Filmmakers from across the globe are being encouraged to enter the world’s largest short film festival, Tropfest Australia. Film buffs with an ace up their sleeve will have an opportunity to unlock the door to stardom by having their stories screened to a massive live audience across Australia on Sunday 6 December 2015.
This year’s Festival is expected to be Tropfest’s biggest yet. Scores of filmmakers compete annually for the chance to be one of the 16 finalists whose short films premiere live to a national audience of around 150,000, as well as broadcast free-to-air on SBS 2 to an even bigger home audience.
Whether you’re a beginner or pro, Tropfest is open to anyone eager to tell their story through film. All you have to do is grab a camera and start shooting. Films must be no longer than seven minutes and, in Tropfest tradition, must contain the Tropfest Signature Item – CARD.
Tropfest Founder and Director John Polson says the event is a phenomenal launching pad for filmmakers. “It’s been twenty three years since Tropfest first began. Today the event is a ground-breaking opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their skills in front of the largest live audience a short film – or any film for that matter – can get.”
Along with enormous attention from the local and international film community, the winner of Tropfest will also receive $10,000 cash prize, a trip to LA for a week of meetings with film industry executives as well as a Nikon D810 and $2000 RRP worth of lenses and accessories.
Filmmakers are encouraged to submit films shot on their DSLR for their chance to take home the Nikon DSLR Film Category prize. Finalists who make an entry on DSLR are automatically entered into both the DSRL category and main competition – so there’s a chance to take home two prizes!
Last year’s winner, Victorian Julian Lucas won the coveted fruit trophy for his short film Granny Smith. Julian says Tropfest is an incredible opportunity for filmmakers “As far as film festivals go, Tropfest is the one that you want to be at. I made a film with my best mates and then sat in a park with thousands of people to watch it together – it was incredible. We make films so that an audience can enjoy them, and Tropfest provide the perfect platform for this.”
Tropfest had humble beginnings at the Tropicana Café in Sydney’s Darlinghurst where an eager crowd of 200 showed up to watch a short film screening that Tropfest founder John Polson had organised. Twenty three years on, Tropfest attracts a live audience of around 150,000 in Australia and the Festival has grown internationally, hosting standalone competitions in New Zealand, South East Asia, New York and the Middle East in recent years.
Entries are open now and close Thursday 8 October 2015. For more information, visit: www.tropfest.com/au for details.
Image: Actor Jack White, 2014 Tropfest Winner Julian Lucas and Margaret Pomeranz (supplied)