Trop Jr names Miah Madden and Chloé Hayden as 2026 judges – The youth short-film festival has named actor Miah Madden and actor and author Chloé Hayden as its first ambassadors and judges for 2026, one week before entries close on Friday 23 October.
The timing matters for young filmmakers still deciding whether to enter. Australian children aged 15 and under can submit a film of five minutes or less for free, and the festival says storytelling and creativity count more than expensive equipment. The required Trop Jr Signature Item is a map, which must appear somewhere in the film.
The announcement also makes clear who will be helping to choose the 16 finalists’ winners at the Grand Final in Melbourne. More judges are expected to be named before the screening on Friday 4 December at The Astor Theatre.
Who are the new Trop Jr judges?
Madden’s screen credits include My Brilliant Career and Dive Club. Hayden appeared in Heartbreak High and wrote Different, Not Less. Both will serve as ambassadors as well as judges, encouraging young Australians to tell their own stories.
Madden urged prospective entrants to make their voices heard.
Sharing your voice has never been more important than it is now. We want to hear your story, so submit your short films into Trop Jr now!
Miah Madden, Trop Jr ambassador and judge
Hayden said she was looking forward to seeing the young filmmakers’ work.
I’m so excited and honoured to be on the judging panel for Trop Jr 2026. I can’t wait to see what Australia’s budding young creatives have offered up this year!
Chloé Hayden, Trop Jr ambassador and judge
Tropfest founder and director John Polson said the pair brought different perspectives and a shared enthusiasm for storytelling. He hopes their involvement will encourage children who have not previously considered making a film to give it a try.
How to enter before 23 October
Entries are open nationally to filmmakers aged 15 and under. Each film must be original, run no longer than five minutes and include the word or object “Map” as the signature item. Entry is free. The deadline is Friday 23 October 2026, leaving a final week for schools, families and independent young creators to complete and submit their work.
Sixteen finalists will be invited to screen their films at the 4 December Grand Final at The Astor Theatre in Melbourne. For finalists travelling from outside Melbourne, organisers will provide return flights and accommodation for up to four people, including parents or guardians. The first-place winner will receive a prize pack valued at more than $1,500, with further prizes to be announced.
Classroom support and the wider festival
Trop Jr is produced by the not-for-profit Tropfest Foundation, chaired by Sarah Murdoch, in partnership with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF). The foundation’s executive director is Britt Wickes. Organisers say the national festival is intended to be accessible to children regardless of where they live or their financial circumstances.
In a first for Trop Jr, the ACTF has aligned festival resources with Australian Curriculum Version 9.0 in Media Arts, English and Critical and Creative Thinking. Its free materials include a teacher’s guide, practical classroom and independent activities, and virtual masterclasses. Trop Jr alumni Charlotte McLaverty, Yianni Rowlands and the Macfarlane Brothers demonstrate ways to make a short film scene with everyday materials and accessible techniques.
The ACTF’s education resource offers a starting point for teachers and young filmmakers who need help turning an idea into a finished short. Entry and festival details are available through the official Tropfest website.
For background on the festival’s return, read TV Central’s Trop Jr submissions story. Entry information and updates are available from the official Tropfest website.