We’re only two days away from this year’s event, so we figure you're probably wondering what to expect at this year’s Made in the West Film Festival!
Made in the West is on THIS SATURDAY 24 November at Event Cinemas Liverpool. Doors open at 6pm!
General admission tickets are currently booked out but there is a wait list you can join for last minute tickets. If you have already reserved multiple tickets, please double-check your guests are definitely coming so that you can cancel any unused tickets - there are lots of people still hoping to attend!
Eventbrite allows you to easily change, cancel and update your orders, so please don't let a ticket go to waste if you decide not to come! Contact us if you need help cancelling or changing your tickets.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE SCREENING WESTERN SYDNEY FILMS TO A PACKED HOUSE!
This year’s line-up is fantastic and we can’t wait to show you the films our local filmmakers have been working on. You’re in for a real treat this year!
Here’s what you need need to know:
GETTING THERE IS EASY
Event Cinemas is located on the top floor of Westfield Shopping Centre, on Elizabeth Drive in Liverpool. We recommend taking public transport, though there is also parking available in the Westfield car park. See our FAQs for more information about public transport options, parking and accessibility.
The festival will take place in Cinema 12 and our red carpet photographers will be ready for your arrival in the upstairs foyer. We'll have the whole space roped off just for our festival guests. Meet one of our team members at the festival entrance and show them your ticket (digital or printed) to get in.
WALK THE RED CARPET WITH LOCAL FILMMAKERS
We’re rolling out the red carpet for Western Sydney filmmakers and you’ll be celebrating alongside them! Dress to impress because you’re sure to get snapped by our festival photographers throughout the night.
Invite your cast and crew to take pics in front of our media wall during the intermissions and we'll share the photos with you after the event. Keep an eye out for our red carpet TV crew as they’ll be interviewing our festival finalists during the breaks!
SETTLE IN FOR A NIGHT AT THE CINEMA
We’re so excited to be hosting the festival in our gorgeous new cinema venue! Thanks to our new venue partners Event Cinemas, we’re going to be watching Western Sydney films in style this year -- on a huge cinema screen and in the comfort of our luxury leather arm chairs!
There are no assigned seats, so you are welcome to sit anywhere you like.
The cinema is fully licensed so you can bring your drinks to your seat with you. The foyer bar will be open throughout the event, selling all candy bar food and drink options, plus alcoholic drinks, cocktails and light snack options.
We’re screening 14 films on the night in two segments, with a half-hour intermission between -- the entire festival screening including trailers for local feature films will take about 3 hours. At the end of each segment we will announce the individual category awards for Best Director, Screenplay, Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Design, Original Score, Actor and Actress.
WIN A $50 BAR CARD WITH #MADEINTHEWEST
At first intermission we will announce the winner of our door prize! You could win a $50 bar card to spend during intermission at the cinema bar -- which means the next round is on you! All you need to do to go in the draw is use the #madeinthewest hashtag on Facebook or Instagram at any time on Saturday while you’re getting ready, travelling to, or celebrating at Made in the West.
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE FILM
After all films have finished screening we will hold a live audience vote so YOU can nominate your favourites! We think it’s the best part of the night because we know that for local filmmakers the audience reaction is just as important as the judges’ decisions -- and let’s face it, sometimes we disagree with the judges!! This is our way to let you have a say, because YOU decide the final award winning film.
We’ll have programs and voting cards ready for you (don’t lose them!) and we’ll hand out pens when it’s time to select your top three films. We count the votes during the final intermission and then send someone home with a beautiful crystal trophy, all thanks to you!
AWARDS AND PRIZES
If you’ve been named one of our 2018 finalists, you’re in the running to win! Independent filmmakers will compete for the title of Best in the West, a prestigious award recognising the top talent from Western Sydney each year as voted for by our panel of judges. Student filmmakers will compete for the Best Student Film Award and total bragging rights among your mates because let’s face it, your bright future in film will be practically assured. And, of course, there’s the highly coveted Audience Choice Award, as voted by YOU on the night.
This year we have some amazing prizes to give away thanks to our wonderful sponsors! We’ve secured over $15,000 in equipment rental and studio hire, DOP packages for your next project, consultations and mentorships with industry experts, actor’s headshot photo packages and best of all, an invitation to join us on Made in the West TV -- so many great things to get you started on a productive year of filmmaking in 2019! Good luck to all of the nominees.
THE FESTIVAL AFTER-PARTY
After 11pm, if you are keen to celebrate into the night with the SSP team and our 2018 finalists, we'd love for you to join us at the festival after-party at the Macquarie Hotel! Thanks to the team at Macquarie Bistro, they’ll be keeping the kitchen open until late just for our festival guests, so if you’re hungry after all the film viewings and festival antics, then head to The Mac to grab something to eat at the end of the night.
The Macquarie Hotel is at the top of the Macquarie Mall and only 700m from the cinema. Follow the crowd as they walk up the mall after the festival finishes and you’ll find The Mac at the top of the street on the right. The after-party will be held in their leafy outdoor courtyard & lounge area -- we’ll see you there!
WE CAN’T WAIT!!
We hope this information has been helpful! Check out our FAQ page if you have any questions that went unanswered, or get in contact with us if you need any help.
We’re SO excited to see you all on Saturday at the festival and we can’t wait to showcase this fantastic selection of Western Sydney films.
See you on the red carpet!