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For the first time, women make up 50 per cent of Tropfest finalists

 Catherine Mack's 'Passenger' 

Tropfest has unveiled its 2017 lineup, and for the first time in the festival's 25 year history, half of the finalists are women. 

Last year, the festival came under fire for having only one female finalist (Angela McCormack for her film, Tay Man). Tropfest founder and director John Polson called for more women to enter the fest, pointing out that the number of female entrants (and not just female finalists) had traditionally hovered around the 20 per cent mark. 

In June, as Tropfest announced a switch to a not-for-profit business model, it also promised the festival would have a stronger focus on attracting female filmmakers.

Polson called the calibre of films submitted for 2017's festival “outstanding” and noted it was wonderful to see entrants reflecting a 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," said Polson. "We have 16 very unique films to premiere to tens of thousands of Tropfest fans at our wonderful new home in Parramatta."

The selected films, all inspired by this year’s signature item, ‘pineapple’, will be judged by a panel of industry players including head of jury, Rose Byrne.

Tropfest will be held on February 11 at Parramatta Park. It will screen nationally on Eleven and globally via Red Bull TV. 

The full list of Tropfest finalists:

â–ª     Accomplice by Michael Noonan 

â–ª     Another Olga by Cecilia Rumore 

â–ª     Beekeepers, The by James Dewhirst-Prineas 

â–ª     Birth, The by Sarah Hatherley 

â–ª     Can't I Sh#t In Peace? By Julia Morris 

â–ª     Diary of a Youtuber by Holly Hargreaves 

â–ª     Everyting Criss by Olly Sindle 

â–ª     Going Vego by Christopher Burke, Mikey Owen, Hannah Bath 

â–ª     Love, Steve by Alex Roberts 

â–ª     Meat and Potatoes  by Arielle Thomas, Ellenor Argyropoulos

â–ª     Mother Situation, The by Matt Day 

â–ª     Mutonia Burnout by Eugene E Nrg 

â–ª     Passenger by Catherine Mack

â–ª     Talc by Jefferson Grainger 

â–ª     Wall, The by Tristan Klein 

â–ª     Wibble Wobble by Daphne Do