Tropfest, Australia’s favourite short film competition, will no longer go ahead in 2015.
The festival’s founder and director John Polson has released a statement announcing the cancellation of Tropfest’s 24th edition, which was set to take place in Centennial Park on Sunday December 6.
The decision comes due to fundraising issues and a dispute with Tropfest’s financial management company. Since its inauguration in 1993, and its subsequent expansion from Sydney to cities around the world including New York, South East Asia and New Zealand, this is the first year the festival will not go ahead.
More than 450 filmmakers had already entered this year’s Tropfest, with 16 finalists set to be disappointed by the news, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
Polson’s statement reads:
“It is devastating for me to announce today that Tropfest will not be taking place as scheduled in Centennial Park this year.
In the past week or so, I have been made aware that the company contracted to raise the funding and administer the Tropfest event is unable to move forward for financial reasons. Despite a challenging sponsorship climate, Tropfest has done reasonably well in attracting support this year; however, to my great surprise, the management company has informed us that it is unable to proceed.
It goes without saying that this announcement is the most difficult one I’ve made in Tropfest’s 23 year history. My heart goes out to this year’s 16 filmmaking finalists, to our incredible list of sponsors and partners, and of course to our loyal and beloved audience.
It is too early to tell what has actually happened here, although it is hard to avoid concluding there has been a terrible and irresponsible mismanagement of Tropfest funds. I and others will be spending the coming weeks and months investigating what has transpired.
In the meantime, I ask all of Tropfest’s many supporters to bear with us while we figure out how we can rebound from this disaster. Now more than ever this unique Australian cultural event needs your patience and support.”
