Warwick Thornton. Photo by Mark Cranitch and Courier Mail. 

The Gold Coast Film Festival is proud to announce acclaimed Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Chauvel Award presented at the Gold Coast Film Festival Awards Gala at Warner Bros. Movie World, Thursday April 23, 2026.

A visionary director, screenwriter and cinematographer, Warwick has built an extraordinary body of work defined by powerful storytelling and striking visual artistry. His latest film WOLFRAM recently debuted to critical acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival, further cementing his reputation as one of Australia’s most important contemporary filmmakers.

Warwick first rose to international prominence with his debut feature Samson and Delilah, which won the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. He went on to receive the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and the Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival for Sweet Country. His diverse and acclaimed body of work also includes the documentary We Don’t Need a Map, television series The Beach, and feature film The New Boy, for which he received the ACS Spotlight Award and the Camerimage Golden Frog for Best Cinematography.

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Originally established in 1993, the Chauvel Award honours two of Australia’s most significant filmmaking pioneers, Charles Chauvel and Elsa Chauvel. Their legacy includes landmark films such as Sons of Matthew, widely regarded as one of Australia’s defining pioneering epics, with strong ties to Queensland and the Gold Coast hinterland.

Reinvigorated by the Gold Coast Film Festival in 2016, the Chauvel Award continues to celebrate Australians who have made a significant and lasting impact on the nation’s cinematic landscape. Thornton’s bold, uncompromising voice and commitment to telling uniquely Australian stories make him an inspiring recipient for 2026.

“This year’s Chauvel Award recognises a filmmaker whose work echoes the Australian screen landscape,” said Luke Wheatley, CEO of the Gold Coast Film Festival. “Warwick Thornton is a visionary storyteller whose films are both deeply personal and universally resonant. We are honoured that his latest work, WOLFRAM, will open the Festival as our Opening Night Gala film, making this recognition even more special.”

For more information, head to www.gcff.com.au.

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