Victorian filmmaker Nicholas Clifford has been crowned victor at the world's largest short film festival, Tropfest.

The Sydney festival is waving goodbye to the end of an era as it readies to move from February to December 8 this year and from The Domain to Centennial Park.

TROPFEST WINNERS 1st - We've All Been There by Nicholas Clifford

2nd - Better Than Sinatra by Jefferson Grainger

3rd - Punctured by Nick Baker and Tristan Klein

Best Male Actor - Nick Hamilton in Time

Best Female Actor - Laura Wheelwright in We've All Been There

Nikon DSLR Award - Matt Hardie for Let It Rain

Unlike last year, when a severe downpour caused the crowd to all but flee, this year brought with it clear skies and a live audience reportedly 90,000 strong on Sunday.

Clifford was awarded first place for his short We've All Been There by Avatar actor Sam Worthington, who made up the judging panel alongside Magda Szubanski, Rebecca Gibney and The Sapphires director Wayne Blair.

Worthington earlier spoke about judging, saying, "it's not about budget, it's not about box office, it's about pure entertainment and that to me is what film should be about. Not all that other junk."

Nicholas Clifford (R) celebrates his win with actor Sam Worthington (L). ( Getty: Brendon Thorne )

Clifford, whose film also won best female actor for Laura Wheelwright, accepted the Tropfest fruit bowl trophy from Worthington.

"I get grief that I look like him sometimes, so this is going to give everyone a bit more ammunition to throw at me. But what a guy," he said.

"He's got this really cool attitude about how it's the journey, not the destination."

On that journey, Clifford will be taking with him prizes including $10,000 cash, a car a camera and a trip to LA.

Sorry, this video has expired No sleep for Tropfest winner's 'good deeds' homage ( Karina Carvalho )

Worthington also created an impromptu award, announcing he and the other judges would award Raymond Borzelli, a dancing busker and audience favourite from documentary Better Than Sinatra, $3000 for best personality.

Another surprise during the night was Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson, who appeared on the big screen with a recorded message from the set of David Michod's new film The Rover in South Australia.

AAP