Press release from Cardinal Spin
Filmmakers from across the globe are being encouraged to enter a milestone year for the world’s largest short film festival – the 20th annual Movie Extra Tropfest. Tropfest is again offering to fly finalist filmmakers from outside Australia to attend the huge new three day Festival and walk the red carpet in Sydney from Friday 17 – Sunday 19 February 2012.
South African filmmaker Ari Kruger made the finals last year and was flown from his hometown of Cape Town for the 2011 Festival where he joined 15 other finalists. His film “Focus” screened to a massive live audience across Australia as well as hundreds of thousands of viewers live exclusively on MOVIE EXTRA. Kruger rubbed shoulders with Australian and international A-List stars including Olivia Newton-John, Xavier Samuel, and Bruce Beresford.
Whether you’re a beginner or pro, Tropfest is open to anyone eager to tell their story through film. All you have to do is grab a camera and start shooting. Entries close Thursday 5 January 2012.
Films must be no longer than seven minutes and, in Tropfest tradition, must contain the Signature Item – LIGHT BULB. The 20th year TSI was chosen specifically because Tropfest is all about the importance of the central idea in film.
Tropfest’s 20th Birthday competition will be hotly contested, with organisers predicting the biggest year ever. More than 700 entries are expected from Australia and overseas. For the second year running, entries will be received online in partnership with YouTube, making it easier for international entrants by eliminating the need to provide their film on a DVD.
Filmmakers and fans alike will also be able to participate in a host of spin-off activities and events Tropfest is adding to celebrate 20 years of putting the spotlight on filmmaking talent. Organisers have three days of filmmaking celebrations planned, taking the Festival from the traditional one-day event to a full Tropfest weekend. There will be parties, screenings of Tropfest gems from the past, and special film industry events, with full details to be announced soon.
As always, Movie Extra Tropfest will hold FREE outdoor screenings across the nation on Sunday – with new live sites being announced in the coming weeks. Film fans in Australia can also catch all the excitement live on subscription television channel, MOVIE EXTRA, for the fourth consecutive year.
Kruger says the experience of attending Tropfest was unforgettable.
“Tropfest was an amazing experience for me. Flying out to Australia to see my film on the big screen in front of thousands of people was surreal. I would encourage anyone with an interest in filmmaking, no matter where they live to enter Tropfest. It’s a mind blowing experience and one I’ll remember forever.”
Tropfest Founder and Director, John Polson, says: “We love hearing stories of from people around the world and with our continued submission partnership with YouTube we hope to see many more international films headed our way for the 2012 Festival. I’d love to see a finalist lineup of films from every corner of the globe.”
“We hope the opportunity to come to Australia a be a part of the new three day event and have your short film screened in front of hundreds of thousands of people around the nation will have the entries rolling in,” he says.
Movie Extra Tropfest’s mobile category, Telstra Mobile Masterpieces, is back for the third year giving filmmakers an opportunity to unleash their creativity on their mobile phones. The same rules apply as the main competition, with the winner able to enter for both the Tropfest main competition prize and for the mobile prize as well.
Finalists walk the star-studded red carpet in Sydney and have their work judged by industry heavyweights, with past judges including Nicole Kidman, Toni Collette, Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe, Samuel L Jackson, Baz Luhrmann, Ewan McGregor, Elijah Wood, and many more.
Finalists compete for a massive prize pool of cash, equipment and international travel valued at approximately $100,000, along with an unprecedented level of industry interest and attention.
For information on how to enter go to www.tropfest.com/au