Short-film festival SIPFest, which is normally held on the sand at Surfers Paradise beach, is back to satiate your appetite for bite-sized flicks this Easter long weekend. It’ll launch online at 12:00 pm this Thursday April 9, showcasing an unmissable collection of 13 short films for viewers to enjoy from the comfort of their couches, and will remain available to view online until 12:oo pm Tuesday April 14. All you have to do is register here on the Gold Coast Film Festival website to be notified when SIPFest opens for viewing, then grab the snacks (maybe ration them out – there’s a lot to get through), fluff up your pillows and kick back for the ultimate short-film marathon. The fest will cover a range of genres that’ll surely leave you laughing, crying and escaping reality for a while.

Viewers also have the chance to get involved in SIPFest’s People’s Choice Award, with film buffs encouraged to vote online for their favourite short films, which will see the winner recognised with a $1000 cash prize and a much-needed boost. It doesn’t end there – the Gold Coast Film Festival will also be live streaming its coveted Screen Industry Gala Awards on Thursday April 16 (the original planned event date). There is more than $20,000 in cash and prizes awarded on the night, $8000 of which will be awarded to the makers showcased in SIPFest – so make sure you vote! Across 14 categories, the live-streamed awards will recognise the best feature films, short films, webseries and scripts that were due to be featured at the festival – and viewers are invited to take part in the online version of the gala awards by registering online. Well folks, the show must go on – and it is – so jump to the Gold Coast Film Festival website and prepare yourself for hours and hours of visual goodness.