HOTA Home Company Gold Coast Film Festival have collaborated with our curators to present a mini film festival inspired by our inaugural summer exhibition, Art Mixtape: Yours for Summer.

We sat down with Sasha Close, Programming Manager to learn a little more about what exhibition themes and works inspired the films in the program.

“The surf spirit is captured is one that is featured heavily in both the exhibition and the film festival – and what else would you expect from a Gold Coast summer?

“Now regarded as a pop culture classic, we’re presenting 1959’s Gidget, starring Sandra Dee – a film that motivated a generation of surfers to hit the waves.

“For a more contemporary take, we’ve also included the 2007 animated feature Surf’s Up. It’s family-fun (a Pixar classic) and makes use of the mockumentary genre that’s so beloved in pop-culture now.

“When we think of pop culture within the exhibition, we can’t go past Daniel McKewen’s Running Man installation. Front and centre is Cary Grant, running in a black void, surrounded by other leading men from action-films of years gone by.

“Presenting the Hitchcockian classic North by Northwest (another 1959 classic) on the big screen is certainly a highlight.

“Sam Jink’s sculpture, Iris – Messenger, underpinned our decision to add 2014’s Birdman to the line-up – Michael Keaton’s explosive performance in the title role is not to be missed.

“A stunning restoration of 1998’s Radiance rounds out the festival as a nod to Australian experience and First Nations artist Tracey Moffatt. The film remains a compelling drama over twenty years after it premiered in cinemas.”