TROPFEST 2010 rolled with the theme of DICE this weekend past. Volunteering was an interesting experience, as I was asked a lot about the festival. Basically every year TROPFEST organizers hold this short film festival in Sydney’s Domain Park. Any Australian can enter their short film, as long as it is the first time it has been screened at a festival, includes a reference to the theme, and is under seven minutes. Of course there are more guidelines, click here if you’re interested.
MCs included Stevie P, Adam Hills and the Chaser boys, so it was really nice way to kick back on a hot afternoon, not to mention the free popcorn that was lying around.
The festival winner was Shock by Abe Forsythe, who some of you may know from TV Show Packed To The Rafters. He has been busy working on film projects behind the scenes, and it would seem is a TROPFEST veteran. Dedicated to Kyle Sandilands, this short comedy follows the morning of a radio announcer en-route to work with several impromptu fake crying outbursts.
The judging panel consisted of Elijah Wood (in town for Happy Feet 2), Toni Collette, Genevieve Clay (2009’s winner), Michael & Peter Spierig, and David Michod (Director of Animal Kingdom). It was nice to see a foreigner’s perspective, and Elijah seemed very humbled and impressed with the calibre of films screened.
Other prize winners were My Neighbourhood Has Been Run Over By Baboons and Last Roll of The Dice.
As a volunteer, my tasks were mainly manning the information booth, and ushering, so it wasn’t too hard really. As for star spotting, I saw the entire cast of Animal Kingdom, Pia Miranda, John Poulson (the festival director), Cameron Nugent (from Seachange), Adam Hills, Michael Caton (from The Castle) and Les Hill.
The CD is out in next weekend’s paper. I also recommend Fish Lips and Testicle.
