Tropfest short film festival to return in 2027 with $2.7m funding

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 07:19 · Archive

Australia's Tropfest short film festival will return in 2027 with $2.7 million in NSW government funding to keep it free.

Australia's short film festival Tropfest will return in 2027 with a $2.7 million NSW government funding boost over three years, announced by Premier Chris Minns at Thursday's launch. The funding will keep the festival free and give emerging filmmakers a platform to tell Australian stories.

Mad Max director George Miller welcomed the return, saying cinema is 'critical' and can carry 'Australian culture to the world'. He noted that overseas audiences once struggled to understand Australian accents and voices on screen, but said local film and television including Crocodile Dundee, Home and Away and Neighbours have helped change that perception. 'When the first Mad Max was shown in America, they did not understand the Australian accent,' he said. 'And now with movies like Crocodile Dundee, with shows like Home and Away and Neighbours, and with modern media, everyone understands Australians.'

Tropfest Foundation chair Sarah Murdoch said Australia's creative identity needed to be nurtured rather than allowed to 'get lost'. She said there was 'something unique about the Australian voice, the Australian character and our sense of humour'. Murdoch said the festival offered filmmakers a chance to prove they could build an audience at home. Festival founder John Polson said the festival's purpose was rooted in celebrating Australian culture and stories.

How it is being reported

• Tropfest scores $2.7m boost as stars back Aussie talentFrom homegrown stories to the global stage, Tropfest is set to return in 2027 with a $2.7 million NSW government funding boost to keep the iconic festival free.The West Australian · 9 Oct, 06:45
• Tropfest scores $2.7m boost as stars back Aussie talentFrom homegrown stories to the global stage, Tropfest is set to return in 2027 with a $2.7 million NSW government funding boost to keep the iconic festival free.Perth Now · 9 Oct, 06:45

In this story: Tropfest · NSW · George Miller · Chris Minns · Sarah Murdoch · John Polson · Australia

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