip, their younger brother is possessed by their deceased father. Graham reluctantly agrees to go and see for himself.
With the three brothers back together, they soon realise they are unprepared for the forces against them. With Graham forced to accept that their younger brother is indeed possessed, they soon learn that the sins of their past will not stay hidden. But how do you defeat a presence that knows you inside and out? An anger so powerful it refuses to stay dead? A rage that wants revenge on the sons that murdered him.
Demon Disorder
Diamond of the Sea
Directed by Jack Lawrence
Featuring Bonnie Hancock
During her record-breaking circumnavigation of Australia by paddle, Bonnie Hancock encountered sharks, crocodiles, huge seas, gale force winds and near hypothermia, but these challenges were just the beginning.
In becoming the fifth person to successfully complete the journey, Bonnie faced an endless expanse of ocean with no land in sight for weeks at a time and a sea of self-doubt, and was forced to lean on those around her in a way she never had to in ten years as a professional ironwoman. Buoyed by the kindness and generosity of strangers, she was guided home by a host of colourful characters who epitomise the Australian spirit.
“Diamond Of The Sea” is a story of resilience, a tale of digging deep within to overcome adversity, but equally it is a love letter to Australia with her rugged but beautiful coastline, and a celebration of the unique creatures she is home to.
Dive into a life-changing adventure around our island home, experiencing Australia from a perspective never seen before.
Diamond of the Sea
Fight to Live
Directed by Tom Haramis
Featuring Bec ‘Rowdy’ Rawlings
Wild child, mother, abuse survivor, UFC contender, bare-knuckle boxing champion, Bec Rawlings is many things, but above all, she’s a fighter. Fight to Live is a gripping look at a young woman’s journey from victim to conqueror; from a troubled young kid in Launceston, to a terrified mother protecting herself and her children from an abuser, Bec has been through hell and come out a woman comfortable in her own skin, living on her own terms, and dominating in one of the world’s toughest sports.
Fight to Live
Growing Happiness
Directed by Neil McGregor
Featuring Jenny Jenner and Russ Jenner
In the heart of the unforgiving Outback, a relentless drought tightens its grip on the land and small town of Kalbar, Queensland. Two resilient farmers; Jenny and Russ, hatch a daring plan in an attempt to save their dying town.
Undeterred by the seemingly insurmountable odds, they rally the community to stage a vibrant Sunflower Festival, an audacious celebration against nature’s harshness. As sunflowers bloom, so does hope, and their small idea not only rejuvenates the spirits of the town but sends ripples of happiness on an International scale, demonstrating the extraordinary power of optimism in the face of adversity.
Growing Happiness.
He Loves Me Not
Directed by Tam Sainsbury
Starring Rhiannon Fish, Naomi Sequeira, Lincoln Lewis and Lara Cox.
An aspiring actress chosen as a wild card for a reality TV dating show uses a secret elixir to win the heart of the star, but when her deception is revealed, she discovers a messy but real chance for love.
He Loves Me Not
Heart of the Man
Aspiring boxer Chris Wundurra (Parker Little) lives under the shadow of his father, Sammy Wundurra (David Cook), a towering one-time champ in the ring known by his moniker of Wonder-Man.
Though he has support in the form of his caring grandmother Winnie Wundurra (Roxane McDonald) and café owning friend Marcus (Sean Dow), the influence of Sammy over Chris is powerful, and the young man works hard to please his father. Haunted by the death of his wife and the role he played in her tragic passing, Sammy pushes Chris to take a tilt at a national boxing championship, something he never had a shot at.
But when Chris meets Jamie (Tyrel Dulvarie) while training at the gym, and falls into the heady orbit of gay theatre owner Joey (Matt Young), he eventually realises that he is destined to walk another road entirely…one which doesn’t involve pain, brutality and violence…and one where Chris can be free from his bullish father’s vice-like grip.
Isla’s Way
Directed by Marion Pilowsky
Featuring Isla Wakefield Roberts and Susan Phillips-Rees.
The story of the last Australian cowboy follows 87-year-old queer great-grandmother, sheep-shearer and carriage driving legend Isla Roberts and her extraordinary, ordinary life.
87-year-old Isla Roberts’ inadvertently political life as a queer octogenarian is a fresh examination and subversion of the LGBTQIA+ experience and makes for a fascinating story of a great-grandmother and horse-carriage driving legend well before her time. Over the course of one year Isla welcomes us into her extraordinary world.
Sting
Directed by Kiah Roache-Turner
Starring Jermaine Fowler, Penelope Mitchell and Alyla Browne
One cold, stormy night in New York City, a mysterious object falls from the sky and smashes through the window of a rundown apartment building. It is an egg, and from this egg emerges a strange little spider…
The creature is discovered by Charlotte, a rebellious 12-year-old girl obsessed with comic books. Despite her stepfather Ethan’s best efforts to connect with her through their comic book co-creation Fang Girl, Charlotte feels isolated. Her mother and Ethan are distracted by their new baby and are struggling to cope, leaving Charlotte to bond with the spider. Keeping it as a secret pet, she names it Sting.
As Charlotte’s fascination with Sting increases, so does its size. Growing at a monstrous rate, Sting’s appetite for blood becomes insatiable. Neighbours’ pets start to go missing, and then the neighbours themselves. Soon Charlotte’s family and the eccentric characters of the building realise that they are all trapped, hunted by a ravenous supersized arachnid with a taste for human flesh – and Charlotte is the only one who knows how to stop it.
The Emu War
Directed by John Campbell, Lisa Fineberg and Jay Morrissey
Starring Damian Callinan, Lisa Fineberg and Aaron Gocs
An absurdist reimagining of Australia’s historical battle with the native Emu back in 1932, complete with puppetry, animatronics, gore and laughs galore!
Based on the infamous Great Emu War of 1932, a rag tag platoon of soldiers are driven into a brutal and bloody battle against Australia’s deadliest flightless beasts.
Haunted by the kidnapping of his son at the hands of the Emus, Major Meredith leads the platoon behind enemy lines in order to kill the emus Leader the Queen Emu.
The Ending Goes Forever: The Screamfeeder Story
Directed by Jacob Schiotz
The Ending Goes Forever: The Screamfeeder Story is a feature-length documentary about a band that emerged from the cultural explosion of the 1990’s that changed Brisbane forever, and the story of a band that continues to forge their way through Australian culture. Examining the extraordinary musical career of this legendary Brisbane band that overcame adversity to carve a successful career across three decades, whilst maintaining control of their music and forming an unbreakable bond between members.
All great friendships start as accidents – but for over thirty years, the creative partnership at the heart of Screamfeeder has remained true to its original inspiration. Featuring iconic songs, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, The Ending Goes Forever: The Screamfeeder Story is a celebration of unique talent, community and friendship.
The Way, My Way
Directed by Bill Bennett
Starring Chris Haywood, Laura Lakshmi and Pia Thunderbolt
Come and celebrate the Queensland Premiere of THE WAY, MY WAY. The charming and captivating true story of an Australian man’s transformative experience walking the Camino de Santiago, and the people he meets along the way that changed his life forever.
Cinema Australia 