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The world's largest short film festival is fast approaching and all finalists and judges are now in place.
Tropfest, set take place on February 11, announced on Tuesday that veteran actor Sam Neill will be judging the contest alongside Aussie favourite Rose Byrne.
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The Peter Rabbit co-stars will be joined by directors George Miller and Rachel Perkins (behind 'Mad Max: Fury Road' and the upcoming Australian drama 'Jasper Jones') as well as 'Gone Girl' producer Bruna Papandrea.
"It is an enormous honour to add these esteemed filmmakers to the Tropfest Jury in our 25th year," Tropfest founder and chair John Polson said.
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"We're excited for our judges and audiences alike to experience the finalist films, produced by these young and brilliant minds."
The 16 finalists, announced earlier this month, will see their films screened live at Tropfest's new home, Sydney Parramatta Park.
From exploring the traipses of a vegan couple facing the apocalypse without food to uncovering the lengths of a busy mother vying for a moment of peace, the shortlisted films are diverse in their appropriation of Trofest's infamous Signature Item -- this year, the pineapple.
We made #Tropfest
— Jackson Tozer (@JacksonTozer) January 24, 2017
Congrats to Arielle Thomas & Ellenor Argyropoulos, who are now finalists at the most gender diverse @TROPFEST in history. pic.twitter.com/HuT5FT4bZF
And for the first year, half of the finalists are women.
"At a time when gender inequality is a major concern in the film industry at home and abroad, I'm extremely proud that half of our finalists are women," Polson said.
The annual Tropfest will be held on Saturday February 11 in Sydney Parramatta Park. The films will be screen lived, premiered globally on Red Bull TV and nationally on free-to-air channel Eleven.
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