Records broken, Aussies take it home: AACTA Festival wrapped

The AACTA Festival for 2025 has come to an end but not before Queensland productions won big. Find out more.

The boss of the AACTA festival says the event’s relationship with the Gold Coast is “just getting started” after a blockbuster weekend.

More than 22,000 tickets sold for sessions across the five-day event, including Friday’s night’s gala awards ceremony at the Home of the Arts (HOTA), exceeding all expectations of organisers.

Festival CEO Damian Trewhella said he was “thrilled” by the size of crowds during its second year on the Gold Coast and vowed 2026 and beyond would be even bigger.

“This is our second year here on the magnificent Gold Coast and the support we have had from the community, the council and the industry has been phenomenal,” he said.

Damian Trewhella speaks on stage during the 2025 AACTA Industry Awards. Photo by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images for AFI

“We are creating something very special here, something which does not exist anywhere else and while last year was very good, this year it’s grown and people have come out in droves.

“It has exceeded all expectations and wowed us and it sets us up really nicely for the years to come and the potential to keep deepening the connections and engagements we have.

“We are very proud of the 22,000 registrations we have had here in the second year and we think it will really expand in future years.”

More than 100 events were held across the five days, bringing industry professionals and some of Australia’s biggest stars face-to-face with fans.

Among the highlights were a conversation with Dr George Miller, the director of the Mad Max and Happy Feet films, An in-depth session with Oscar-winning Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser, who worked on Dune, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Lion, The Batman, and Dune Part Two and an appearance by the creators of the Netflix television miniseries Boy Swallows Universe.

The festival also hosted the How to Make Gravy concert with Paul Kelly and Meg Washington at the HOTA Outdoor Stage and the Australian premiere of Looney Tunes, the Day the Earth Blew Up.

AACTA Festival Australian Premiere - Looney Tunes, The Day The Earth Blew Up at Warner Bros. Movie World. Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Brisbane boys Austin and Lachlan Macfarlane have a bit of fun. Pics Adam Head

Sunday night also saw the world premier of the David Wenham-starring film Spit, a sequel to the 2003 Gold Coast movie Gettin’ Square, written by Southport lawyer Chris Nyst.

Mr Trewhella said the Gold Coast’s connection with the film industry was growing stronger, with construction underway on a pre-production facility at Miami and plans for a second film studio at Yatala.

“We are just getting started,” he said.

“Coming to the Gold Coast has been a wonderful thing and the community is really engaging so it is our priority to grow the screen sector here because it is a commercial and cultural opportunity for the city.

“In the years to come we will see a lot of fabulous things happening.”

Originally published as Records broken, Aussies take it home: AACTA Festival wrapped