Presto Kindly Offers To ‘Save Tropfest’, Also Scores Free Publicity


After the devastating news broke yesterday that Tropfest had been cancelled this year due to “a terrible and irresponsible mismanagement of Tropfest funds“, the community at large came together in their grief and their desperation to do something.

Options floated ranged from crowdfunding…

… to Aunty or SBS picking up the pieces…
… to the NSW government stepping in and sorting this shit out.

“I’d like to see the Government through Arts NSW convene discussion with the founder of Tropfest with the view to seeing how we can ensure this comes back on the state’s artistic calendar next year.” – NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley [source]

And so on and so forth.

But the 23-year-old film festival may have found a saviour in Netflix enemy #1: that of rival streaming-service Presto.

They got in contact with industry publication Mumbrella this morning, to kindly let them know Presto will step up to the plate if need be and #SaveTropfest.

“We’re certainly disappointed that such an iconic and popular event like Tropfest has been cancelled; however, we are currently exploring the possibility of showcasing the finalists’ films,” they said.

“We would be happy to make Presto available as a place for viewers to see these creative works and are exploring options with relevant parties.”

One of those relevant parties, however, is SBS, which would likely be none-too-fucking-pleased about Tropfest’s content going to a competitor. (When contacted by Mumbrella, however, SBS said they were “absorbing the announcement” about Tropfest and wouldn’t comment on whether they’d be ‘chill’ with Presto’s offer.)


PEDESTRIAN.TV
spoke to Presto, who confirmed they are looking into options to get Tropfest on screens.
“As part of our sponsorship, we have available to stream on Presto, from today, a selection of 50 short films from past finalists who have participated in Tropfest,” Presto TV CEO Shaun James told P.TV. “Our sponsorship also allowed for us to stream the 16 finalist films from the 2015 event on Presto shortly after the planned December 6 event. Presto would be more than happy to make this year’s finalists films available on the service sooner than that in lieu of the event not taking place, so Australians have the opportunity to see these creative works.”

Look guys – we’re currently keeping every single extremity crossed that Tropfest will pull through this fiscal fiasco in time for the December event, but there’s a teeny tiny chance that this year they’ll trade Centennial Park for your bed, and a 12m screen for your laptop.

Tropfest and chill?

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