It’s been seven years since Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival, last championed homegrown filmmakers in Sydney, so we’re thrilled to see it finally return after a long hiatus.
This Sunday, Centennial Park will come alive with tens of thousands of people, all eager for an evening brimming with creativity, filmmaking and storytelling.
Tropfest will return with “a new era of creativity, diversity, and innovation”, centred around the festival’s main event: a free outdoor screening in Centennial Park, where aspiring filmmakers will be in the running for a host of major prizes, including a share of $100,000.
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What is Tropfest?
In 1993, a short film screening in Darlinghurst’s still-standing Tropicana Cafe sparked a cinematic revolution. “Accidentally” founded by actor-director John Polson, Tropfest ran as the world’s biggest and most successful short film festival for over 25 years until it was killed off just before the 2020 pandemic.
Now it’s back. And, with billionaire backing from Sarah Murdoch and Richard Weinberg, we’re expecting it to be better than ever.
At the peak of its success, Tropfest’s star-studded finalist screening night would easily draw audiences of around 100,000. It was always considered a great platform for upcoming Australian actors and directors. It helped give Sydney a strong sense of identity in the world of cinema, championing brevity and wit while encouraging experimentation.
Tropfest coming back is a huge deal for creatives looking for more avenues into the film industry. The prize money, provided by major sponsor Commonwealth Bank, is set at $50,000 for first place, $30,000 for second, and $20,000 for third.
The winners of Tropfest are selected by an esteemed panel of industry professionals, led by a designated Jury President. This year, the role falls on internationally renowned actress Margot Robbie, which is a huge deal for the short film festival. With Robbie recently doing the rounds in Australia on the Wuthering Heights press tour, we’ve got our fingers crossed that she’ll make an appearance at Centennial Park for Tropfest 2026.
Another key tradition of the short film festival that everyone should be aware of is the mandatory Tropfest Signature Item. Each filmmaker must include this year’s item (which is an hourglass) in their short film, ensuring it was created exclusively for the festival.
What will happen at Tropfest 2026?
The main event of the film festival, featuring the screening of the short films from the 16 finalists of 2026, will kick off on the evening of Sunday, February 22, after a lively program of music, food stalls and entertainment.
The approximate timings of the evening are as follows:
- 12pm: Gates open, guests can check out the food trucks, grab a drink at the bar and peruse the merch stand
- 3pm: Pre-show host kicks off as the park comes to life
- 6pm: Live performance from BUDJERAH
- 6:30pm: Intermission for 20 minutes. The broadcast beings for those watching from home as the Youtube livestreamgoes live.
- 7pm: The main show begins on the centre stage, and the 2026 finalists’ films begin
- 8:30pm: Another 20-minute intermission
- 10pm: Trophy presentation and winners announced
- 10:30pm: The night comes to a close
This year will see the introduction of Troplive, a brand-new music spin-off event. Throughout the day, a diverse lineup of artists will take to the stage, ranging from the rising stars of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music right through to renowned performers. Platinum-selling, two-time ARIA-award-winning soul and R&B sensation, Budjerah.
The 2026 finalists
This year, Tropfest will celebrate 16 extraordinary finalists who have been hand-picked from over 700 incredible submissions. From comedy, drama, thriller, to animation and documentary, the short film selection at this year’s festival ticks every box.
Here is the list of finalists:
- Communicate, a comedy directed by Frazier Brockett, from Brisbane.
- Eat Now, Pay Later, a documentary directed by Dimitri Ellerington, from Sydney/ United Kingdom.
- Unprompted, a comedy/thriller directed by Stephen Packer, from Melbourne.
- Tilly, a drama directed by Luke Mayze, from Brisbane.
- Faker, a comedy directed by Clare Sladden, from Brisbane.
- Ring Around, a drama directed by Sisi Stringer, from Sydney.
- Crescendo, a drama directed by Lianne Mackessy from Melbourne.
- Project Hourglass, an action/comedy directed by Benjamin Mathews, from Sydney.
- The YouTube Wildcard Spot: one finalist is reserved for the Tropfest YouTube Wildcard, which is voted on by the Tropfest community.
- We Don’t Take Breaks: a thriller directed by Jasper Sharpe, from Melbourne.
- No Thank You, a comedy directed by Georgina Haig from Melbourne.
- Syd Confidential, an animation directed by Clinton J. Isle from Port Macquarie.
- Gazers, a comedy directed by Veialu Aila-Unsworth & Sze Lok Ho, from Sydney.
- The End, an animation directed by Sean Bayles, from Sydney.
- I’m Still Here, a thriller/horror directed by Catho D’Souza, from Sydney.
- Silent Night, a drama directed by Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe, from Melbourne.
You can find more details on each short film here.
How to watch Tropfest
For those who are keen to experience Tropfest in the flesh, you can register for a ticket here. The ticket is completely free, however RSVP’ing is essential.
Cant’t make it to Sydney? Watch the Tropfest livestream on YouTube, which you can sign up to get notified about here.
Tropfest
Where: Live event hosted at Centennial Park.
When: February 22, 2026.
Price: Entry to the event at Centennial Park is free of charge.
Check out what else is on this February here.
