With the AACTA Awards and Festival boasting more than 110 events, we’ve selected some of the highly anticipated sessions and screenings that we’ll be attending over the five-day program. From panels packed with homegrown talent to exciting opportunities to level up your career as well as all the glitz and glamour of premieres and award galas, the AACTA Festival has something for everyone!
Wednesday 4 February
This special event celebrates the craftsmanship and technical skills behind Australia’s finest film and television productions.
Thursday 5 February
Get the lowdown straight from the top! Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney is joined by her interstate agency counterparts to share information on funding strategies, reveal key trends for 2026 and beyond, and give producers and creators the inside track on the state of the industry.
In a rapidly expanding cross-platform space, the opportunities for commercial pathways are also growing. Join leading practitioners, including Jed Dawson, Screen Queensland’s Head of Games, as they examine how screen IP can cross over into games and vice versa, why it’s good to think about it early, and what opportunities exist for Australian creators.
Queensland: The New Global Production Hub
The sunshine state has a renowned reputation as a production paradise, luring a steady pipeline of local and attracted projects. Discover the secret sauce in this panel moderated by Screen Queensland’s Head of Production Attraction, Naomi Wenck, that makes Queensland a destination of choice for leading production and post-production companies, as well as internationally renowned screen practitioners who have made hot spots like the Gold Coast their home.
Queensland on Screen: Iconic Locations, Iconic Stories
As vast as they are versatile, Queensland’s landscapes are not just backdrops, they are active storytellers. See the sunshine state through expert eyes in this panel moderated by Screen Queensland’s Location Services Manager, Brendan O’Sullivan, and unpack why Queensland’s natural beauty, cultural significance and unique urban environments make for such desirable production destinations, adept at doubling as well as delivering authentic main character energy.
Women Leading Queensland Screen: Building Sustainable Careers
Queensland women are shaping the future of the Australian screen industry driving innovation, leadership and new ways of working within a rapidly evolving screen ecosystem. Hear from established leaders, current practitioners and emerging voices, moderated by Screen Queensland’s Head of Content, Tanya Ellen, exploring how women are building active, evolving careers in screen—and how leadership, production models and workplace culture can continue to evolve to better support longevity.
Celebrating Blak Joy: Proper Loved Up
There is a growing appetite for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island inspired adventures, productions that celebrate cultural stories through comedy and examine the First Nations experience through a new lens, challenging the expectations for authentic stories on screen. Queensland creatives Rhianna Malezer and Shontell Ketchell are joined by Hunter Page-Lochard, Steph Tisdell and moderator Jorjia Gillis to bring Blak joy to the front.
This intimate session brings together some of Australia’s leading directors nominated for the 2026 AACTA Awards, including Queensland’s Emma Freeman and Jeffrey Walker. Hear them discuss the creative choices, challenges, and inspirations behind this year’s nominated films, television shows, and documentaries.
Friday 6 February
As Australia’s most prestigious celebration of screen excellence, the ceremony honours standout achievements across film, television and online content and showcases the talent and creativity that define our industry.
Saturday 7 February
Render Ready: Getting Started in VFX
Visual effects are at the heart of some of the most spectacular storytelling in film, television and screen content, but breaking into the VFX industry can feel daunting. In this panel, industry practitioners from The Post Lounge, PROXi VP and Myriad Studios share their insights on starting out in this fast-paced field.
Discover the people, businesses, pathways and opportunities driving the future of screen at Australia’s largest event dedicated to careers in film, television, games, online and more. The Screen Careers Expo is the place to be for students, graduates, career changes and industry professionals looking to start or grow an exciting and fulfilling screen career.
This highly sought-after stream of events brings together leading screen and digital decision-makers with creators to explore sustainable creative careers across platforms. Sessions are almost at capacity, register early to avoid missing out.
Australian Premiere of EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Be one of the first to see this must-see cinematic event, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert from visionary director Baz Luhrmann, created right here on the Gold Coast. EPiC reimagines the power and presence of Elvis Presley for a new generation, blending cutting edge technology with electrifying concert footage, a full orchestra and Baz’s unmistakable cinematic flair. This is Elvis as you have never seen or heard him before.
Sunday 8 February
From Anaconda to FING! and beyond, Formation Effects are the go-to creators for practical creatures, animatronics, prosthetics and puppets that ground terror, character and awe in physical reality. Their work exists where engineering, performance and imagination collide, building creatures designed to be felt in the room… and remembered long after the credits roll.
Go behind the scenes of the upcoming Queensland-shot action thriller Runner with key creatives and cast. Join producer Deborah Glover, editor Matt Villa, locations manager Nick Smith, and Queensland-born actor Peta Sargeant as they share stories from set and insights into the filmmaking process.
In Conversation with Anna Torv and Emma Freeman
Acclaimed actor Anna Torv (Mindhunter, The Last of Us, The Newsreader) and director Emma Freeman (The Newsreader, Fake, Stateless, Interview with the Vampire) have been working together in Queensland on upcoming crime series Dustfall. In this exclusive conversation, they’ll discuss how stories move from the page to the screen, exploring performance, direction, tone and the many decisions that shape a project.
World Premiere of Two Years Later
Walk the red carpet at the world premiere of the upcoming Paramount+ and Hoodlum series Two Years Later. Join Phoebe Tonkin and special guests on the red carpet and for an on-stage conversation exploring the creative journey behind the series—from its sun-drenched Queensland setting to its honest, hilarious take on modern love, awkward dates and unexpected chemistry.
The AACTA Awards are proudly presented by Foxtel Group and supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland and Screen Queensland, and Experience Gold Coast.
