When the Gold Coast Film Festival 2014 schedule was first announced earlier this month, all we knew about the closing night film was that it was of the “Horror” genre. It has recently been confirmed that The Babadook will take the “final film” spot on the 13th April 2014 at 6PM.
This announcement follows its world première at the Sundance Film Festival. For those unable to attend, The Babadook will have a wider theatrical release across Australia starting May 22nd, 2014.
A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.
Kylie Pascoe | Gold Coast Film Festival Director
To secure the Australian premiere of The Babadook as our closing night feature is a huge coup for our Gold Coast Film Festival. A stylish psychological thriller, it is the debut feature of one of Australia’s most exciting emerging film writers and directors, Jennifer Kent.
Jennifer Kent | Director of The Babadook
After the warm welcome The Babadook had internationally at Sundance, I am excited for it to have its Australian premiere in my home state of Queensland. I hope the local audiences enjoy it and we’re really looking forward to the national Australian release on 22 May.
Richard Moore | Former Director of Brisbane Int. Film Festival / Theatrical Manager at Distributor Umbrella Entertainment
Sundance has been a successful launching pad for other recent Australian films like Snowtown and Animal Kingdom over the past couple of years and we hope to follow in those footsteps when we release here. The Babadook is one of the hottest pieces of Australian film out there in the market so there are no excuses if this year’s closing night at GCFF is not packed to the rafters.
