Annual short filmmaking competition, Tropfest, is celebrating its 20^th birthday this year, with a three-day-long extravaganza.

The competition is focused on short films and is open to submissions from both emerging and established filmmakers. The only specifications are that films need to be a maximum of seven minutes in length and in Tropfest tradition must contain the TSI (Tropfest signature item), which for this year is… the light bulb.

“Two decades on, we’re fostering filmmaking talent at an international level, offering a ground-breaking opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their skills in front of the largest live audience a short film can get – or any film for that matter. For serious filmmakers, entering Tropfest is like creating a showreel for the job interview of a lifetime,” said Tropfest founder and director, John Polson.

Details for venues (around the country) for the 19 February 2012 ‘winner’s’ screening will be announced soon.

Entries for submissions close Thursday 5 January. Head to tropfest.com/au/ for more details.

The winning film from Tropfest 2011: