Tropfest returns to its roots, looks to the future

After drawing tens of thousands of people to its long-awaited return earlier this year, Tropfest is heading back to its spiritual home in 2027.

Australia's best-known short film festival will return to The Domain in Sydney on Saturday 13 February, marking the first time the event has been held at the iconic venue in 14 years.

The announcement comes after a successful comeback in 2026, when more than 700 films were submitted, 16 finalists were screened and more than 35,000 people attended.

A festival with a lasting legacy

The return to The Domain has been welcomed by some of Australia's best-known film and television personalities, many of whom credit the festival with helping shape the country's creative industries.

"When I go back to when it first started at the Tropicana and then afterwards, everyone looked forward to that time of the year when Tropfest was there," Australian actor Bryan Brown said.

"It wasn't just about watching movies, it was about the city coming together and celebrating." 

Tropfest founder John Polson said the festival had become an important launchpad for Australian filmmaking talent.

"There's people today working around the world who would probably tell you themselves they got their start at Tropfest," he said.

"We didn't give them their talent, they brought that with them but what we did give them is a platform and an audience."

Backing the next generation

Alongside the festival's return, the $100,000 CommBank Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund is also back in 2027, providing financial support to three emerging filmmakers as they develop their careers beyond the festival stage.

Speaking at the launch event in Sydney, CommBank Marketing GM Dianne Everett said last year's response showed just how much Australians had missed the event.

"We saw just how much the community embraced the return of this iconic event earlier this year, and we're delighted to be back supporting Tropfest for a second year,” she said.

"We're also proud to bring back the $100,000 CommBank Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund for 2027, providing practical support to three filmmakers to help them keep creating and take the next step in their careers. For us, that's what this partnership is all about - backing emerging talent not just on the night, but in what comes next."

More than a moment in the spotlight

One of those filmmakers is Lianne Mackessy, whose short film Crescendo won Tropfest in 2026.

Mackessy received $50,000 through the inaugural CommBank Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund and joined Everett at the launch to reflect on the impact the funding has had on her career.

"It's been so incredible," Mackessy said. 

"It's given me visibility, which I wouldn't have got beforehand. It's opened doors to opportunities and even opened doors to conversations with people in the industry."

Her story highlights a growing focus for the festival: helping filmmakers not only get their work in front of an audience, but giving them support to keep creating once the credits roll.

For emerging filmmakers, getting selected for Tropfest can be a career-defining moment. But for many, securing funding for the next project is an equally big challenge.

The emerging filmmakers fund is designed to help bridge that gap between initial success and new projects that can consolidate it with $50,000 awarded to first place, $30,000 to second and $20,000 to third. 

Tropfest board member Peter V'Landys said the festival creates opportunities that don't always exist elsewhere in the industry.

"In rugby league or sport, you have these elite pathways to get to the top. In filmmaking you don't and Tropfest is used to supply that pathway and that opportunity for young Australian filmmakers to present themselves," he said.

The road to Tropfest 2027

Submissions for Tropfest 2027 open on 1 December. Filmmakers will be invited to create a new short film of seven minutes or less, and every entry must feature the 2027 Tropfest Signature Item, "necklace".  Entries close on 4 January 2027. 

The 16 finalists will have their films screened at The Domain on 13 February, in front of what is expected to be another large Sydney audience.

For film fans, it's the return of a much-loved Australian cultural event to the place many associate most closely with Tropfest. For emerging filmmakers, it could be the start of something much bigger.