Gold Coast Film Festival 2015

Posted by Sas Lyon

The 13th annual Gold Coast Film Festival will screen 43 films from 15 countries and includes one world premiere, 10 Australian premieres and 10 Queensland premieres this April 9 – 19.

The Gold Coast’s biggest film event will host the World Premiere of locally produced thriller, Fear of Darkness (Saturday April 11) as well as the Australian Premiere of international action movie Skin written by and starring legendary action star Dolph Lungdren, who will be attending the screening on Sunday April 19.

On Saturday April 18, George Takei will attend and take part in a special one-off Q&A screening of his documentary film To be Takei which takes a look at the many roles played by the eclectic 77-year-old actor, gay rights activist and internet phenomenon with over 8 million Facebook fans.

Opening night (Thursday April 9) of the Gold Coast Film Festival will see Cannes Film Festival favourite Clouds of Sils Maria, starring Kristin Stewart and Juliette Binoche, screening at The Arts Centre Gold Coast with a special introduction by Australia’s most respected and loved movie critic, Margaret Pomeranz.

Australian film Infini, starring Luke Hemsworth and Daniel Macpherson will also screen at the festival with a filmmaker Q&A, ahead of its Australian release.

The Festival will also feature some of the most lauded films from around the world straight from major international film festivals such as Cannes, Sundance and Berlin, including the Australian Premiere of Sundance Film Festival favourite Rudderless, William H Macy’s directorial debut.

Gold Coast Film Festival Director Kylie Pascoe said: “This year the Festival program offers a diverse selection of films that will illuminate and entertain and one which we are proud to bring to Gold Coast audiences. By broadening our geographic footprint across the Gold Coast from Helensvale to Coolangatta, we have made the Gold Coast Film Festival and the critically acclaimed films being screened more accessible than ever before.”

“This year’s festival also sees the return of Queensland Showcase; an integral strand of the festival that supports and showcases the directors, producers and writers from our own backyard. We are proud to host the World Premiere of Fear of Darkness – a film directed by Gold Coaster Chris Fitchett.

Margaret Pomeranz will be joined by her daughter-in-law Philippa Whitfield Pomeranz, a producer, director and co-creator of the TV series Fashion Bloggers, speaking at the Gold Coast Film Festival’s inaugural Women in Film Luncheon on Friday 10 April at QT Hotel.