Filmmaker Jefferson Grainger followed the struggles, and the dances, of Sydney pensioner Raymond Borzelli for his documentary "Better Than Sinatra".
It won the second prize, and an impromptu $3000 donation to Mr Borzelli from the judges.
The only problem was that he was in bed when it all happened.
"I got the biggest shock of my life when they came to my flat this morning and showed me the Sun Herald, and there was my name on the front page," he told SBS.
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DID YOU MISS TROPFEST? WATCH IT HERE
WATCH THE INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR OF 'BETTER THAN SINATRA'
Victorian filmmaker Nicholas Clifford was crowned the winner at the 21st Tropfest, making him the last person to win before the festival moves dates and location.
Tropfest is waving goodbye to the end of an era as it readies to move from February to December 8 this year and from The Domain to Centennial Park in Sydney.
WATCH INTERVIEWS WITH THE FINALISTS HERE
Unlike last year, when a severe downpour caused the crowd to all but flee, this year brought with it clear skies and a live audience reportedly 90,000 strong.
Clifford was awarded first place for his short We've All Been There by Avatar actor Sam Worthington, who made up the judging panel alongside Magda Szubanski, Rebecca Gibney and The Sapphires director Wayne Blair.
TROPFEST TO CHANCE LOCATION
WATCH THE INTERVIEW WITH RAYMOND BORZELLI ON YOUTUBE
