MEDIA RELEASE

Tropfest goes TropWest!

Released 25 October 2007

Information and Cultural Exchange
PO Box 4033 Parramatta NSW 2124 Australia
T: +61(2) 9897 5744 / F: +61(2) 9897 5766

Australia’s most famous short film festival – Sony Tropfest – is heading west in a search of fresh blood! TropWest, a FREE event for aspiring Western Sydney filmmakers of all ages, will be held on November 7 from 6–8pm at the Roxy Cinema in George Street, Parramatta.

Sony Tropfest has joined forces with the NSW Film and Television Office (FTO) and Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) to present TropWest ‘07.

TropWest guests will get the inside scoop on Trop Jr – a new competition for budding filmmakers 15 and under. Trop Jr will screen for the first time in 2008 as a special family program during the afternoon before the main Sony Tropfest event.

“Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker yourself, or a teacher or parent whose kids may be interested in participating, we invite you to join us at TropWest,” said Morgwn Rimel, Project Director of Sony Tropfest.

Speakers at TropWest will explain the process and selection criteria for entering shorts of less than seven minutes into Sony Tropfest. Some favourite Sony Tropfest shorts will also be screened. There will also be an opportunity for questions, and for people interested in screen stories to network and talk to one another.

“The FTO welcomes an opportunity to partner with Sony Tropfest and ICE on this event,” said Wendy Nye, Manager of the FTO’s Industry and Audience Development Grants program. “We want to see the Western Sydney screen arts industry thrive, and make sure that Western Sydney screen content creators have many professional development opportunities” she said.

Lena Nahlous, Director of ICE, is also keen to show Sony Tropfest just how much talent there is in Western Sydney. “TropWest is an opportunity for Western Sydney’s filmmakers to come out of the woodwork,” said Lena. “We know there are plenty of filmmakers and film lovers out there, and we hope that TropWest will get them excited not only about Sony Tropfest, but about connecting with other filmmakers and film lovers,” she said.

Entry guidelines for Sony Tropfest and Trop Jr can be found at www.tropfest.com and www.tropjr.com with entries accepted online until Thursday, 10 January 2008. Both festivals will take place on Sunday, 17 February 2008.

For catering purposes please RSVP to ICE on 9897-5744 or email info@ice.org.au

Sony Tropfest and ICE are supported by the FTO through the Industry and Audience Development Grants program.