Comic film about the struggle to say ‘thank you’ makes Tropfest shortlist

When actress Georgina Haig’s son, Frankie, was born almost two years ago, she was struck by a fascinating spiral of social etiquette.

Having sent “thank you” cards to people who had given presents and best wishes, Haig received “thank you” texts in return.

“That got me thinking about how funny the convention of thanking is and when does it end,” she said. “When do we know when to stop thanking people for thank yous?”

Haig turned that thought into a comic short film – writing, directing and playing a small role – that is among the finalists of the resurrected Tropfest announced on Thursday morning.

It’s about a grieving sculptor, Daphne (Holly Austin), whose inability to say thank you makes her a social outcast. But when her work wins a prestigious award, she is expected to say those two fateful words.

“I’m a bit overwhelmed,” Haig, who is best known for the miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart and the film Late Night With The Devil, said minutes after hearing the news from festival founder John Polson. “But I couldn’t be more excited.”

More than 700 filmmakers entered Tropfest, which is returning this month under a high-profile board that includes Sarah Murdoch (as chair), Peter V’landys, Richard Weinberg and Bryan Brown for the first time since 2019.

It will take place in Sydney’s Centennial Park on February 22, with Margot Robbie as president of the jury, and screen globally on Tropfest’s YouTube channel.

Haig, who is hoping the festival is a boost for her ambition to direct a feature film, said thinking about expressing gratitude made her realise her own neediness.

“I’ve been on both ends,” the Melbourne actress said. “I’ve been frustrated when I feel obliged to thank people and I don’t want to. But I’ve also been annoyed when maybe I was expecting a ‘thank you’ and didn’t get one.”

So what did Haig say when Polson told her the film had been selected? Could she bring herself to say “thank you”?

“I did,” she said. “Even though it’s a film about someone who can’t say ‘thank you’, I guess I can and will.”

Polson described Haig’s film as a “beautifully shot, beautifully performed” execution of an original idea.

“The quality of the films is through the roof this year,” he said. “It was a real struggle to get down to 15.”

Polson said that 318 films were good enough to make a shortlist, instead of the usual 80 to 100, which delayed announcing the finalists while he watched them all.

These 15 finalists include six comedies, four dramas, two animations, a documentary, a thriller and a horror film. They all include an hourglass as the signature item that shows they have been made specifically for the festival.

The next best 10 entries will go on Tropfest’s YouTube channel and public voting will determine the 16th finalist.

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