Film lovers are being invited to secure a comfy seat on their couch for a bumper online event that brings together Queensland’s best-known film festivals for a weekend of compelling viewing from Friday, July 3 to Monday, July 6.
Viewers will be treated to a collection of 11 short films and web series aired during Screensland, each from Queensland creators and handpicked from the State’s best film festivals from the outback to the beach.
Queenslanders and beyond are encouraged to gather friends and tune in for the live watch party premiere on Friday 3 July, 7.30pm to watch festival favourites alongside an online community of thousands of other viewers.
Screensland is an initiative of the Gold Coast Film Festival and aims to celebrate quality Queensland-made film content, showcasing inspiring and entertaining content to the masses.
All short films and web series that screen throughout the weekend-long event will be in the running to win the ‘People’s Choice Award’ with $1000 prize money up for grabs.
Gold Coast Film Festival Director Lucy Fisher said that online film event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase talent from the State and give viewers a free at-home film experience.
“While this time of year has been quiet for many festivals and filmmakers, we saw an opportunity to collaborate with Queensland’s incredible festival organisers to ensure filmmakers work continues to be screened, promoted and celebrated to a wide audience,” she said.
“The festivals collaborating are from as far north as Port Douglas as far west as Winton and scattered all the way down the Queensland coast and it’s the first time we’ve all come together and had this opportunity to share the incredible short film talent that has been screened at our festivals.”
“We wanted to use this platform to elevate Queensland filmmakers, while also giving film lovers something to get excited about.”
Working with 10 festivals to screen 11 films across a weekend, Screensland gives an opportunity to celebrate Queensland creators and the driving force behind screen culture – film festivals.
“If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that creative people will triumph. It is especially inspiring to see the statewide film festival community collaborating in order to continue their aim to entertain Queenslanders and provide valuable opportunities for our homegrown filmmakers,” Screen Queensland CEO, Kylie Munnich said.
“Screen Queensland through the Queensland Government is proud to have been a long-time supporter of the Gold Coast Film Festival, and to have provided support to all of the collaborating film festivals, through the Screen Culture funding program,” Ms Munnich said.
Screensland will feature short films including fan favourite SEA ROGUE, a powerful documentary about a deckhand’s brave attempt to save the lives of two mates aboard a prawn trawler, TWO WEEKS, a LGBTQ drama set in Brisbane exploring the struggles of several 20-somethings and MILK, the story of a young boy escaping his controlling mother into a world of video game fantasy.
Participating film festivals include Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival, Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival, Brisbane International Film Festival, In The Bin Short Film Festival, Port Shorts Film Festival, Brisbane Backyard Film Festival, Noosa International Film Festival, Brisbane Queer Film Festival, Understory Film Festival Cairns and Gold Coast Film Festival.
HOW TO WATCH SCREENSLAND:
Date: Premiere and live watch on the Gold Coast Film Festival Facebook Friday, July 3, 7.30pm.
Available to view until 12pm Monday, July 6 on the Gold Coast Film Festival Website
How to watch: www.facebook.com/events/859107604577020/ or www.gcfilmfestival.com/screensland
Cost: Free
Films screening:
These Walls – Susanna Van Aswegen
Here There Be Monsters – Drew MacDonald
Sea Rogue – Matt Blyth and Alaneo Gloor
Zombies V the C.W.A – Travis Bain
Two Weeks – Mary Duong and Isabel Stanfield
MILK – Kyle Lacey-Janetzki
Eumundi School of Rock – Tasha Lawton
En Pointe – Tamara Hall
Walter’s Ghost – Caden Pearson
Valentine’s Day – Marni Little and Tim Goodwin
Birds of A Feather – Bianca Nall
