With just three days to go until the resurrected Tropfest short film festival takes over Centennial Parklands, organisers have named Mel Gibson as a last-minute addition to the lineup of the celebrity judges.
Gibson is currently in Australia to direct the World War II drama Hacksaw Ridge. On Sunday he will join actors Simon Baker and Rebecca Gibney, cinematographer Don McAlpine and director Jocelyn Moorhouse on the judging panel, to rank the 16 Tropfest short film finalists.
“I’m really thrilled to be in Sydney, and to have been invited to judge Tropfest,” said Gibson in a statement. "I know what it’s like to be starting out in this industry, in Australia, and what a big difference a break can make to a career." he said.
Tropfest founder and director John Polson said of securing Gibson on the panel: “Mel is one of Australia’s most prolific and talented actors, as well as an Academy Award winning director. It doesn’t get better than this."
The winner of Tropfest will receive $10,000 cash, a trip to Los Angeles for a week of meetings with industry execs, a Hyundai Tucson for a year, and a Nikon D800 plus lenses and accessories.
SBS 2 will broadcast Tropfest at 9pm Sunday February 14.
