MEDIA RELEASE

Tropfest Spotlights the West at TropWest

Released 2 October 2008

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

Lights, camera action! Tropfest, Australia’s largest and most popular short film festival is rolling into the west in a quest to find the next big thing!

TropWest on Saturday 18th October, 2008 will see up-and-comers of all ages gather together for a FREE event which is a must on the calendar for all aspiring Western Sydney filmmakers and enthusiasts.

Proving to be a great success in its launch year in 2007, Tropfest has again joined forces with the NSW Film and Television Office (FTO) and Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) to present TropWest 2008.

In a forum-style event, TropWest guests will hear first hand from Tropfest directors about all facets of Movie Extra Tropfest 2009 and the newly created Trop Jnr. As well as screenings of award-winning films from Tropfest 2008, there will be one-on-one ‘Speed Meet’ sessions with some of the best in the industry to discuss film ideas and ask all the burning questions!

“TropWest is designed to give people the scoop on Tropfest 2009 as well as invaluable networking opportunities. Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker, a teacher, a parent or an avid film lover, we encourage you to join us at TropWest,” said Morgwn Rimel, Project Director of Movie Extra Tropfest.

“The FTO believes that there are compelling stories in different pockets of our state and we want to find those stories and encourage people to tell them. If we want our screen industry to tell stories that genuinely reflect our community, we need to make sure the broadest range of access and encouragement is there,” said Tania Chambers, Chief Executive of NSW FTO.

Lena Nahlous, Director of ICE and Switch, is particularly looking forward to this year’s TropWest. “This year at TropWest we will be announcing the winner of the first ICE and Switch Tropwest Scholarship Award which we are very excited about,” she said.

“Valued at $5,000 the lucky winner’s award includes support and mentoring by ICE with access to our state of the art Switch Multimedia and Digital Arts Access Centre to produce a film for Tropfest 2009 and mentoring by an experienced filmmaker,” said Lena.

With the show-stopping speaker line up including names like Craig Anderson, multiple Tropfest winner, Jet Wilkonson, Director of All Saints and Neighbours, acclaimed script editor Billy Marshall Stoneking, Ranko Markovic the Producer of Cedar Boys, filmmaker and FTO Grant recipient Johnny Tran as well as Tropfest 2008 winner Michelle Lehman, it is sure to be a fantastic event!

TropWest will be held at Rafferty’s Theatre, Riverside Parramatta (cnr Church and Market Streets) on Saturday 18th October from 11am-3.30pm. Spaces for TropWest are limited so to be sure not to miss out, please RSVP to ICE on (02) 9897 5744 or email info@ice.org.au

TropWest supporters, partners and funding bodies include; ICE, Tropfest, NSW FTO, Riverside Theatres, SWITCH, Parramatta City Council, Australia Council and Arts NSW.

For further information, images or to arrange an interview opportunity, please contact:
Katy Denis
TropWest Publicist
M: 0414 388 879
E: ktgcreative@yahoo.com