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Tropfest announces the final cut for 2013

Press release

Tropfest has announced the 16 talented finalists for 2013’s short film festival, whose films will screen to the crowd at the Domain, Sydney, and free to air on SBS One on Sunday 17 February 2013. This year’s selection is an eclectic mix of experienced and new filmmakers and a diverse selection of genres.

From documentary to animation, with the staple comedy and drama packed in between, Tropfest 2013 is shaping up to be a brilliant showcase of the work of Australia’s creative minds. You can tell just by reading the notes on the making of these films that we’re in for an amazing night of film – the stories in these production notes are film-worthy themselves.

This year’s filmmakers have shown incredible dedication to the cause by facing creepy haunted buildings, extreme weather and various run-ins with the authorities, all in the name of independent film.

For example, the locations in this year’s films have gone above and beyond the average: a 19th Century gothic mansion in Katie Wall’s Scene 16; an abandoned mental asylum in Matt Cerwen’s Inside; the depths of Canadian winter in Tim Blackburn and Lyndal Moody’s Monobrow and even dangerous cartel territory in the Mexican desert in Michael Noonan’s Remote.

You’ll witness guest appearances from Mel and Kochie (playing Mel and Kochie) in a film shot on set at Channel 7’s studios (Daniel Reisinger’s CA$H COW – a 63% True Story). And although Tropfest serves up some of the best films made by talented Australians, this year’s film selection features three internationally shot pieces (Mexico, Canada and LA).

Tropfest introduced the Nikon DSLR Film category in 2013. Established to recognise the immense range of capabilities and versatility of video recording on DSLRs, the category offered filmmakers a new, accessible outlet through which to express their creativity.

Over a quarter of all entries were made on DSLR and Tropfest is excited to announce that five of the sixteen finalist films were submitted in the DSLR category!

Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, said the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, is proud to support Tropfest 2013, the world’s largest short film festival.

“Tropfest has a long history of success in Sydney, a city that is not only recognised as a UNESCO City of Film, but is also Australia’s creative hub,” Mr Souris says.

“Tropfest is an important feature on the NSW Events Calendar, and joins a number of Sydney’s fantastic free outdoor events including Sydney New Year’s Eve, Sydney Festival and Sydney Mardi Gras Parade. A launch pad for filmmakers of all ages, having a film screened at Tropfest can be the start of a very exciting career in film. I would like to wish all finalists the best of luck.”

This year APRA Tropscore, Tropfest’s competition for screen composers, will reward one of ten finalists for their vital contributions to film.

Matt Bird, a Tropfest Finalist for the third year in a row with his 2013 Finalist film Taser, provided the film for Tropscore 2013, a beautiful piece of cinema and a clean musical slate for which all entrants composed a score. Tropscore winners receive a neat $5000 cash prize along with the chance to perform their score live on stage at Tropfest.

On Sunday February 17, the Finalist films will screen live at the Domain, Sydney and at venues across Australia to a crowd of around 150,000 and to a judging panel of celebrities and industry heavyweights – past judges include Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor & Geoffrey Rush – who will together decide the champion of Tropfest 2013.

The talented winner will leave a richer, more mobile and better-equipped filmmaker in an all-new 2012 Toyota Corolla Levin ZR, holding $10,000 cash prize courtesy of Kennedy Miller Mitchell, and preparing for a trip to Los Angeles for a week of meetings with film executives organised by Motion Picture Association and the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft. The victor will also take home the latest Nikon D800 and $2000 RRP worth of lenses and accessories.

And don’t forget: not only can you watch this show live on SBS that night, but Tropfest runs three days’ worth of parties, film nights and talks including Tropfest Roughcut leading up to the night.

For more info about past winners, themes or Tropfest’s global events, head to www.tropfest.com/au