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After breakfast in our Bondi Airbnb, we pack up our picnic and walk down to Centennial Park for Tropfest! We were extremely glad that "the largest short film festival" was rearranged for February, after it was cancelled late last year.
It's a rather hot day. By the time we reach the cafe in the middle of the park, we are melting, so we stop for coffee in the air-conditioning.
Rather like NYE in Balmain, we discover that we have been uber-keen in getting to the park so early. We retreat into the shade under the trees for Tropfest Jr during the afternoon. The 15 entrants were all introduced and interviewed before the films were played on the big screen; a big deal for kids under 16! They were a little hit and miss, but our favourite, Chess People ( http://youtu.be/ItJTauaIzMM ) won!
After this excitement, we scoot into the sunshine to bag a good spot in front of the big screens. Only 5 hours to go until the Tropfest films begin...!
Christy and Dan join us at about 6.30, bringing an 'esky' of chilled beers and some chips n dips. We have a chat and before too long, the films begin! The first one is my instant favourite, but they're all very good.
There's a brief rain storm just before the interval and Christy and Dan head home (they'd been looking sleepy for a while and we felt rather guilty at inviting them out on a school night). After the second half of the films, the judges deliberate, as do we! Tropfest have an app which you can use to rate the films, the winner receiving the "People's Choice" award.
Finally, the directors and their stars assemble on the stage. It's all very white and male. So much so in fact, that the before presenting the first award (Best Male Actor) one of the judges mentions how few women there were in the films.
The judge presenting Best Female Actor also mentions how few women appeared in the films, and how few were directing (1 out of 16)... Says "we can do better than that". An approving roar from the crowd. The Best Female Actor winner practically won by default, as the only woman with a decent part in any of the 16 films, which is embarrassing for everyone. As a side note, I also noted that the same was the case in Trop Jr; only 2 girls directing in 15 finalists there.
There's a sigh of disappointment from us and the crowd when our favourite is awarded 2nd place ( http://youtu.be/7PY2GTgmcfg ). Last minute celebrity judge Mel Gibson presents the winners with their pineapple trophy. We walk home to Bondi, avoiding the bus crush as an estimated 60,000 people also exit the park!
AB
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