We’re only four days away from the festival, so we figure you're probably wondering what to expect!
Made in the West is on THIS SATURDAY 23 November at Event Cinemas Liverpool. Doors open at 6pm!
There are less than twenty general admission tickets left. Once they go, we’ll be running a waitlist and it will be a case of first in, first served.
If you have already reserved multiple tickets, please double-check your guests are definitely coming so that you can cancel any unused tickets!
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.
This year’s line-up is pretty stellar and we can’t wait to show you the films our local filmmakers have been working on. You’re in for a real treat!
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 scheduled track work taking place this weekend. Visit Transport NSW for more information and to plan your trip.
Important: Trackwork between Bankstown, Fairfield and Glenfield on Saturday 23 November.
From Bankstown: Alight and follow signage/ directions from Transport NSW staff to board the 4AT3 replacement bus service to Liverpool Interchange.
From Fairfield or Glenfield: Alight and follow signage/ directions from Transport NSW staff to board the 82T2 replacement bus service to Liverpool Interchange.
There are other replacement services which will take you to Liverpool Interchange from these nearby destinations, however the above routes are the most express. If you are travelling on the T1 Western Line, trains are running to a changed timetable.
For more details and to plan your trip: www.transportnsw.info
Parking is available in the Westfield car park - which is completely free if you enter after 6pm. See our FAQs for more information about public transport options, parking and accessibility.
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
Thanks to our venue partners, we’re going to be watching Western Sydney films in style - on a huge Vmax cinema screen and in the comfort of our luxury leather arm chairs!
We’re screening 18 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.
There are no assigned seats, so you are welcome to sit anywhere you like. All filmmakers who entered a film this year are invited to join us in our priority VIP seating area to mingle with other creatives from the west and join us during intermission at your very own private bar.
GRAB A DRINK & SOMETHING TO EAT
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. The in-cinema VIP bar is open during intermission only.
Order food when you arrive for collection during our first intermission (8pm), or place your order during our first intermission for collection during the second (10pm). Event Cinemas has a selection of hot snack foods options available including buffalo chicken wings, hot dogs, fish & chips and mini sliders.
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 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 winner of our final award.
We’ll have voting cards and pens ready for you (don’t lose them!) 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 2019 finalists, you’re in the running to win some great prizes!
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.
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. Good luck to this year's award nominees!
This year we have some amazing prizes to give away thanks to our wonderful sponsors! We’ve secured over $10,000 in 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 2020!
THE FESTIVAL AFTER-PARTY
After 11pm, if you are keen to celebrate into the night with the SSP team and our 2019 finalists (and winners!), 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 see 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!
Remember - with scheduled track work - to plan your return trip home. The Mac is about 500m from the Liverpool train station.
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!