Save The Date - AACTA Awards and AACTA Festival Set To Return

SAVE THE DATE: AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST SCREEN FESTIVAL IS SET TO RETURN TO THE GOLD COAST IN FEBRUARY 2025 

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) is pleased to announce the return of the AACTA Awards and AACTA Festival to HOTA, Home of the Arts, on the Gold Coast. February 2025 will mark the second year the events will be held on the Gold Coast bringing the Australian screen industry to the sunshine state for a celebration of the best productions and talent of the previous year. 

AACTA Festival will run for 5 days from February 5 - 9th 2025 kicking off with the AACTA Awards Industry Gala presented by Foxtel Group and Official After Party presented by Screen Queensland on Wednesday 5th February. This will be followed by an incredible day of screen events at the AACTA Industry Day, including meet the nominees, meet the creators, networking events and an industry Top Golf night on Thursday 6th February. The AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel Group and Official After Party will be held on Friday February 7th. 

AACTA Festival will continue through the weekend of February 8 - 9, 2025, offering a vast range of activities celebrating film, television, and pop culture. Festival goers can enjoy in-depth movie deconstructions, interactive workshops, meet-and-greets, music showcases, masterclasses with renowned filmmakers, outdoor screenings, and a variety of family-friendly activities – and for those looking to break into the industry, an expanded Screen Careers Expo presented by Essential Screen Skills will also make its return on Saturday the 8th of February.

Whether you are a film fan, a budding creative, a pop culture enthusiast, or a dedicated industry professional, AACTA Festival offers a unique opportunity to network, learn, and revel in the magic of film and television. 

After a successful launch at its new home on the Gold Coast, the Australian Academy is elated to bring the industry and screen fans back to the idyllic location for Australia’s largest screen event. The partnership underscores the city's growing reputation as a hub for filmmaking and creative excellence  in Australia.  With its picturesque landscapes and vibrant culture, the Gold Coast provides the perfect backdrop to unite the Australian screen industry and celebrate the best productions and practitioners.

AACTA have teamed up with a number of local businesses to help you plan your trip to Queensland. Take advantage of discount accommodation offers and deals on exciting Gold Coast experiences available via aacta.org. 

Further details of the 2025 AACTA Awards ceremonies and Festival will be announced in November. Tickets will go on sale from November. 

AACTA Chair, Jack Christian said "Returning to the Gold Coast after such a successful year is an exciting opportunity to once again showcase the incredible achievements of Australia’s screen industry. This year’s AACTA Awards & Festival will not only celebrate the best in film and television but also serve as a vital platform for fostering new talent, and for industry professionals to collaborate, innovate, and continue driving excellence. Queensland’s growing influence as a creative hub makes it the perfect setting for what promises to be our most dynamic festival yet."

Queensland’s Minister for Tourism, Michael Healy, says: "The return of the AACTA Awards and Festival to the Gold Coast adds to the city's status as a premier destination for the thriving Australian screen industry, and we are thrilled to welcome the country's top talent back to our golden shores."

"The festival is a unique opportunity for industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts alike to engage with the best in the business, right here in Queensland."

"This is Australia's largest and most prestigious screen event, bringing to the Gold Coast an incredible energy and creativity that will be felt across the region over five days of celebration.”

“We welcome the AACTA Awards and Festival back to the Gold Coast’s arts and culture beating heart at HOTA, Home of the Arts,” said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

“With our striking HOTA Gallery, Outdoor Stage, two-hatted Palette restaurant, rooftop The Exhibitionist Bar and lake, river and skyline views, it is the perfect place for creatives to gather, collaborate and celebrate.”

Upcoming Key Dates:

The full program of events for the 2025 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group and Festival will be announced in November. Tickets for the 2025 AACTA Awards ceremonies and Festival events will also go on sale in November. The nominees for the 2025 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group will be announced in early December.  

Stay tuned for further updates and announcements including the full event program and ticketing details. For more information, visit the AACTA website at aacta.org.

Alison Hurbert-Burns, Commissioner & Executive Director, Entertainment Content at Foxtel Group said, “The AACTA Awards celebrate the best of Australian storytelling and the creative industry and the Foxtel Group is proud to be the presenting partner for these important awards. We look forward to seeing the industry come together on the Gold Coast to celebrate another incredible year in Australian film and television.” 

 Queensland Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the state’s hosting of the AACTA Awards and Festival is a much-anticipated event for the national screen industry, while also reinforcing Queensland’s global screen reputation.

 “The Queensland Government is proud to champion our flourishing screen production sector, which creates thousands of jobs and generates millions for the local economy every year.

“The expanded AACTA Awards and Festival offer an exciting, accessible opportunity for Queenslanders to celebrate screen culture and experience all that the industry has to offer, from the awards ceremony recognising the country’s talented practitioners to the careers expo that works to inspire the next generation of screen storytellers.”