Tropfest 2015 Has Been Canned

Aussie institution Tropfest has been canned for 2015, with the short film festival’s founder and director John Polson citing “irresponsible mismanagement of Tropfest funds.”

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Polson said a financial discrepancy “well into six figures” effectively doomed this year’s fest, set to kick-off on December 6.

Polson is now taking legal action against the unnamed company who had been managing the event.

"I'm not suggesting there's any impropriety here… I honestly don't know. The best I can say now is mismanagement,” he said.

Polson is not bullish on the festival’s chances of ever returning either.

"Can it come back? I honestly don't know," he said.

More than 450 filmmakers had submitted shorts for consideration in the 24th Tropfest. Susan Sarandon had even signed on to head the festival jury.

If this is indeed the end of Polson’s passion project, it’s not exactly ending its run on a high note. 2013’s winner, Bamboozled, was widely accused of homophobia and transphobia.

Nonetheless, Tropfest remained one of the most high profile outlets for budding Australian filmmakers; one that helped lift the careers of Paul Fenech (Housos, Fat Pizza), Clayton Jacobson (Kenny), and the Edgerton brothers.

Vale Tropfest?