Tropfest pushes back next year’s festival to December
Tropfest founder John Polson has confirmed the planned February Tropfest will not go ahead, instead pushing back the short film festival to December.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Film buffs now have a lot longer to work on their 2020 Tropfest entries, 10 months to be exact.
Director, actor and founder John Polson has confirmed the 30th annual short film festival will be held in December instead of February, which is when it has been held over recent years.
“The date change is partly about weather but also about my own work commitments,” Polson told Confidential. “We are looking to move back to a ‘grassroots’ model for Tropfest — one that continues to prioritise the launching of Australia’s emerging filmmaking talent.”
Tropfest is the world’s largest short film festival that was founded from humble beginnings in the Tropicana cafe in Darlinghurst in 1993. It has grown exponentially year on year and is regarded among the top in the world with big name local and international directors and actors sitting as judges including Nicole Kidman, Susan Sarandon, Russell Crowe, George Miller, Keanu Reeves, Salma Hayek and Rose Byrne.
What also makes the festival unique is its Tropfest Signature Item (TSI), which filmmakers must include in their submissions and in previous years have included dice, candle, kiss, teaspoon and the number eight.
Polson, who is currently working on US TV series, The Wilds, that is shooting in New Zealand into the first quarter of next year, and his Tropfest team found February to be one of the wettest months of the year.
This February, organisers were forced to find an alternate location within Parramatta Park due to the stage being damaged in heavy rain.
“We are moving away from the February date and are looking at a new December date for 2020 and beyond,” Polson continued.
“We’re incredibly excited about our future as we approach our 30th birthday. We’re exploring a brand new format, both in terms of how and where we screen the festival live and what that means to our online and broadcast audiences, nationally and internationally. We are pondering the perfect balance of getting back to our roots, ie smaller gatherings in a cafe environment, as well as utilising future technology and pushing our national boundaries.”
Polson said discussions were ongoing internally and with sponsorship partners before a date would be announced by March.
“Early December is the perfect time for Tropfest in Australia, a date in which we previously held the festival,” he said. “It’s an exciting time of the year full of celebration and marks the beginning of summer festivities. We want to stay early enough to not get caught in the Christmas craziness, but also keep away from US thanksgiving at the end of November to help ensure we continue to secure the most prestigious international guests.”