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Tropfest short film festival cancelled after 'irresponsible management' | Tropfest short film festival cancelled after 'irresponsible management' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Next month’s Tropfest short film festival in Sydney has been cancelled after what its founder called the “irresponsible mismanagement” of the festival’s funds. | Next month’s Tropfest short film festival in Sydney has been cancelled after what its founder called the “irresponsible mismanagement” of the festival’s funds. |
The annual festival in Sydney’s Centennial Park,scheduled for 6 December, will not go ahead because of lack of money, says the Tropfest founder and director, John Polson. | The annual festival in Sydney’s Centennial Park,scheduled for 6 December, will not go ahead because of lack of money, says the Tropfest founder and director, John Polson. |
Polson said on Wednesday: “It is too early to tell what has actually happened here, although it is hard to avoid concluding there has been a terrible and irresponsible mismanagement of Tropfest funds.” | Polson said on Wednesday: “It is too early to tell what has actually happened here, although it is hard to avoid concluding there has been a terrible and irresponsible mismanagement of Tropfest funds.” |
Related: Tropfest 2014: watch the winning short film, Granny Smith | Related: Tropfest 2014: watch the winning short film, Granny Smith |
A discrepancy of six figures in the festival’s finances managed by a company contracted to run the event means it cannot go ahead, Polson told Fairfax Media. | A discrepancy of six figures in the festival’s finances managed by a company contracted to run the event means it cannot go ahead, Polson told Fairfax Media. |
The founder has started legal action against the management company, which was also responsible for raising funds. | The founder has started legal action against the management company, which was also responsible for raising funds. |
Polson said he was surprised to learn the festival could not proceed. Tropfest had done reasonably well to attract support this year despite challenges to sponsorship, he said. | Polson said he was surprised to learn the festival could not proceed. Tropfest had done reasonably well to attract support this year despite challenges to sponsorship, he said. |
Tropfest was due to celebrate its 24th year. Since its inception in 1993 it has expanded to festivals in New Zealand, south-east Asia, the US, and the Middle East. | Tropfest was due to celebrate its 24th year. Since its inception in 1993 it has expanded to festivals in New Zealand, south-east Asia, the US, and the Middle East. |
Polson described the decision to cancel the event as “the most difficult one I’ve made in Tropfest’s 23 year history”. | |
“My heart goes out to this years 16 filmmaking finalists, to our incredible list of sponsors and partners, and of course to our loyal and beloved audience,” he added. | |
Polson asked Tropfest’s supporters to “bear with us while we figure out how we can rebound from this disaster”. | |
“Now more than ever this unique Australian cultural event needs your patience and support,” he said. | |
The Intersection, the company responsible for managing the festival’s funding, has been contacted for comment. | |
Event management company Our Friends Electric, which has worked on Tropfest for 13 years, said on social media that it had nothing to do with the issue. | |
“We are, essentially, a supplier to the company in question, and like many other partners of the festival are shocked by the news,” the company said on Facebook on Wednesday night. |
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