Tropfest - The World's Largest Short Film Festival

Tropfest Signature Item

WHAT MAKES A TROPFEST FILM?

The Tropfest staff are asked this question almost daily - and the only requirements are these: the film must have had no prior public screenings; must be less than seven minutes and must contain the Tropfest Signature Item (TSI).

The TSI was initially introduced to encourage production. Each year filmmakers wait with anticipation for the announcement of the coming festival's TSI.

As a result some of the films received are heavily inspired by the TSI and others have only small and sometimes hidden references to it. But of course it all comes down to the interpretation. Over the years Tropfest has tested the creativity of professional and amateur filmmakers all over the country by challenging them to reference TSIs such as pickle, chopsticks, a coffee bean and a muffin in their film entries. It's continually surprising how filmmakers interpret and incorporate the TSI into their film.

The TSI was initiated for this very reason - to stimulate and inspire people and to encourage filmmakers to hone their craft, not just drag out last year's work.

PAST TROPFEST SIGNATURE ITEMS

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