Australia’s Gold Coast has been recognised as a finalist in the City of Film award category for the 2026 Global Production Awards in Cannes, France.
The ceremony took place during the annual Cannes Film Festival, with an array of awards celebrating the behind-the-scenes work that goes into major film productions. The Global Production Awards recognised the cities working to support and elevate film production, as well as the companies that determine film commissions, production, leadership and sustainability.
During this year’s event, Netflix was awarded the Special Recognition Award for its contribution to film production, while Vancouver Film Studios in Canada (The Midnight Club, Fire Country) was recognised as Studio of the Year.
While the Gold Coast ended as a finalist in the City of Film category, losing out to Toronto in Canada, this achievement remains a notable one, as the city has been recognised as a valuable and important filming location on the global stage.
Film production on the Gold Coast – quick links
Gold Coast recognised among the best Cities of Film
Over the last few years, the Gold Coast’s star has risen in the film world, as new incentives and screen production funding support the arrival of major global productions.
Recent blockbuster film release Mortal Kombat 2 was filmed in the Gold Coast, with producers attracted by government-led support.
In its submission, the Gold Coast Film Commission also noted local work on Nautilis, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2, Anaconda and The Bluff as being a boon to the state’s screen economy.
As shared by Tom Tate, Mayor of the Gold Coast, attracting global productions to the city isn’t only about showing off the region’s eye-catching landscapes. It also creates significant jobs and stability for those within the screen industry and contributes to the growth of the local economy.
‘Being recognised alongside some of the world’s most exciting screen destinations shows how far the
Gold Coast has come,’ Tate said. ‘We have the locations, the facilities, the crew, the incentives and the city-wide support for major international productions to land here with confidence.’
‘This recognition is about far more than beautiful backdrops. It recognises the jobs being created, the local skills being developed and the long-term economic value screen production brings to our city,’ Tate added.
‘Every production that chooses the Gold Coast creates opportunities right across our economy, from local crew and accommodation providers to hospitality venues, transport operators, construction teams, post-production specialists and creative businesses.’
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Investment in the screen industry set to continue
As noted by Tate, there’s plenty currently in the works on the Gold Coast, and the region is ‘investing heavily’ in an array of initiatives to improve its film output.
There are plans to double the Gold Coast’s studio capacity, as part of a new deal with international company Shadowbox Studios, and there are also movements to improve its post-production, visual effects, gaming and technology facilities via work on the Miami Arts Depot. This location is being repurposed with the aim of using it to grow the city’s screen sector.
The local council will also continue supporting the growth of the local screen industry in the years to come, with plans to work alongside The Gold Coast Film Commission and Invest Gold Coast, as well as TAFE Queensland.
‘Through partnerships such as the Screen On-Boarding Program with TAFE Queensland, we are helping people with transferable skills step into screen industry careers and strengthening the crew base needed to meet growing global demand,’ Tate said.
