Tropfest 2013

If you haven’t had the chance to take delight in one of Melbourne’s many summer outdoor cinemas, go no further than the Sidney Myer Music Bowl this Sunday.

Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival and a cultural staple of Australia, is back for another year of incredible short films from talented, emerging filmmakers across the country.

16 finalists have been selected from an enormous pool of entries and their films must contain the signature item ‘balloon’. The films will be judged live from Sydney by a judging panel of celebrities and industry heavyweights – past judges include Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor & Geoffrey Rush – who will decide the lucky winner.

The winner will leave stoked and ready to see their film career take off, with a prize package that includes a 2012 Toyota Corolla Levin ZR, a $10,000 cash prize, a trip to Los Angeles for a week of meetings with film execs, plus camera lenses and accessories to turn their on-screen visions into a future Oscar winner.

This year’s finalists are an eclectic group of experienced and new filmmakers with diverse styles – from documentary to animation with plenty of comedy and drama packed in between.

Entry is free and the gates open at 2pm with the Trop Jr. competition commencing at 3 pm, while the big guns start blazing just before dusk. Be sure to bring a picnic and arrive early, as seating is first come, first serve. No pets, no glass, no tripods, no frowning. You won’t want to miss this one, especially if you’re FOMO-prone.

Tropfest 2013 is on at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl this Sunday 17 Feb from 2pm.
For more information visit tropfest.com/au.