Gold Coast Film Festival: Hugo Weaving, Pilger and Harry Potter at 2020 showing

The Matrix trilogy star Hugo Weaving, doco maker John Pilger and a Harry Potter movie marathon are part of a jam-packed Gold Coast Film Festival. Check out what else is on the cards.

The Matrix trilogy star Hugo Weaving, Australian documentary maker John Pilger and a Harry Potter movie marathon are part of a jam-packed Gold Coast Film Festival.

Weaving and fellow Australian acting luminary Jack Thompson will be among the cream of cinema attending the 12-day festival at HOTA and citywide cinemas from April 15-26.

Tilda Cobham-Hervey stars as Helen Reddy in I Am Woman. Picture: Transmission

Weaving will host a Q&A after his latest film Hearts and Bones screens on April 21.

Pilger, who has amassed six decades worth of geo-political journalism, will be part of a free panel discussion entitled ‘Documentary producing for social change’ on April 24.

For those with the stamina, a 20-hour Harry Potter marathon – showing all eight movies back to back – is being put on by Event Cinemas Coomera.

The festival has more than 100 films, panels, parties and events at 13 locations, including 24 premieres.

Todd Leigh in a scene from a movie being shot on the northern Gold Coast. Picture: Glenn Hampson

It opens on April 15 at HOTA with anticipated 2020 film I Am Woman starring Evan Peters and Danielle Macdonald. It captures the life of Australian singer Helen Reddy whose iconic song I Am Woman became an anthem for the women’s movement in the 1970s.

The festival also premieres comedic thriller Bloody Hell shot on the Gold Coast.

Director Kriv Stenders on the set of Australia Day, starring Bryan Brown.

Bloody Hell producer Brett Thornquest and actors Ben O’Toole and Meg Fraser will take questions from film fans at Home of the Arts after the April 26 screening.

The full line-up, dates and venues will be announced today.

House of Inequity, also filmed on the Gold Coast, will be shown off for the first time.

Gold Coast Film Festival director Lucy Fisher said film lovers would be spoiled for choice.

“In addition to our incredible opening and closing night films, I’m thrilled we are hosting the world premiere of Slim and I, the incredible documentary that shines a light on Joy McKean, Australia’s own ‘Queen of Country Music’, and her enduring partnership with Slim Dusty.

“It will be an honour to welcome Joy and the film’s director Kriv Stenders and producer Chris Brother on the red carpet at HOTA and participate in a Q&A after the screening.

Hugo Weaving performing in Heart and Bones.

“This year we also have a first for the festival with a special screening of the first two episodes of the second season of AACTA and Logie-Award winning drama TV series Mystery Road and look forward to hearing the behind-the-scenes stories from directors Wayne Blair and Warwick Thornton and producers Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey.”

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said the organisation was proud to be an ongoing major sponsor of the festival through the Screen Culture Funding Program, which supports a multitude of film events around Queensland.

Australian director Warwick Thornton. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

“The Gold Coast Film Festival plays an important role in our state’s screen industry ecosystem.

“It shows locally-produced films, from emerging and established filmmakers, inspires the next wave of creative talent and facilitates vital industry networking.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the festival played a crucial role in promoting the talents of local filmmakers.

“With so many Queensland-made films in the program, the festival truly showcases the strength of our state’s growing screen industry which supports jobs for local directors, producers, writers, actors and more,” she said.

Actor Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone. A 20-hour Harry Potter movie marathon will be held during the Gold Coast Film Festival.

“As one of our major film events, supported by Screen Queensland and Tourism and Events Australia, the festival presents an opportunity for local audiences to celebrate the hard work and creativity of these Queenslanders, who make movie magic right here in our own backyard.

“This festival is a highlight of the local events calendar and attracts thousands of people each year, shining a spotlight on Queensland’s thriving $1 billion screen industry, which employs more than 7100 people across the state.”