The self procalaimed world’s largest short film festival MOVIE EXTRA TROPFEST announces that entries are now closed. Finalist announcement revealed on February 3rd, 2012.

Sixteen lucky finalists will have their work screened to a massive live audience at events across Australia on Sunday 19 February 2012, with both international and interstate finalists flown from their home city to Sydney to join in the celebrations. The event will also be televised live to hundreds of thousands of viewers exclusively on MOVIE EXTRA.

The lucky finalists will be competing for a huge prize pool including a return flight to LA for 5 nights to meet with Hollywood heavyweights, thanks to Motion Picture Association and the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft. The first prize also includes a trip to Abu Dhabi to be a judge at the second annual Tropfest Arabia in 2012.

For the first time in Tropfest history, New Zealand’s Bowl of Brooklands will showcase Australia’s short film finalists. A truly unique venue, the Bowl of Brooklands is comprised of an impressive outdoor stage, where screenings at night will be enhanced by the venues lighting and surrounding natural landscape.

2012 will also see Tropfest expand to include a new venue partner in Wollongong. The Wollongong Botanic Gardens will set the backdrop for the 300,000 plus Illawarra locals to become a part of the Tropfest family and enjoy short films in the garden’s exquisite natural beauty.

Founder and Director John Polson says the expansion of Tropfest is a win for filmmakers. “We really want to celebrate our 20th birthday in the biggest way possible. The best way to do this is to bring the festival to more people. By adding new screening locations in New Zealand and Wollongong we’re able to showcase the talents of our finalists to even bigger audiences.”

“After a two year break we’re also returning to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. It’s such a great location for Tropfest and I’m sure our fans in Melbourne will be excited that we’re returning again” says Polson.

Other Australian venues include; Suncorp Piazza in Brisbane, Perth’s Bohemia Outdoor Cinema, Commonwealth Park in Canberra, Circle on Cavill in Surfers Paradise and Jetty Road, Glenelg in Adelaide.

Finalists walk the star-studded red carpet and have their work judged by industry heavyweights, with past judges including Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor and Geoffrey Rush.

Tropfest’s 20th Birthday competition will be hotly contested, with organisers predicting the biggest year ever. Organisers have three days of filmmaking celebrations planned, taking the Festival from the traditional one-day event to a full Tropfest weekend. There will be parties, screenings of Tropfest gems from the past and special film industry events.

Tropfest is a phenomenal launch pad for young and emerging filmmakers from around the globe, and there will be some great prizes up for grabs, aside from the kudos of winning the world’s largest short film festival. Finalists compete for a massive prize pool of cash, equipment and international travel valued at approximately $100,000, along with an unprecedented level of industry interest and attention.