Tropfest eyes a big-budget return to Sydney

• Tropfest is the world’s biggest short film festival, but it folded in 2019 just before the pandemic.
• A wealthy group of investors are now bringing the event back, set to once again host its finals night in Centennial Park in February 2026.
• Tropfest has launched many big Australian stars over the years and it’s a great alternative pathway into the film industry.

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 such a fine platform for upcoming Australian actors and directors. People like Sam Worthington, Joel Edgerton and Rebel Wilson. And it’s helped give Sydney a strong sense of identity in the world of cinema, championing brevity and wit while encouraging experimentation.

So prolific is the name Tropfest that Martin Scorsese reportedly celebrated news of its return this week with a congratulations video sent to the wealthy revivalist team of Murdoch and Weinberg, as well as sports giant Peter V’landys, actor Bryan Brown, and Polson.

A new not-for-profit Tropfest Foundation has been established to support the festival, which has already confirmed its free finalist screening for February 22, 2026, in Centennial Park.

Polson has been teasing a Tropfest comeback throughout this year with a series of cryptic social media messages. Still, this week’s news is the first official word we have of the festival’s long-awaited return.

“The beauty of Tropfest for me is that it’s a place where all you need is a great idea,” said Polson.

“Some of our best films over the years were made for less than $100, and I wouldn’t be surprised if our winning film in 2026 is shot on a smartphone.”

What will Tropfest look like in 2026?

Make no mistake about it, Tropfest coming back is a huge deal with 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 festival will stick to its classic format. Entrants must not only submit a film of seven minutes or less, but the film needs to feature a “signature item” that is unique to Tropfest each year. If nothing else, it proves that the film was made expressly for Tropfest.

In 2026, that “signature item” is an hourglass.

Consider that such a dominant social media platform like TikTok didn’t start to really pick up in popularity until 2018, a year before Tropfest started to wind down. TikTok really shot to prominence during the Pandemic, relying mostly on its creative tools and efficient ways of making videography and editing a big part of users’ daily lives.

With IG Reels and TikTok videos being so inescapable these days, we’re starting to see more young people finding their own voice creatively and really starting to consider how to build a visual narrative. Has this given the world an endless trove of budding directors with fresh ideas? Surely it has, and surely some of those people will be punching the air right now, thinking of their debut Tropfest submission.

In any case, Tropfest represents incredible exposure from creatives of all ages and brings another major event back to Sydney’s increasingly dense calendar.

YouTube has come on board as a sponsor for the festival next year and will livestream the finalist event while also running free creator workshops for entrants.

How to watch past Tropfest films

Tropfest’s YouTube channel will be hosting a live marathon celebrating the festival’s extensive history. The Trop ’til you Drop marathon kicks off on Friday, September 5 at 7pm and will run for a full two weeks with 24-hour screenings of Tropfest classics.

Sydney Travel Guide will keep you updated on more details about Tropfest when more news is released in the lead-up to February 22, 2026.

tropfest.com.