Tropfest film submissions are open – Tropfest — the world’s largest short film festival — is set to make its spectacular return to Sydney’s Centennial Park on Sunday 22 February 2026.
With film submissions open until Thursday 8 January, aspiring filmmakers across Australia are invited to create an original short film, seven minutes or less, incorporating the Tropfest Signature Item (TSI): “Hourglass.”
Finalists will have their world premiere at the live, free-to-the-public festival – as well as livestreamed globally on YouTube – with winners announced on stage before thousands of film lovers and a jury headed up by internationally acclaimed and Academy Award nominated actor and producer Margot Robbie.
John Polson, Tropfest Founder & Director, said,
“Tropfest has always been about giving emerging filmmakers a platform to be bold, take risks, and surprise us. I’m calling on filmmakers everywhere: if you’ve got a story to tell, now’s the time to enter. We can’t wait to see what you create.”
$100,000 CommBank Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund Announced
Aspiring filmmakers will compete for a share of $100,000 through the newly established CommBank Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund, created to champion the next generation of Australian storytellers. The first, second and third prizes will be valued at $50,000, $30,000, and $20,000 respectively.
CommBank are actively encouraging the winners to use these funds to further develop their careers. In addition, winners will receive exclusive technology bundles from Google to support their creative work, along with other prizes.
The 2026 festival marks Tropfest’s official transition to a not-for-profit Foundation dedicated to nurturing emerging creative talent. The Foundation is guided by a visionary board of cultural leaders: Sarah Murdoch, Chair, Tropfest Foundation, Bryan Brown, Actor & Producer, John Polson, Tropfest Founder, Peter V’landys, NRL & Racing NSW and Richard Weinberg, CEO, TTG.
Partners include: CommBank, YouTube, Qantas, Nine Entertainment, Greater Sydney Parklands, NSW Government, Destination NSW, Fraser Suites Sydney, Holding Redlich, Lumina and NixCo.
Get a Taste of Tropfest Now
Can’t wait until February? Explore decades of remarkable short films on Tropfest’s YouTube channel, featuring an extensive library of past finalists and winners.
How to Enter
Submissions open 1 December 2025 and close Thursday 8 January 2026.
Entrants will need to submit directly via YouTube. Full guidelines and festival information are available at: www.tropfest.com
In addition to the Tropfest YouTube Channel, fans can follow @tropfest on socials for festival details and regular updates on all things Trop!
Keen for some tips?
After watching thousands (yes, thousands) of shorts over the years, John Polson has noticed some patterns – get his Top 12 tips on making a good short film here.
Tropfest History:
Launched in 1993 by Polson, Tropfest was started “by accident” with a screening for 200 people at Tropicana Caffé in Darlinghurst, Sydney showing Polson’s self-described “pretty average” short film “Surry Hills: 902 Spring Roll”.
Since those humble beginnings, Tropfest quickly grew to become the largest platform for short films in the world, with hundreds of films submitted each year. Previously, audiences of up to 100,000 have been recorded at the live events where 16 finalist films are screened to the public, making Tropfest one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest cultural icons. With broadcast and online audiences including the official Tropfest YouTube channel, this number has now swelled to millions across the globe.
Notable alumni of Tropfest include leading actors, directors and others working in Australia and internationally such as Nash Edgerton (“Deadline”, “The Square”, “Mr Inbetween”), Joel Edgerton (“Monkeys”, “The Great Gatsby”, “Red Sparrow”), Bruna Papandrea (“Paris Texas”, “Big Little Lies”, “The Last Anniversary”, “Nine Perfect Strangers”, “The Undoing”), Rebel Wilson (“Bargain!”, “Pitch Perfect”), Murray Bartlett (“Muffled love”, “The White Lotus”, “The Last of Us”), David Wenham (“The Red Dress”, “Spit”), Robert Connolly (“Rust Bucket”, “The Dry”, “Balibo”), Emma Freeman (“Lamb”, “Love Me”, “Stateless”), Alethea Jones (“Lemonade Stand”, “High Potential”, “Queen America”, “Fun Mom Dinner”), Genevieve Clay-Smith, director and co-founder of Bus Stop Films (“Be My Brother”), Damon Gameau (“Animal Beatbox”, “That Sugar Film”, “Future Council”), Patrick Hughes (“The Lighter”, “The Expendables”) Abe Forsythe (“Shock”, “Wolf Like Me”, “Little Monsters”), Gregor Jordan (“Swinger”, “Two Hands”, “Ned Kelly”), Adam Zwar (“Wilfred”, “Rush”), Jason Gann (“Wilfred”, “Kenny”), Justin Kurzel (“Meeting Misty Rain”, “Snowtown, “Macbeth”, “Nitram”), Mia Wasikowska (“September”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Jane Eyre”), Sam Worthington (“A Matter For Life”, “Avatar”), Xavier Samuel (“September”, “Adore”, “A Few Best Men”), Patrick Brammall (“Shock”, “Offspring”, “Colin from Accounts”) and Harriet Dyer (“The Mother Situation”, “Colin From Accounts”, “Love Child”).
Since its inception, Tropfest has successfully staged 29 Main Events in Sydney as well as countless smaller satellite events across the USA, China, Africa, Southeast Asia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and many more.
The support and involvement of film personalities has been a major drawcard of the festival since the beginning, with Australian and international celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Samuel L. Jackson, Baz Luhrmann, Keanu Reeves, George Miller AO, Ewan McGregor, Rose Byrne, Naomi Watts, Sam Neill and dozens more judging, attending and supporting past Tropfests. The full judging line-up for 2026 will be revealed soon.
Media Release – Tropfest
TV Central cinema release content HERE
Tropfest film submissions are open
