Margot Robbie is coming home, and she’s bringing Tropfest with her. After six years off the calendar, the world’s largest short film festival is officially returning to Sydney, with Robbie taking the top spot as Jury President for Tropfest’s 2026 comeback.
Tropfest will take over Centennial Park on 22 February 2026, restoring one of Australia’s favourite film events to its open-air setting. The festival’s return already had people talking, but Robbie’s involvement gives the relaunch a clean hit of star power. And she’s not there for decoration; she’s leading the jury.
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“Tropfest has long been an important launchpad for filmmakers,” said Robbie in a statement. “It’s where creativity meets opportunity, and I’m incredibly excited to help celebrate and support the next wave of storytellers.”
Tropfest Founder & Director John Polson added: “It’s a true privilege to welcome Margot Robbie home to lead the Tropfest Jury in 2026. Her remarkable body of work, both in front of and behind the camera, perfectly reflects the creativity, courage, and ambition we’re championing in Tropfest’s next chapter.”
A new era with serious support behind it
For the first time, emerging filmmakers will compete for a share of $100,000 through the newly created CommBank Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund. First, second and third prizes sit at $50k, $30k and $20k, giving indie filmmakers a rare financial boost. Winners will also receive Google technology bundles and other prizes.
Entries open 1 December 2025. This year’s Tropfest Signature Item is “Hourglass”, the compulsory element that must appear somewhere in each short to ensure it’s made specifically for the festival. Finalists will debut their films in front of thousands at the free public event.
Tropfest’s return also comes with a shift in structure, with the event transitioning into a not-for-profit foundation led by Chair Sarah Murdoch, Bryan Brown, Peter V’landys, TTG CEO Richard Weinberg and Polson. A broad slate of partners is also backing the relaunch, from CommBank and YouTube to Qantas and Greater Sydney Parklands.
Upload to enter, and dive into the archives
Submissions must be uploaded through YouTube between 1 December 2025 and 8 January 2026. This 2026 Tropfest Signature Item (TSI) is an “hourglass” – filmmakers must include this item in the short film, which can be a maximum of seven minutes long.
For anyone wanting a refresher, the Tropfest YouTube channel has a deep library of past finalists and winners. We’ve included a few of the past winners for you to watch below.
What began in 1993 as an informal gathering of 200 people at Tropicana Caffé quickly grew into a national fixture, with finalist screenings drawing crowds of up to 100,000 and millions more watching online. Its alumni list reads like a snapshot of modern Australian cinema: Nash and Joel Edgerton, Rebel Wilson, Murray Bartlett, Sam Worthington, Mia Wasikowska, Justin Kurzel, Bruna Papandrea, Abe Forsythe, Damon Gameau, Alethea Jones, Patrick Hughes and many others.
With Robbie now guiding the judging panel and the festival returning to a city that’s clearly missed it, Tropfest’s next chapter looks set to land with purpose. More details, including the full judging line-up, will be announced closer to the date.
