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Writer's pictureMade in the West Film Festival

Meet your online festival HOSTS!

Made in the West Online Film Festival kicks off TOMORROW at 2pm ADST!!



You will have 24 hours (commencing 2pm Saturday AEDT and ending 2pm Sunday AEDT) to watch the show. If you’re not in Australia you can look up our time zone converter to see what time we kick off where you are.

Reserve your ticket, follow the link we send you and strap in for a HUGE 3-hour marathon of short films including ALL 28 finalist films from the Made in the West 2020 program PLUS we’re bringing you highlights from the night and interviews on the red carpet.

It’s the first time EVER that we are screening Made in the West Film Festival online for our fans and friends at home and we’re SO excited to be sharing Western Sydney films with the world.

We think you will agree that the short films in this year’s line-up are just incredible. And if there’s anything 2020 has taught us all, it’s that staying indoors is MUCH more fun when you’ve got entertainment at hand.

Speaking of entertaining ….

It’s time to meet your HOSTS for the 2020 Online Film Festival!


We’re thrilled to have these two talented and charismatic hosts on your screens this year to get you in the mood for celebration. Please put your hands together for your 2020 hosts:


JESSICA PABIAN

Jess is an emerging documentary film-maker with a thirst for adventure and chasing a story. She is your host for the Online Film Festival this year and we think you’re in good hands! Last year, Jess was a finalist in the festival with her documentary film called Into The Rabbit Hole - she was even nominated for Best Director! Jess is a recent Creative Industries, Journalism and Media Arts Production graduate from Western Sydney University and when she’s not chatting to folks like you on camera, she loves travelling and filmmaking. Last year she travelled to China to make a micro-documentary for the People’s Daily Online, and she has previously travelled to Nepal to make a documentary following nursing and midwifery students through the back streets of Pokhara. We’re so pleased she’s hosting you at the festival this year! You can connect with Jess on Instagram here.


HOLLY KAYE-SMITH

Dr Holly is a social change advocate whose mission is to create and implement ideas for change for a more sustainable world. She will be hosting you on the red carpet at our online festival, interviewing filmmakers during intermission between each segment. Holly is a dedicated social change expert, commentator and media maker who is passionate about environmental and humanitarian issues. She specializes in strategizing and communicating for social change and has over a decade of experience in media, commentating, lecturing and research in areas such as climate change, overconsumption and every-day life activism. We’re so excited to have Holly on the red carpet this year! You can follow Dr Holly on Facebook here.



Please join us in thanking our 2020 online festival hosts!


We're stoked that they can be with us tomorrow to host you all for a great night at home watching the biggest festival line-up EVER produced by the team here at Made in the West.

ALL 28 finalist films in a jam-packed three-hour screening that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own couch, complete with regular intermissions so you can refresh your drink and grab some more snacks, as well as highlights from the red carpet so you can enjoy the full festival experience.


Get dressed up, or stay in your comfy clothes! This is YOUR festival experience and we say anything goes.


Made the West Online Film Festival is the ultimate Covid-Safe film festival experience, so let loose!

Get the festive vibes going before and after the show with our Made in the West After Party playlist on Spotify. This HUGE collection of over 300 songs is the playlist we’ll have on repeat when we celebrate the end of the 2020 festival and the biggest celebration of Western Sydney films that we’ve hosted yet. Oh yes, there will be dancing!


Follow the filmmakers listed in our 2020 Online Festival Program and tell them how much you love their films! Like, tag, post, share and comment about your favourite films on social media to show your support.


While you’re there, follow Made in the West Film Festival on FB or Insta as we celebrate with you!


Share pics of your at-home festival experience with us using the hashtag #madeinthewest


We’re looking forward to hosting you online!


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