Tropfest to return as not-for-profit entity

Moving to a not-for-profit business model, Sydney’s Tropfest short film festival will return for its 25th year in February 2017.

With the festival having almost gone under due to financial mismanagement earlier this year, Mad Max director George Miller has joined the festival’s new board of directors.

Tropfest has also extended its partnership with CGU Insurance, which offered the festival a lifeline earlier this year, with the insurer agreeing a three-year sponsorship deal with the event.

Tropfest founder John Polson (pictured below) said the festival was “delighted to have CGU back on board”, adding “their support has been critical to the future of the festival, and in turn, the future of many emerging Australian filmmakers.

“The changes we have announced (are) a result of recommendations to come out of Tropfest’s strategic review, undertaken by partner EY, will also bring new voices and expertise to the festival, starting with one of the film world’s most celebrated storytellers, George Miller.”

The film festival will also focus on attracting more women filmmakers and move the main event from Sunday to Saturday for the first time, and will be held next year on 11th February.

Tropfest offers a big platform for budding film-makers – more than 90,000 people turned up to the resurrected festival in Centennial Park in Sydney last February. The festival also screened in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, accruing a total audience of about 150,000.

Australian actors and directors such as Sam Worthington, Joel and Nash Edgerton, and Rebel Wilson took part in the festival before landing in Hollywood.

Tropfest has not yet announced screening venues, or whether SBS will return as the festival’s broadcast partner.

7th December 2015 - TROPFEST FILM FESTIVAL TO RETURN AFTER SECURING NEW SPONSORSHIP

14th November 2015 - TROPFEST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL CANCELLED DUE TO TO ‘TERRIBLE’ FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT

21st February 2013 - TROPFEST FINDS A NEW HOME IN CENTENNIAL PARK