The Gold Coast has landed a massive coup, with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars to descend on the glitter strip for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards.
President of the AACTA’S, Russel Crowe, landed in Burleigh Heads this morning to make the huge announcement.
Russell Crowe, Vice President Nicole Kidman and Ambassador Cate Blanchett will lead a glittering lineup of talent, generating $3.4 million for the visitor economy.
The ceremony will shift from Sydney to the Gold Coast for the next three years, from February 2024.
The AACTA International Awards will also move over, after previously being held in Los Angeles.
Russell Crowe has thanked the people of the Gold Coast for making the industry feel so welcome.
“We’re looking forward to broadcasting a memorable show and showcasing the Gold Coast and the great state of Queensland,” Mr Crowe says.
“In acknowledgement of Queensland’s growing importance of film and television production in this country it has been decided by the Board of the Australian Film Institute and AACTA and with the generous cooperation of the Queensland Government for the next 3 years we’ll be shifting from Sydney and hosting the AACTA Awards here on the Gold Coast,
“The Australian Film Institute (AFI) and more recently The Australian Academy (AACTA) have provided the platform that has seen this country’s contributions to the global film industry just keep growing and making household names out of Directors, Designers, Cinematographers, Post-production Houses, Visual Effect Artists, Writers, Producers, and of course, Actors.”
It will be the first time the two awards ceremonies are held as a combined event, and it will also be the first time the event is broadcast globally.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Queensland continued to stamp its authority as a global screen heavyweight.
“Our screen industry keeps going from strength to strength as we build our international reputation as the place to film world-class cinema and television content,” the Premier says.
“Queensland is a production paradise offering the complete package, with film-friendly locations, highly skilled crew, world-class facilities and competitive incentives,
“In the 2021/22 financial year, Screen Queensland supported 41 film and series productions, injecting more than $220 million into the state’s economy and creating more than 5,400 jobs for cast, crew and extras.”
Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), Screen Queensland and Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) had partnered to secure the AACTAs for the Gold Coast and Queensland.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Gold Coast had long been at the heart of Queensland’s screen industry.
“It is home to the iconic Village Roadshow Studios and hosts flagship industry events such as SCREEN FOREVER, Australian International Movie Convention, which will return in 2023, and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards,” she said.
“There is also a constant flow of high-profile productions including Baz Lurhmann’s award-winning Elvis, Ron Howard’s acclaimed Thirteen Lives, the forthcoming Disney+ series Nautilus and feature film Land of Bad, starring AACTA President Russell Crowe.
“The Queensland Government is continuing to invest in Gold Coast facilities, including $5 million towards a new production hub.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate applauded all parties involved for bringing together this landmark partnership.
“Our reputation as a safe and reliable film and screen destination continues to grow so to see AACTA commit to a three-year partnership with the Gold Coast is fantastic news,” Mayor Tate says.
“Lights, camera. Gold Coast!”
