Glitter Strip in line for Global Production Awards as talks continue on next Elvis-style film

The Gold Coast is trying to entice international film companies including Disney to relocate their Aussie productions from Sydney to the Glitter Strip.

The Gold Coast is trying to entice international film companies to relocate their Aussie productions from Sydney as the city celebrates being nominated for a world movie award.

Mayor Tom Tate has revealed he had held private meetings in recent weeks with Disney executives, while Elvis director Baz Luhrmann and his Oscar-winning wife Catherine Martin were given a private presentation to councillors behind closed doors at the Evandale Chambers.

The discussions were about their company Bazmark, their overseas trip to meet studio bosses on their next film and being based at the former council depot at Miami.

Mr Tate said securing big silver screen companies would significantly boost the economy.

“I love the idea that the Gold Coast is recognised as a place where you can come and film from beginning to end, like Elvis. From pre-production all the way to post-production,” he said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate on the Village Roadshow set of Elvis where he met with director Baz Luhrmann.

“Yes, I said to Disney that you know if their studios are full in Sydney, we are building another ten here with Shadowbox.

“It’s going to be accelerated. and if it looks good with Shadowbox, you know we’ve got room for another 20 studios — happy to start doing a deal but Shadowbox got first right of refusal.”

The City in July last year identified Shadowbox Studios as their preferred supplier in a tender process for use of 22ha of council-owned land at 396 Stanmore Rd, Yatala.

The proposed first stage includes up to six sound stages with a workshop, office building, backlot, and outdoor filming space expected to be operational in 2028.

A future expansion – in response to market demand – suggested on first glance four more sound stages, a workshop and an office space.

Renders for the new film studio at Yatala in the city's north. Picture: supplied

In the city’s south, Bazmark has moved into the old council Miami depot which will be a post production base in a precinct to be branded MAD (Miami Arts District).

Council will make decisions in the next month on the timeline for leaving the depot.

Asked if the Coast could host another Elvis-sized production, the Mayor replied: “Baz didn’t quite say that exactly, but with his smile, I think he’s off to Hollywood to get the green light. “His intention is to have a similar sized budget. And I leave Baz to give you the details because I don’t know.”

Film producer Schuyler Weiss with Mayor Tom Tate and Gold Coast councillor Nick Marshall inspecting the council Miami depot which will become a creative film precinct.

It comes as the Gold Coast was recently short-listed in the City of Film category of the Global Production Awards 2025, alongside New York City, Belfast, Zagreb and Sydney.

Mr Tate said the Coast being short-listed for the Global Production Awards was a significant recognition of city’s film industry work to attract productions and investment and

compete on an international scale.

“We have put in the hard yards to make our city a place film makers want to come while also

supporting and growing local skills to ensure depth of crew,” he said.

Invest Gold Coast chair Will Hodgman, also welcomed the news, and predicted the city would become “the most sought-after destination for screen production in the Southern Hemisphere”.

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Originally published as Glitter Strip in line for Global Production Awards as talks continue on next Elvis-style film