Mad Max Director On the Board of New NFP Tropfest

The world’s largest short film festival has announced it will become a Not for Profit with Mad Max director George Miller set to be the first member of the board.

Tropfest, which will celebrate its 25th birthday at the upcoming festival, has introduced a board to “promote the longevity of the organisation” with a shift in focus designed to attract more women filmmakers.

The move follows a renewed three-year partnership with CGU Insurance, which will restore major funding to the festival.

In an announcement on their website the festival said they were looking forward to continuing to provide platforms for talented filmmakers.

“We are also thrilled to announce, legendary Australian Film Director George Miller, and long-time supporter of Tropfest, is the first member of our new board!” the announcement said.

“The introduction of a board comes about as we have moved to a Not for Profit organisation and the board’s role will be to help oversee the longevity of Tropfest – for the next 25 years and beyond!

“We are so pleased to have one of the world’s most exciting storytellers on our team and look forward to sharing more about this with you over time.”

The festival has also revealed the 25th Annual Tropfest Signature Item (TSI) – which all films must include and which changes each year to prove the films have been made specifically for that year’s festival – is pineapple.

It’s official…we’re thrilled to announce the 25th annual Tropfest!
As for this year’s TSI?‘PINEAPPLE’ #Tropfest25 pic.twitter.com/FfC1PcfL58

— TROPFEST (@TROPFEST) June 30, 2016

It follows a tumultuous year for the festival, which was cancelled in November 2015 due to financial issues, before receiving a last minute lifeline from CGU Insurance, allowing it to run the festival in February.

Speaking at the time, founder and festival director, John Polson said the outpouring of support was overwhelming.

“It’s incredibly encouraging to see that the Australian public and corporate community really want to see Tropfest return,” Poulson said.

“As a free, outdoor event, Tropfest makes short film accessible to all. There’s nothing else quite like it and I think that’s what people love.

“Thanks to the support given by CGU Insurance, we’re now able to restore Tropfest for the filmmakers whose work was put on hold, for our fans and of course for the suppliers and partners who all give so much to make the world’s largest short film festival a reality. It’s the comeback story of the decade.”

More than 1.6 million people have attended a Tropfest event since it was established in 1993.

Notable alumni include filmmakers such as Alister Grierson, Rowan Woods, Clayton Jacobson, Joel Edgerton, Nash Edgerton, Peter Carstairs, Rob Carlton, Sam Worthington, Robert Connolly, Leon Ford, Justin Drape, Tim Bullock and Elissa Down.

The next festival will be held on 11 February 2017.