Twenty-two years ago, John Polson decided to stage the Tropicana Short Film Festival as an informal short film screening for 200 cast, crew and friends at the Tropicana Cafe in Sydney’s Darlinghurst. Last year, about 150,000 people watched Tropfest. This year, even more will.

Australia’s largest short film festival has signed a three year deal with Amalgamated Holdings Limited, and will now partner with Moonlight Cinema and QT Sydney to screen live nationally.

It will still call Sydney’s Centennial Park home and will screen there on December 7. It will still host stand-alone competitions in New Zealand, South East Asia, New York and the Middle East. It will broadcast free-to-air on SBS 2 to an even bigger home audience.

And this year, it will screen live at Moonlight Cinema locations in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens Central Lawn, Adelaide’s Botanic Park, New Farm Park at Brisbane Powerhouse and Perth’s Kings Park and Botanic Garden.

Other live outdoor screenings will take place at Hobart’s Salamanca Square and in Perth (three screenings) thanks to the Film and Television Institute. There will be rooftop movies and screenings at Northbridge Plaza and the James St Amphitheatre. Screenings at other venues are in the pipeline too.

For those travelling to the event, exclusive accommodation rates and packages will be offered at QT Sydney, Rydges World Square and Rydges Sydney Central.

“Tropfest stands proud as the world’s largest short film festival and an iconic event on Australia’s cultural calendar. In partnering up with Moonlight Cinema, another favourite summer pastime of Australian film lovers, we’re able to ensure more Australians have an opportunity to take part in our Festival” said Michael Laverty, Tropfest managing director.

Ian Sutherland, group marketing director, AHL added, “Tropfest will be a shining star on Moonlight Cinema’s glittering summer program. We can’t wait to bring a night of great quality short films, food, friends and festival fun to film-lovers at Moonlight Cinemas all over Australia. And those who want to be part of the Sydney event can enjoy designer accommodation and the official after party at QT Sydney.”

A 10% accommodation discount will be offered at Rydges World Square and Rydges Sydney Central, and a $295 per night rate at designer hotel, QT Sydney. Packages with a picnic hamper included will also be available.

Entries for this year’s Tropfest are open until October 2, 2014. Films must be no longer than seven minutes and must include this year’s Tropfest Signature Item (TSI): “MIRROR”. It is completely up to entrants as to how they interpret and include the TSI in their film and filmmakers are encouraged to be as creative or as literal as they like.

On Festival Night, the winning filmmaker will take home a prize pack of a brand new Toyota, $10,000 cash, a trip to Los Angeles for a week of meetings with film executives thanks to Motion Picture Association and the Australian Screen Association plus a Nikon D800 + $2,000 RRP worth of lenses and accessories.

The Nikon DSLR Film Category will show off the versatility and capabilities of video recording technology in DSLR cameras. The winner of the Nikon DSLR Film Category will receive a brand new Nikon D610 and $3000 RRP worth of lenses and accessories. All films entered into this category are also eligible to be selected for the big prize as one of the official finalists in the main competition.