Gold Coast Film Festival 2016

Overview

If you're heading to the Gold Coast to watch movies, you might not expect snow to be the first thing you see. That's part of the fun of a film festival, of course. Anything can happen — such as a feel-good flick about a British ski jumper, Eddie the Eagle, opening an event in one of Australia's best-known beach spots.

In its 14th year, the Gold Coast Film Festival starts big and just keeps getting bigger over the course of its 11-day run from 31 March to 10 April. The numbers paint a pretty impressive picture, with the fest showing 38 films from 15 countries — including six Australian and seven Queensland premieres — and hosting 80 screenings and other sessions.

Indeed, the busy movie lineup features quirky Aussie coming-of-age effort Girl Asleep, Academy Award-nominated animation The Boy and The World, one-shot wonder Victoria, and the Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick-starring Mr Right, in a program that promises something for everyone. Outdoor screenings of '80s classics Ghostbusters and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial give the festival a throwback feel, too, because everyone loves a bit of big-screen nostalgia. Plus, those after more than a trip to the flicks can check out the trivia night, expert workshop panels, and two of Australia's screen icons combining when David Stratton chats with 2016 Chauvel Award winner Claudia Karvan.