The AACTA Festival 2025 is a vibrant celebration of Australia’s screen industry, returning to HOTA from February 5-9.

AACTA Festival offers an unparalleled lineup of events for professionals, creatives, and the public. On February 6, the festival kicks off with Industry Day, bringing together leading voices in film, television, and digital media to explore topics related to all aspects of screen. Highlights include conversations with Oscar-winners, masterclasses with top practitioners, and discussions with first nations filmmakers.

On February 8 and 9, the festival offers a dynamic weekend of more than 70 events spanning movie deconstructions, Q&As, workshops, live music, and outdoor music and screening spectaculars. Other highlights include conversations with best-selling authors Trent Dalton, Holly Ringland, Benjamin Stevenson and Shankari Chandran, VFX and Stunt breakdowns, Filmmaking 101 with Shane Jacobson, Australia’s largest Screen Careers Expo and sessions with digital creators and streamers.

Special showcases feature Queensland’s filmmaking excellence, horror panels and exclusive red-carpet premiere screenings of Spit (with David Wenham), and Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up. The AACTA Screen Careers Expo on February 8 provides invaluable insights for aspiring creatives, while music lovers will revel in performances and discussions, including a live music evening inspired by How to Make Gravy.

Featuring many free events, the AACTA Festival 2025 promises to inspire, educate, and connect the community with Australia’s vibrant screen culture.

Highlights

The North Room

Food & Drink

Old Quarter Coffee Merchants

Food & Drink

Ciccio’s Pizza and Gelato

Food & Drink

Directory