{"id":9544,"date":"2025-10-19T22:22:49","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T11:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/?p=9544"},"modified":"2025-10-19T22:22:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T11:22:50","slug":"central-coast-film-festival-program-gallipoli-ettalong-cinema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/central-coast-film-festival-program-gallipoli-ettalong-cinema\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Magic Hits Ettalong! Central Coast Film Festival Unveils Full Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Central Coast Film Festival announces its full 2025 program 2025\/10\/17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Central Coast Film Festival today unveils the full program for its 2025 edition, running 1\u20139 November <\/strong>at Cinema Paradiso, Ettalong Beach<\/strong>. Featuring its most ambitious lineup yet, the festival will present a bold mix of local and international cinema, alongside special events, filmmaker Q&As, and classic restorations in partnership with the NFSA Restores program. Excitingly on November 8th, the Festival will host a screening of My Brilliant Career <\/em>by a special conversation with Gillian Armstrong <\/strong>and cinematographer Donald McAlpine<\/strong>, celebrating the enduring impact of their collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m incredibly proud of how far this festival has come,\u201d said Festival Founder Timothy Wilde. \u201cWe started this festival with an aim to build a foundation for regional screen culture and to give filmmakers a platform for recognition both here and internationally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Join the Club<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Coroner to the Stars<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
My Brilliant Career<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Gallipoli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now the largest film festival ever held on the Central Coast, this year\u2019s program features 24 documentary and narrative features<\/strong>, including Australian premieres of Coroner to the Stars<\/u><\/em><\/a>, New Wave<\/u><\/em><\/a>, The Strange<\/u><\/em><\/a> <\/em>Dark<\/u><\/em><\/a>, Softshell<\/u><\/em><\/a>, Room Temperature<\/u><\/em><\/a>, Snowland<\/u><\/em><\/a>, Big Star: The Nick Skelton Story<\/u><\/em><\/a>, and Fantasy A Gets a<\/u><\/em><\/a> <\/em>Mattress<\/u><\/em><\/a>. The festival will also showcase 2025 Australian film festival circuit highlights Fwends<\/u><\/em><\/a>, Floodland<\/u><\/em><\/a>, Yurlu Country<\/u><\/em><\/a>, and Iron Winter<\/u><\/em><\/a>, bringing the best of Australian independent cinema to Ettalong Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Micro Budget<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Yurlu Country<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Iron Winter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Micro Budget<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening the festival on the evening of November 1st is the Australian premiere of Morgan Evans\u2019s Microbudget<\/em>. A sharp, self-aware comedy about a filmmaker\u2019s ill-fated quest to shoot a low-budget indie and sell it to a streamer for a \u201cf***-ton of money.\u201d The premiere follows its acclaimed U.S. festival run and a place on the 2025 Popcorn List<\/u><\/a>. The event will be preceded by an opening night mixer at the cinema\u2019s adjoining Bar Toto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the 8th of November, the festival is excited to host the Central Coast premiere of The Shirt Off Your<\/u><\/em><\/a> <\/em>Back<\/u><\/em><\/a> <\/em>by Budgewoi filmmaker David Robinson-Smith, following its acclaimed screenings at Sydney and Melbourne Film Festivals. The lineup of 60 short films <\/strong>include a range of mixed shorts screenings and genre specific presentations including: The Animated Shorts event<\/u><\/a>, Freaky Friday Horror Shorts Mix<\/u><\/a> and Documentary Shorts Mix<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
New Wave<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special Presentations this year feature two landmark restorations from the NFSA Restores <\/strong>program:<\/p>\n\n\n\n