john polson

FILM FANS PICK UNWANTED FRIEND

After 10 days, 60,000 views and 40, 000 votes, Sydney-based filmmaker, Matt Levett, and his quirky comedy ‘Unwanted Friend’, has snared the 16th finalist position in the 2012 Movie Extra Tropfest, beating out nine other hopefuls.

Winning the YouTube based vote, the film joins 15 other hopefuls this Sunday 19 February 2012, to be screened at The Domain in Sydney, as well as live sites across the country, and on Movie Extra’s national broadcast.

The seven minute short is Levett’s first foray into the Tropfest competition, but he is a recognizable face on Australian TV, having starred in Home and Away and Winners and Losers.

‘Unwanted Friend’ tackles the difficult topic of sexually transmitted infections through a comedic lens. The film follows Max as he struggles with a new companion who has an infectious personality. However, the race is on to get rid of his new mate before it’s too late.

This is the second year that voting has been opened to the public to decide on the 16^th finalist, following a highly successful Founder and director of Tropfest, John Polson, admits the competition was tight, with votes streaming in until closing time at midnight Wednesday night.

“It was just spellbinding watching the votes just grow and grow and when we hit the 40,000 votes mark it was so exciting to see how much people care about who was going to get that last spot in the finals. It’s great to see that the public are certainly enjoying getting involved in the selection process, and it is an element of Tropfest we are going to continue in the future.” says Polson.

Tropfest is one of the world’s premiere launch pads for young and emerging filmmakers, and there are some great prizes up for grabs, along with the kudos of winning the undisputed world’s largest short film festival. The 16 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.

Continuing with tradition, Movie Extra Tropfest is a free, public event screened live on Sunday 19 February to an anticipated audience of 150,000 at free outdoor public events across Australia and New Zealand, where it takes place for the first time this year in New Plymouth. It is also televised live to hundreds of thousands more on Subscription TV channel Movie Extra.

Visit www.tropfest.com/au for festival details, screening venues and regular updates on all things Trop!

Feeling social? Movie Extra Tropfest talent, filmmakers, judges and audience members have been invited to share their thoughts on twitter via #tropfest or #happy20tropfest.  Fans can also stay in the loop with an aggregate Twitter feed on the MOVIE EXTRA website here: www.mnc.tv/tropfest or follow all the action LIVE via www.twitter.com/mnctv.

GEOFFREY RUSH JOINS TROPFEST

Ok, I’m in my fourth year here in Sydney and every year it gets better and better! There are a number of festivals/ activities that I just love to do every single year.

Just recently during Sydney Festival (in January) First Night, I took a look around Sydney and couldn’t quite get over how many people had descended into Sydney CBD, people in their thousands came to see street dance acts, vertical theatre shows and of course, who could forget DJ, Norman Jay performing from a Double Decker bus in Hyde Park. There was then the first night finale, where international musical globetrotter, Manu Chao performed in The Domain to a crowd of thousands – so much so they had to close The Domain.

The one thing that Sydney does VERY well is festivals and events! Tropfest is absolutely no exception! This too takes place in The Domain and is a great event for all the family! I’d suggest getting down there as soon as possible, taking a picnic and some friends of course and making a day of it!

Tropfest is an Australian short film festival, where attendees get the see the finalist’s entries in the shape of short films. At the end of the evening, the winner is announced. It’s so much fun! Don’t take my word for it, head down and see for yourself!

SOURCE: Tropfest.com

Tropfest is Australia’s most prestigious short film festival and one of its most iconic cultural events. It is also the largest short film festival in the world. At home, Tropfest is recognised for its enormous contribution to the development of the Australian film industry by providing unique platforms for emerging filmmakers through its events and initiatives, and new and expanded audiences for their work.

John Polson started the ‘Tropicana Short Film Festival’ (as it was originally known) as an informal short film screening for cast, crew and friends at the Tropicana Cafe in Sydney’s Darlinghurst. More than 200 people showed up for that first screening. Inspired by the turn out, John decided that a full-fledged short film festival was the next step.

Twenty years on, Movie Extra Tropfest in Australia attracts a live national audience of more than 150,000 people on a single night. The event is hosted at Sydney’s Domain in the Royal Botanic Gardens, with live satellite links to outdoor locations in major cities including Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Surfers Paradise. (Source: Tropfest)

Another exciting element has been added this year, Tropfest’s 20^th anniversary, John Polson, Founder and Director of Tropfest, has announced recently named Australian of the Year, Geoffrey Rush, will be one of the stars judging the 20^th birthday competition as well as join the line-up at Tropfest’s inaugural filmmaker symposium, Tropfest Roughcut, on Saturday 18 February 2012.

The all-day event is staged in collaboration with Screen NSW, the NSW Government’s screen development and funding agency, a day before Tropfest’s huge 20^th Birthday on Sunday 19 February.  Rush joins keynote speaker and celebrated international screenwriter and producer of the 2011 box office hit Love and Other Drugs – Charles Randolph direct from New York.

Source: Tropfest.com

High-profile Australian film editor Jason Ballantine; Kieran Darcy-Smith – whose new feature Wish You Were Here opened the Sundance Film Festival earlier this month; and leading international composer – Lisa Gerrard will also present as well as 2011 Tropfest Runner Up, Jason Van Genderen.

Rush says he is looking forward to meeting with emerging filmmakers.

“Tropfest is turning 20, that’s serious frisky adulthood – so vicenarians, please join this sexagenarian for a cinematic chat on known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns… it’s a Q and A and I’d love to hear from you, ” he says.

Tropfest founder and director, John Polson will offer fresh insights into the 20 year history of the world’s largest short film festival.

The day will be hosted by actor, filmmaker and past Tropfest winner, Rob Carlton.

To find out what makes these industry heavyweights ‘tick’ creatively and how their respective disciplines contribute to filmmaking, pick up a ticket to the symposium from www.tropfest.com/au.

The forum will be an intimate affair at the Domain Theatre, Art Gallery of NSW. Tickets are just $35 or $25 for Tropfest Alumni, but book early as space is limited.

Polson says Roughcut has been established to inspire and support those who have a burning ambition to build a professional career in film or television.

“If you are passionate about film and want to explore creativity and collaboration, and what inspires and drives the heart and soul of the filmmaking process, this event is for you,” he says.

Screen Australia, the key Federal Government’s direct funding body for the Australian screen production industry, along with Tropfest’s new festival sponsor, Nikon, have also supported bringing Roughcut to life for Tropfest’s 20^th Birthday.

“We’re really excited to be partnering with Screen NSW, Screen Australia and Nikon to present Roughcut. This is going to be an incredibly interesting event for serious filmmakers,” says Polson.

Feeling social? Movie Extra Tropfest talent, filmmakers, judges and audience members have been invited to share their thoughts on twitter via #tropfest or #happy20tropfest.

Here’s last year’s winner: