Trop Jr reveals 16 finalists for its 2026 Grand Final – Sixteen young filmmaking teams from across Australia have been selected to screen their short films at the Trop Jr 2026 Grand Final in Melbourne after organisers received 101 entries from every state and territory.
The finalists, all aged 15 and under, will take their work to The Astor Theatre on Friday 4 December. Their films span animation, comedy, drama, horror and personal storytelling, with each running for five minutes or less and incorporating this year’s Trop Jr Signature Item: “Map”.
The scale and range of the shortlist makes the Grand Final more than a competition result. It offers a national snapshot of how young Australians are using accessible cameras, stop-motion, performance and editing to tell stories about grief, identity, anxiety, friendship and imagination.
More than 100 young filmmakers answered the call
Trop Jr is presented with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF). Organisers say the 101 entries demonstrated the different ways children and teenagers can make films, whether they have a production team or are working with everyday materials at home.
Tropfest founder and festival director John Polson said the quality and breadth of the entries stood out.
We were impressed by every one of the 101 entries we received this year. The diversity of storytelling was remarkable, as was the courage and commitment each young filmmaker showed in putting their work forward. From stop-motion Lego sharks to haunting thrillers and moving stories of loss and identity, this year’s Trop Jr finalists show a level of skill, imagination and confidence well beyond their years.
John Polson, Tropfest Founder and Festival Director
The 16 Trop Jr 2026 finalists
Bananas — Silas Forrest, Victoria
A little girl revisits the favourite places she once shared with her sister. The story turns familiar locations into a path through memory, love and loss.
Big Fish — Austin Showler, Victoria
Made on an iPad with Lego bricks, this stop-motion comedy throws its characters into an encounter with frightening sharks fashioned from toilet rolls.
Bluestone — Josie Merkenich, Victoria
Two siblings take a shortcut through Melbourne’s bluestone alleys, only to discover that a schoolyard legend may be more real than they expected.
BREATHE — Oscar Handelsmann, New South Wales
A paper aeroplane interrupts a teenager’s endless scrolling. The unexpected message sends him through a series of Sydney coordinates and back into the world around him.
Clues — Ela Gullu and students from The School at AIPA Sydney, New South Wales
A group of friends follows a string of riddles, with each answer moving them closer to a mysterious treasure map.
Lone Wolf — Phoenix Davidson, New South Wales
George is alone until a map leads him to a cabin. There he begins building a robot companion and discovers a new form of friendship.
Lost — Eveline O’Farrell, New South Wales
A widower struggles with the death of his wife and the challenge of finding a way forward in a life reshaped by grief.
Map Of Me — Nola Bevan, New South Wales
This stop-motion short explores the things that bring people happiness and the different personal maps that make each life distinct.
Moon Bound — Sunny Lill, New South Wales
A funny and heartfelt dog adventure about friendship, love and courage follows one determined dreamer with an ambition that reaches all the way to the moon.
NEXT — Oscar Lindeman, Victoria
Thomas faces mounting anxiety before an audition. When his turn arrives, he must decide whether to step forward and confront the fear holding him back.
No Way Out — Mitch Gregory, Western Australia
A suspenseful psychological thriller turns the feeling of being trapped into an escalating and unsettling experience.
OFF TRACK — Otto Miskovic-Wheatley, New South Wales
Presented as recovered police tape, the film follows a camper in the Blue Mountains as an unseen presence begins stalking him through the bush.
Secret Spot — Tom Walker, Queensland
An Australian take on the treasured family fishing spot sees a young angler try to protect a secret and, if possible, out-fish Dad.
The Case of the Missing Sock — Daisy Ren, Victoria
An intrepid reporter interviews household appliances in search of a missing sock. The answer is much closer than expected: it has been hiding in the closet.
The Doll — Saachi Ti’en, Western Australia
Fifteen-year-old Hazel is mourning her mother when she loses the object that represents her remaining connection to her.
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Two Faced — Josh Brogan, Australian Capital Territory
Drawing on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ young people, the film examines homophobia and the emotional cost of hiding part of yourself from the world.
ACTF backs young storytellers
ACTF chief executive Jenny Buckland said the competition gives young people an unusual opportunity to turn their ideas into something that can be shared with an audience.
Every child has a story to tell, and filmmaking offers a fun and truly unique way for young people to tap into their creativity and express themselves. Each of the Trop Jr finalists and everyone who created a film for the competition should be extremely proud of what they have achieved, and we are excited to celebrate their work at the grand final event next month.
Jenny Buckland, ACTF CEO
The ACTF has also developed a teacher guide and practical activities for classrooms and young people making films independently. Trop Jr Masterclasses feature former participants Charlotte McLaverty, Yianni Rowlands and the Macfarlane Brothers, who demonstrate how filmmakers can build a short scene with accessible tools and materials.
The education resources connect filmmaking with the Australian Curriculum in Media Arts, English and Critical and Creative Thinking. They are designed to help students move from an initial idea through planning, shooting and completing a short film.
When and where is the Trop Jr Grand Final?
The 16 finalist films will screen at the Trop Jr Grand Final at The Astor Theatre in Melbourne on Friday 4 December 2026. The event will celebrate the full shortlist before the competition’s awards are decided.
Trop Jr is produced by the not-for-profit Tropfest Foundation, chaired by Sarah Murdoch, with Britt Wickes serving as executive director. The programme is intended to give young filmmakers from across Australia a public platform and an entry point into screen storytelling.
For earlier festival news, read TV Central’s story on the Trop Jr 2026 judges. Event updates and public information are available from the official Tropfest website.