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Tropfest Australia, supported by foundation partner CGU Insurance, today unveiled plans for TropNest, a groundbreaking creative hub for filmmaking, collaboration, workshops, screenings and events in Western Sydney, thanks to a new partnership with Melrose Park urban developers - PAYCE.

Young emerging filmmakers from around Australia will be invited to apply for a limited number of spaces at the Nest, where they will work rent free — with no strings attached — on their film and television projects.

Heavy-hitting media partner YouTube Australia will also join forces with  Tropfest in 2018, when the ‘main event’ returns to Parramatta Park on an adjusted date of Saturday 17 February 2018 as part of a broader week of excitement and celebration of all things independent film and culture.

“TropNest, in association with Melrose Park, is one of the most exciting initiatives we’ve undertaken in the past decade,” said Tropfest Founder and Executive Chair John Polson. “And having YouTube Australia join us for our ‘main competition’ means one great thing for our emerging filmmakers: millions more eyeballs, literally.”

“We’ve refined our dates in February to better align with our partners. 2018 will be a huge step towards our ultimate goal of becoming a 10 day multi-platform, multi-venue festival in Western Sydney, encompassing independent film, entertainment and culture,” he said.

TropNest will pop-up in early 2018 in Melrose Park in Sydney’s West, with a long term plan for the Nest to become a permanent addition to the urban renewal project taking place in the brand new suburb.

“TropNest at Melrose Park is an exciting new creative hub concept. A place to create, a hub to collaborate and a Nest to call home for young emerging filmmakers,” said PAYCE Director Dominic Sullivan.

In 2018, Tropfest will be live streamed around Australia and the world for the first time ever thanks to YouTube Australia. As part of the grand prize, Tropfest’s winning filmmaker will also get to visit the YouTube Space in Los Angeles, as well as attend a film immersion course and undertake a ‘week of meetings’ with agents, studio executives and other industry professionals courtesy of the Motion Picture Association.

"YouTube Australia is delighted to partner with Tropfest in 2018. We’re consistently inspired by the creativity and craft of Australian filmmakers, so we're excited to join this significant cultural event to support the creator community and connect them with new audiences around the world," said Head of YouTube Partnerships, Australia & New Zealand Ed Miles.

To top it all off, Australian production house Kennedy Miller Mitchell has once again pledged $10,000 cash to the competition’s winner.

Tropfest will also continue multiple year partnerships with CGU Insurance, Parramatta Park Trust, City of Parramatta and Western Sydney University - which hosts the incredibly successful TropTalks series, a gabfest that takes place in the week leading up to the Tropfest ‘main event’.

As a Tropfest foundation partner for the third consecutive year, CGU Insurance resurrected Tropfest in 2016 after an abrupt cancellation, helping to ensure the success of the festival and the many small businesses that participate in the event.

CGU Insurance also strongly supports Tropfest’s effort to increase inclusion this year by encouraging entries from filmmakers from all backgrounds who bring a unique perspective and shine a light on the contribution that cultural diversity makes to our communities.  

Other Tropfest events across the week include Trop Jr, a film competition for entrants of 15 years-old and younger, and TropJam – a brand new musical program showcasing Australia’s hottest emerging bands and musicians.

Tropfest has grown incredibly since its humble beginnings at the Tropicana Café in Sydney’s Darlinghurst in 1993, where an eager crowd of 200 showed up for a short film screening organized by Tropfest founder John Polson.