We’ve got great news! Made in the West is proud to announce three new sponsors for the 2018 festival: Western Sydney Business Access (Access News Australia), Western Sydney University and Jaded Belle Productions!
It's not very often someone puts their hand up and says they want to support artists and filmmakers from the West, but we have been overwhelmed this year by some amazing offers of support and we can’t wait to tell you about these great people who are getting behind our cause. We think it’s a good sign of things to come for Western Sydney filmmakers!
Having new sponsors see and support our vision makes us even thirstier for our goal: to build a thriving, productive Western Sydney film scene. We want to see more films being made here, more film jobs going to Western Sydney filmmakers, more arts venues and studios, and more audiences eager to watch locally produced films. We want everyone to celebrate Western Sydney and the amazing film artists that live here.
Meet our local heroes!
Jaded Belle Productions is on a mission to produce films that bring the dark complexities of human experience into sharper focus. Jaded Belle’s screenwriter and producer, Rachael Belle Myers, works with Western Sydney filmmakers to create short films with impact and a strong message to incite change. Winning the Best in the West trophy TWICE at Made in the West 2016 and 2017, scoring a place in the Produce Perfect program in 2018, and co-founding the quarterly networking meetup, ‘Western Sydney Filmmakers Hangout’, Rachael is a champion of the Western Sydney film community. In 2018, Rachael will reveal her latest short film (a Noir, we hear!), made with thanks to the awesome cinematography prize package she won with her 2017 trophy. Jaded Belle Productions has given generously to support the event costs involved with this year’s festival and we are very proud to be able to have Rachael as a sponsor.
Western Sydney University (WSU) offers a Bachelor of Communication in Media Arts Production with strong links to the screen industry, hands-on experience with in-house production and editing studios, and opportunities for project-based work with employers, giving you real skills in screen and television production (and we should know, because we’re alumni!). Since 2014, WSU has kindly donated an iPad to the winners of Best Student Film each year, but this year they’ve totally boosted their support for Western Sydney filmmakers by generously contributing to our festival event costs and donating TV Studio time at their state of the art television studio in Parramatta. Yes, that’s right, you heard it here first - we’re making a television show!! Just a few days after the festival, this year’s trophy winners will be invited on set for the day to chat to our TV host and talk about the festival, their winning film, and what it’s like to be a filmmaker in Western Sydney. The SSP team will be selecting a handful of WSU Media Arts Production students to work with us on the show (get in touch if you’re keen to be involved!), due for release in early 2019. We are super excited to have Western Sydney University’s support in 2018.
Western Sydney Business Access (WSBA) has come on board as our regional media partner, featuring Made in the West promotions in each monthly news magazine and multiple editorial spots throughout the year featuring Western Sydney filmmakers. The popular business magazine and website focuses on the development, lifestyle, progress and people of Greater Western Sydney, offering strong news coverage of local events. The hard copy paper is distributed free to 250 outlets in Western Sydney, Asia and the ACT, including businesses, local councils, and major hotel chains. WSBA has well-established connections among Western Sydney’s business networks and they are passionate about helping local filmmakers gain recognition among investors and supporters from our region. We thank them for helping us shine a light on our thriving filmmaker community.
Three wonderful organisations making a real contribution to the ongoing growth of Made in the West Film Festival and the Western Sydney film community. We salute you!
Meanwhile - we’re calling all filmmakers! Have you made a short film you want to see on the big screen? Early bird submissions are now open for this year’s festival. Submit your film soon and it might be you joining us on set for our very first TV chat show with Western Sydney filmmakers!