Get ready for laughs, giggles, tears and cheers! The 16 finalists for Sony Tropfest and eight finalists for Trop Jr have been selected, offering audiences an eclectic lineup of films not only from Australia, but from right around the world!
Now in its 16th year, Sony Tropfest will be held on Sunday 17th February 2008 to an audience of more than 150,000 people, making it the largest premiere a short film can receive anywhere in the world! Sharing the big day for the first time is Trop Jr–which showcases the films of the younger entrants, 15 years and under.
So who made the cut this year? According to Founder and Creative Director of Sony Tropfest, John Polson, selecting the finalists from nearly 600 entries was no easy task.
‘We received a wide range of films this year, covering all sorts of genres and from entrants all around the world including Australia, Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, France, Germany, USA, South Africa and New Zealand -some with film making experience but many giving filmmaking a shot for the very first time. In fact, entries were produced on budgets ranging from $50 to over $10,000 this year!’
Polson continues, ‘Another highlight were the entries for Trop Jr–the quality of production and imagination behind the films by our younger entrants was incredible. The Australian film industry is in for a very bright and exciting future!’
The 16 Finalists for Sony Tropfest 2008 are:
Ascension
Director: David Easteal
State: ACT
Looped
Director:Sarah Crowest
State:SA
Beggar’s Belief
Director: Colin Cairnes
State: VIC
Made in Australia
Director: Monte Macpherson
Country: Scotland/Australia
Blues for the Soul
Director: Dean Preston
State: TAS
Marry Me
Director: Michelle Lehman
State: NSW
The Code
Director: Murray Fahey
State: NSW
Mouse Race!
Director: Paul Williams
State: VIC
Dusk
Director: William Allert
State: SA
Finalist in 2007 with Yellow
Scab
Director: Koichi Iguchi
Country: Japan
Fault
Director: Daniel Miller
State: ACT
Smitten
Director: Grey Rogers
State: QLD
Glass
Director: Jayne Montague
State: NSW
Finalist in 2007 with Still
Uncle Jonny
Director: Mark Constable
State: VI
Great White Hunters
Director: Gary Doust
State: NSW
Finalist in 2002 with Murbah Swamp Beer
White Lines
Director: Craig Mclean
State: VIC
Aside from the highly sought-after title and industry recognition, the winners of Sony Tropfest will receive amazing prizes. Principal Sponsor Sony Australia will present the First Prize Winner with a High Definition Handycam camcorder and other accessories valued at over $6,000.
The winner will also win a trip for two to the USA, six nights accommodation, and a tailored program of meetings with agents, executives and industry as part of the Qantas Scholarship Program, adding to a total First Prize package worth close to $35,000.
In addition, the Balance Water Women in Film Award will be awarded to a female finalist chosen for excellence in writing, directing, cinematography, editing, production design, composing or producing. The recipient of the award will receive $5,000 in financial support to assist in furthering her development within the industry, with the aim of supporting emerging female filmmaking talent in Australia.
The 8 Finalists for Trop Jr 2008 are:
Poor Joshua Verde
Director: Guy Verge Wallace
State: NSW
Ode to Collector
Director: Marisa Lai
State: VIC
Remote
Director:Nera Skirpic-Vuckovic
State:QLD
The Life of Perfarto
Directors: Students Years 5/6
Main Arm Upper Public School
State: NSW
Imaginature
Directors: Chester Greaves, Callen Hardie and Matt Cochran
State: VIC
The Ducks of General Green
Director: Tim Brown
State: TAS
Free Free at Last
Director: Japonica Mauala
State: NSW
Besties
Director: Jasmin-Johanna Mobbs
State: NSW
The winner of Trop Jr will receive a $500 cash prize, a Sony Hybrid Handycam and a full-day industry tour offered by Kodak where they will have the unique opportunity to visit post-production facilities and the set of a major feature film in production! In addition, Song Zu will offer the lucky winner a week-longmentor scheme where they will learn about the art of sound design and music for filmmaking.
The runner up will receive a $250 cash prize, a Cartoon Network Portable DVD player, a Boomerang picnic box and a place at Metro Screen’s Young Filmmakers Holiday Workshop.
Sony Tropfest 2008
Sunday 17th February 2008
FREE!
Festival Sites
Sydney:Domain, Royal Botanic Gardens
presented by Sony Tropfest
Melbourne: Sidney Myer Music Bowl
presented by Sony Tropfest and City Of Melbourne
Hobart: Salamanca Arts Centre -Hobart
presented by SAC and Wide Angle in association with Screen Tasmania
Canberra: Stage 88 Commonwealth Park, Canberra
presented by the National Capital Authority
Brisbane: Suncorp Piazza, Brisbane
presented by QPIX
Perth: Princess May Park, Fremantle
presented by the Film and Television Institute
Adelaide: Media Resource Centre and Mercury Cinema
Regional: Presented by Australian Film Commission.
Please check www.tropfest.com http://www.tropfest.com/ for more information
Trop Jr 2008
Sunday17thFebruary 2008
FREE!
Sydney: Crescent Precinct, Domain, Royal Botanic Gardens
presented by The Australian Children’s Television Foundation
Please check http://www.tropfest.com/ for more information
[release from SpinCommunications]