The Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF) has released its 2026 programme, delivering an extraordinary slate of acclaimed international cinema from some of the world’s most visionary filmmakers alongside a strong local line-up.
GCFF will light up screens at HOTA (Home Of The Arts) and Dendy Southport.
“This year’s programme is a true celebration of storytelling in all its forms from globally acclaimed films direct from the world’s leading festivals to bold, homegrown Australian stories and emerging voices,” Gold Coast Film Festival CEO Luke Wheatley says. “The Gold Coast Film Festival is about bringing people together through shared screen experiences, and in 2026 we’re proud to deliver a line-up that is more diverse and more inspiring than ever, both on screen and across our incredible events programme.”
Proceedings will kick off with a glittering gala, and Warwick Thornton’s ‘Wolfram’. It features a powerful performance from Deborah Mailman, alongside remarkable young leads, delivering a deeply moving story of survival, resilience, and unexpected connection.
Then, it will close with the Australian premiere of ‘Don’t Be Prey’. It’s an edge-of-your-seat adventure, with Mark Sowerby’s fight to reclaim his life, by taking on the world’s most dangerous marathon swims. . . The Oceans Seven.
Highlights include ‘The AI Doc: How I Become An Apocaloptimist’ from Sundance, Agnieszka Holland’s ‘Franz’ from the Toronto International Film Festival, and Alex Lutz’s ‘Connemara’. Plus there’s Paolo Strippoli’s ‘The Holy Boy’, a terrifying Italian horror, and Jan-Ole Gerster’s ‘Islands’.
Film-lovers can also check out darkly comedic fable ‘Birthright’, from Australian director Zoe Petter, and Australia’s Richard E. Williams’ ‘Dead Eyes’.
GCFF will also present a special Red Carpet screening of ‘Beast’, starring Daniel MacPherson, Luke Hemsworth, Russell Crowe and Amy Shark, and directed by Tyler Atkins. More films from homegrown filmmakers include ‘The Run’ from Stephen De Villiers, and ‘Alphabet Lane’, the unsettling thriller from James Litchfield. Plus, ‘A Moment In The Sun’ is a US-made documentary shot and produced by Queensland’s Jacob Richardson.
There are seven exceptional local titles in this year’s programme, with highlights including the world premiere of the charming romantic comedy ‘All My Friends Are Back In Brisbane’. . . A fresh, heartfelt return to a beloved story, directed by Louise Alston and written by Stephen Vagg.
Gold Coast writer/director Rafael Star’s ‘Manhunt’ is also part of the line-up, and Haruki Ryles’ ‘100% Pure Rage’. Also screening is ‘Deathkeeper’, ‘Badland Rising’, ‘Violet’, and ‘Dracula Revamped’, all underscoring the festival’s commitment to championing bold, homegrown storytelling and elevating local filmmakers.
Internationally, the drama line-up includes the powerful New Zealand true-life story ‘Pike River’, centred on the 2010 mining disaster claiming 29 lives. . . Plus ’Tow’ starring Rose Byrne, ‘Glenrothan’ directed by and starring Brian Cox with Alan Cumming, French drama ‘Connemara’, and ‘Franz’, a biographical drama from Agnieszka Holland.
For those that love a laugh, there’s ‘How To Talk Australians: Highway To Hell’, plus Zoe Pepper’s sharp, darkly funny ‘Birthright’. Horror fans will be on the edge of their seats with Richard E. Williams’ ‘Dead Eyes’, and ‘The Holy Boy’, fresh from Venice Film Festival. Music lovers can expect ‘Tenor: My Name Is Pati’, alongside ‘That Half Barbaric Twang’.
’Zoolander’ and ‘The English Patient’ will celebrate 25 years of iconic cinema in a special anniversary event.
The glittering Gold Coast Film Festival Awards Gala at Warner Brothers Movie World will celebrate the creative brilliance of Australian filmmakers, and the incredible talent and creativity in Australia. The 2026 event will honour a true powerhouse of Australian cinema, as the prestigious Chauvel Award for 2026 goes to Australian Scribe, Director and Cinematographer Warwick Thornton.
"The 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival programme is an energetic and bold storytelling showcase for audiences. It makes sense that our State's 'Goldywood' festival brings globally acclaimed films together with Queensland-made stories and industry events including Screen Queensland’s Women in Film Lunch,” Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney says. “We are proud to support and champion the whole world of screen talent, ambition and creativity in this festival that is also driving our industry forward.”
Gold Coast Film Festival 2026 is on from 22 April-3 May.
