by FIlmInk Staff
Joel Phillips from Sydney, New South Wales, crowned winner of Tropfest’s Chery Filmmaker Challenge taking home $10k and securing a feature in upcoming campaign
Tropfest has announced Joel Phillips, from Sydney, New South Wales as the winner of the inaugural Chery Filmmaker Challenge, an initiative introduced by Chery Motor Australia to champion bold emerging voices in film.
Unveiled as part of Chery’s partnership with Tropfest 2026, the Chery Filmmaker Challenge invited creatives from across the country to produce an original 45-second short film responding to the theme “For The Road Ahead.” The brief encouraged filmmakers to interpret the idea of forward momentum through innovative and compelling storytelling.
From a highly competitive field of nearly 100 entries, Joel captured the attention of judges with his strong execution and thoughtful interpretation of the brief. Joel’s vision was clear, focusing on Chery’s ambition and the possibility of adventure. Joel works as a voice actor and self-narrated the video.
As the winner of the Chery Filmmaker Challenge, Joel will receive a $10,000 cash prize, and his film will be featured as part of Chery’s national marketing activity, providing a significant platform to showcase his work to a broader audience.
Speaking on the initiative, Tropfest’s Founder, John Polson said: “Tropfest has always been about creating real opportunities for emerging filmmakers, and with the festival’s return after seven years, our mission is to expand those opportunities even further. It’s exciting to see partners like Chery step in with initiatives such as the Chery Filmmaker Challenge. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Joel Phillips, whose piece captured the spirit of the challenge, and to the shortlisted finalists. We’re looking forward to continuing the momentum with Chery and supporting the next generation of creative talent.”
Lucas Harris, Chief Operating Officer, Chery said: “At Chery, innovation is at the core of everything we do, and the Chery Filmmaker Challenge is a natural extension of that philosophy. We’re proud to support emerging filmmakers like Joel, whose work embodies creativity, ambition, and forward thinking. Collaborating with Tropfest and providing a platform for new voices to be seen and celebrated is incredibly important to us. We’re excited to see where this opportunity takes him next.”
Joel Phillips, Chery Filmmaker Challenge winner, said “I am humbled to have been awarded this honour and won the first Chery Filmmaker Challenge at Tropfest! I loved the creative challenge that only 45 seconds presents and means a lot having my work recognised. I’m thrilled for it to be part of Chery’s upcoming campaign.”
This announcement follows Chery’s successful partnership with Tropfest as the Official Automative Partner, where the brand played an integral role in enhancing this year’s festival experience. From an immersive Chery Road Ahead Lounge to a Chery Mobile Black Carpet Studio, Chery’s presence underscored its commitment to innovation and creative expression.
The Chery Filmmaker Challenge complements the Chery Creative Acceleration Award, also introduced this year, which recognises a filmmaker whose work embodies ambition, innovation and creative excellence. This year’s recipient, Georgina Haig, was awarded a Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid to help drive her creative journey forward.
Tropfest 2026 marked a highly anticipated return for the iconic festival, held at Centennial Park, drawing thousands of attendees and reaching global audiences via livestream. The continued partnership between Tropfest and Chery reflects a shared commitment to nurturing emerging talent and accelerating the future of Australian storytelling.
