Thursday, August 13, 2009

Going Troppo

Sorry folks been AWOL for a couple of days on la Blog. Hopefully I will have an explanation by next Wednesday evening.


Theme Thursday this week explores "Festival". Since it's winter here, apart from the rather wacky Winter Equinox festival in the Blue Mountains where we tree huggin' hippie druid types all pretend that we're Northern Europeans enjoying midwinter and celebrating Christmas in July and the soon to be celebrated Tulip Festival in Canberra, there's not much on the Festival scene in Oz.


In summer however, we're inundated with rock festivals, the Sydney Festival of course even the Gay and Lesbian Mardis Gras! Summer is our festive season and with the weather, damn good timing.


During the Sydney Festival there are free events in what's called the "Domain" a large green space in the centre of Sydney. On each of four weekends in January there is Opera in the Park, Symphony In the Park, Jazz In the Park. In February, a little treasure for would-be movie makers as young as 9 and as old as you like. You might remember a little Oscar Winner called Harvie Krumpet who started his claymation life as a short film.


This is a night of short films, projected on a big screen under the stars. Well sometimes it rains but nothing a plastic poncho can't protect against, even stops your brie going soggy and your chardy diluting.


Tropfest is Australia’s most prestigious short film festival, and is regarded as one of our most iconic cultural events and best of all, it's free. It is also the largest short film festival in the world.


Founded in 1993 by film director John Polson, the ‘Tropicana Short Film Festival’ started as an informal short film screening for cast, crew and friends at the Tropicana Cafe in Sydney’s uber artsy Darlinghurst. More than 200 people showed up. Inspired by the turn out, John decided that a fully-fledged short film festival was the next step.

Eighteen years on, Tropfest attracts a live national audience of more than 150,000 people on a single night. The event is hosted at Sydney’s Domain in the Royal Botanic Gardens, with live satellite links to outdoor locations in Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Surfer’s Paradise.

The annual short film competition is open to anyone who wishes to enter – regardless of his or her background or experience. Sixteen finalists are selected from an entry pool of an average 650 entries and compete for more than $200k in prizes. It's often the 'big break' for would-be film makers on the world stage.


35 comments:

The Clever Pup said...

Thanks for this rundown of Australia's festivals. Toronto has the Toronto International Film Festival - and I haven't been once.

I also went to Munich during Oktoberfest and didn't attend. I guess I'm not a "joiner"

xxx said...

I love Tropfest.
My hound was once in a Tropfest entry.

:) Ribbon

Sarah Lulu said...

I hope you are ok Baino ....

I do like little festivals ...you know like small country town music ..we do have some up here now and then...

Armidale has an Autumn Festival ..with a parade etc.

Uralla has an Arts Festival, that I always enjoy.

Stay warm. Cold here tonight but the days are warming up ..

Tess Kincaid said...

Fun hearing about all things festive in your neck of the woods, Baino.

Brian Miller said...

sorry, got hung up on the first line and not having an explanation until next wednesday...job related developments? heading back to FL for the next round of interviews...maybe an offer this weekend...we will see.

i wish we had a festival here...not much...hope you have a great thursday.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

we wait with bated breath!

thanks for the overview! would love to check out some of those festivals.

I'm partial to film festivals too, and can't believe I didn't post a photo from the cleveland internat'l film festival. I volunteered in march & saw so many great films .... speaking of great films that short was marvelous! so touching and powerful. thank you for posting it....

tut-tut said...

It's great to learn about all these festivals around the world. More fest and less drear!

Roy said...

What a cool little film! I love the minor film festivals; there's usually such good work involved. We have one here in Newport in June.

Ed & Jeanne said...

Someday in the near future I will finally make it there for a visit. Now I know what to look for...

Grannymar said...

Wednesday! Do I need a hat? ;-)

Great message in that Video.

Alan Burnett said...

Invaluable post, think I might cut it out and keep it. But what is the mystery?? Can't wait until next Wednesday.

laughingwolf said...

i like film the contest idea, baino... the concerts sound good, too

hey pup, i never attended the tiff in all my years there, either ...lol

JeffScape said...

Well, damn. I may have to enter that next year.

Kate said...

Ok - now you have everybody wondering!!! I think I'll just go and hug a tree..... sending you all the good vibes I can...

steph said...

Wow! That short movie totally blew me away.

Was wondering about you. Here's to tree huggin' news next Wednesday???

Ronda Laveen said...

I love reading about how it goes in your half of the world. Thanks. Can't wait for your Wednesday update!

laughingwolf said...

btw - your page is far too wide to be seen in toto, and i have a 19" monitor :(

Anonymous said...

Baino, wouldn't mind attending the Tropfest, at all! I'm intrigued :)

Kate Hanley said...

Great tour of the Sydney festivals! I wish I could attend Tropfest, that sounds like the best.

Leah said...

You've got me thinking that I should look at NYC's gobbillions of festivals. There must be many interesting things going on that I have no idea about, in my own town! NY-ers are notorious for ignoring the cool stuff around them...

nick said...

Here we just have the Belfast Film Festival which of course is full-length movies. I think a festival of short films would go down very well, I'm surprised nobody's tried it.

Megan said...

Ha! My post is not done yet, but I was thinking about using Film Festivals as my topic!

Thanks for the lowdown on yours, always great info over here that makes me want to visit you EVEN MORE.

Wednesday, eh? Ok. I'll be patient.

Unknown said...

why is it you are having all the fun sk

Mike said...

If I come to Australia, you will have to take me to a festival of some sort!

Betsy Brock said...

All of those festivals sound fun! Actually anything in Australia sounds fun since I've never been there! Stay warm!

kj said...

i'm wondering only good thoughts for and about you.

now i have to go back and read about the festivals. shame on me for reading the comments first.

i couldn't help it....

xoxo

linda may said...

G'Day Baino, I have seen your name around the traps and came for a visit. Very enjoyable.
Living in Canberra allows me numerous visits to Floriade, (freebies are good) they said on the radio this morning it is just a month away. Of the Sydney ones I would like the music in the park type ones the best.
I enjoyed your house post. A bit extravagant for me but... Yum!

Jaime said...

sounds like some great festivals in your neck of the woods.

nollyposh said...

Great to meet a fellow aussy and thanks for the front row movie ticket, i loved it X:-)

Renee said...

Regarding my blog post and your comment, I have to tell you I burst out laughing.

Love Renee xoxo

Kris McCracken said...

Every time they do this in Hobart it is deathly cold.

River said...

I haven't been to anything festive in quite some time. I've never been to any of those film festival things.

Kath Lockett said...

Sapphire was an actor in a movie that was submitted to Tropfest last year, called 'Power Failure'.

It was a long but interesting day as she did take after take, playing the daughter of a single mother struggling to make ends meet. As yet, Hollywood hasn't knocked on our door and even if they did, Sapphire is likely to say, "Oh no way, NO WAY. Look what happened to that girl who played the twins on 'The Parent trap' !!"

Baino said...

Thanks everyone. I really haven't got time to respond to you all individually AND visit your blogs but I love this Theme Thursday thing and wouldn't miss it for the world.

I'm fine . .there may be job news but I don't want to jinx myself so after a final meeting on Wednesday, I may be popping the cork on a fabulously chilled bottle of Billecart Salmon French Champagne. . the nicest I've ever tasted I might add!

I'm DEFINITELY going to Tropfest next year. Clare goes every year and loves it but I haven't yet ventured. Hey, even if it rains it's warm. Have a good weekend!

New Yorker wannabes said...

I love film festivals!! Wish I could go to all of them lol

xoxo