John Polson and David Michôd Reflect on Tropfest's Resurgence: A Film Festival with a Potential to Transform Careers
If Tropfest were a Hollywood blockbuster, its story might unfold like this: a talented newcomer experiences a meteoric rise to fame, faces setbacks, and disappears from the spotlight, only to make a triumphant return, wiser and more seasoned, ready to claim the ultimate prize.
The world's largest short film festival is back, rising from the ashes after a seven-year hiatus, 33 years since its inception at Darlinghurst's Tropicana Caffe. Back then, a single VHS movie directed by an aspiring actor named John Polson, a TV screen, and an audience of 200, spilled onto the streets. Today, Tropfest 2.0 is a grand spectacle, returning this month with a renewed spirit and a new not-for-profit foundation led by Sarah Murdoch.
The festival's revival is a testament to the vision of Murdoch and a dedicated team, including sports administrator Peter V'landys and actor Bryan Brown, who approached Polson, the original creator and director, to bring back this iconic event. Under Polson's guidance, the festival's essence remains intact: a free, outdoor celebration of short films, each under 7 minutes, specifically crafted for the competition, and judged by a star-studded jury, with Margot Robbie taking the reins this year.
The festival's comeback is already a success, with over 700 short films submitted for the 2023 competition. This impressive number is even more remarkable considering the filmmakers had only four and a half months to complete their projects, which had to include Tropfest's iconic annual theme: this year, an hourglass.
Polson, the driving force behind the festival's revival, expresses his excitement and awe, recalling his conversation with Margot Robbie about joining the jury. He believes that Tropfest's enduring appeal lies in its ability to launch careers, drawing inspiration from its past glory.
Tropfest's history is a testament to its power. Over the years, it has launched the careers of renowned filmmakers such as Robert Connolly, David Michôd, Justin Kurzel, Bruna Papandrea, and the Edgerton brothers. At its peak, it attracted massive crowds to its annual screenings in the Domain and captivated millions through national live TV broadcasts and satellite screenings. The festival consistently attracted top talent to its jury and guestlist, including Hollywood legends like Susan Sarandon, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Samuel L. Jackson, Baz Luhrmann, Keanu Reeves, George Miller, Ewan McGregor, and Russell Crowe.
Despite its success, Tropfest has faced criticism, particularly regarding the underrepresentation of female filmmakers. Polson acknowledges the festival's past as a 'boys' club' and the industry's gender imbalance. However, this year, 33% of entries and nearly half of the finalists are created by women, a significant step forward that Polson takes seriously.
Alethea Jones, a female filmmaker who won Tropfest in 2012, credits the festival for her career launch. Her oddball comedy, 'Lemonade Stand,' won the audience award but not the prestigious jury award, which was crucial for funding in Australia. Jones felt lost until Tropfest recognized her unique voice, providing a platform for her talent.
Her prize included a trip to LA, where she secured an agent and industry connections. Two years later, she moved to LA and landed her first TV role. Three years after that, she premiered her debut feature, 'Fun Mom Dinner,' starring Toni Collette, at Sundance. Jones has since collaborated with industry giants like Drew Goddard and Damon Lindelof and directed Amazon's upcoming superhero series, 'Spider-Noir,' starring Nicolas Cage. She considers Tropfest a 'game-changer.'
David Michôd, who won best screenplay in 2000 for 'Noise,' a lo-fi comedy he co-wrote, also credits Tropfest with transforming his career. At the time, he was fresh out of film school with a couple of short films under his belt, but Tropfest was his first experience with a live audience. Despite their film's rough edges, Michôd's fun concept found a perfect home at Tropfest, leading to a year-long desk at Fox Studios, where he wrote his breakthrough hit, 'Animal Kingdom.'
Polson remains optimistic that the new Tropfest can have a similar impact on a new generation of filmmakers, even in a digital age dominated by TikTok and social media, where attention spans are fragmented.
He emphasizes the festival's potential to launch careers, with a massive audience in the park, a global live stream on YouTube, and the possibility of VIP connections who can 'fall in love with your film and fall in love with you and change your career overnight.'
The technical quality of this year's entries is impressive, Polson notes, thanks to the accessibility of smartphones and computers, making filmmaking more inclusive. While the content varies, with many entries focusing on AI, Polson highlights the timeless nature of storytelling in the shortlisted films.
Tropfest will take place on February 22 at Centennial Park in Sydney and will be livestreamed globally via YouTube. The festival promises to be a celebration of creativity, talent, and the potential to shape careers, just as it has done for generations of filmmakers.
