Trop Jr is Back! (Yay)

The world’s largest short film festival – for kids by kids. 

Trop Jr is returning in 2026, bigger, bolder and built for the next generation of Australian storytellers, filmmakers and creatives.

Designed for budding filmmakers and creators aged 15 and under, Trop Jr gives kids –  from all around Australia – a real platform to imagine, experiment and tell stories that matter. Trop Jr is where creativity is celebrated, confidence is built and young voices are heard.

Powered by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), Trop Jr is more than a competition. It’s a national creative program that runs throughout the school year, supporting students, teachers and families through virtual masterclasses, teacher guides and step-by-step learning resources to support young people to create an amazing short film.

The Trop Jr program culminates in a live “Grand Finals” event in November where finalists, families, educators, ambassadors and industry come together to celebrate Australia’s most talented and inspired storytellers of the future.

Trop Jr is about access, imagination and possibility. No entry fee. No polished production pressure. Just big ideas, creative courage and stories told well by young voices. This is where tomorrow’s filmmakers, animators, editors, actors, writers and creators in general begin.

In the meantime, explore the Trop Jr education resources  and learn more about how young people can get involved: