The 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival – coming up soon – will culminate with the Australian Premiere of Don’t Be Prey (@dontbeprey.film, IMDb here), the riveting story of Mark Sowerby (52, Australia, MSF bio here) who achieved the Oceans Seven ten years after his first channel crossing of the English Channel.
The 1 hour 34 minute film, directed by Jeff Tseng, showcases a cast of characters that mirrors a mix of characters in the open water community. It features the raw vulnerability faced by every channel swimmer while showing the underlining physical difficulties and emotional challenge of their breathtaking ocean feats. Sowerby is the driver, but the rest of his crew – led by his coach Tim Denyer (@redtopperformance) and his wife Heidi Sowerby – is always nearby in an uplifting journey of resilience that shows a dramatic reinvention from a professional upheaval and what it takes to survive in the harshest environment.
After the 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival, the film will expand to cinamas in Australia. “Our focus is to deliver bold storytelling from voices around the world while building the incredible industry we have here in South East Queensland,” said Luke Wheatley, CEO of the Gold Coast Film Festival. “Our opening and closing night films are a taste of what is to come from an exciting festival.”
Jacqui Feeney, CEO Screen Queensland, says, “The Gold Coast Film Festival celebrates the creativity, storytelling and diversity that drive Queensland’s standing as a globally competitive screen production destination. This year’s program showcases the strength of our local sector, with eight Queensl and titles screening alongside a compelling mix of national and international films, including the local documentary Don’t Be Prey. We encourage audiences from across Queensland and beyond to experience these stories on the big screen and support the exceptional filmmakers behind them.”
The Gold Coast Film Festival 2026, held between April 22nd and May 3rd, s possible thanks to the support of our Major Partners Screen Queensland, Invest Gold Coast, Tourism and Events Queensland along with venue partner Home of the Arts.
Don’t Be Prey on IMDb is here. For more information on screenings and showings in Australia, visit here.
© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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