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Five Film Festivals in April

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by Geraldine Massey (subscribe)
I'm an experienced corporate communicator and editor with an eye for interesting events and an attachment to my trusty Oxford dictionary.
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April is a smorgasbord of cinema in south east Queensland
Five Film Festivals in April

west end film festival
Image from West end Film Festival website.

When you think about it, south east Queensland is just a tiny sliver on a map of the world. It's not very large, not too important, and has only a few major cities in the area, so why is south east Queensland suddenly awash with film festivals? Not long ago film festivals were rare and exotic, but at the moment they are hipper than the Harlem Shake, and Brisbane and the Gold Coast are getting in on the act. In April it's a cinephile's paradise with at least five film festivals for you to satiate your cinematic impulses.

West End Film Festival

The West End Film Festival is the only Brisbane-grown festival for short films. Entries were invited from film makers around the country in a range of genres including drama, documentary, animation and music clips and the finalists will be on display on Sunday 21 April. Awards are offered in categories such as Best Film judged by Industry, Best Film judged by Community, Best Animated Film and Indigenous Filmmaker Award. The organisers will create a cinema in the unused space behind West End's rumpus Room Bar with seating for 500 people.

west end film festival
Image from event website.

Details

When: Sunday 21 April. Two sessions - one at 6pm and one at 8.30pm.

Where: Rumpus Room Cinema, corner of Russell and Boundary Streets, West End.

Tickets: Available online here.

Cost: One session - $18 (plus $2.07 booking fee) or Both Sessions - $35 (plus $3.09 booking fee).

More Information: You can download the program here or check the website here or their Facebook page here.

Monsters Film Festival at GOMA

At the Monsters Film Festival you'll find everything from vampires to zombies and aliens to deranged scientists. I like to think of it as something for everyone. The program runs from April to June and includes such classics as Little Shop of Horrors, Dracula, The Mummy, and the movie that novelist Stephen King called "one of the finest terrible movies ever made", Robot Man. How could you resist?

monsters film festival
Boris Karloff in the original The Mummy. Image from GOMA website

Details

When: From Friday 19 April to Sunday 2 June 2013. Movies screen on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Where: GOMA Cinémathèque, Stanley Place, South Bank

Tickets: Available online by clicking on the film you want to attend from the program here. Tickets can also be purchased at the GOMA Box Office from one hour prior to each film.

Cost: General Admission tickets - Adults $9, Concession/Child $7, Members $6. Five Film Passes (5 tickets to 1 film, or 5 single tickets to different films) - Adults $36, Concession/Child $28, Members $24

SIPfest

SIPfest (officially the Shorts in Paradise Film Festival) is part of the One Way Street Party that is in turn part of the Surfers Paradise Festival. It's not really as complicated as it sounds, in fact it's short and sweet. SIPfest will showcase short films from a range of Australia's hottest young directors under the stars. Films will be judged by a panel of industry experts and the audience has a say with text-message voting for the People's Choice Award. Some films will be having their premiere. While all of this is excellent the best thing about this festival is that it's free.

sipfest, surfers paradise festival
Image from Surfers Paradise Festival website.

Details

When: Saturday 13 April from 6.30pm to 9.30pm

Where: Neal Shannon Park (Rooftop of Surfers Paradise Transit Centre), Alison Street, Surfers Paradise.

Cost: It's free and no bookings are necessary

More Information: Visit the website here.


Banff Mountain Film Festival

If you love mountains, the great outdoors, exploration of remote corners of the world, or adrenaline-fuelled sport then the Banff Mountain Film Festival is for you. One of Canada's premier film festivals Banff is on a world tour, stopping in Brisbane for just 4 days in April.

Banff mountain film festival
Image from Brisbane Powerhouse website.

Details

When: From Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 April

Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm

Tickets: Available online here.

Cost: $33 for the 3 hour program of films.

More Information: See Brisbane Powerhouse website here or the Banff Australia website here.


Gold Coast Film Festival

The Gold Coast Film Festival runs from April 18 to 28 at Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, and is a part of Queensland Pop Culture Week. You can see comedies, thrillers, pop culture favourites, anime and films by Queenslanders. The History of Future Folk kicks off proceedings on Thursday 18 April and the festival closes with the rebooted Evil Dead. There is also a free family movies program on show at the Robina Community Centre. Favourites include The Neverending Story, Magic in the Water, The Smurfs and The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

gold coast film festival
Image from Festival website.

Details

When: From Thursday 18 April to Sunday 28 April 2013.

Where: Main movie program at Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre. Free family movies will show at Robina Community Centre.

Tickets: Available online here.

Cost: $15 Adults, $12 concession for individual sessions or a $45 multi-pass for 4 films.

More Information: Check the website here or the Facebook page here.
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Why? There's something for every film lover.
When: Various dates in April. See article for details.
Where: Various venues. See article for details.
Cost: Varies. See article for details.
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