AACTA expands 2026 Festival program with new guests, screenings and industry sessions
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts has added a new slate of guests and events to the 2026 AACTA Festival, confirming appearances from international actors, world-premiere screenings, milestone anniversaries and the recipients of the 2026 AACTA Byron Kennedy Award, producers Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings of Causeway Films.
Running from 4–8 February at HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast, the Festival continues to broaden its scope, with organisers highlighting a mix of emerging and established screen talent alongside an expanded schedule of screenings, workshops and industry conversations.
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AACTA has also reinstated its $50 membership offer for new members, providing discounted access to Festival sessions and AACTA Awards events for a limited period.
New program highlights
Festival organisers have confirmed several new additions, including sessions with Australian actors working internationally. Yerin Ha, who joins the cast of Bridgerton, will take part in a conversation about her role in the upcoming season. Dichen Lachman will travel from Los Angeles to discuss her work on the global hit Severance.
Screening events have been bolstered by a number of premieres. Key creatives, including Baz Luhrmann, will attend the Australian premiere of EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert. Phoebe Tonkin will appear at the world premiere of Two Years Later, while director Tyler Atkins and producer John Schwarz will introduce a first-look screening of The Beast in Me, an action film made in Australia and featuring Russell Crowe, Daniel MacPherson and Luke Hemsworth.
A 20th-anniversary celebration of Kenny, presented with Shane Jacobson and director Clayton Jacobson, will reflect on the film’s legacy. The Philippou brothers, Danny and Michael, return to outline their trajectory from online creators to feature filmmakers.
Television-focused sessions include a panel on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! examining memorable challenges and audience-favourite moments, with guests yet to be announced. Another session on Feelgood TV will explore popular factual and entertainment formats, with Adam Liaw discussing The Cook Up with Adam Liaw and Kylie Washington appearing as a representative producer behind titles including Bake-Off and Dancing with the Stars.
Actors Sacha Horler and Susie Porter will share peer-to-peer insights into performance craft.
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Industry, craft and career development
Four additional sessions have been added to the AACTA Screen Careers Expo, presented by Essential Screen Skills: Navigating the Screen Industry as an Actor, Networking 101, Life on Set and Hands-On Futures. A live feature story development panel presented by Screenworks will also be included.
Byron Kennedy Award
Producers Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings from Causeway Films have been named the 2026 recipients of the AACTA Byron Kennedy Award, which acknowledges innovation and exceptional achievement. Causeway’s body of work includes The Babadook, The Nightingale, Talk to Me and Bring Her Back, with the latter leading this year’s feature film nominations.
Established in 1984, the award honours the legacy of Byron Kennedy, co-creator of Mad Max, and includes a $10,000 cash prize determined by an appointed jury.
Festival audiences will hear from the producers directly in Fearless Filmmaking with Kristina Ceyton & Samantha Jennings, an in-conversation session exploring creative risk and decision-making. The event will be held on Saturday 7 February, from 2.30pm to 3.30pm at HOTA.
Membership and Festival overview
AACTA’s $50 membership offer has been relaunched for new members, providing discounted tickets to both the Awards and Festival events.
This year’s Festival spans five days and incorporates screenings, workshops, masterclasses, outdoor events, meet-and-greets, music performances and an expanded careers expo aimed at those entering the industry.
Key dates include the AACTA Awards Industry Gala on Wednesday 4 February, the Industry Conference Day on Thursday 5 February, the AACTA Awards Ceremony and After Party on Friday 6 February, and the AACTA Screen Careers Expo on Saturday 7 February.
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Latest events added to the program
- Yerin Ha – Bridgerton’s New Leading Lady
- The Philippous Unleashed
- Dichen Lachman Talks Severance
- Celebrating 20 Years of Kenny
- Sacha Horler & Susie Porter in Conversation
- Phoebe Tonkin joining Two Years Later – World Premiere
- Baz Luhrmann joining Australian Premiere – EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
- Fearless Filmmaking with Causeway Films
- Into the Jungle with I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
- Feel-Good TV
- Beast in Me – Sneak Peek
- How Film & TV Drive Tourism
- Lead the Inclusive Sets
- Woman at the Helm
- Hands-On Futures
- Life on Set
- Live Feature Story Development Panel
- Navigating the Screen Industry as an Actor
- Networking 101
Key details
Location: HOTA, Home of the Arts – Gold Coast, Queensland
Festival Dates: Wednesday 4 February – Sunday 8 February 2026
The 2026 AACTA Festival runs from 4–8 February at HOTA on the Gold Coast.
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