Margot Robbie is set to lead the jury when Tropfest returns next February for the first time since 2019.
Entries open for the revived short film festival next week, with the Tropfest Signature Item to be ‘Hourglass’.
“Tropfest has long been an important launchpad for filmmakers. It’s where creativity meets opportunity, and I’m incredibly excited to help celebrate and support the next wave of storytellers,” Robbie said.
The festival’s founder and director John Polson said it was a true privilege to welcome the Academy Award nominated actor and producer home to serve as president of the jury.
“Her remarkable body of work, both in front of and behind the camera, perfectly reflects the creativity, courage, and ambition we’re championing in Tropfest’s next chapter.”
The rest of the jury will be announced closer to the event. Tropfest has attracted many starry judges in its time, including Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Samuel L. Jackson, Baz Luhrmann, Keanu Reeves, George Miller, Ewan McGregor, Rose Byrne, Naomi Watts and Sam Neill.
In addition to the free in-person event at Centennial Park, Tropfest will stream the finalist films live on YouTube globally. There will be a $100,000 prize pool on offer via the newly established CommBank Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund, including $50,000 for first place, $30,000 for second and $20,000 for third, as well as other awards such as Google tech bundles.
Tropfest began “by accident” in 1993 when Polson screened his short Surry Hills: 902 Spring Roll at Darlinghurst’s Tropicana Caffé. At its height, the festival drew an audience of 100,000 people to Sydney’s Domain. Alumni of the festival are a veritable ‘who’s who’ of the Australian industry, including Nash and Joel Edgerton, Sam Worthington, Rebel Wilson, Murray Bartlett, David Wenham, Bruna Papandrea, Abe Forsythe, Alethea Jones, Patrick Hughes, Damon Gameau, Gregor Jordan, Damon Herriman, Justin Kurzel, Mia Wasikowska, Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer.
In 2015, amid financial woes, Tropfest was briefly cancelled. Insurance company CGU helped revive the event, which then moved to Parramatta in 2017. The event has paused since the pandemic.
As announced in September, the festival’s revival has coincided with a transition to a not-for-profit. The Tropfest Foundation, in addition to steering the fest, will run a series of year-long events and education programs. The board includes chair Sarah Murdoch, Bryan Brown, Polson, Racing NSW chief and Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys, and Terrace Tower Group CEO Richard Weinberg.
Sponsors on board for Tropfest’s revival include CommBank, YouTube, the NSW Government, Nine, Qantas and Greater Sydney Parklands, with other partners including Fraser Suites Sydney, Holding Redlich, Lumina and NixCo.
All films must be new and seven minutes or less, and must be submitted directly via YouTube. Entries close January 8, 2026.
