The world’s largest short film festival, Tropfest, has announced it 16 finalists for 2017, in this its 25-year anniversary. The festival will take place on Saturday, 11th February. This year, the films drew inspiration from the infamous Tropfest Signature Item (TSI), which in 2017 was PINEAPPLE.
The films will screen to a live audience at the festival’s new home in Sydney’s Parramatta Park, as well as premiere worldwide via Red Bull TV, then nationally on free-to-air channel Eleven.
The finalists were chosen from several hundred entries both nationally and internationally. The 16 finalists will have their entries screened and judged on festival night before a panel of film industry heavyweights, including Rose Byrne, who will serve as Head of Jury in 2017. In addition, women made up half of the finalists chosen this year, for the first time in its 25 year history.
The finalists this year are:
- Accomplice by Michael Noonan
- Another Olga by Cecilia Rumore
- The Beekeepers by James Dewhirst-Prineas
- The Birth by Sarah Hatherley
- Can’t I Sh#t In Peace? by Julia Morris
- Diary of a Youtuber by Holly Hargreaves
- Everyting Criss by Olly Sindle
- Going Vego by Christopher Burke, Mikey Owen, Hannah Bath
- Love, Steve by Alex Roberts
- Meat and Potatoes by Arielle Thomas, Ellenor Argyropoulos
- The Mother Situation by Matt Day
- Mutonia Burnout by Eugene E Nrg
- Passenger by Catherine Mack
- Talc by Jefferson Grainger
- The Wall – by Tristan & Nick Baker
- Wibble Wobble by Daphne Do
Films range from thrillers and comedies to documentaries, romances and dramas. Can’t I Sh#t in Peace? is about the lengths one working mother will go to get a moment of peace from her hectic life, whilst Meat and Potatoes is the story of a vegan couple facing the apocalypse without food. In contrast, Diary of a Youtuber follows the the rise and tragic fall of a popular YouTuber explored through the concept of online bullying, but Accomplice features a small dog who decides to take action on his owner’s troubling nocturnal activities.
Founder and Chairman John Polson praised the high calibre of films submitted for the 2017 festival season. “It was extremely difficult to choose our finalists from such a strong group”, he says. “It’s wonderful to see the entrants this year reflecting a vast range of diversity and gender. Over the past 12 months, we’ve made a major effort to attract women to enter Tropfest – with help from people like Lucy Liu and producer Bruna Papandrea – so it’s incredibly exciting to see that effort pay off. We have 16 very unique films to premiere to tens of thousands of Tropfest fans at our wonderful new home in Parramatta.”
Tropfest has been vital in fostering the careers of some of Australia’s biggest names in the film and TV industry, including Sam Worthington, Joel Edgerton, Rebel Wilson and more. Since its inaugural festival 25 years ago, Tropfest has also welcomed judges such as Will Smith, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett and Ewan McGregor.
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