THE FESTIVAL
The Gold Coast Film Festival brings diverse Australian and International films, filmmakers and film events to the Gold Coast.
The 19th annual Gold Coast Film Festival will run from 14-25 April, 2021 bringing 100+ films, panels, parties and events across the Gold Coast. For the first time, GCFF's 2021 program will be offering a hybrid program, with both in-person and online screenings and events taking place with a selection of feature films and industry panels and events available online.
As the city’s flagship film event, the Gold Coast Film Festival promotes the Gold Coast as a major Australian filmmaking destination, helps develop the filmmakers and crew working in the local industry and is committed to supporting the continued economic benefit and job creation by the screen industry in the region.
In 2017, we became an AACTA-Award qualifying film festival for feature films.
Our location is one with a heritage of filmmaking, with international filmmaking introduced on the Gold Coast in the late 1980’s. Fast-forward to 2019 and major international films Elvis, Dora, Unbroken, Pirates of the Caribbean, Thor: Ragnarok and Aquaman have chosen the Gold Coast’s incredible locations and highly competent crew to shoot their multi-million dollar films.
The 2019 Gold Coast Film Festival ran across 12 days in April with over 150 films and film related events in 14 different Gold Coast locations, entertaining and inspiring more than 19,000 people. Sadly, the 2020 Festival, due to be the biggest and best festival yet, was cancelled due to COVID-19 with a selection of key events pivoting online.
The Gold Coast Film Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland. The Gold Coast Film Festival is supported by the City of Gold Coast.
SIPFEST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
SIPFest, otherwise known as the Shorts in Paradise Festival, is the annual short film festival with $5000 in cash prizes and an unbeatable outdoor cinema location!
The crowd will enjoy 14 finalist short films from Australia and around the world with filmmakers and screen industry invited from across Australia to join in an unforgettable night.
From drama to comedy (and everything in between) short films of a (guide) classification 'M' or below will be judged by a panel of industry experts and awarded $5,000 in prizes. The audience can also cast their vote on the night for the People’s Choice Award with a $1,000 cash prize.
If you have a short film under 15 minutes produced in the last two years, enter it into SIPFEST 2021 - part of the Gold Coast Film Festival.
SIPFest update: SIPFest short film competition will have a new home in 2021. We’ve loved bringing SIPFest to the sands of Surfers Paradise, and look forward to delivering new beach screenings in the future. We’ll still be bringing you the best selection of short films from Australia and around the world this April, but from a brand-new Gold Coast location. The new location will be announced soon.
>>>> WHY SUBMIT TO GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL? <<<<
* AACTA-Award Qualifying Film Festival for Features
* We look after indie filmmakers and will try wherever possible to fly selected cast/crew in and accommodate you (pending border restrictions)
* Dedicated award/prize categories for Australian features, shorts, scripts and web series
* You can take part in professional development through relevant, useful and engaging Q&As, panels and workshops - in 2019, we offered industry events with more than 150 guest speakers, panellists or moderators
* Opportunities to make valuable connections with Queensland and national industry guests
* SIPFEST offers some great cash prizes - $5000 for short filmmakers
* Blackmagic Design Best Australian Indie Film Award specifically for low-budget and independent features
* PKF Best Australian Feature Film open to all Australian features
* Queensland Screenwriting Award with $5,000 cash awarded to 1st place and the opportunity to participate in a live script read at the 2021 Gold Coast Film Festival and $500 cash for 2nd and 3rd place – with thanks to The Heaton Group.
* $500 cash prize for the Best Australian Webseries
* Free entry for Gold Coast filmmakers (find out more at www.gcfilmfestival.com/submissions)
We highly encourage entries from independent filmmakers and films with creative leads from under-represented backgrounds. We deliver a program that supports equality with a commitment to having 50% women speakers across the festival, all films rated by the Bechdel Test and Australia’s first film festival childcare offering.
If you would like to speak to any filmmakers who have screened at GCFF in the past, please let us know - we'd be happy to put you in touch.
We accept feature films, short films and web series, from Australia and around the world, and feature film scripts from Queensland-based writers.
^^^FEATURE FILMS^^^
We are an AACTA-Award qualifying film festival for feature films.
In 2021, we’ll be awarding the PKF Best Australian Film, open to all Australian features, and the Blackmagic Design Best Australian Indie Film Award, open to independent Australian features.
For international filmmakers, all "Official Selection" films will be paid a screening fee.
***SHORT FILMS***
$5,000 up for grabs for short filmmakers across 7 categories:
• Best Australian Film - $1,500
• People’s Choice - $1,000
• Runner-Up Best Film - $500
• Best Screenplay - $500
• Best International Film - $500
• Best Film by a Gold Coast Resident - $500
• Best Actor - $500
SIPFest update: SIPFest short film competition will have a new home in 2021. We’ve loved bringing SIPFest to the sands of Surfers Paradise, and look forward to delivering new beach screenings in the future. We’ll still be bringing you the best selection of short films from Australia and around the world this April, but from a brand-new Gold Coast location. The new location will be announced soon.
### WEB SERIES ###
Best Australian Web Series - $500 cash prize
Best International Web Series
*** QUEENSLAND FEATURE FILM SCRIPTS***
Queensland Screenwriting Award - 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize
1st place:
• $5,000 cash with thanks to The Heaton Group
• VIP Industry Package for Pitch In Paradise, GCFF’s 2-day pitching market
• The opportunity to participate in a live script read of their winning script performed by local actors during the 2021 Gold Coast Film Festival.
2nd & 3rd place: $500 cash prize thanks to The Heaton Group