Countdown to the Closing Night Party
- Made in the West Film Festival
- Jan 21
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Made in the West Film Festival is heading into its final month of February screenings, and there’s still so much to see, vote for, and celebrate!
After weeks of cinema screenings, powerful stories, and movie marathons held across Western Sydney, we’ll be bringing the season to a close with a Closing Night Party on Saturday 28 February from 7–9pm at THE JOAN in Penrith.
This is your chance to come together with filmmakers, audiences, and supporters to celebrate the films, the votes, and the community that has made this summer such a success.
What’s happening on the final night of the festival, you ask?
The Closing Night Party is more than just a wrap-up. It’s a celebration of the voices and stories that have lit up screens across Western Sydney this summer.
On the night, we’ll be:
Screening the People’s Choice Award–winning film
Talk to some of our award-winning filmmakers
Announcing all final awards and prizes, including:
People’s Choice Award (sponsored by Panavision)
Six Genre Awards: Best Drama, Thriller, Horror, Documentary, Action & Comedy
Outstanding Female Filmmaker Award (sponsored by WIFT NSW)
The inaugural Rising Star Award (sponsored by Australians in Film, Irierootsini Photography and Creative Plus Business)
Networking with filmmakers and celebrating the end of an amazing #SummerofFilm in Western Sydney.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, a film lover, or a proud supporter of local stories, this night is for you.
There’s still time to catch the films (and vote!)
There’s one full month of screenings still to come, with our 90-minute Movie Marathons rolling out across Western Sydney every week:
Wednesdays at 7pm in Campbelltown at EVENT Cinemas
Fridays at 7pm in Parramatta at Arts & Cultural Exchange
Saturdays at 6pm in Bankstown at Bankstown Arts Centre
Sundays at 3pm in Liverpool at EVENT Cinemas
How lucky are we to be able to see local films on our local cinema screens? HUGE thanks to our partner venues for collaborating with us on so many events this summer - it has been amazing to see all our work up on screens around the city.
And there's still 12 sessions to go!!
Each marathon features a curated selection of short films that pack a punch, including:Thrills & Chills, Locked & Loaded, In Between Worlds, Mind Over Matter, Real World Stories, Fun Size Shorts, Truth & Illusion, and Deep Cuts.
All 36 films in the program are eligible for awards, and every audience member gets to vote for the winners.
Your vote counts (and it’s easy!)
Voting for the People’s Choice Award happens at the end of each marathon screening. When the QR code appears on screen, simply scan the code and vote online.
Audiences attending in-cinema screenings and viewers watching online can all take part. So far, we’ve already collected over 250 votes, and there’s still plenty of time to tip the scales.
Filmmakers – that means now is the moment to rally your supporters and get them into cinemas or online to vote.
Can’t make it to the cinema? You can still be part of the festival from anywhere!
Our MEGA Movie Marathon is now available to stream online too – it’s our bumper 3-hour online marathon packed with festival favourites from across the season.
Online viewers can also vote, helping decide the final awards announced on Closing Night. We can’t wait to see who takes home the 2025 People’s Choice Award!
Whether you join us in Campbelltown, Parramatta, Bankstown, Liverpool, or online, February is all about celebrating Western Sydney stories and the audiences who champion them.
Come and join the fun! See here for Tickets, program & info
Thanks for supporting indie film and the local filmmakers at the heart of our community.
We’ll see you throughout February at your local cinema!