SubTropFest 2026 - A celebration of Tassie Indie Filmmaking - HOBART Screening

A night celebrating Tasmanian independent short film making - we're showing SEVEN Tassie short films that were entered into Tropfest 2026!

Tropfest is the largest short film festival in the world with almost seven hundred entries this year. Unfortunately, no Tassie entries made it into the final selection (BOO!) - but that is no reflection on the incredible talent and storytelling ability present in the state.

From rollicking comedies to heartfelt emotional stories, these film run the gamult of the Tassie experience. So we want to give them the attention and the audience they deserve; screening them with the film makers in attendence (where possible) to introduce their films. It'll be a great chance to meet the film makers and (with TROPFEST 2027 around the corner) maybe get your own project underway.

Hosted by the wonderful people at Youth Arts & Recreation Centre (1 Market Place, Hobart), canapes and snacks are provided - the venue is alcohol and drug free but feel free to bring your own non-intoxicating libations! Doors open at 730pm for an 8pm start.

The Program:

• Uncaged - Directed by Tara Carroll & Elise Stansfield: Bea and her sweetheart, Rod, attempt to escape from the quiet confines of their nursing home. It will take careful planning and sneaky distractions to reach freedom without being caught.

• Bloody Mainlanders - Directed by Mick Davies: After being diagnosed with Tasmanianinfatalisation (the delusional belief that Tasmania holds the answer to all life’s problems), the Callaway family flees Sydney, only to discover that when fantasy meets reality, it’s not the place that needs fixing… it’s them!

• Frictionary - Directed by Qom Hart: A board game meant for fun becomes a battlefield where winning matters more than friendships – or the law.

• The Lab Coat Fiasco - Directed by Jase Kovacs: Jesse's punk band have a big gig coming up - the only problem is he's stuck in hospital undergoing chemo. A darkly funny yet sweet story that captures the urgent need to be heard – loudly – before the lights go out.

• The Cultsultant - Directed by Conor Castles-Lynch: A day in the life of one of Australia’s only cult consultants.

• The Gauntlet - Directed by John Briggs: In the future where 1 trillion dollars equates to around 1 million dollars in current value, riders take on The Gauntlet: 3 mins of hell for them and 3 min of entertainment for the masses.

• Unless We Talk - Directed by Flynn Moore: Unless we talk is a voice-over driven short film discussing the vulnerabilities and self-acknowledgment of two young adults finding their way.

Doors open at 730pm for an 8pm start.