Get ready folks, because we're about to unveil the festival prize list for this year and oh boy is it exciting!! Made in the West is giving away $25,000 in prizes this year, thanks to sixteen amazing businesses and supporters who have stood up and pledged their support for #WesternSydneyFilm on the red carpet!
We couldn’t be more proud of the way this community rallies together to support local film!
We know you’ve heard about our 2023 Screen Sponsors and the wonderful contribution they make to our event, helping us put on a great show and pay our awesome crew – we couldn’t do what we do without the help of our screen sponsors.
But there are even more supporters out there that we haven’t yet told you about! Today we want to announce our festival PRIZE sponsors – these wonderful businesses have all pitched in for this year’s amazing prize pool!
Our sponsors make a big difference to Made in the West and the lives of local filmmakers, not only through gifting fantastic prizes, but also through helping us build the connections that are necessary between industry and artists, and the networks we all benefit from as we work in and build up our creative lives here in the West.
From studio hire and set building, to DOP and sound mastering packages, rehearsal rooms and recording sessions, foley shoots and photo sessions, to workshops, mentorships and equipment – there’s so much good stuff in there that’ll keep you being creative in the year ahead.
Plus, we’re just so impressed that this year’s prize pool is valued at $25,000!! What an amazing milestone for Made in the West to achieve!
So we want to give a huge shout-out to the local organisations that are joining with Made in the West this year and contributing prizes to the festival. From all of us at SSP, we want to shout a massive THANK YOU to our 2023 prize sponsors.
Their support for Western Sydney filmmakers warms our hearts and fuels our determination.
When local businesses see our vision for a creative future here out west and decide to stand by our side in trying to achieve that, it ignites a fire within us to achieve our mission to build a thriving, productive, and inclusive Western Sydney film scene.
We know we can't do it alone. Our journey over the past decade has been a labour of love, marked by collaboration and a strong community spirit.
As we look ahead, we recognise that creating a powerfully connected creative industry that supports and celebrates the artists of Western Sydney over the next decade will require a shared vision for a prosperous and creative future.
Together, we're making waves and building a legacy that's nothing short of extraordinary.
And on that note, we would like to say THANK YOU to the following organisations for supporting Made in the West and the Western Sydney creative community!
Take a look at their websites, give them a like on socials, and check out the fantastic work they do! We can't wait to see who WINS these amazing awards!
Studio Plasterers Australia
Studio Plasterers Australia is the creative powerhouse behind some of the most stunning TV and film sets and they are based right here in Western Sydney. For the last 30 years they have become a go-to name in set design and construction and as their Instagram feed shows us, they are amazing artists! From intricate steel fabrication to masterful carpentry, foam sculpting that breathes life into fantasies, large scale printing and plastering that transforms visions into reality, and scenic artwork that paints vivid stories, Studio Plasterers Australia is the real deal in bringing films to life! What's even more remarkable is their generous spirit. They've signed on to contribute a spectacular $10,000 prize for set design and construction for the winner of the Best in the West trophy, which is a huge sign of their dedication to fostering local talent and generating new collaborations that push the boundaries of creativity in the film industry. Thanks so much, Studio Plasterers Australia!
Luke Walker Productions
Luke Walker has worked as DOP / Aerial DOP for some of the country’s biggest brands, including Sony and ANZ Bank, as well as on the set of blockbusters like Pacific Rim and Peter Rabbit. Luke has a huge collection of lighting and equipment and he loves shooting films with Western Sydney filmmakers. Thanks to Luke Walker Productions, the 2023 Audience Choice Award winner will be awarded a 4-day DOP package (valued at $6000) with equipment, lighting and expertise included, so you can work with Luke on the set of your next short film! Thanks Luke for this amazing prize!!
Sydney Prop Specialists
If you’re a filmmaker and you haven’t been to check out Sydney Prop Specialists yet, you’re missing out! With the largest collection of props in Australia and an extensive collection of backdrops, furniture and staging equipment, Sydney Props has all the props you need for your next film shoot. In 2023, Sydney Props is offering one full day hire (8am-6pm) in Studio 4 which is a soundproof, air-conditioned 12m x 9m TV studio for the winner of our Best in the West Award! You will have everything you need on set with a change room, makeup area and toilets, plus a well-equipped kitchen and prep room immediately adjacent - it’s the perfect studio for your next interior set build, in-car driving scene, or music video shoot (valued at $1100). Thanks so much Sydney Props for supporting local filmmakers!
Opening Act Studios
Opening Act Studios was founded by Pete Ireland, Western Sydney local and previous festival award winner. Opening Act Films is a boutique screen production outfit specialising in indie film, episodic, and corporate creative storytelling. They’ve created award-winning screen stories that have been screened in Australian Academy (AACTA) accredited, FIAPF accredited and Oscar accredited film festivals; broadcast on television in Australia and Europe, and screened in many other film festivals in Australia and internationally. They reached out to us and offered their support donating a brand new 4K 6-inch FEELWORLD on-camera Field Monitor to the winner of the Best Student Film award. Talk about a great way to encourage the next gen of local filmmakers!
Million Masters Studio
Million Masters is a full-service music production studio, owned and operated by producer and mastering engineer Karna K. whose credits include Skarlett, The Fades, MACC, The Buena Vista Social Club and many more. For the first time this year, Million Masters is offering a prize package to the winner of Best Music video to have their next song or music video professionally mixed and mastered (valued at $1300)! But that’s not all… in addition to mastering music for some great bands and musicians, Karna K. is also amazing at mastering films – and we all know how important great sound is in our films! So, we’re pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s Best Student Film trophy will also be the lucky winner of a film mastering package (valued at $1000), to use on their next short film. Thanks so much to Karna and Million Masters for these super prizes!
Irierootsini Photography
Blacktown based photographer Irierootsini Photography specialises in artist portraits and product photography. In 2023, Irierootsini Photography is offering the winners of the Best Actor in a Lead and Supporting Role a Professional Actors Headshots package (valued at $550) which includes a 2-3 hour photoshoot with a professional photographer in the Irierootsini Studio and up to 15 retouched images - what a great prize for our acting category award winners! Thanks so much to Emil at Irierootsini Photography!
Arts & Cultural Exchange (ACE), Parramatta
ACE has worked with Western Sydney communities, artists and creative producers to deliver professional development pathways for emerging cultural entrepreneurs for over 30 years. In 2023, ACE is pitching in three great prizes that will help award-winning local filmmakers with their next big projects - amazing! For the winner of the Best Screenplay award, ACE is offering you one day room hire for your next table read or writing room session! For the winner of the Best Director award, ACE is offering you one day room hire for your next round of auditions or rehearsals! And for the runner-up in our Best Music Video category, you’ll win one week in the sound recording studio to record your next set of tracks! HUGE thanks to ACE for these great prizes!
Creative Plus Business Creative + Business provides training, coaching, resources, and ever-so-helpful advice to help you find self-employed success in your creative field. No matter who you are, or where in your creative practice and profession, you'll find what you need – the right information from the right people, a bit of support, and the encouragement to inspire you to pursue your creative and business dreams. Monica and the team at Creative+Business are donating $99 vouchers for their popular online business workshops for every single one of the individual award winners and $49 for all our runners up! Winners will be able to take their pick from the selection of courses available and you’ll have one year to complete, which is just fabulous!
We’ve been working with Monica and the team at Creative + Business for two years now, getting professional coaching advice for our team here at Made in the West CREATIVE. We value that one on one time so much and we have learned so much – about ourselves AND our creative goals! If you need help or advice for your filmmaking business, check out their coaching with one of their professional advisors so you can get help on whatever aspect of the work your filmmaking business needs, from strategic marketing and management, to finance or start-up help. BIG THANKS to Monica and the team at Creative Plus Business!
Peter Millynn
Peter Millynn is a freelance screen educator and practitioner with more than 30 years experience in the industry as an actor, writer, musician, recording studio operator, production accountant, production manager and producer. He has mentored and overseen the development and production of over 950 short films including numerous festival winners and three Academy Award nominees. He also happens to be on our awesome judging panel! This year, Peter is offering a screen mentorship prize to the runner-up in our Best Student Film category, which includes one initial script consultation (online) for your next film idea and 2-3 follow up sessions to guide you from story concept to screen production. What an incredible opportunity, thanks Peter!
Australian Production Design Guild
The Australian Production Design Guild was established in 2009 as a non-profit organisation that aims to represent designers and their associates in screen, live performance, events and digital production across Australia. In 2023, APDG will be offering a one-year Emerging Producer membership to the winner of the Best Production Design award, Includes advertising in Member Directory, eligibility for ‘Emerging Designer’ category at APDG Awards and the new MentorAPDG program, access to events, discounts and members-only resources. Thanks so much for supporting our production designers, APDG!
Australian Writers’ Guild
The Australian Writers’ Guild is the professional association representing writers for stage, screen, radio and online and has protected and promoted their creative and professional interests for 60 years. AWG provides industrial advice to members as well as professional development and networking opportunities, as well as hosting an annual calendar of writing competitions, including the prestigious AWGIE Awards. In 2023, AWG is offering a one-year Associate Membership to the winner of the Best Screenplay award, which includes access to services and networking opportunities and the opportunity to apply for the many writing initiatives they run throughout the year. Thanks so much AWG for supporting our emerging screenwriters!
AGSC
The Australian Guild of Screen Composers is a community of professional screen composers, dedicated to supporting both emerging and established Australian screen composers in film, television, gaming or related industries. We’ve been working with AGSC during the year to increase connections between screen composers and filmmakers from the west and the results have been great. For the first time this year, AGSC are offering the Best Original Score award winner a one-year membership (Full, Student or Associate), which can include advertising in the members directory, access to professional development opportunities and members-only resources. Big thanks to the AGSC for this great prize - we’re so pleased to have you on board!
Still Searchin’ Productions
Still Searchin' Productions are the team that founded Made in the West Film Festival and we are looking forward to hosting you again this November. We are strong advocates for Western Sydney filmmakers and the emerging talent in our local film scene. In 2023, each major award winner will receive an invitation to join Festival AD Ross Page (a.k.a Roscoe Pagey Train) on the Pagey Train Podcast to chat about their film work and promote their latest projects. You might not know this, but AD Ross has a background in music and is also a keen Foley artist and ADR specialist, so we’re also offering a prize to the runner-up in the Best in the West category for a Foley Package including sound effects, atmosphere (including rescue jobs!) and ADR advice for your next film. How sweet is that!? Thanks SSP!
THANK YOU to these wonderful organisations for making a real contribution to the ongoing growth of the Western Sydney film community.
We’re absolutely blown away by this year’s prize haul – it’s our biggest ever! Thanks to the generosity of our festival prize sponsors it will be our absolute pleasure to share this awesome prize haul among this year’s award winners.
We love that our sponsors and partners are helping us build creative opportunities here out west.
We're all about more films being made right here, more film jobs going to the talented filmmakers of Western Sydney, more arts venues and studios flourishing, and a growing audience excited to see locally made films.
If you are a local or small business owner and would like to support Made in the West too, please contact us!
In the meantime, stay tuned for more festival announcements coming soon!
You can follow us on Facebook or Instagram for regular event information and instructions before festival week.
Surely you have heard.... tickets are now open!!
See you at the festival!