Gold Coast set for its first floating Cinema

Zoolander Model Boat Party.  The open air screening atop Wyndham Cruises’ brand new vessel ‘Spirit of Elston’ will be themed entirely around the 2001 cult film Zoolander and feature the film’s signature orange mocha frappuccinos, a red carpet for attendees to strut their stuff, a Blue Steel photo stage, model characters from the film, and classic tunes of the 90s and noughties. Gold Coast Film Festival Director Lucy Fisher said the Zoolander Model Boat Party is only one of more than 70 film and film-related events taking place over the 11-day festival. “We are thrilled to work with Wyndham Cruises and SASS Model Management to create Gold Coast’s first floating cinema. It is part of our focus on creating distinctly Gold Coast events that bring cinema to life and highlight the best of the Gold Coast lifestyle and landscape. The Zoolander Model Boat Party will certainly be a fun, quirky addition to our line-up in 2017,” Ms Fisher said. Held from 19-30 April, the 15^th annual Gold Coast Film Festival will bring an action-packed program to Queensland, captivating audiences with a host of film screenings, events and interactive workshops. Award-winning producer Sue Maslin will be the special guest speaker at the third annual Women In Film lunch at QT Hotel’s Bazaar on Friday 21 April. Maslin’s latest film The Dressmaker, starring Kate Winslet, opened at the number one spot at the Australian and New Zealand box offices and was awarded the highest grossing Australian film for 2015/2016 at the Australian International Movie Convention. Maslin is a strong advocate for women in screen, and is currently Patron of Women in Film and Television Victoria and President of the Natalie Miller Fellowship. The Gold Coast Film Festival’s Women in Film lunch is presented by Screen Queensland and recognises the contribution and achievement of women in film and television in Australia and film lovers and industry professionals can expect an afternoon of insightful speakers, networking and great food at QT Hotel’s Bazaar. Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira said the team is delighted to be partnering with the festival again this year. “Screen Queensland has supported the Gold Coast Film Festival since 2002,” Ms Vieira said. “I am pleased to see this year’s strong focus on promoting and supporting women in film and the local filmmaking industry.” The festival will also hold a Movie Trivia Night for lovers of all things cinema at QT Hotel on Wednesday 26 April. Guests can test their movie knowledge with a night of fun, frivolity and cold hard facts, plus complimentary finger food, a cash bar and lucky door prizes including movie merchandise and vouchers. Other special events popping up throughout the Festival will include free family screenings and red-carpet film premieres with directors, actors and producers attending for intimate Q&A’s with audiences. The Gold Coast’s flagship film festival will also host a range of workshops and seminars for aspiring filmmakers, giving people the opportunity to learn from Australia’s leading film industry experts. In addition to the main festival program of events in April, the Gold Coast Film Festival announced other exciting film events planned for the city in March including Flickerfest, Australia’s leading Academy® Award accredited and BAFTA-recognised Short Film Festival. The Gold Coast Film Festival will tease film fans on Friday 10 March with a one-off chance to see Flickerfest’s Best of Australian Shorts program and view the films before they continue their journey around the world. The festival has also partnered with the Somerset Celebration of Literature Festival to bring guests an ‘Adaptation: Script to Screen’ panel event with multi-award winning writer, director and producer Rachel Perkins. A panel of writers and filmmakers will join Rachel Perkins, director of Australian film Jasper Jones on Thursday 16 March as they discuss the journey of adaptation, from script to screen. Attracting over 14,000 attendees in 2016, the Gold Coast Film Festival screened 38 feature films from 15 countries, featuring six Australian premieres and seven Queensland premieres, plus a host of industry panels, events and workshops. Tickets are now on sale for selected events including the Zoolander Model Boat Party, Women In Film Lunch, Flickerfest, Movie Trivia Night, YScreen (schools only) and Adaptation: From Script to Screen. The full program of film and events will be announced early March. Please visit www.gcfilmfestival.com for more information.]]>