2008 Tropfest finalists

→ The Tropfest short film festival is held in Sydney, Australia each year. The festival was won by Marry Me. Following is a list of the finalists.

Ascension

Synopsis	Two men. One elevator. No way out.
Director	David Easteal
Producer	Simon Weaving
Writer	David Easteal
Sound design	Henry Birkbeck
Composer	Troy Hambly
Editor	David Easteal
Key cast	Matthew Newton, Bruce Spence

Beggars Belief

Synopsis	A young man, down on his luck, approaches passers-by for some spare change. His improbable tale of woe just doesn't seem to be doing the trick. But then a kind soul comes along and offers him the very last thing he needs.
Director	Colin Cairnes
Producer	Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
Writer	Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
Sound design	Ant Bohun
Composer	Kersley York
Editor	Dale Dunn
Key cast	Chris Lee, Georgina Capper, Linden Compassi, Trent Baker

Blues for the Soul

Synopsis	Peter Crowe gives us an insight into what music means to all of us and how it affects our well-being. Can music heal? Can it give us hope? Maybe the music will give you the answers.
Director	Dean Preston
Producer	Dean Preston
Writer	Dean Preston
Sound design	Dean Preston
Composer	Peter Crowe
Editor	Dean Preston
Key cast	Peter Crowe

The Code

Synopsis	Damian is the brains of his year seven class. He devises a secret code to pass a multiple choice test. Will the code be broken?
Director	Murray Fahey
Producer	Murray Fahey
Writer	Murray Fahey
Composer	Kevin Macleod
Editor	Peter Borosh
Key cast	Rebecca De Unamuno, Shardyn Fahey-Leigh, Tayzin Fahey-Leigh

Dusk

Synopsis	In the summer of '77, a boy and a girl hide in the sand hills and look life in the eye.
Director	William Allert
Producer	William Allert
Writer	William Allert
Sound design	Brad Hurt
Composer	Quentin Grant
Editor	Brad Hurt
Key cast	Elena Carapetis, Hero Cook, Jaidyn Steele, Neal Soulis

Fault

Synopsis	A creation story. A myth. Your world is your paradise, but what if you lose it? Do you get a second chance? Do you deserve one?
Director	Daniel Miller
Producer	Daniel Miller
Writer	Daniel Miller
Sound design	Mark Webber
Composer	Troy Hambly

Glass

Synopsis	John's life is thrown into confusion when he is confronted by a woman late one night in his office.
Director	Jayne Montague
Producer	Jayne Montague
Writer	Jayne Montague
Composer	Benjamin Speed
Editor	Rolmar Baldonado
Key cast	Callan Mulvey, Lara Cox, Tai Nguyen

Great White Hunters

Synopsis	A documentary about three fishing buddies set out to land "the ultimate catch..."
Director	Gary Doust
Producer	Gary Doust
Writer
Sound design	Mark Tanner
Composer	Carlo Giacco
Editor	Julie-Anne De Ruvo

Looped

Synopsis	Sarah Crowest's humorous yet darkly tinged film explores the impulse towards repetitive acts through a focus on a handful of individuals. One person's comforting routine is another's compulsion to ritualise.
Director	Sarah Crowest
Producer	Sarah Crowest
Writer	Sarah Crowest
Sound design	Duncan Campbell
Composer	Sarah Crowest
Editor	John Bowler
Key cast	Akira Akira, Alison Currie, Charlotte Hamlyn, Lachy Lang, Tamara Lee, Matthew Lorenzon, Rachel McElwee, Sophia Simons, Eugene Suleau

Made in Australia

Synopsis	Determined to succeed at Sony Tropfest, amateur Scottish filmmakers Peter & Brian go all out to produce a film which they know will melt the hearts of even the toughest Australian audience.
Director	Monte Macpherson
Producer	Monte Macpherson
Writer	Monte Macpherson
Sound design	Monte Macpherson
Composer	Monte Macpherson
Editor	Monte Macpherson
Key cast	Bob Rafferty, Dominic Watters, Karli Evans

Marry Me

Synopsis	A little love story about a little girl who likes a little boy and a little boy who likes his BMX bike.
Director	Michelle Lehman
Producer	Michelle Lehman, Karl Conti
Writer	Michelle Lehman
Sound design	Brendon Maher
Composer	Kris Macken
Editor	Myles Conti
Key cast	Jahla Bryant, Ryan Fitzpatrick

Mouse Race!

Synopsis	Australians will bet on anything – but mice!? A fascinating and funny journey into the seedy underworld of amateur mouse racing.
Director	Paul Williams
Producer	Paul Williams
Writer	Paul Williams
Sound design	Juliet Hill
Editor	Paul Williams

Scab

Synopsis	Cute, itchy, and hard. Do you leave it alone… or eat it? Whatever you do – don't pick it!
Director	Koichi Iguchi
Producer	Akito Hirai
Writer
Sound design	Tomy
Composer	Illreme
Editor	Junya Otsuka, Takauki Mori
Key cast	Eigo Kuriyama, Rikito Kikuchi, Takako Hayakawa, Serina Saito, Hidehiro Takehara, Akemi Unazawa

Smitten

Synopsis	Majestic, pretty surroundings, a quiet old horse, and three sweet members of the older generation – but don't be fooled. Something sinister is about to unfold.
Director	Grey Rogers
Producer	Grey Rogers, Jodie Camilleri
Writer	Grey Rogers
Composer	Pete Jones
Editor	Sam Bowden
Key cast	Andrew Gilmour, Geoff Burns, Val Lehman

Uncle Jonny

Synopsis	Uncle Jonny is the best mate of a 7-year-old who is daydreaming during class.
Director	Mark Constable
Producer	Mark Constable, Tom Heuzenroeder
Writer	Mark Constable
Sound design	Tom Heuzenroeder
Composer	Tom Heuzenroeder
Editor	David Scarborough
Key cast	Mark Constable, Tom Nunan

White Lines

Synopsis	When a routine bust goes horribly wrong, a rookie ignores the book and his partner by placing his career on the line to bring his man down at any cost.
Director	Craig Maclean
Producer	Craig Maclean, Steve Kearney, Leanne Tonkes
Writer	Craig Maclean
Sound design	Dylan Stephens
Editor	Eugene Richards
Key cast	Colin Lane, Scott Harrison, Michael Sweatman, Gwen Kewley, Kristen Hemingway, Oliver Greenwood, Cameron Murray, Lynne Patterson, Nickey Robinson