Press release from Tropfest
International screen legend Anthony Lapaglia, Austin Powers’ girl Gia Carides, and funny man Josh Lawson are just a few of the talented Australians starring in the 10 films Movie Extra Tropfest have shortlisted to compete as the 16th Finalist to be screened on festival night – Sunday 20 February.
With names like these, it’s no wonder Festival Director and Founder, John Polson, had trouble deciding on the last film to be shown at the world’s largest short film festival. In a first-ever for Tropfest, the world’s film-loving public is being asked to view and vote on their favourite at Tropfest’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/tropfest by Wednesday, 16 February.
The film with the most votes will become an automatic Tropfest Finalist, screening live on Sunday 20 February in front of hundreds of thousands of film fans, and to an audience in excess of 235,000 on Subscription TV channel, Movie Extra.
The list of ten directors varies from first time Trop entrants to seasoned pros. The tales themselves range from a one night stand gone wrong to a self help group for birds.
Polson says, “All ten films contain the elements of a winning film, now it’s down to the public to decide. It’s a difficult task selecting the 16 Finalists each year, and this year was particularly challenging because of the high quality of entries. I’m ecstatic to be giving our audience the opportunity to have a say in this year’s line up, and I encourage everyone to go to our YouTube channel and vote for your favourite.”
Tropfest is a great launch pad for filmmakers. Finalists will compete for a total pool of $100,000 in cash and prizes, including a Canon XF305 digital camera valued at $10,499.
Tropfest’s new partnership with YouTube, enabling online entries for the first time, has been a huge success, organisers say. Over 700 entries came in from across Australia and the world, including films from USA, Canada, China, Iran, South Africa, Israel, Italy, Hong Kong, Thailand and Portugal.
The director of any Finalist Film from outside of Australia receives a free trip to Sydney for the night of Tropfest. This year, South African filmmaker, Ari Kruger, will arrive in Sydney on February 18 to partake in the festivities and to compete with his film, “Focus”.
THE FILMS COMPETING IN THE “16TH FINALIST COMPETITION” ARE
BARS AND TONE
Director: Ariel Martin
State: NSW
BIG FEET
Director: Brad Wilson and Jonathan Cockett
Country: Singapore
BIRD THERAPY
Director: Damien Freeleagus
State: NSW
IN LOCO PARENTIS
Director: Paul Ashton
State: ACT
ONE NIGHT STAND
Director: David Coussins
State: VIC
PET
Director: Luke Shanahan
State: NSW
SQUEEZE
Director: Will Goodfellow
State: NSW
THE (EX) TERMINATOR
Director: Summer DeRoche
State: VIC
TINMAN
Director: James Hunter
State: ACT
TRAIN GIRL
Director: Paul Ashton
State: VIC