The Tropfest Team has joined forces with presenting partner The Australian Children’s Television Foundation and broadcast partner Cartoon Network to bring you the first annual Trop Jr: The World’s Largest Short Film Festival – for Kids! By Kids!
Trop Jr is a short filmmaking competition open to kids aged 15 years and younger. Entries are now being accepted online via http://www.tropjr.com/ . Parents, teachers or carers should carefully read all of the 2008 Trop Jr Entry Guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions and Terms & Conditions that are set out on the Trop Jr website.
Kids can enter Trop Jr individually or as a group, and multiple entries are permitted. Entry is free. Film formats can include live action, animation and documentaries. In true Trop tradition, each film must also include a Trop Jr Signature Item (TSI) which for 2008 is GREEN. The TSI can be interpreted in any way the filmmaker chooses, as long as it appears somewhere in the film.
Just like Tropfest, Trop Jr is one of the best exhibition opportunities for rising young talent, giving filmmakers a chance to screen their films in one of the most unique festival environments in the world.
‘Tropfest has always been about encouraging aspiring filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds to make films. Trop Jr will be a fun, accessible and positive platform for kids to show their work, and it will introduce audiences to the next generation of Australian filmmaking talent. We couldn’t be more excited about working with the ACTF on this new addition to our activities!’ says John Polson, Tropfest’s Founder and Festival Director.
The Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) was drawn to the idea of a short film festival for kids, by kids, after seeing films and animations being created by students in schools around Australia. Chairman of the ACTF, Janet Holmes à Court, explained that, ‘The ACTF is well aware that children in a digital age are no longer content just to be media consumers; they also want to be media creators. The content we see being produced in our advisory schools, even by relatively young children, is of such high standards that it deserves to be shared with a wider audience. For these reasons, the ACTF is thrilled to be working with Tropfest to bring the Trop Jr festival to life.’
Trop Jr will take place during the afternoon before the main Tropfest festival, on a separate site in Sydney’s Domain on Sunday 17th February 2008. Families can have a picnic lunch and enjoy the activities and amusements provided from 12pm. Celebrity presenters and judges will then kick off proceedings by screening the 8 Trop Jr Finalists on the big outdoor screen from 2pm.
Check http://www.tropjr.com/ for further event details and subscribe to Trop Jr News for regular updates.
[release from Spin Communications]