Twenty years of the Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF) is quite an accomplishment, particularly in this day and age and the recent climate for arts and entertainment – congratulations to Program Manager Sasha Close and her team, past and present, are in order.
“It's definitely something to celebrate!” Sasha agrees.
And this year, celebrate is just what the GCFF will do. Stalwarts of the event’s proceedings will know a lot about the format, but, Sasha says, organisers are pulling out certain stops this year that newcomers and old hats won’t expect. “We’re taking a nod to the early moments of the festival, the sci-fi genre,” says Sasha. “We’re doing a throwback to Fright Night – 'Shaun Of The Dead' was an opening night film, so was 'Zombieland', so it’s amazing to look back at those films and include them.
“'Scooby Doo' was 20 years ago, so we’re rolling out the red carpet and have a special screening of that with the cast and crew involved in the original production.
“In terms of big gala events, this year we’re bookended by two great Australian films ['How To Please A Woman' and 'Bosch & Rockit']. The festival has a strong commitment to the Australian film industry. We’re putting that front and centre.”
'Scooby Doo'
Something Sasha is personally very passionate about is gender equality and supporting female filmmakers. So, for opening night, 'How To Please A Woman', directed by Renee Webster, will help kick off proceedings. “It’s fun, it’s moving, and hand on heart, I hope it’s a new Australian classic!”
The GCFF has a great range of other events – other Australian indie features, world cinema events and more. “As hard as it was to pull together a festival programme in any climate, particularly this year, I’m really pleased with the range and array that we’ve got.”
In terms of the actors appearing on the GCFF screens, there are a few familiar faces, like Hugh Bonneville (of 'Downton Abbey' fame) appearing in 'To Olivia', but it’s the lesser-known actors appearing in the world cinema strand that really stand out for Sasha. “'Casablanca Beats' is a film from Morocco, that was at Cannes [Film Festival], I really love that one. 'Karmalink', it’s almost a 'Stand By Me' version of 'I, Robot', it’s just fascinating! I highly recommend that one.”
'Bosch & Rockit'
“There’s a really great film that won an award at Cannes called 'Murina' – so many other wonderful films, I feel like I’m talking about my children!”
Closer to home, 'The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson' is the directorial debut feature film from revered actor Leah Purcell, a film Sasha says she has been following a long time and is very passionate about.
Within the programme, there’s a local filmmaker focus, with three films from Gold Coast filmmakers, Sasha explaining it’s the festival’s strong belief to showcase local talent. “I’m delighted we can include Stephen Osborne’s second film, 'Dome House 6' – he had 'Strangeville' last year.
“For a festival it’s really important to look beyond our shores and include great films, but also to look locally, which we’ve done this year with that really niche strand that takes a nod to local filmmakers.”
'Karmalink' – Image © Robert Leitzell
There’s an area of the festival that is particularly attention-grabbing, the Future Filmmakers Seminar. Designed specifically for Year 11 and 12 students considering a career in film or screen, the free seminar offers attendees the opportunity to explore a multitude of areas of the film industry. It’s Sasha’s hope that some of the students attending the seminar this year would possibly come back through the festival themselves, in some capacity, in years to come. “It’s absolutely the hope that a seminar like that shows avenues, pathways for future filmmakers within the industry.
“We’re fortunate this year that the intern for the festival actually attended that Future Filmmakers session and that sparked an interest for her to attend Bond [University]. The festival has an intern from Bond University, and she’s the one for us this year.
“Nurturing that talent and showing them the pathways that are possible is really important.”
Gold Coast Film Festival runs from 20 April-1 May.
