More Than 35,000 People Braved The Rain For The Return Of Tropfest In Sydney

The short film festival Tropfest has returned to Sydney after a seven-year hiatus, with reports of more than 35,000 people showing up at Sydney’s Centennial Park on Sunday night despite the rain.

Sydney mum Lianne Mackessy has won Tropfest 2026, receiving a $50,000 award for her film Crescendo. Crescendo is about a mother whose babysitting plans fall through on the morning of an audition for a career-defining role – which was inspired by the return of Tropfest while looking after her three-month-old.

The judging was led by Australian actor Margot Robbie and featured Sarah Snook, English actor Taron Egerton, and US director James Cameron, who participated virtually. When naming Crescendo as the winner, Robbie described Mackessy’s short film as “pitch perfect”. Coming in at second place was Jasper Sharpe with his short We Don’t Take Breaks and in third place Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe with her film Silent Night.

Tropfest is a Sydney success story, founded 33 years ago by John Polson, with tiny organised screenings at the Tropicana cafe in Darlinghurst in 1993 for around 200 people, before moving to Centennial Park as it grew in scale and importance. Billed as “the world’s largest short film festival”, the festival drew crowds of almost 200,000 and was a vital platform for emerging Australian filmmakers and actors to showcase their work at its peak. Notable Tropfest success stories include, Joel Edgerton, Rebel Wilson, Rose Byrne and Sam Worthington.

However in 2015, the event was cancelled due to “terrible mismanagement” of funds, then again in 2019 less than a month before it was due to go ahead. Its return has been made possible by a mixed group of investors, including Racing NSW boss Peter V’Landys, philanthropist Sarah Murdoch of the Murdoch family, property investor Richard Weinberg and Australian actor Bryan Brown.

Founder John Polson said he was “in shock” at the turn-out, describing Tropfest as a “communal event” and a “gift to the community.”

“It’s Sydney borne … I think it’s something we should be very proud of.”