How hands-off sponsorship revived Tropfest
John Polson returns Tropfest to its Sydney home - with a little help from some powerful people
“The great thing about Tropfest is it started very authentically as a dude making a short film,” says John Polson, “but the downside of that is — as a dude making a short film — I don’t know the people that Peter knows, and Sarah knows – and so they’ve been able to open some amazing doors, and then we come in.”
Polson is the founder of the legendary short film festival, which is returning in 2026 after what will be a seven-year hiatus.
He was interviewed by Mumbrella’s Cat McGinn at Unlock in Sydney on Thursday morning, where he outlined the festival’s long road back after financial woes, a much maligned shift from the Domain in central Sydney to Parramatta, and a global pandemic.
Peter V’landys would hate being reported as from the Victorian Racing Club – he is the Chief Executive of Racing New South Wales and a publicly avowed Victorian hater – so standby for a reaction if you haven’t had one already
Thanks John. We have corrected.