"Somebody responded with 'you say you're a world traveller but you can't get the train to Parramatta?'," the founder of the iconic short film festival says.

"All these cool people come to these festivals and travel the world, that's awesome. But you mind taking 25 minutes on a train to get to Tropfest? Come on."

The Lazarus of film festivals – dead when the company licensed to run the festival revealed what Polson called "a terrible and irresponsible mismanagement" of funds, then back to life when an insurance company emerged as an angel sponsor – is facing another crucial night on Saturday.

Reinvented over the last year, the 25th Tropfest has a series of firsts.

With a move from Centennial Park to Parramatta Park, it's the first time outside the eastern suburbs. The first time on a Saturday rather than Sunday. First time with half the 16 films directed by women.

It's the first time the festival is being run as a not-for-profit company with a board chaired by Polson. And while it remains a free "bring your own picnic rug" event, festivalgoers can also reserve a seat – for $49 – for the first time.

"This year is incredibly important," Polson says. "But the big thing is obviously Parramatta. We're very excited about it but it's brand new for us."

The administrator of the City of Parramatta Council, Amanda Chadwick, says the council and Parramatta Park Trust have drawn Tropfest west in a deal worth more than $1 million in cash and other forms of support over three years.

As the city aims to become a vibrant arts centre, Tropfest joins Sydney Festival and Sydney Writers' Festival events, the Live and Local day of music, Parramatta Lanes food and cultural festival, Form dance company and the National Theatre of Parramatta.

"It's such a cherry on the cake in terms of the city's transformation," Chadwick says. "There's a very hungry arts audience that's based in western Sydney."

While she hopes to see 50,000 people at Tropfest, Polson just wants the park to be packed.

"We've always said we're a festival for the people, not a few elite film industry types," he says. "We're putting our money where our mouth is and I'm hoping it's going to work."

Despite all the changes, the festival is still expected to cost more than $1 million to stage. It only went ahead last February after Polson kicked in $300,000 of his own funds to make up for a shortfall.

With CGU Insurance returning, new backing from Western Sydney University and free use of the park, Tropfest 25 has attracted enough sponsors to break even. Nicole Kidman and George Miller are putting up prizemoney again.

"Short of a disaster, I won't have to put my hand into my own pocket, which will be nice," Polson says.

The plan is to build Tropfest in Parramatta over three years.

"I got to thinking about some of the most successful festivals around the world," Polson says. "Cannes happens in Cannes, not in Paris or Nice. The same with Sundance: it doesn't happen in Los Angeles or San Francisco, it's in Park City.

"I was really drawn to the idea – and whether we pull that off in the first year or if it takes us a couple of years – of taking over the town for a weekend or a week."

The festival jury is as star-studded as usual: headed by Rose Byrne, it includes Miller, Sam Neill, director Rachel Perkins and producer Bruna Papandrea.

The ugly dispute with Michael Laverty, the head of the company running Tropfest on licence when it collapsed in late 2015, is yet to be resolved. He admitted to an accounting error which turned out to be a $500,000 funding shortfall.

"I have no idea where he is," Polson says."I had a choice at one point where I could put all my efforts into righting those wrongs or making sure Tropfest didn't die a very sad death and I chose the latter. I don't feel awesome about it but I'm not going to lose any more sleep over it."

HOW TO GET THERE

Tropfest is at Parramatta Park for the first time.

Because of the expected heat, Trop Jr has been moved from the park to Event Cinemas at Westfield Parramatta at noon.

After entertainment in the park from early afternoon, Tropfest films will screen from dusk about 7.30pm.

While the festival is free, patrons can Pick Your Patch to get a reserved seat for $49 plus booking fee from ticketek.com.au

There will be no parking in Parramatta Park and only limited council parking nearby.

From the city, trains leave Central and return regularly, taking about 30 minutes, with a 15-minute walk to the park. Details: transportnsw.info

THE FINALISTS

In screening order ...

The Wall (Tristan Klein and Nick Baker)

Fleeing the city, a grandmother and her grandson reach a tall, endless wall.

Refugees fleeing in The Wall.

The Birth (Sarah Hatherley)

Home births can be a risky business, particularly if your partner is a bloke on a mission.

Can't I Sh#t In Peace? (Julia Morris)

What a working mother of four will do to get a moment of peace.

Talc (Jefferson Grainger)

A man dedicates his life to deciphering the origins of written communication.

Love, Steve (Alex Roberts)

A young man tries to reconnect with his father after news about his sexuality.

Service Update (Olly Sindle)

A man with a mic wants to spread love and good vibes.

Wibble Wobble (Daphne Do)

Cleaning out a dead relative's home gets complicated over a refrigerator sale.

Going Vego (Hannah Bath, Christopher Burke and Mikey Owen)

In a Newtown populated by vegetables, an onion struggles to blend in.

Meat and Potatoes (Arielle Thomas and Ellenor Argyropoulos)

Stuck in the apocalypse without food, a vegan couple meet a stranger.

Jackson Tozer and Arielle Thomas in Meat and Potatoes.

Mutonia Burnout (Eugene E-Nrg)

A journey to Arabana country in the outback, featuring a modern day corroboree.

The Beekeepers (James Dewhirst-Prineas)

Two siblings follow their Kytherian compatriots and emigrate to Australia.

Accomplice (director Michael Noonan)

Troubled by his owner's nocturnal activities, a dog decides to take action.

Diary of a YouTuber (Holly Hargreaves)

A year in the life of a popular YouTuber, from rise to tragic fall.

Still from Diary of a YouTuber.

Passenger (Catherine Mack)

A woman returns from a bushwalk to find a dead body in her car boot.

Scene from Passenger.

Another Olga (Cecilia Rumore)

Olga Horak shares what she has learnt from the horrors of the Holocaust.

The Mother Situation (Matt Day)

Comedy about three adult siblings assisting their terminally ill mother to commit suicide.