Feature-packed film fest

Acclaimed actor and film festival patron Aaron Pederson. Picture: Daniel Asher Smith

Four days, 130-plus ways to be inspired this weekend at Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival – on now.

The heart of short film in Gympie will come alive with actors, filmmakers and film lovers from far and wide to celebrate short films that are uplifting and inspirational during Queensland’s biggest short film festival, Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival this weekend.

Over 40 screen industry professionals from across Australia and the world will travel to Gympie for the festival – which over the past 12 years has become an annual love affair of brilliant short films, acclaimed features, epic parties, live music, filmmaker Q+A’s, interactive masterclasses and hearty discussions.

This year Heart of Gold will screen more than 130 short films, including 10 world premieres, 50 Australian premieres and 32 Queensland premieres including the brilliant Out of Range, directed by John Harvey and starring Indigenous Australian actor and festival patron Aaron Pedersen, who will attend throughout the four-day festival, from 3-6 October.

Out of Range is a short dramatic comedy, about a father who takes his estranged son on a fishing trip as a way of bonding, but when the car breaks down he realises it’s not the only thing that needs fixing.

Out of Range will screen on Opening Night and during the popular Festival Favourites session on Saturday afternoon. Saturday’s screening will be followed by a special Q&A with John Harvey, Aaron Pedersen, and comedy writer Mark O’Toole in the Heritage Theatre.

Rounding out an action-packed Saturday, Aaron Pedersen will meet with filmmakers and creatives at a special industry networking event, before hosting the Awards Ceremony at 7pm. There will be live music and street food before and after the awards, as the community of Gympie and visiting filmmakers come together to celebrate this year’s award-winning films at this free event.

Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival runs from Thursday 3 October to Sunday 6 October at the Gympie Civic Centre, Queensland.

For more info visit heartofgold.com.au