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The Sanctuary Film Festival brings us world-class cinema with all of the red carpet trimmings The Sanctuary Film Festival brings us world-class cinema with all of the red carpet trimmings The Sanctuary Film Festival brings us world-class cinema with all of the red carpet trimmings The Sanctuary Film Festival brings us world-class cinema with all of the red carpet trimmings

The Sanctuary Film Festival brings us world-class cinema with all of the red carpet trimmings

Have you ever been holed up on the couch after pulling a sickie just so you could watch the Oscars live from the Dolby Theatre? Are you the sort of person who has IMDB bookmarked? Have you ever disowned a friend for posting spoilers on Facebook? Sounds like you're a movie buff, and as a movie buff we've found something that is bound to get you all kinds of excited. Sweeping through Sanctuary Cove for two jam-packed days from November 21, the third annual Sanctuary Film Festival will be bringing a bumper program of live entertainment, interactive workshops and more movies than you can snap a clapperboard at.


If you thought the Sanctuary Film Festival was already a knockout, prepare to be seriously impressed (again). This year the festival has levelled up its offering with addition of a free (not a typo) full-day outdoor film extravaganza on the Saturday, which will shine a family-friendly spotlight on the Sanctuary Cove Marine Village. From 11:00 am, live musicians and performers will create the ultimate carnival vibe to set the scene for a buzzing Saturday. You can get amongst film workshops for emerging young actors and movie fans, a dedicated kids film festival showcasing a series of animated masterpieces, plus professional make-up sessions by Hollywood FX. If you’ve ever had the urge to see what you’d look like if you were totally zombified, now’s your chance.

Once the sun goes down things will get a little more glamorous – the red carpet will be rolled out at 7:00 pm to showcase the festival’s headlining short films, which will be screened at a giant open-air cinema. The evening’s program will feature 14 short films by some of the industry’s most renowned and talented emerging filmmakers, including festival highlight The Telegram – a highly celebrated film by BAFTA Los Angeles winner and Australian Academy Awards nominee James Francis Khehtie, starring Jack Thompson, Gary Sweet and Sigrid Thornton. All up, 30 films across categories including feature films, short films and documentaries have been shortlisted by the Sanctuary Film Festival, exploring a great range of genres. If you’re keen to soak up some Oscar-worthy vibes like the true film buff you are, get your hands on one of the limited VIP tickets. This next-level pass includes red-carpet entry to Saturday’s short-film screening with drinks and canapes, as well as entry to the festival’s Sunday happenings – a documentary and feature screening at the Illusions Theatre Sanctuary Cove, which kicks off from 6:30 pm.

Ready for some movie magic? You can scope the full Sanctuary Film Festival and purchase VIP tickets through the official website.

To find out more about what’s on in Brisbane, head to our Event Guide.



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