What Film Makers said about Heart of Gold 2010

We were extremely excited when we got word of being accepted into Heart of Gold as it seemed like an exceptional opportunity to showcase The Light of Family Burnam to an international audience. The festival’s mission to tell uplifting, positive stories fit perfectly with our own voices as filmmakers and this was the sort of festival we always hoped to get Burnam screened at. With all the hard work and dedication from our amazing cast and crew, we’re honored to win this award and very grateful to Heart of Gold for screening our short next to what we were told was an amazing lineup of films this year. We are truly grateful to the jury, staff and volunteers who put this festival together and hope to make it down to the festival in person next time to experience it all first hand. We again couldn’t be happier or more honored than we are to receive this award. Thank you Heart of Gold!
Marshall Axani, Director of The Light of Family Burnam (Best Short Film 2010)

As a film maker I was absolutely delighted to be a part of the Gympie Heart of Gold International Film Festival 2010. After seeing the festival on Australian Story four years ago, it had been my ambition to make a film for it – this was before I’d ever picked up a camera! I just knew it was the type of festival that I wanted to support and be a part of.  Upon arriving – I’d never felt so taken care of and welcomed before. My partner and I were overwhelmed by the amount of volunteers and their incredible kindness towards us! We thoroughly enjoyed our home-stay accommodation! We stayed with the most incredibly beautiful woman in her incredibly beautiful house, and were so grateful and blessed by her hospitality and kindness. We wished we could have had the time to stay longer!! We also loved how the entire town of Gympie supported the festival and got behind it, it was a beautiful image of community and showed the town’s morale. It was a wonderful thing to be a part of! Not only this but the festival content was incredible. I believe that film is an extremely powerful medium, and this festival gives us the opportunity to be uplifted, inspired and brought closer to humanity through film, and films that are dedicated to positive and uplifting themes. It’s an important and beautiful festival that I can’t wait to attend again!
Genevieve Clay, Director of Be My Brother (Screener’s Award for Most Inspiring Film 2010)

Thank you for making it such a memorable festival. Both my partner and I came away feeling it was the most enjoyable festival we’d attended. The turn-up of interested locals was great, and I was honoured to be able to discuss one of my films in a “filmmaker presents” session. Many thanks again – and hope to see you next year.
Graeme Simsion, Producer of The Last Bottle, Push Up and Transformation

Thank you for inviting us to be a part of your wonderful festival.  From the first day in Gympie, we felt welcomed, entertained and valued.  Everything was well-run and we have left Australia with lifelong memories and several new friends.  We hope that you continue to make this festival happen because the message of creating films that are inspiring and bring hope to people is important.
Michelle Ortega and Jason LaBatt, Adult Beginner Ballet

I had a fantastic time at the festival.I thought the whole thing was organised very well and was pleased with the audience numbers. I got everything I wanted out of it – I went to meet filmmakers and I met plenty and can’t wait to attend another. I’m off to brainstorm another idea for your next festival.
Oliver Waghorn, Director of The Package

It was a great festival. All of the organisers were welcoming and the volunteers couldn’t do enough for us. It was a wonderful opportunity to see a range of films and get to meet some other film makers and swap stories. My film The Traveller showed on Saturday morning in the family session to a full theatre. It was good to hear the reaction and meet some of the audience who ranged from 2 to 82 years old. We were made welcome every where that we went in Gympie – not just at the festival; at the swimming pool, the chemist, the cafes and all over town! Our home stay host was fabulous and we got to meet some of the locals and hear about life in Gympie. Big congratulations and we hope to get to Gympie again.
Anna Glynn, Writer and Director of The Traveller

Thank you for organising this amazing festival. I felt well looked after at the Heart of Gold International Film Festival. There was a positive energy through the festival and the town. You could see this was a festival with heart. The volunteers were very kind and pleasant and always had a smile on their faces. The organisation of the festival was very professional. I would like to come back next year and enter another film because of this great experience.
Liliana Bogatko, Director of Penguins and Polar Bears

We could experience only a day of your fabulous event, but we thought it was very well organised [and a] very nice venue. We watched many wonderful films and it was very nice to see my humble film at the Fossicker’s. It was also a great experience for me to be included in ‘Filmmakers Present’. All the staff were very kind, helpful and generous to us and we felt very welcomed, so many thanks to you and other staff – of course, to the judges too!
Sachiko Kotaka, Director of Memoirs of a Crane