3 14 APRIL 2019 FESTIVAL PROGRAM - 175+ FILMS, PANELS, PARTIES & EVENTS - Gold Coast Film Festival
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FESTIVAL PROGRAM
3 - 14 APRIL 2019
175+ FILMS, PANELS, PARTIES & EVENTS
WELCOME FROM
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR/CEO
LUCY FISHER
From our home at HOTA, you can explore illustrate the power of film festivals
world cinema from 15 countries, discover to connect people.
new Australian film gems, walk the red carpet
For GCFF, connecting people is now a year-
at special premiere events or hear
round endeavour. Thanks to increased funding
from leading filmmakers at Q&As and
support from the City of Gold Coast we can
screen industry panels.
now deliver films, panels, workshops and
We now screen as far north as Coomera and events year-round.
as far south as Coolangatta – bringing festival
My warmest welcome to the 2019 Gold Coast This festival is like a giant puzzle and behind
experiences closer to more Gold Coasters than
Film Festival – now Queensland’s biggest film the scenes there are so many people to thank
ever before. With just over 175 films, panels,
festival with an enormous 175 films, panels, for helping each piece fit into place.
parties and events at 14 different locations,
parties and events. we are proud to be the biggest film festival in A big thank you to our sponsors and
With films more accessible than ever before, Queensland. government partners, particularly Screen
what is it that a film festival, like the Gold Queensland for sharing the vision of the
For our friends and colleagues working in the
Coast has to offer? festival. Thank you to our board, particularly
screen industry, our ever-expanding program
our Chair, Andrea Lewis, for steering the
We believe it’s about creating unique festival of panels, workshops and guild events
festival into bigger and better places.
experiences and shared connections – provide not only learnings, development and
whether through a laugh-out-loud moment networking, but a chance to have some fun A warm thank you to our volunteers who
in a film, a post-film chat over coffee, asking doing what we love. donate hundreds of hours during the festival
a director about the film you’ve just seen or for the love of film. And finally to the festival
One of the most exciting inclusions in our
learning from and connecting with another team, who always go the extra mile to pull
program this year is LOCUSTS, a film written
screen professional. everything together, especially our festival
by Gold Coast writer, Angus Watts and
coordinator Isabella Schoonenberg.
This year, we have taken our incredible city’s directed by Heath Davis. When the GCFF
iconic locations and created unique pop-up screened Heath’s first film, Broke, in 2016, I hope you enjoy the 2019 Gold Coast
cinema experiences on the iconic Surfers Angus attended a panel and heard Heath Film Festival!
Paradise beach, in the lush Springbrook speak. They connected and from there, began
hinterland, in a Southport laneway and even working together – and now just 3 years later
floating on a boat. have a film in GCFF. There is no better story to
2 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19
MESSAGE FROM MESSAGE FROM MESSAGE FROM
THE PREMIER OF THE MINISTER THE MAYOR
QUEENSLAND FOR TOURISM
TOM TATE
AND MINISTER INDUSTRY
FOR TRADE DEVELOPMENT Gold Coast has been miraculously blessed by
Mother Nature with magnificent scenery that
ANNASTACIA THE HON makes us a firm favourite with film producers.
PALASZCZUK MP KATE JONES MP Combined with our admirable weather
that offers such seasonable conditions for
The Queensland Government, through Welcome to the 17th Gold Coast Film Festival. location shoots, we have become a favoured
Screen Queensland, is proud to support the place for blockbuster productions like
This highlight on the It’s Live! in Queensland recent successes, Aquaman, Pirates of the
2019 Gold Coast Film Festival. events calendar brings film and filmmaking Caribbean and Thor: Ragnarok.
The Gold Coast is experiencing a wave of to life, offering attendees a program of more
unprecedented screen production, having than 100 films, panels, parties and functions The fantastic investment made by Village
earned a strong international reputation in one of Australia’s premier filmmaking Roadshow in their nine-stage studios has
for making world-class screen content for a hubs – the Gold Coast. enabled Gold Coast to become home to a
global audience. world-class workforce of highly competent
Known for screening a diverse range of and experienced technical crew.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ $1billion+ box office Australian and international films, the Gold
hit Aquaman was filmed at the Gold Coast’s Coast Film Festival attracts thousands of It offers a wonderful package to showcase
Village Roadshow Studios, supporting people each year, showcasing the Gold Australian talent and Queensland’s beauty
1000 jobs and injecting more than $144 Coast’s thriving screen industry and visitor to the world.
million into the local economy. This year’s experiences, promoting tourism and I applaud the organisers of the Gold Coast
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary supporting regional jobs. Film Festival for creating an ever more
Entertainment’s blockbuster Godzilla vs. popular vehicle to spread the word about our
The Palaszczuk Government is proud to
Kong and ABC Studios International’s capabilities and provide a worthy celebration
support this event via Tourism and Events
crime drama series Reef Break were also for stars and crew alike.
Queensland and Screen Queensland.
filmed here, creating local jobs and direct
investment in local businesses. Enjoy this captivating event experience, and The festival ensures that film production
if you’re visiting the Gold Coast I encourage will continue to grow its importance as part
As this festival highlights, the Gold Coast is of Gold Coast’s diversifying economy. Well
you to explore more of this beautiful
a boldly creative place where Queensland done, all concerned!
destination, including our famous beaches,
original screenplays and international
world-class dining experiences, amazing
franchise scripts are being brought to life nightlife and enchanting national parks.
on screen.
I hope you enjoy this year’s fantastic line-up
of films and associated events here in the
‘Home of the Blockbuster’.
3
NAVIGATING
THE PROGRAM
Every film, event, panel and activity of the 2019 Gold Coast Film
Festival is covered in this program.
EVENTS PAGE
3 - 14 APRIL 2019 Women in Film Lunch 8
Gold Coast Film Festival features more than 175 Screen Industry Gala Awards 11
screenings, events, panels and parties across 14 different Gold Coast Movie Locations Tour 14
Gold Coast locations from Coomera to Coolangatta. REELLIFE – industry panels & events 46
Our main hub, where most screenings and panels are
Special events 50 – 73
scheduled is HOTA, Home of the Arts.
TICKETS
Tickets for all film sessions and events are available via gcfilmfestival.
com and participating cinema venues – HOTA, Home of the Arts, BCC
Coolangatta and Event Cinemas Coomera.
Regular film sessions are $17 for adults and $14 for concession.
School screenings and special events have different pricing. Some
events are free. Check specific film and event pages for special pricing.
Book your GCFF tickets online in advance to pay NO BOOKING FEES
from gcfilmfestival.com.
Transaction or booking fees of between $1-2 may apply when OPENING NIGHT | 2040 | P6
purchasing tickets from partner venues.
BUY 6+ TICKETS – GET 15% OFF
Buy 6 or more cinema sessions tickets and receive 15% discount off
the total price. Only available online or through the HOTA Box Office.
PAY IT FORWARD
In the same spirit as the random acts of kindness movement and
pay-it-forward coffee initiative, you can now help others experience a
film as part of the Gold Coast Film Festival.
Gold Coast Film Festival has partnered with the Gold Coast Hospital CLOSING NIGHT | ESCAPE AND EVASION | P7
Foundation to enable you to gift tickets to cancer patients and
families, hard-working cancer transport volunteer drivers and the
amazing Gold Coast Health doctors and nurses. Your kindness will help FEEL-GOOD FABLES | P18 – 20
deserving individuals escape to another world through film. Film festivals are not all serious business, enjoy a laugh at the lighter
To find out more about the valuable work the Gold Coast Hospital side of cinema with a bit of Bollywood brilliance, French family fun,
Foundation does or to donate directly to them, please visit and a food trip across Tuscany.
https://gchfoundation.org.au Dumped | The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir | As Needed
RATINGS
GCFF screenings are Festival Exemption (18+) except where otherwise CRIME TIME | P21 – 23
indicated. Please check our website for updated classification information.
Take a trip around the world with four very different tales of crime.
A South American odyssey shows the birth of modern drug cartels; a
ACCOMMODATION
gritty, small-time Italian story explores the lure of evil; a South African
Want to make a night of it? QT Gold Coast is the official hotel
film riffs on the Hitchcock classic Rear Window; and a modern American
partner of GCFF. Exclusive to GCFF guests, use code GCFF19
western looks at women forced into crime in the 21st century.
at checkout to receive 20% off the best available rate. Visit
qthotelsandresorts.com/gold-coast/ to book your stay. Little Woods | Birds of Passage | Dogman | Number 37
4 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19
GCFF SHUTTLE BUS
A free shuttle bus will be operating between QT Gold Coast and
HOTA, Home of the Arts from 9.30am-10pm on Friday to Sunday
each weekend during the festival. Buses will depart QT Gold Coast
at half past the hour from 9.30am and from HOTA on the hour
every hour from 10am. Check online for the schedule.
GET SOCIAL
/GCFILMFESTIVAL
GALA SCREENING | TOP END WEDDING | P17
@GCFILMFEST
WHAT THE…? | P24 – 26 REAL PEOPLE,
If you are a connoisseur of the weird REAL JOURNEYS | P32 – 34 @GCFILMFESTIVAL
and wonderful fringes of cinema then Incredible documentaries telling the #gcff19 #gcfilmfest #thisisqueensland #wearegoldcoast
you have come to the right place real stories of real people, including #ourgoldcoast #creativegold #screenqld
with a selection of films to make you an epic journey across India in a
stand up and exclaim, “What the vintage Rolls Royce, the travails of All information correct at time of printing.
f***!” A surreal space voyage, a international high school students Please check website for any changes.
rare romance, and a mad mystery. attending a global science fair in Las
Vegas, and the unbelievable story of YUGAMBEH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
High Life | Border | The Gold Coast Film Festival would like to acknowledge the traditional
Under the Silver Lake a drug dealing clan of nuns.
custodians of the land on which the festival operates, the Yugambeh
Inventing Tomorrow | people, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Breaking Habits | Romantic Road
FAMILY ERAS | P27 – 29
LOCATION MAP
A young girl deals with a distant
mother, a boy travels home to FOR THE KIDS | P34 – 35 1. HOTA, Home of the Arts 8. Chinatown Gold Coast
come out to his family, a New Celebrating cinema for the whole 2. BCC Coolangatta 9. Wyndham Cruises
Year’s Eve family reunion doesn’t family with a glorious South 3. Bond University 10. Burleigh Brewing
go according to plan, and an older American animated film, and a 4. Movie World 11. Broadbeach Mall
relationship receives a jolt of life. story about the friendship between
These films look at four different a young girl and a white lion. 5. Coolangatta QE Park 12. Springbrook
eras in family life. 6. QT Gold Coast 13. Helensvale Cultural Centre
Tito and the Birds |
1985 | Happy New Year, Colin Mia and the White Lion 7. Surfers Paradise Beach 14. Event Cinemas Coomera
Burstead | Nervous Translation |
The Heiresses
INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN
VOICES | P36 – 40
SHADES OF WAR | P30 – 31 A gorgeous and touching indigenous
When you believe in something, story, an inner-city couple balance
sometimes you have to fight for it. parenting and filmmaking, a man
Here are three incredibly different discovers returning to his small
shades of war: a feminist platoon town can be murder, and a group
fights Isis in Iraq, an Icelandic of women fight to stay alive in
eco-warrior stands up to big a sadistic game of survival. New
corporations, and a trip back to a Australian features from innovative
time when British citizens fought filmmakers. These independent films
for their rights. highlight the diversity of local voices.
Girls of the Sun | Woman At War The Furies | Emu Runner |
| Peterloo Locusts | Maybe Tomorrow
LOCAL TALES | P40 – 42
Celebrate Australian filmmakers telling Australian stories with a glorious surf film, a
trip into indigenous culture, and a journey to America hunting a long-lost musician.
Elements | Emocean | Waiting: The Van Duren Story
5
AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY Q&A
OPENING NIGHT FILM | AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
2040
DOCUMENTARY | AUSTRALIA | 90 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR DAMON GAMEAU
In his long-awaited follow-up to That Sugar Film, award-winning filmmaker “THE POINT IS TO TELL A
Damon Gameau embarks on journey to explore what the future would
look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions
NEW AND POSITIVE STORY
already available to us to improve our planet. ABOUT OUR FUTURE. WE
Globe-trotting to investigate a startling array of new technologies already ARE CREATING A HUB OF
being implemented, Gameau also jumps ahead to 2040 using impressive SOLUTIONS AND ACTIONS
CGI, creating a spectacular and optimistic vision of the best possible world
we could reach in the future. THAT PEOPLE CAN IMPLEMENT
Fresh from its world premiere at Berlinale, 2040 is an energising and AT HOME OR AT WORK.”
inspirational look at how we can overcome many of our modern-day
DAMON GAMEAU
problems. Gameau’s film is never weighed down by negativity, instead it
embraces positive solutions in a fantastically entertaining form.
Join the filmmakers and director Damon Gameau on the red carpet
and for a Q&A after the film.
WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL, 6PM RED CARPET ARRIVALS, 6.45PM START | ARTS THEATRE - HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
COST | $35 INCLUDING DRINK AND POPCORN | $65 VIP TICKETS INCLUDING CANAPES & AFTERPARTY
SUNDAY 7 APRIL, 1PM | BCC COOLANGATTA
SATURDAY 13 APRIL, 7PM | EVENT CINEMAS COOMERA
6 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19
Q&A WAR DRAMA
CLOSING NIGHT FILM | WORLD PREMIERE
ESCAPE AND EVASION
WAR DRAMA | AUSTRALIA | 90 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR STORM ASHWOOD | CAST JOSH MCCONVILLE, RENA OWEN, STEVE LE MARQUAND, FIRASS DIRANI
Seth is the lone survivor of a mysterious military operation in Burma. After he
returns home and tries to get back into a regular existence, he is confronted
by a journalist determined to dig up the truth about what exactly those
soldiers were doing in that tropical jungle.
Writer-director Storm Ashwood’s gripping evocation of the toils of war is
anchored by a startling, and emotional, performance from Josh McConville.
Proudly filmed on the Gold Coast, this locally made production is an exciting
war movie and a compelling examination into the troubling effects of PTSD.
Join the film’s cast and crew for a Q&A after the film.
SUNDAY 14 APRIL, 6.30PM | ARTS THEATRE – HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
COST | $20
7
WOMEN IN FILM EVENTS
WOMEN IN
FILM LUNCH
WITH GREER SIMPKIN
FRIDAY 5 APRIL | 12PM - 3PM
Greer Simpkin is one of Australia’s most successful producers with a career spanning television, film and VR.
Last year was a stellar year for Greer and her production company Bunya Productions, with their acclaimed film
Sweet Country and ABC TV series Mystery Road, taking out a combined 11 AACTAs in December and the company
winning the Screen Producers Australia (SPA) Breakthrough Business of the Year. Greer’s latest project, Loveland,
supported by Screen Queensland, is currently in production.
We’re thrilled to welcome Greer to share her stories, perspectives and experiences working in the Australian screen
industry at the 5th annual Women in Film Lunch, presented by Screen Queensland.
The insightful ‘In Conversation’ with Greer will be hosted by Nicole Dyer from ABC Gold Coast, alongside a
sumptuous seafood buffet and three hour drink package in the gorgeous surrounds of the Bazaar at QT Gold Coast.
Whether you are an industry professional or simply a film lover, you’ll enjoy an afternoon of great food, insightful
speakers and networking at the fifth annual Women in Film Lunch, as we highlight the achievements of women in
film and television in Australia.
WHERE | BAZAAR, QT GOLD COAST 7 STAGHORN AVENUE, SURFERS PARADISE COST | $98
8 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19
WOMEN IN
FILM INITIATIVES
As a film festival we’re committed to providing It’s important to note that the Bechdel Test is not a
opportunities for women filmmakers as well as measure of how great a film is, nor does it tell you if
igniting conversations around the portrayal of women the film has a woman writer or director.
in stories and on screen But it will make you think about how women are
A simple, albeit imperfect test to look at whether portrayed on screen. For the last three years, all films
films have realistic female characters is the Bechdel in our program have noted whether they pass or fail
Test, popularised by cartoonist Alison Bechdel. To pass the Bechdel Test.
the Bechdel Test, a film: We also have a commitment to ensure there is
1. Has to have at least two named women in it gender parity in the number of men and women you
2. Who have a conversation with each other see speaking across the festival, be it moderators,
guest speakers or panellists.
3. About something other than a man
CRECHE
FRIDAY 5 APRIL 4PM – 8.30PM | SUNDAY 7 APRIL 12.30PM – 5PM | FRIDAY 12 APRIL 9.45AM – 5.30PM
Affordable and flexible child care remains a major barrier for parents in the screen industry – particularly to participate and
attend professional development opportunities.
Three years ago, Gold Coast Film Festival was the first film festival in Australia to offer a creche to help address this barrier for
parents. Thanks to advocacy initiatives from WIFT’s Raising Films, there are now other festivals and screen events (most notably
the Screen Forever Conference) realising the importance of offering child care to support parents and carers in the industry.
We’re thrilled to be able to offer free creche sessions again across 11 panels and 7 films.
To book a spot in the creche, please email mail@gcfilmfestival.com
9
W E A R E G C . C O M . AU
The City of Gold Coast is committed to developing and promoting our film and television
industry and is proud to, once again, partner with the Gold Coast Film Festival.
In partnership with Village Roadshow Studios, Screen Queensland and the industry, we’ve
successfully attracted US productions with a combined production budget of $1.9 billion
and continue to build a strong, world renowned industry.
10 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19AWARDS EVENTS
SCREEN
INDUSTRY
GALA AWARDS
FEATURING 2019 CHAUVEL RECIPIENT
SIGRID THORNTON IN CONVERSATION
WITH JENNY COONEY
The Gold Coast Film Festival’s inaugural Screen An icon of Australian screen, television and stage, Sigrid Thornton is the 2019
Industry Gala Awards Dinner is a dazzling celebration Chauvel Recipient.
bringing together Queensland screen industry The red carpet will be rolled out to welcome the screen industry and Gold
businesses and supporters to recognise and celebrate Coast leaders to an elegant night of dinner, drinks and awards ceremony at
achievements of award winners and finalists – with Movie World. On this night of nights the Gold Coast Film Festival will award:
the national screen industry award The Chauvel
Award at its heart. • T he Chauvel Award and “In Conversation” with Sigrid Thornton, hosted by
Jenny Cooney
Established in 1992, The Chauvel Award
acknowledges significant contribution to the • Blackmagic Design Best Australian Independent Film Award
Australian Screen Industry and is named in honour • PKF Best Australian Independent Film Award – Peer Award
of two of Australia’s most significant filmmakers,
Charles and Elsa Chauvel. • Queensland Screenwriting Award finalists and winner
• SIPFEST (Shorts in Paradise) finalists
• Webseries finalists + award winners
Join the celebration and enjoy a night of dinner, drinks and networking
and see who takes home the coveted awards.
Tickets are $135 each or $1215 for a table of 10. Invite your clients,
colleagues and friends to celebrate this year’s awards!
WHEN | 6.30PM, THURSDAY 4 APRIL WHERE | MOVIE WORLD DRESS CODE | COCKTAIL
TRAVEL | FREE PARKING AVAILABLE AT MOVIE WORLD. A RETURN BUS WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED FROM QT GOLD COAST IN SURFERS
PARADISE TO MOVIE WORLD. SPOTS ARE LIMITED – SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS.
11AWARDS
AWARDS AND JURIES
GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL IS PROUD TO SUPPORT QUEENSLAND AND
AUSTRALIAN FILMMAKERS, WRITERS AND CREATORS THROUGH A SERIES
OF AWARDS AND PRIZES, THIS YEAR TOTALLING $25,000
BLACKMAGIC DESIGN BEST QUEENSLAND EMERGE
AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT SCREENWRITING AWARD Best Student Short Film Award ($250)
FILM AWARD $5000 cash with thanks to The Judged by GCFF Program Director,
$10,000 in Blackmagic Design Heaton Group Rich Haridy and a Screen Queensland
camera equipment Judged by Jo Dillon, EVP Content Screen representative.
Judged by members of the Australian Film Queensland, Jonathan Page, founder
Critic Association, the judges for 2019 are: Bonsai Pictures, Benjamin Gilmour, writer/ THE CHAUVEL AWARD
Luke Buckmaster, The Guardian, Sarah director or Jirga, and Sandy George, screen
Ward, Screen International, Zak Hepburn, industry journalist. The Chauvel Award Committee features
ABC News Breakfast and Alexandra Heller- six of Australia’s most respected screen
Nicholas, PhD / Senses of Cinema. industry members: Jan Chapman, producer
SIPFEST (Shorts in Paradise) of AFI Best Film winner, Lantana and
$8000 cash across 7 categories with Academy Award winner The Piano and
PKF BEST AUSTRALIAN thanks to Surfers Paradise Alliance 2002 Chauvel Award recipient; Melanie
INDEPENDENT FILM AWARD Coombs, producer of the Academy Award
– PEER AWARD Judged by Dov Kornits, editor FilmInk, winner Harvie Krumpet; film industry
Samantha Laidlaw, Screen Queensland, veteran, actor and producer Alan Finney;
$1,000 cash thanks to PKF Chartered Heather Maltman, SeaFM breakfast
Accountants & Business Advisers, and Australian film critic David Stratton; Screen
presenter /filmmaker, and Eamon Farren, Queensland’s CEO Tracey Vieira, and
a Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve AACTA-award winning actor.
software package Professor Emeritus Bruce Molloy.
Judged by directors of films that have WEBSERIES
screened in the GCFF Australian Indepen-
dent film strand in previous years. Best International Webseries, Best Comedy,
Best Australian Webseries ($500)
Judged by Julie Kalceff, writer/director/
producer, Matthew Eeles, founder/editor
Cinema Australia, Lauren Atkins, founder NYC
Web Fest, and Leanne Tonkes, producer.
13
Style GuideEVENTS
GOLD COAST MOVIE
LOCATIONS TOURS
SATURDAY 6 APRIL, 9.30AM – 1PM | SUNDAY 7 APRIL, 2PM – 5.30PM | SATURDAY 13 APRIL, 9.30AM – 1PM & 2PM – 5.30PM
Go behind-the-scenes with Australia’s first Movie Locations Tour! • Visit film locations featured in over 20
If you’ve ever wondered where Jason Momoa hung out, Dwayne Johnson worked out, films and TV Series including Aquaman,
Eva Longoria went for a run, Daniel Radcliffe got a tan or where Chris Hemsworth likes Dora The Explorer, Thor: Ragnarok, Kong:
to holiday – this tour is for you! Skull Island, Swinging Safari, San Andreas,
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell
The Gold Coast’s unique and stunning landscapes have attracted filmmakers and produc- No Tales, The Shallows, Gettin’ Square
tions from across the world and with them a host of Hollywood stars. In the last few years, and more.
productions including Aquaman, Dora The Explorer, Thor: Ragnarok, Kong: Skull Island and
their cast and crew have called the Gold Coast home – at least for a few months. • Get insight into the making of films with
exclusive behind-the-scenes stories and
This 3.5 hour guided bus tour is action-packed with film locations made famous by footage from Queensland crew members.
both international blockbusters and Australian classics and is filled with behind-the-
scenes stories, interviews with Queensland filmmakers, and celebrity hot-spots. • Find out which Gold Coast cafes and restau-
rants are celeb hot-spots.
Traversing the Gold Coast, you’ll visit key filming locations, watch exclusive video inter-
views, tour Emmy-award winning makeup-effects studio JMB FX, and your enigmatic
host Murray Shoring, actor, radio presenter and voice artist, will point out locations
used in dozens of films – so have your camera ready!
WHERE | DEPARTS HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
AGES | 15+ YEARS COST | $55 ADULT / $50 CONCESSION
14 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF1915
YAMAGEN is bringing the exhilarating Tokyo hustle and bustle to the Gold Coast.
Reinventing a Japanese izakaya with an innovative twist,
YAMAGEN is all about kushiyaki straight from the grill,
market fresh sushi and sashimi, and cutting-edge cocktails.
Irasshaimasel (Welcome!)
Dinner & drinks available Tuesday to Saturday, 5.30pm until late.
Lunch available Friday, 12pm – 3pm.
For reservations call 07 5584 1243 or email bookings_qtgoldcoast@evt.com
7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise yamagen.com.au /YamagenGoldCoastAUSTRALIAN ROMANCE COMEDY
GALA SCREENING
TOP END WEDDING
ROMANTIC COMEDY | AUSTRALIA | 102 MINUTES | M
DIRECTOR WAYNE BLAIR | CAST MIRANDA TAPSELL, GWILYM LEE, KERRY FOX
Direct from its triumphant world premiere at the prestigious “A BRIGHT AND BREEZY
Sundance Film Festival, Director Wayne Blair (The Sapphires) and
writer-producer-star Miranda Tapsell deliver a winning and sweet
ROM-COM SET AGAINST
romantic comedy in Top End Wedding. THE LUSH FOLIAGE AND
Spanning Darwin, Kakadu and the Tiwi Islands, this gorgeously RED EARTH OF AUSTRALIA’S
glowing film evokes a beautiful sense of place. NORTHERN TERRITORY.”
Lauren (Tapsell) and Ned (Gwilym Lee) are engaged, they are in
love, and they have just ten days to find Lauren’s mother who has SCREEN DAILY
gone AWOL somewhere in the remote far north of Australia, reunite
her parents and pull off their dream wedding.
FRIDAY, 12 APRIL, 7.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
17FANTASY DRAMA
FEEL-GOOD FABLES
THE EXTRAORDINARY
JOURNEY OF THE FAKIR
FANTASY/DRAMA | UK/FRANCE | 92 MINUTES | M
DIRECTOR KEN SCOTT | CAST DHANUSH, BERENICE BEJO, ERIN MORIATY
Based on the bestselling novel, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in “…AN EXTREMELY
an Ikea Wardrobe, and starring Bollywood star Dhanush, this magnificently entertaining romp
follows Aja, a feisty character raised in the slums of Mumbai, as he journeys to Paris in search of
FEEL–GOOD
his long-lost father. MIGRATION
Spanning everywhere from Spain to Libya to Italy, Aja’s travels encompass Bollywood dance MOVIE… MIXING
numbers, European starlets, and an unexpected trip inside… you guessed it, an Ikea Wardrobe. MAGICAL REALISM,
Keeping a rollicking pace, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir is a sweet, feel-good journey
playing like a magic realist mix between Slumdog Millionaire and Around the World in 80 Days. DEADPAN COMEDY,
Morning Tea at HOTA: Enjoy a morning tea of espresso and sweet treats before the MUSICAL NUMBERS
screening on Thursday 11 April. $15 per person. AND MOMENTS
OF TEAR-JERKING
DRAMA.”
THURSDAY 4 APRIL, 10.30AM | BBCC COOLANGATTA + CINEBUZZ SENIORS MORNING TEA THE HOLLYWOOD
THURSDAY 11 APRIL, 11AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS REPORTER
SUNDAY 14 APRIL, 1PM | ARTS THEATRE, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
18 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19ROMANCE COMEDY
FEEL-GOOD FABLES
DUMPED
COMEDY/ROMANCE | FRANCE | 95 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR ELOISE LANG | CAST MIOU-MIOU, CAMILLE COTTIN, CAMILLE CHAMOUX
Françoise has just been abandoned by her husband for a much younger woman. “AN ENTERTAINING
Her daughters, Rose and Alice, decide to take her on a resort getaway to help
cheer her up and celebrate her 60th birthday. Alongside parties, drinks, and
CINEMATIC EXCURSION
excessive tans, the girls help Françoise get her groove back. THAT YOU WON’T WANT
With an authentic eye on mother-daughter relationships, this wholly female-led TO COME BACK FROM.”
film from writer-director Eloise Lang is a breezy delight. Fast-paced, bawdy and
packed with hilarious one-liners, Dumped is a feel-good blast of fresh air for CINEMA PERSPECTIVE
audiences of all ages.
THURSDAY 11 APRIL, 10.30AM | BCC COOLANGATTA
FRIDAY 12 APRIL, 2PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
SUNDAY 14 APRIL, 1PM | BCC COOLANGATTA
SUNDAY 14 APRIL, 3.30PM | ARTS THEATRE, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
19COMEDY DRAMA
FEEL-GOOD FABLES
AS NEEDED (QUANTO BASTA)
COMEDY/DRAMA | ITALY | 92 MINUTES | M
DIRECTOR FRANCESCO FALASCHI | CAST VINICIO MARCHIONI, VALERIA SOLARINO, LUIGI FEDELE
Arturo is a chef with anger management problems and after getting in trouble with the law, he is
sentenced to community service teaching cooking classes. Here, Arturo meets Guido, a talented WINE TASTING & CHEESE
young chef with autism, and a friendship blooms. As Arturo helps his new friend prepare for a ON THE HOTA CAFÉ DECK
cooking competition, he also rekindles his own passion for food. FOLLOWING AS NEEDED
(QUANTO BASTA)
This feel-good comedy takes the viewer on a culinary trip across the gorgeous countryside of
Tuscany, filled with mouth-watering Italian food and warmhearted laughs. Come and enjoy a relaxed
wine tasting session,
hosted by wine company
“A SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS COMEDY LIKE A Pernod Ricard. Smell, taste
and savour three wines,
PLATE OF SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATO SAUCE.” accompanied by a selection
of gourmet cheeses and
NONSOLOCINEMA
savouries. Then enjoy a glass
of your choice.
SUNDAY 7 APRIL, 12.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS SUNDAY 7 APRIL, 2.30PM
THURSDAY 11 APRIL, 4PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS $25 PER PERSON
20 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19DRAMA
CRIME TIME
BIRDS OF PASSAGE
DRAMA | COLOMBIA | 125 MINUTES | MA
DIRECTORS CIRO GUERRA AND CRISTINA GALLEGO
CAST ASLENIS MÁRQUEZ, CARMIÑA MARTÍNEZ, GREIDER MEZA
From the Oscar-nominated filmmaking team behind the gorgeous Embrace of
the Serpent, comes a tale exploring the origins of the Colombian drug trade.
Beginning in the 1960s and spanning two decades, Birds of Passage tells the
story of how traditional Colombian village life gave way to criminal drug cartels.
Split into five chapters, or “cantos”, this incredibly unique film blends
a familiar ‘Narcos’ style story with an anthropological eye on ancient
Colombian customs and culture.
“A VISUALLY STUNNING AND
Birds of Passage is unlike any epic crime story ever made, taking the OFTEN SURPRISING TRUE
Godfather and putting it through a magic realist filter.
STORY… THIS IS A SOUTH-OF-
Festival Selections: Cannes (Opening Night – Director’s Fortnight),
London Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival THE-BORDER DRUG EPIC LIKE
YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.”
FRIDAY 5 APRIL, 1.30PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
TUESDAY 9 APRIL, 10AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS VARIETY
DRAMA CRIME
CRIME TIME | QUEENSLAND PREMIERE
LITTLE WOODS
CRIME/DRAMA | USA | 105 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR NIA DACOSTA | CAST TESSA THOMPSON, LILY JAMES,
LANCE REDDICK, JAMES BADGE-DALE
Tessa Thompson (Westworld, Thor: Ragnarok) is electrifying as Ollie, an ex-con
with just a few days left on her parole. Ollie, and her estranged sister Deb (Lily
James), are swiftly sucked back into a life of crime after their mother passes
away leaving them with insurmountable debts that bring them to the precipice
of homelessness. “DACOSTA DEFTLY BALANCES
First-time filmmaker Nia DaCosta crafts a profoundly modern western, presenting OLLIE’S ILLICIT ACTIVITIES WITH
a riveting indictment of an American society that traps women into cycles of crime THE ECONOMIC ANXIETIES
and poverty. Little Woods is an emotionally charged and timely crime-thriller
marking DaCosta as a young American indie filmmaker to watch.
SO MANY HAVE TO STRUGGLE
WITH TO CREATE THE KIND OF
Festival Selections: Tribeca, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin
SUSPENSE HITCHCOCK OR
FRIDAY 5 APRIL, 4PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS SCORSESE WOULD ENVY.”
SUNDAY 7 APRIL, 3.30PM | BCC COOLANGATTA
TUESDAY 9 APRIL, 4.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS CULTURED VULTURES
21Elevate Production Finance would like to congratulate
TODD FELLMAN and the cast & crew of
AT LAST on the delivery of the film.
We wish you the best for your upcoming release.
Director:
LIU YIWEI
Producers:
JIAO AIMIN
TODD FELLMAN
GUIQUN WU
Our debt finance solutions:
Producer Offset | Government Rebates | Marketplace Sales | Gap Finance
&
Executive Production
Contact us: info@elevatepf.com
www.elevatepf.comTHRILLER
CRIME TIME
DOGMAN
CRIME | ITALY | 103 MINUTES | MA
DIRECTOR MATTEO GARRONE
CAST MARCELLO FONTE, EDOARDO PESCE, ADAMO DIONISI
This nerve-shreddingly intense film from the director of Italian gangster
classic Gomorrah, is an exceedingly rich illustration of how a good man can
be tempted by the lure of evil.
Dogman filters an early Scorsese-like low-life gangster sensibility through an
effectively stylised, and desolate Italian prism. Marcello, in an extraordinarily
realistic turn from Marcello Fonte, is a dog-groomer by day and a low-level
cocaine dealer by night. Simone is a loose cannon – mean, violent and
probably insane – yet Marcello feels strangely drawn in by this toxic “A MOVIE WITH
personality. What is it that attracts Marcello to such a dangerous personality, INCOMPARABLE
and has he brought himself too close to the devil?
BITE AND STRENGTH.
Festival Selections: Cannes (Official Competition, Best Actor), FIVE STARS.”
Melbourne, Telluride, Toronto, Fantastic Fest, Busan
MONDAY 8 APRIL, 3.15PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS THE GUARDIAN
SATURDAY 13 APRIL, 1.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
THRILLER CRIME
CRIME TIME | QUEENSLAND PREMIERE
NUMBER 37
CRIME/THRILLER | SOUTH AFRICA | 100 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR NOSIPHO DUMISA
CAST IRSHAAD ALLY, MONIQUE ROCKMAN, EPHRAIM GORDON
Entrapped in his apartment, Randal, a recent paraplegic, is given a gift of
binoculars by his devoted girlfriend. Deep in debt to a sadistic loan shark and
peering on his neighbours from his apartment, Randall witnesses a local gangster
commit a crime. Can blackmail help Randall get the money to settle his debt?
“THIS SINGULARLY CRAFTY
Nosipho Dumisa, born a Zulu in South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal province, delivers
a blistering feature debut with this novel spin on Hitchcock’s Rear Window. AND STRIKINGLY WELL-
Transposing the classic man-in-a-wheelchair story to an outer suburban MADE HITCHCOCKIAN
apartment block in Johannesburg, Dumisa creates a sophisticated, tense, and
uniquely African thriller.
THRILLER ANNOUNCES THE
Enjoy a screening of short film Hello Rain before the film on Wednesday 10 April,
ARRIVAL OF A PROMISING
in collaboration with the Australian Festival of African Film. FILMMAKING TALENT.”
THURSDAY 4 APRIL, 3PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
VARIETY
WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL, 6.30PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
23SCI-FI
WHAT THE…?
HIGH LIFE
SCI-FI | USA/FRANCE | 110 MINUTES | 18+
DIRECTOR CLAIRE DENIS | CAST ROBERT PATTINSON, JULIETTE BINOCHE,
ANDRÉ BENJAMIN, MIA GOTH
Acclaimed French director Claire Denis delivers her first English-language
film in the form of this bizarre, austere, hypnotic and truly audacious
science-fiction experience.
High Life is as elusive and elliptical as anything Denis has made, homing
in on the deeply existential emptiness humans face when plunged into
the remoteness of outer space.
“THIS KINKY, OFTEN Robert Pattinson plays one of several death-row criminals on a one-way mission
sent to explore a distant black hole, however a team of menacing scientists are
GROTESQUE MELDING also on board, keen to use the mission for a series of sexual experiments.
OF GENRE SCIENCE- Festival Selections: Toronto International Film Festival, Sitges Film
FICTION WITH ALL-OUT Festival, Rotterdam, Torino, Busan
BODY HORROR IS AN
AUDACIOUS PROJECT.” FRIDAY 12 APRIL, 6PM | BCC COOLANGATTA
SATURDAY 13 APRIL, 6.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
VARIETY SUNDAY 14 APRIL, 3.30PM | BCC COOLANGATTATHRILLER
WHAT THE…?
BORDER
THRILLER | SWEDEN/DENMARK | 110 MINUTES | MA
DIRECTOR ALI ABBASI | CAST EVA MELANDER, EERO MILONOFF, JORGEN THORSSON
Tina is a customs agent with a preternatural ability to sniff out contraband. Her unusual “UNIQUE,
appearance makes her an outcast, only truly feeling at home when she is alone in the woods.
UNFORGETTABLE
One day, a man by the name of Vore passes by Tina’s customs desk. Vore shares Tina’s
strange physical attributes and the two quickly begin a strange romance that ultimately reveals
AND CATHARTIC.
a dark secret about Tina’s past. BORDER IS AN
From the writer of the genre-bending classic Let The Right One In, Border is brashly ODDBALL, BUT
unconventional, fusing disparate genres together with absurdly smooth precision. Is this a POIGNANT CULT
romance, a crime thriller, a fantasy, or a comedy? It’s ultimately all of the above in one of the
most memorable, strange, and unpredictable films you will ever experience. CLASSIC IN THE
FESTIVALS: Winner, Un certain regard Cannes Film Festival; Telluride; Toronto MAKING.”
THE PLAYLIST
FRIDAY 5 APRIL, 8.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL, 1.30PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
25MYSTERY
WHAT THE…? | AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
UNDER THE SILVER LAKE
MYSTERY | USA | 139 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR DAVID ROBERT MITCHELL | CAST ANDREW GARFIELD, RILEY KEOUGH, ZOSIA MAMET, TOPHER GRACE
David Robert Mitchell follows up his iconic horror hit It Follows with something very different “HYPNOTIC,
– a millennial slacker noir boldly mashing up Inherent Vice, The Big Lebowski and Mulholland
Drive into something profoundly weird and iconoclastic. Mitchell’s film divided Cannes last
SPIRALLING AND
year, playing like a surreal Philip Marlowe detective story for the Reddit generation. DELIRIOUSLY HIGH
Andrew Garfield plays Sam, a bored millennial with a penchant for conspiracy theories. When ON ITS OWN SUPPLY
his mysterious and attractive neighbour (Riley Keough) suddenly goes missing, Sam embarks OF AMATEUR-SLEUTH
on a self-appointed detective mission revealing dog killers, goth bands and roving girl gangs.
MOVIE REFERENCES.”
Has Sam stumbled into a giant elaborate conspiracy? Or are these all just empty clues
amounting to nothing? TIME OUT
Festival Selections: Cannes, Fantasia, Sitges
THURSDAY 4 APRIL, 7.15PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
SUNDAY 7 APRIL, 7PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
THURSDAY 11 APRIL, 6PM | BCC COOLANGATTA
26 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19DRAMA
FAMILY ERAS | QUEENSLAND PREMIERE
1985
DRAMA | USA | 85 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR YEN TAN
CAST VIRGINIA MADSEN, CORY MICHAEL SMITH, MICHAEL CHIKLIS
Gorgeously shot on 16mm film in black and white, this deeply emotional
film follows young Adrian as he returns to his conservative Texas home to
visit his parents for the first time in years. Adrian is coming home to finally
reveal to his parents he is gay. “THE FILM’S INTIMATE
Set amidst the spectre of the ‘80s AIDS epidemic, this is an extraordinarily
CONSIDERATION OF
gentle, restrained and authentic coming-out story. Anchored by a trio of rich STILL-ENORMOUS ISSUES
performances, 1985 is a deeply felt, and quietly momentous film that is a IS INTELLIGENT, SURPRISING
minor modern classic of queer cinema.
AND EMOTIONALLY
Festival Selections: SXSW, Göteborg Film Festival, Outfest Los Angeles
RESONANT.”
THURSDAY 4 APRIL, 5.15PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS THE NEW YORK TIMES
DRAMA
FAMILY ERAS
THE HEIRESSES
DRAMA | PARAGUAY | 98 MINUTES | M
DIRECTOR MARCELO MARTINESSI
CAST ANA BRUN, MARGARITA IRÚN, ANA IVANOVA
Chela and Chiquita, an upper class lesbian couple, have their lives thrown
into disarray after Chiquita’s debts finally catch up with her. Chiquita is
thrown into jail, separating the two for the first time in 30 years and Chela,
forced to begin selling off their assets, finds her privileged existence rapidly
falling apart.
The Heiresses is an extraordinarily sensitive character study, highlighting the “A FINELY-CRAFTED,
journey of two women, sharply thrust out of a complacent rut, and into the
joys and heartbreaks of real life. BEAUTIFULLY REALISED DEBUT
With incredible central performances, and luminous cinematography, THAT EXQUISITELY BALANCES
this is rich, memorable cinema at its most sophisticated. CHARACTER STUDY WITH
Festival Selections: Berlin Film Festival (Best Actress), SHREWD COMMENTARY
Sydney Film Festival (Best Film in Competition)
ON CLASS, DESIRE, AND THE
LINGERING PRIVILEGES OF
SATURDAY 6 APRIL, 11.15AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL, 10AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS PARAGUAY’S ELITE.” VARIETY
27DRAMA
FAMILY ERAS | AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
HAPPY NEW YEAR,
COLIN BURSTEAD
DRAMA | UK/FRANCE | 95 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR BEN WHEATLEY | CAST NEIL MASKELL, JOE COLE, CHARLES DANCE, SAM RILEY
Prolific UK filmmaker Ben Wheatley’s latest work is a triumphant change of pace “…A NERVE-RADDLED
– a simple ensemble tragicomedy chronicling a family reunion on New Year’s Eve.
FAMILY REUNION
In a bid to bring the family together, Colin (played by Wheatley regular Neil
Maskell) has hired a grand seaside mansion and invited the entire clan for an end
COMEDY... ONE OF
of year celebration. WHEATLEY’S BEST,
As parents and siblings slowly arrive, grumbling long-held resentments quickly MOST FLUID FILMS.”
come to the surface and when David, the little-seen black sheep of the family,
enters the picture, tensions reach a boiling point. VARIETY
Filled with acidic dialogue and naturalistic performances, this dynamic little drama
is a caustic delight.
THURSDAY 11 APRIL, 1PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
SUNDAY 14 APRIL, 10.30AM | ART THEATRE, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
28 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19DRAMA
FAMILY ERAS | QUEENSLAND PREMIERE
NERVOUS
TRANSLATION
DRAMA | PHILIPPINES | 90 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR SHIREEN SENO
CAST JANA AGONCILLO, ANGGE SANTOS, SID LUCERO
With her father out of the country on business and her distant mother always
working, eight-year-old Yael lives in a world of imagination. She spends her “MANAGES TO BEAUTIFULLY
days listening to cassette tape recordings of her father, and baking tiny meals
on a toy stove. CAPTURE THE OBLIQUE
Artist and filmmaker Shireen Seno creates a hypnotic portrait of growing up HALF-UNDERSTANDING
in the Philippines in the 1980s, boldly hinging the story entirely on Yael’s AND FRAGMENTED MEMORY
limited childlike perspective. Packed with extraordinarily impressionistic
flourishes, unexpected jump-cuts, and an unconventional electronic
THAT CHARACTERISES
soundtrack, this poetic film is a glorious expression of youthful awe. CHILDHOOD ENGAGEMENT
Festival Selections: Rotterdam, Taipei, Melbourne, Torino WITH ADULT AFFAIRS.”
THE PLAYLIST
THURSDAY 4 APRIL, 10.30AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL, 4PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
29PERIOD DRAMA
SHADES OF WAR
PETERLOO
PERIOD DRAMA | UK | 154 MINUTES | M
DIRECTOR MIKE LEIGH | CAST RORY KINNEAR, MAXINE PEAKE, NEIL BELL
Legendary filmmaker Mike Leigh delivers his largest and most ambitious film to “THERE IS A DANGER OF
date, with this exhaustively detailed depiction of the 1819 Peterloo massacre.
FILING PETERLOO AWAY
Called one of the defining moments of its age, the Peterloo massacre found tens
of thousands of unarmed pro-democracy protesters violently charged by the army.
AS AN “IMPORTANT
Leigh’s account of the event is handsomely mounted, presenting a large and
FILM” – BUT IT IS ALSO
detailed canvas that carefully establishes its historical context before immersing A COMPLEX, ROUSING
the viewer into a passionate and gripping recreation of that fateful day. AND REWARDING ONE
Peterloo is both austere and visceral, a vital period film with compelling relevance FOR ANYONE PREPARED
to today’s divisive political climate.
TO MEET IT ON ITS OWN
Festival Selections: Venice Film Festival (Official Competition),
Toronto Film Festival, London Film Festival UNAPOLOGETICALLY
AMBITIOUS TERMS.”
DAILY TELEGRAPH
SATURDAY 6 APRIL, 6.30PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
MONDAY 8 APRIL, 9.45AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
30 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19DRAMA WAR
SHADES OF WAR
GIRLS OF THE SUN
WAR/DRAMA | FRANCE | 115 MINUTES | 18+
DIRECTOR EVA HUSSON
CAST GOLSHIFTEH FARAHANI, EMMANUELLE BERCOT, ZÜBEYDE BULUT
Based on the true story of a group of all-female Kurdish soldiers battling
Isis in Iraq back in 2014, Girls of the Sun presents a profoundly unique
spin on the war movie genre. Subversively slipping a gender-twist on
what is conventionally a very male-orientated genre, Eva Husson’s
muscular film is tough, harrowing but ultimately richly moving.
As the unit fight misogynistic Isis soldiers, they quickly discover the men
have a deep fear of being killed by a woman, since their religion deems
that demise to be deeply dishonourable and one that would send them
to hell. The female soldiers wield this power across a series of gripping
battle scenes. “…A FEMINIST WAR
MOVIE: IMPASSIONED,
SATURDAY 6 APRIL, 4PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS SUSPENSEFUL, ANGRY.”
FRIDAY 12 APRIL, 11.30AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
SATURDAY 13 APRIL, 3.30PM | BCC COOLANGATTA THE GUARDIAN
DRAMA COMEDY
SHADES OF WAR
WOMAN AT WAR
COMEDY/DRAMA | ICELAND | 101 MINUTES | M
DIRECTOR BENEDIKT ERLINGSSON | CAST HALLDÓRA GEIRHARÐSDÓTTIR,
JÓHANN SIGURÐARSON, DAVÍÐ ÞÓR JÓNSSON
Halla is in her late 40s, a choir leader, and beloved by all in her small
Icelandic town. Unbeknownst to her friends, Halla is also an undercover
eco-warrior, battling the growing corporate mining interests that are
spreading throughout the land. When a long-awaited adoption application
is accepted, Halla is forced to make a decision between becoming a new
mother and saving the environment.
Is Woman at War a comedy, drama, thriller, musical or all of the above? “IS THERE ANYTHING RARER
This intelligent, uplifting film is simply warm-hearted, crowd-pleasing
cinema at its finest – a strange beast of a near-perfect movie that is
THAN AN INTELLIGENT FEEL-
simultaneously silly, serious, funny and gripping. GOOD FILM THAT KNOWS
Festival Selections: Cannes, Toronto, Sydney, New Zealand, Busan, HOW TO TACKLE URGENT
Adelaide, Melbourne, London GLOBAL ISSUES WITH HUMOUR
THURSDAY 4 APRIL, 12.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS AS WELL AS A SATISFYING
SATURDAY 13 APRIL, 11.30AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS SENSE OF JUSTICE?” VARIETY
SATURDAY 13 APRIL, 6PM | BCC COOLANGATTA
31DOCUMENTARY
REAL PEOPLE, REAL JOURNEYS | AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
BREAKING HABITS
DOCUMENTARY | USA | 87 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR ROBERT RYAN | CAST SISTER KATE AND THE SISTERS OF THE VALLEY
Meet Sister Kate, possibly the most controversial nun on the planet. “WE ARE SERIOUS WOMEN,
The Sisters of the Valley are a group of feminist activists who present
themselves as non-affiliated nuns that grow and sell medical marijuana
ON A SERIOUS MISSION.”
products to ill patients. SISTER KATE
Breaking Habits presents the unbelievable but true story of the Sisters of
the Valley and their battles with authorities, thieves and drug cartels in the
years before marijuana was legalised in California.
This incredible documentary is a mindbending tale of nuns, guns and drugs.
SATURDAY 6 APRIL, 3.30PM | BCC COOLANGATTA
SUNDAY 7 APRIL, 10.30AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
TUESDAY 9 APRIL, 2.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
32 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19DOCUMENTARY
REAL PEOPLE, REAL JOURNEYS | AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
ROMANTIC ROAD
DOCUMENTARY | USA | 80 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR OLIVER MCGARVEY | CAST JAN GREY, RUPERT GREY
Rupert and Jan are an English couple in their late 60s with a crazy idea. After being invited “YOU SHOULD SEE
to a human rights conference in India, they decide to turn the trip into an epic adventure.
THIS FILM TO REMIND
Shipping their old 1936 Roll Royce across to the sub-continent, they embark upon
an epic 5000 mile, six month journey from Mumbai to Dhakar battling local officials,
YOURSELF THAT THERE
dodging tribal conflicts and dining with maharajahs. IS CULTURE, HUMANITY,
Executive produced by Sharon Stone, Romantic Road is an inspiring adventure story, an KINDNESS AND
ode to rekindling love, and a fascinating look at a country often excessively romanticised. WONDER LEFT IN EACH
This is an exciting reminder that one is never too old to set out on a crazy adventure. AND EVERY DAY.”
Cinebuzz Seniors Morning Tea: Enjoy morning tea before the film on
Tuesday 9 April, 10am at BCC Coolangatta. Free for Cinebuzz Seniors members. SHARON STONE
FRIDAY 5 APRIL, 11.30AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
TUESDAY 9 APRIL, 10.30AM | BCC COOLANGATTA + CINEBUZZ SENIORS MORNING TEA
33DOCUMENTARY
REAL PEOPLE, REAL JOURNEYS
INVENTING
TOMORROW
DOCUMENTARY | USA | 87 MINUTES | 10+
DIRECTOR LAURA NIX
Following several teenage students as they head to the world’s
largest science fair in Los Angeles, this globe-trotting documentary
is an ode to youthful ingenuity and the exciting power of science.
Spanning Indonesia, Mexico, India and Hawaii, Inventing Tomorrow
is about students attempting to solve the world’s environmental
problems, presenting an extraordinarily hopeful and inspirational
perspective on the world today.
TUESDAY 9 APRIL, 12.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
ANIMATION
FOR THE KIDS | AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
TITO AND THE BIRDS
ANIMATION | BRAZIL | 73 MINUTES | 10+
DIRECTORS GABRIEL BITAR, ANDRE CATOTO, GUSTAVO STEINBERG
An unusual illness is spreading around the world – people are
getting sick when they become scared.
Ten-year old Tito may be the only one that can save the world
from this literal epidemic of fear.
This gorgeous award-winning animation from Brazil, a stunning
mix of digital drawing and oil paintings, offers a potent yet
lively story exploring how to overcome those who want to
control us through fear.
SATURDAY 6 APRIL, 9.30AM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
34 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19DRAMA FAMILY
FOR THE KIDS | AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
MIA AND THE
WHITE LION
FAMILY/DRAMA | UK/GERMANY/FRANCE | 98 MINUTES | 10+
DIRECTOR GILLES DE MAISTRE
CAST DANIAH DE VILLIERS, MÉLANIE LAURENT, LANGLEY KIRKWOOD
Upset by her family’s move from London to Africa to manage a lion
farm, ten-year old Mia finds solace in her friendship with a white lion
cub named Charlie. Three years pass quietly but when Mia finds out
the truth behind her father’s plan for Charlie, she and the lion escape
into the Savannah on an epic journey to find somewhere for Charlie
to live out his life peacefully.
This incredible film was shot over three years with young star Daniah
De Villiers growing up with the titular lion cub, forging a close
relationship, allowing the filmmakers to create stunning scenes with
a full-grown lion.
Mia and the White Lion is a family-friendly, inspirational story that
gently educates its audience about the importance of protecting these SATURDAY 6 APRIL, 1PM | BCC COOLANGATTA
glorious endangered animals from commercial hunting industries. MONDAY 8 APRIL, 1PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
THURSDAY 11 APRIL, 1PM | BCC COOLANGATTA
35COMEDY DRAMA AUSTRALIAN Q&A
INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN VOICES | WORLD PREMIERE
MAYBE TOMORROW
COMEDY/DRAMA | AUSTRALIA | 80 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTORS CAITLIN FARRUGIA & MICHAEL JONES | CAST TEGAN CROWLEY, VATERESIO TUIKABA
As a young couple struggle with the demands of life with a new “THE FILM IS ABOUT A COUPLE
baby, they plow forward on production for their latest self-funded
independent feature film.
WHO ARE FILMMAKERS BUT
From the prolific indie duo Caitlin Farrugia & Michael Jones (GCFF17
IT IS MORE ABOUT THEIR
Lazybones), this is a gentle comedy-drama that investigates the ways RELATIONSHIP AS THEY RAISE
young artists can balance the challenge of starting a new family THEIR FIRST CHILD.”
while still scratching that creative cinematic itch.
Join the filmmakers for a Q&A after the screening. CAITLIN FARRUGIA
FRIDAY 5 APRIL, 6.30PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
36 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER FILM AND
TELEVISION DESTINATION
Proud sponsors of the
Gold Coast Film Festival
9 sound stages, 3 water tanks, diverse film
locations, incentives and production support.
www.villageroadshowstudios.com.au
37FAMILY DRAMA Q&A
INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN VOICES | QUEENSLAND PREMIERE
EMU RUNNER
FAMILY/DRAMA | AUSTRALIA | 95 MINUTES | 10+
DIRECTOR IMOGEN THOMAS | CAST RHAE-KYE WAITES, WAYNE BLAIR, GEORGIA BLIZZARD
Emu Runner is a remarkable story about a nine-year-old Indigenous girl, “DIRECTOR IMOGEN
Gem Daniels, who lives in a remote Australian town. As she copes with her
mother’s unexpected death, Gem finds solace in the company of a wild emu,
THOMAS HAS MADE
unwittingly connecting with her mother’s traditional totem animal. A POWERFUL FEATURE
This incredibly poetic and beautiful independent Australian production was FILM DEBUT WITH THE
conceived by first-time filmmaker Imogen Thomas in collaboration with MINIMALIST AND POETIC
Frayne Barker, an Aboriginal Ngemba woman, from Brewarrina.
EMU RUNNER.”
Filmed with the assistance of the entire community the film tells a sincere,
authentic, and touching story. ALEX HELLER-NICHOLAS,
Join the filmmakers for a Q&A after the screening on Saturday 6 April at HOTA. FLICKS.COM.AU
Festival Selections: Toronto International Film Festival, Adelaide Film Festival
SUNDAY 7 APRIL, 2.45PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
SATURDAY 13 APRIL, 11.30AM | EVENT CINEMAS COOMERA
SUNDAY 14 APRIL, 10.30AM | BCC COOLANGATTA
38 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19Q&A AUSTRALIAN THRILLER
INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN VOICES | WORLD PREMIERE
LOCUSTS
THRILLER | AUSTRALIA | 97 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTOR HEATH DAVIS | CAST BEN GEURENS, JESSICA MCNAMEE, STEVE LE MARQUAND, PETER PHELPS, DAMIAN HILL
When tech entrepreneur Ryan reluctantly returns to his remote hometown “… A TENSE, TWISTY,
for his father’s funeral, old family tensions are reignited. Ryan is quickly
entangled with a gang of desperate small-town thugs from his father’s past,
STYLISH NOIR FEATURING
becoming the target of a deadly extortion scam. AN A-LIST ENSEMBLE OF
Channelling the spirit of iconic neo-noir thrillers like Oliver Stone’s U-Turn, AUSTRALIAN CHARACTER
Angus Watts’ electrifying screenplay situates the action in a uniquely ACTORS AT THE TOP OF
Australian milieu and Heath Davis’ punchy direction makes the most of
a murderer’s row of the country’s best actors including the final screen THEIR GAME…”
performance from the extraordinarily talented Damian Hill.
FILMINK
Join the film’s cast and crew for a Q&A after the screening.
THURSDAY 11 APRIL, 6.30PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
39HORROR AUSTRALIAN
INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN VOICES
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
THE FURIES
HORROR | AUSTRALIA | 85 MINUTES | 18+
DIRECTOR TONY D’AQUINO
CAST AIRLIE DODDS, LINDA NGO, TAYLOR FERGUSON
The Furies follows seven young women who are abducted and
forced to take part in a deadly game.
Produced by Lisa Shaunessy (Killing Ground) and starring Airlie
Dodds (Killing Ground, Neighbours, Booke Week, Rake), the film is
the debut feature for writer/director Tony D’Aquino and has been
described as “reinventing the old-school slasher movie.”
SATURDAY 13 APRIL, 7PM | HORORR IN THE HINTERLAND - SEE PAGE 68
SUNDAY 14 APRIL, 5PM | EVENT CINEMAS COOMERA
DOCUMENTARY AUSTRALIAN Q&A
LOCAL TALES | AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
ELEMENTS
DOCUMENTARY | AUSTRALIA | 100 MINUTES | 15+
DIRECTORS BENJAMIN SOUTHWELL, RENEE WILSON, AARON FA’AOSO,
E.J. GARRETT, S.F. TUSA | PRODUCERS DENA CURTIS, DOUGLAS WATKIN
Elements is a visually stunning and immersive cultural experience
that captures the spectacular landscapes and stories of Far North
Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands.
Consisting of four individually mounted episodes, each chapter
showcases one of the four elements – water, wind, fire and earth.
Each element is explored through the lives of the Indigenous
people from Mornington Island, Saibai, Seisia, Bamaga, Dauan
Island and Wujul Wujul.
Elements explores the deep personal connections Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islanders have with these four elements through
country, song, dance, and spirituality.
Join the filmmakers for a Q&A after the screening.
SATURDAY 6 APRIL, 1.30PM | CINEMA 1, HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS
40 See more at www.gcfilmfestival.com | #GCFF19You can also read
