Gold Coast Film Fantastic is pleased to announce that four Queensland independent films will screen at this year’s film festival as part of the Gold Coast Film Fantastic Local Showcase: Films Made in Queensland program. This November Gold Coasters will get the opportunity to see and to show their support the films Girl Clock, I.C.U, Shadows of the Past and Sleeper.  

GIRL CLOCK written, directed and produced by Brisbane based Jennifer Ussi is a heartwarming, zany coming-of-middle-age comedy which follows the journey of three normal women who would happily enjoy their forties, if only Mother Nature wasn't such a bitch. The film stars Veronica Neave (Changi, Mortified, In Her Skin), Queenie van de Zandt (Very Small Business), Steven Tandy (The Sullivans, Gettin’ Square) and radio personality Jamie Dunn.  

Written, directed and produced by Gold Coast actor Aash Aaron, I.C.U is a psychological thriller set amongst the foreboding high rises of the Gold Coast. Three voyeuristic teenagers suspect they have discovered a serial killer whilst spying on their neighbours in their holiday apartment. Little do they know the apartment they are staying in is full of hidden CCTV cameras. A dangerous game of cat and mouse unfolds as we discover who is really watching who. I.C.U stars Logie Nominated Neighbours actresses Margot Robbie and Natalie Blair as well as new Gold Coast acting talents James Dean and Christian Radford.  

Shot against the breathtaking backdrop of Queensland’s Darling Downs and featuring amazing bull riding sequences, Shadows of the Past is the story of Steve Kelly, a retired rodeo champion, who accepts a rematch with notorious bucking bull, 'Black Friday', the same bull that ended his career several years ago. Written, directed and produced by Warren Ryan the film stars his daughter Cassandra Ryan in her debut acting role, as well as Mark Lee (Gallipoli, Emma’s War), country music sensation Tania Kernaghan, Marcus Pointon and Gold Coast actress Jordanna Allen. 

Sleeper is a chilling thriller written and directed by Dru Brown and produced by Judd Tilyard starring WWE wrestling legend Scott Levy aka “Raven”. Enigmatically silent, and driven by love, the man known as Resnik (Raven) was imprisoned for butchering a man and kidnapping the young girl at the heart of his obsession. Now having escaped during a midnight transfer, Resnik is headed back to find her again. The film also stars Bruce Hopkins (The Lord of the Rings, Dean Spanley),  Kym Jackson (Richard III, The Best Sex) and four emerging Gold Coast acting stars, Chris Hillier (Kokoda), Cory Robinson (The Marine, 48 Shades), Robert Reitano (The Condemned) and Ty Hungerford (The Condemned).  

The Local Showcase initiative is designed to foster and promote Queensland filmmaking talent. All four feature films are currently seeking local and/or foreign sales or distribution deals and the filmmakers will have the opportunity to meet with several key industry executives including Michael Favelle, Managing Director of Odin’s Eye Entertainment, Jason Behan, Head of Home Video Acquisitions at Beyond International and Jonathan Page, Principal of Jonathan Page & Associates. They will also have a mentoring session with the 2007 winner of the Australian Film Institute Raymond Longford Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Australian Screen Industry, David Hannay (Stone, Gross Misconduct).  

Casey Marshall Siemer the Festival Director of the Gold Coast Film Fantastic says:

I am thrilled with the four films we have selected for the festival. This is a great opportunity for Gold Coasters to get in on the ground level and see some really wonderful emerging Queensland filmmaking and acting talent. I am also very proud we are able to support these filmmakers by helping them to make exciting and important screen industry connections in order to further their careers. 

The Local Showcase program is funded by the Regional Arts Development Fund, and is presented by Bond University. The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council partnership to support local arts and culture. 

Trailer by Erik Veland.

The Gold Coast Film Fantastic will be held November 12-15 in Southport on the Gold Coast. For program details please see www.filmfantastic.com