Movies leave a golden glow

AT Heart of Gold film festival, they believe it takes a special kind of storytelling magic to break through to the audience on an emotional level, and they’re all about celebrating films that do just that.
The four-day festival program includes industry masterclasses, a spectacular opening night gala, awards night party and up to 30 sessions of shorts from all genres that best capture Heart of Gold’s vision to screen films that are positive, witty, entertaining, joyous, uplifting, enlightening and ground-breaking. They can be edgy, they can be thought-provoking and they can be downright hilarious – as long as they beat with a good, strong heart.
All films in the festival compete for the Best Short Film award, which carries a generous prize of $5000. Other award categories include: Best Australian Short Film, Best Student Short Film, Screener’s Choice, Best Cinematography, Best Script, and Younger at Heart (for budding high school film-makers).
On Saturday 9 October, at 5.30pm, a quality controlled selection of stunning shorts from Sweden to Spain to Scotland – handpicked by Heart of Gold’s very own artistic director Emily Avila.
Included Shorts are Ten Meter Tower (Hopptornet), Cuerdas (Strings), Mining Poems or Odes, Nulla Nulla, and I Want to Dance Better at Parties.
Saturday 9 October, at 7.30pm, is the night where film-makers strike gold in the Heritage Theatre as they will announce the 2016 prize category winners, including $5000 for Best Short. Join together afterwards in the Prospectors Hall for a good old-fashioned party.
Sunday 9 October is a treat for the whole family. Let your imagination run wild at the ‘Doodles’ Workshop, be inspired by submissions from the country’s next generation of budding film-makers and skip your way through a few sessions of light-hearted films fit for everyone’s inner child.
The Heart of Gold Festival runs from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 October at the Gympie Civic Centre, Mellor Street.
There are Festival Passes and Golden Tickets available and more information can be found on www.heartofgold.com.au