THE WORLD'S LARGEST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

The world’s largest short film festival

Stories that connect us

Event details:

Sunday, Feb 22, 2026
Centennial Park, Sydney
FREE event

REGister for your free ticket

Tropfest is where new voices break through, stories are shared under the stars, and thousands gather to experience the power of short form films, together.

MEET THE FINALISTS

The films premiering live at Tropfest 2026

Communicate

Frazier Brockett
COMEDY
Two detectives, One criminal. 20 Guesses, One Turn.
Crescendo

Lianne Mackessy
DRAMA
A new mother’s babysitting plans fall through on the morning of an audition for a career-defining role.
Eat Now Pay Later

Dimitri Ellerington
DOCO
Somewhere in England brave souls line up to take on this year's fiery chilli crop.
Faker

Clare Sladden
COMEDY
When a woman starts to suspect her boyfriend’s ex is faking cancer to win him back, she tries desperately to hold onto the relationship.
Gazers

Veialu Aila-Unsworth & Sze Lok Ho
COMEDY
A fairytale about three women of colour forced into absurd stereotypes by a magical curse infecting men — “the male gaze” — until one man’s transformation offers a different way of seeing.
I'm Still Here

Catho D'Souza
THRILLER / HORROR
To cope with the loss of her sister, Avanya impersonates her in an effort to keep her spirit alive, becoming lost in the reality of who she truly is.

view all finalists

Ways to get involved

The Ultimate Experience Comp

We’re giving the chance to enjoy The Ultimate Tropfest Experience - a curated VIP festival weekend all wrapped around Tropfest 2026. Think being right in the heart of the action as stories light up the screen under the stars.

enter now

Tropfest YouTube Wildcard Competition

We’re giving the chance to enjoy The Ultimate Tropfest Experience - a curated VIP festival weekend all wrapped around Tropfest 2026. Think being right in the heart of the action as stories light up the screen under the stars.

find out more

Roughcut is where ideas get sharper. A two-day Tropfest filmmaker lab delivering practical skills, industry insight and creative connection through talks, workshops and live sessions for emerging storytellers, filmmakers and creatives.

A filmmaker lab for the next generation of Australian storytellers.

find out more

MEET OUR JURY PRESIDENT

We’re proud to announce Margot Robbie as the Jury President for Tropfest 2026!

Margot will be joined by a panel of world-class creatives whose work has shaped modern storytelling, both in Australia and on the global stage. From bold first-time filmmakers to established voices pushing the boundaries of the form, Tropfest has always been judged by people who understand the power of a great story and what it takes to bring one to life.

The full jury lineup will be announced soon.

Not in Sydney? Watch it LIve Streamed on YouTube

If you can’t make it in person - then you can sign up to receive a reminder on 22 February to watch the Tropfest livestream on YouTube.

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