Sam Neill takes a starring role as ambassador for Tropfest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 27 June 2012

Sam Neill takes a starring role as ambassador for Tropfest NZ

Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival, announced today that Sam Neill will become an official ambassador for the inaugural Tropfest NZ to be held on January 27, 2013.

The internationally renowned actor says he is excited to support the event.

“Finally, the brilliance that is Tropfest on our very own shores. I am fizzing at the thought, and thrilled to be part of it. Filmmakers of Aotearoa – start your engines!” exclaimed Neill.

Tropfest NZ will present its first stand-alone short film festival at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. Open to the public and free to attend, this event has been designed to encourage filmmakers from the grassroots level up.

“We are delighted that an industry heavyweight like Sam has come on board to encourage New Zealand filmmakers and celebrate their stories,” says Founder and Director of Tropfest, John Polson.

Sam Neill joins Tropfest NZ ambassadors actor Martin Henderson, director/producer/actor Katie Wolfe, actor Robyn Malcolm and director/screenwriter Vincent Ward. Other ambassadors will be announced in the coming months.

Entries are now being accepted by any Kiwi keen to participate in Tropfest NZ. Films cannot exceed seven minutes and must contain Tropfest’s Signature Item (TSI), which in 2013 is “GUMBOOT”. Competition details can be found at www.tropfest.co.nz

A prize is offered to the best director. The winner receives return economy tickets to Los Angeles, 5 days accommodation and $500 cash courtesy of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and The New Zealand Federation Against Copyright Theft (NZFACT).

About Tropfest

Tropfest began twenty years ago when director John Polson showed a six-minute film he made for under $100 at his local café (‘The Tropicana’) in Sydney for 200 friends and family. Today the FREE Australian event is attended annually by a live audience of over 150,000 film-lovers and hundreds of thousands more watching via its live national TV broadcast and other platforms.

In the past two decades, Tropfest has become recognised as one of the world's most exciting launch-pads for emerging filmmakers. Tropfest is also known for securing the support of some of the biggest names in the international film community including Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Geoffrey Rush, Liev Schreiber and Tobey Maguire.

Tropfest was recently launched in New Zealand, Arabia and in the USA with Tropfest Las Vegas and Tropfest New York.

The Tropfest YouTube Channel has had over 11 million video views, with around 40% of those coming from the United States. The channel provides film enthusiasts the chance to watch the top films from past festivals at: http://www.youtube.com/tropfest

Tropfest's stated ambition is to propel talented filmmakers to great heights in their chosen career, regardless of their financial constraints, and to simultaneously bring quality, short film content to the masses.
ends

© Scoop Media