When do film submissions open and close for 2027? 

Entries open Tuesday 1 December 2026. Early bird entries close Tuesday 22 December 2026, 10pm AEDT. Final entries close Tuesday 5 January 2027, 10pm AEDT. 

When is Tropfest? 

Tropfest 2027 is on Saturday 13 February 2027 at The Domain, Sydney. 

What is the cost to enter Tropfest? 

The early bird fee is $65 if you enter by Tuesday 22 December 2026, 10pm AEDT. The standard fee is $95 if you enter by Tuesday 5 January 2027, 10pm AEDT. Fees are paid online when you submit, and each film you enter has its own fee. 

What is Roughcut and when is it? 

Roughcut is Tropfest's filmmaker education program, held at NIDA over three days before the festival: 10, 11 and 12 February 2027. Find out more on the Roughcut page. 

How many times can I enter? 

Filmmakers may submit as many films as they like; there is no restriction. 

Is there an age limit for entering? 

No, Tropfest has no age restrictions. Filmmakers of all ages are welcome to enter. If you are under 16 at the time of submission, you will be asked to indicate this during the entry submission process.

Can I enter Trop Jr? 

Trop Jr is our festival for Filmmakers aged 15 and under. Entries for Trop Jr 2026 have now closed. Finalists will be announced on Monday 9 November, and the Grand Final is on Friday 4 December at The Astor, Melbourne. Visit the Trop Jr page for updates. 

Who is eligible to enter Tropfest Australia? 

Tropfest Australia is designed to help launch Australian careers. The Director/s must be an Australian citizen/s or permanent resident on the date of entry for the film to be eligible for competition. However, filmmakers from anywhere in the world may also enter and may be selected to screen "out of competition". This means their work is presented at the same screening, event and audience, but not eligible for prizes. If you live outside of Sydney and are selected as a finalist, in competition or out of competition, Tropfest will fly you and a guest to Sydney for the event. 

Can my cast and crew be international? 

Yes. The only person who must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident is the Filmmaker. The Filmmaker also receives the prizes, though they may share them as they wish. 

What are the prizes? 

Prizes for winning filmmakers include a share of $100,000 in the form of the CommBank Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund. First, second and third prizes will be $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 respectively, with Tropfest and CommBank actively encouraging winners to utilise those amounts towards career development and their next projects. More prizes to be announced closer to the date. 

What is the Tropfest Signature Item (TSI)? 

To ensure films are produced specifically for Tropfest, each year we announce a "TSI" which must be included in your film to make it eligible for Tropfest. The TSI for 2027 is 'NECKLACE'. You're free to incorporate the TSI in any way you want. It can be central to your plot, a subtle moment in the background or something in between, just as long as it's there! 

How long can my film be? 

Tropfest films must be 7 minutes or less including titles and credits. But remember, you don't need to use the entire 7 minutes. Some of the best Tropfest films, including many award winners, have been less than 7 minutes. 

What format should I submit my film in? 

Films must be submitted as a high-quality digital file. We recommend .MP4 (H.264 codec) at 1080p with stereo audio. Please ensure the file is within the maximum upload size stated on the entry platform. You must also provide an unlisted YouTube link to your film. Public or private links will make your entry ineligible. If your film is selected as a finalist, we will likely request a higher-resolution version (such as ProRes 422 or DCP) for the main event screening and for our archives. 

Does it matter what I shoot on, or what aspect ratio I use? 

Nope! Your film can be shot on any format or aspect ratio, as long as the final file is delivered in the required digital format. Just keep in mind that unusual aspect ratios may affect how your film appears in judging and screenings. They may also impact the size of your image in the live event, which could matter outdoors in front of a large crowd. That said, if it's a creative choice, it could also work to your advantage. 

Do I need subtitles on my Tropfest film? 

If your film includes any language other than English, it must include English subtitles. Separately, all finalist films will be closed captioned for the screening event. 

Can I submit a film that has screened elsewhere? 

No. All Tropfest films must have their public premiere at Tropfest. If your film has already been publicly screened, it's not eligible, even if it has been re-edited and/or re-named. 

What restrictions do you have on content? 

Tropfest welcomes bold storytelling, but we ask Filmmakers to use discretion with content. As an outdoor, free public event attended by people of all ages, films should remain suitable for a general festival audience. Any depiction of violence must serve the story, not exist for shock value. As a guide, content should typically fall within the Australian Classification Board's categories up to M. This includes limitations on sexual content, with sexual activity or nudity needing to be discreet and justified by context. Entries containing excessive, gratuitous, or extreme violence are unlikely to be selected, and material that is likely to exceed an M rating due to either violent or sexual content will not be considered appropriate. 

Can my film be a rework of a play? 

Yes. 

What is Tropfest's policy on AI-generated content?

Tropfest celebrates human creativity and storytelling. You may use AI tools to support your filmmaking, for example for research, transcription, editing assistance, colour grading, sound clean-up or upscaling footage. Films that rely substantially on generative AI to create core creative elements are not eligible. This includes generating significant parts of the screenplay, dialogue, performances, characters, likenesses, voices, imagery or animation. As a guide: Eligible: using AI to clean up audio, upscale footage or assist an edit. Ineligible: relying substantially on generative AI for core creative elements, such as a character's dialogue, performance, voice or likeness. All entrants must disclose in the Entry Form all use of AI tools. Tropfest may request further information and will decide, at its sole discretion, whether a film meets this policy. Films that do not comply may be disqualified, including after selection. Our aim is not to stop filmmakers using new tools, but to keep Tropfest focused on original human creativity.

Is there an AI-only category at Tropfest?

There is currently no AI-only category at Tropfest. We are a future-facing festival and open to embracing new tools, and a dedicated category for AI-assisted films is something we may consider in the future.

What happens after I submit? 

Every filmmaker is emailed by Wednesday 20 January 2027 to say whether their film has been shortlisted. Finalists are called by Friday 29 January 2027, and shortlisted films that don't make the final are emailed the same day. 

How do I apply to become a pre-selector? 

Please send us your resume and details of your experience to go@tropfest.com, and we'll add you to our database for consideration. We take the pre-selection process very seriously and ensure our pre-selectors are well qualified, i.e. people with substantial experience in the screen industries. 

What happens to my film after Tropfest? 

If your film is selected as a finalist, it must premiere at Tropfest, meaning it cannot be publicly screened before the Tropfest event. After that, you are free to submit the film to other festivals or anywhere else. As a finalist, Tropfest retains non-exclusive rights to screen your film in line with our Terms & Conditions, although Tropfest has no ownership in your film. If your film is shortlisted but ultimately not chosen as a finalist, you may choose to give Tropfest non-exclusive rights to screen it on our official YouTube channel, where it can reach a large global audience, though it is not a requirement. If your film is not pre-selected, Tropfest has no further rights in it. 

How can I connect with other Tropfest filmmakers (scripts, crews, actors, etc.)? 

There is a Tropfest Filmmakers Group on Facebook where you can connect with other entrants to share scripts, find collaborators, and build your team. Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19CkKtFLGu/What happens after I submit? 

Every filmmaker is emailed by Wednesday 20 January 2027 to say whether their film has been shortlisted. Finalists are called by Friday 29 January 2027, and shortlisted films that don't make the final are emailed the same day. 

How do I apply to become a pre-selector? 

Please send us your resume and details of your experience to go@tropfest.com, and we'll add you to our database for consideration. We take the pre-selection process very seriously and ensure our pre-selectors are well qualified, i.e. people with substantial experience in the screen industries. 

What happens to my film after Tropfest? 

If your film is selected as a finalist, it must premiere at Tropfest, meaning it cannot be publicly screened before the Tropfest event. After that, you are free to submit the film to other festivals or anywhere else. As a finalist, Tropfest retains non-exclusive rights to screen your film in line with our Terms & Conditions, although Tropfest has no ownership in your film. If your film is shortlisted but ultimately not chosen as a finalist, you may choose to give Tropfest non-exclusive rights to screen it on our official YouTube channel, where it can reach a large global audience, though it is not a requirement. If your film is not pre-selected, Tropfest has no further rights in it. 

How can I connect with other Tropfest filmmakers (scripts, crews, actors, etc.)? 

There is a Tropfest Filmmakers Group on Facebook where you can connect with other entrants to share scripts, find collaborators, and build your team. Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19CkKtFLGu/