Matrix star, 24 film premieres headline festival of the screen

THE Matrix trilogy star Hugo Weaving, Australian documentary maker John Pilger and a Harry Potter movie marathon are part of a jam-packed Gold Coast Film Festival.

Weaving and fellow Australian acting luminary Jack Thompson will be among the cream of cinema attending the 12-day festival at HOTA and citywide cinemas from April 15-26.

Weaving will host a Q&A after his latest film Hearts and Bones screens on April 21.

Pilger, who has amassed six decades worth of geopolitical journalism, will be part of a free panel discussion entitled ‘Documentary producing for social change’ on April 24.

For those with the stamina, a 20-hour Harry Potter marathon – showing all eight movies back to back – is being put on by Event Cinemas Coomera.

The festival has more than 100 films, panels, parties and events at 13 locations, including 24 premieres.

Producers Sue Maslin, Greer Simpkin and Chris Brown plus directors Wayne Blair, Kriv Stenders and Warwick Thornton will also attend.

It opens on April 15 at HOTA with anticipated 2020 film I Am Woman starring Evan Peters and Danielle Macdonald. It captures the life of Australian singer Helen Reddy whose iconic song I Am Woman became an anthem for the women’s movement in the 1970s.

The festival also premieres comedic thriller Bloody Hell shot on the Gold Coast.

Bloody Hell producer Brett Thorn-quest and actors Ben O’Toole and Meg Fraser will take questions from film fans at Home of the Arts after the April 26 screening.

The full line-up, dates and venues will be announced today.