AACTA Awards: Gold Coast set to land Australia’s answer to the Oscars

Russell Crowe has jetted into the Gold Coast to confirm that Queensland has scored Australia’s answer to the Oscars.

Some of Tinseltown’s biggest stars are heading to Queensland with the Gold Coast set to host Australia’s answer to the Oscars for the next three years.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, eligible to anyone who participated in an Australian-made production, is the country’s most prestigious entertainment gala, with previous winners including Cate Blanchett, Chris Hemsworth, Paul Hogan, Sam Neill and Jackie Weaver.

Russell Crowe, the AACTA’s current president with Nicole Kidman recently named vice president, on Saturday confirmed the move after jetting in to the Gold Coast.

Sporting a pair of aviator sunglasses, Crowe looked every bit the Hollywood star as he mingled with industry movers and shakers at the Burleigh Pavilion before taking the stage to announce the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards would be held on the Gold Coast from 2024-2026.

“This is going to be an event that shakes things up and really makes people have a lot of fun,” he said, adding that Queensland was “leading the way” in the Australian film sector.

Nicole Kidman at the AACTA Awards in Sydney in 2018. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

It was a fleeting visit however for the Gladiator, who left the VIP function to head to Melbourne where he will watch the Australian Open finals.

The AACTAs will be broadcast globally for the first time, giving the kind of priceless publicity tourism leaders crave.

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the awards would bring genuine “star power” to the Gold Coast and place the state’s destinations and experiences in the global spotlight.

“It’s Queensland’s time to shine,” he said.

Blockbuster movies such as The Great Gatsby and Elvis have previously dominated the awards, which are held in similar regard to England’s BAFTA Awards during the annual run-in to the Oscars.

It is understood AACTA officials will visit the Gold Coast on Saturday announce the Glitter Strip as the new home of the awards for three years starting in 2024.

Last year’s awards were held in December after complications and delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with the next instalment to be held in February 2024.

Elvis swept through the AACTAAs last month, with young American actor Austin Butler winning best actor for his portrayal of the King, beating out a field featuring Joel Edgerton (The Stranger) and British star Idris Elba (Three Thousand Years of Longing).

An exact venue has yet to be determined for next year’s event, but the Gold Coast’s previous hosting duties for The Logies has proved the Glitter Strip can pull it off, while tourism leaders also see huge benefits in the exposure generated by the presence of some of the movie world’s biggest stars.

Chris Hemsworth speaks as he accepts the AACTA Trailblazer Award during the 2022 AACTA Awards. (Picture: James Gourley (Getty Images)

The city also has a long history of staging Hollywood blockbusters courtesy of state-of-the-art production studios and spectacular natural locations which have hosted Pirates of the Caribbean, Marvel’s Thor, DC’s Aquaman and a string of others.

Most recently, the city was home to True Spirit, recounting the solo round-the-world sailing exploits of Queensland teenager Jessica Watson.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate would not comment on Saturday’s announcement, but said city leaders were well aware of the benefits generated by the movie-making industry.

The cast of Heartbreak High at the 2022 AACTA Awards in Sydney. Picture: James Gourley (Getty Images)

“From a city perspective, we are working tirelessly to boost the film and television industry,” Mr Tate said.

“Our latest play is to offer 80 hectares of land at Yatala via an expression of interest for global film and television production houses.

“I’ve already met with several key film production houses wanting to establish their presence here.

“In every way, we want to be seen as the Hollywood of the South Pacific and this greenfield site would allow for around 40 film studios to be established on the one location, with associated support services.”

“To back this push, we have a dedicated Film Attraction Unit and we provide every resource possible to assist film producers, actors, crew and investors.

“Throughout this year, I look forward to working with industry and the State and Federal governments to create the Hollywood of the South Pacific.”

The contract which brought the Logies to the Gold Coast has expired, with officials from Tourism and Events Queensland in talks to keep “television’s night of nights” in the Sunshine State.

In a statement, a spokesman for TEQ said those discussions remained “confidential”.