Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors and Partners!
- Made in the West Film Festival
- Nov 18
- 10 min read
Fourteen years into this incredible journey, and we've never felt more grateful for the support that surrounds Made in the West.
This year has been one of transformation, growth, and bold new beginnings – and none of it would be possible without the incredible organisations, businesses, and community champions who believe in Western Sydney's creative future.
Connecting with local businesses and allies in the arts industry is at the heart of our mission: to raise awareness of Western Sydney's vibrant creative community, celebrate the talents of local artists, and shine a light on the authentic stories being told right here in our backyard.
This year, we're thrilled to announce that our prize pool has reached more than $32,000 in prizes, equipment, services, and opportunities for local filmmakers.
We've also secured support from nine new sponsors who are helping us bring Western Sydney films to more screens than ever before!
With our brand new festival format expanding across three months, six venues, and 16 additional screening opportunities throughout summer, we're creating unprecedented access to local stories.
From our Opening Night Gala, to Marathon Summer screenings across the region, our online marathon streaming around the world, and our spectacular plans for Closing Night Party – this season is going to be unforgettable.
Let's give a massive round of applause to the local champions, industry leaders, and community partners who are putting their hearts (and wallets) into supporting #WesternSydneyFilm!
By backing Made in the West, they're not only endorsing the local film community – they're shouting it loud and proud for all to hear.
Now, we'd love to introduce them!
Our SCREEN Sponsors are the backbone of Made in the West, contributing funding and resources that cover event running costs, venue hire, technical equipment, and everything that goes into creating our festival season. We couldn't do this without them!
At the heart of it all is Made in the West Creative, the core team of four dedicated people who work tirelessly throughout the year to make this festival happen.
From securing relationships with local businesses and industry guilds to creating partnerships that bring workshops to life and add prizes to the prize pool, this team constantly challenges themselves to make the festival bigger and better every year.
Their hard work is evident in everything we've achieved this season: 16 additional screening opportunities at six new venues, nine new sponsors on board, and a record-breaking $32,000 prize pool.
This expansion means more opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their work, more chances for audiences to see themselves represented on screen, and a stronger, more connected creative community across Western Sydney.
The team's vision and dedication will be enjoyed by the entire community and artists throughout this three-month celebration!
Our festival Artistic Director runs the popular Pagey Train Podcast throughout the year, highlighting and celebrating the work of local artists and thought-leaders, giving them a platform to share their stories and connect with wider audiences. Still Searchin' Productions has been championing Western Sydney filmmakers since day one!
Some of the award winners this year will win an invitation to join Ross on the podcast, and the runner-up Best in the West will also win a foley package for their next film, thanks to SSP.
Ross' ongoing commitment to amplifying Western Sydney voices helps build momentum for local creatives year-round, not just during festival season!
Event Cinemas is a HUGE supporter of the Western Sydney film community, and this year they're going above and beyond! Event Cinemas Liverpool is hosting our Opening Night Gala on Saturday 22 November, plus Sunday Cinema Sessions throughout December and February - that's an extra eight screenings at our favourite Liverpool venue! Check out the Program page for a full list of screenings.
Event Cinemas Campbelltown is also joining the party this year, hosting Wednesday night screenings in February. With their beautiful renovated cinema and Gold Class bar, these sessions are going to be absolutely buzzing!
Chris, Sharon and the highly dedicated teams at both venues work hand in hand with us to ensure every screening runs smoothly. From the stunning V-max cinema with 330 leather armchair seats for Opening Night, to the state-of-the-art digital projection cinemas for ALL the film marathons this season, and the licensed cocktail bars perfect for pre-screening toasts – it's the ultimate filmmaker's dream!
We're so grateful to Event Cinemas for believing in Western Sydney stories and providing the perfect venues to celebrate them on the big screen. And to top it off, every award winner throughout the season will be gifted an Event Cinemas double pass as well. Amazing!
Luke Walker Productions is more than a sponsor – they're family! Luke and his crew will be capturing all the glamour of this year's Opening Night, from the red carpet to filmmaker interviews and all the awards.
Their top-tier gear and filmmaking expertise ensure the magic of the evening is preserved for our online audience, and they do this so that everyone else in the local industry can enjoy the cinema screening experience alongside us.
We're incredibly grateful for his generous contribution of time, equipment, and expertise to capture the festival highlights and create content for our MEGA Movie Marathon streaming online throughout summer.
Plus, the winner of the highly coveted Audience Choice Award will be bestowed with a 4-day DOP package from Luke for their next project. Very cool!
Check out Luke Walker Productions' portfolio and keep them in mind for your next project!
We're thrilled to welcome Liverpool City Council as a new Screen Sponsor this year! Their generous funding contribution is helping us realise our ambitious new festival format, including the expansion to multiple venues across Western Sydney and additional summer screenings throughout the region.
Liverpool City Council's support of local arts and culture makes a real difference to our community, and we're proud to be bringing more Western Sydney films to more Western Sydney screens with their backing!
We're thrilled to welcome Western Sydney University back as a Screen Sponsor! Their ongoing support has allowed us to grow the festival and celebrate the incredible talent of Western Sydney filmmakers, and we are immensely grateful for their contribution to our event costs.
This year, WSU's final year Visual Design students worked on our festival poster as a real-world client project. We're proud to feature student designer Nico Mendoza's stunning work as this year's festival identity!
We've also been working with previous festival volunteer and long-time supporter, Creative Industries student Richard Ayat, who has been learning from the team this year in our Event Management Internship. We love creating meaningful industry experience opportunities for students studying Communication Arts and Creative Industries at WSU!
We're delighted to welcome Screen NSW as a first-time sponsor of Made in the West! Made in the West was one of 23 community film festivals to receive funding as part of their Opening Night Fund, and their contribution is helping us create an unforgettable Opening Night Gala and VIP Meet & Greet experience.
Screen NSW's commitment to supporting grassroots film festivals across the state means so much to us. Thank you for recognising the importance of community-led celebrations like ours!
AFTRS is back on board this year, and we couldn't be more pleased! Their mission to empower storytellers aligns perfectly with what we do here at Made in the West.
With industry-relevant education, hands-on training, and an emphasis on diverse storytelling, AFTRS offers opportunities for creatives at every stage of their journey.
Their undergraduate and Masters programs, as well as short course opportunities in screenwriting, voice-over, directing and more, have something for every aspiring filmmaker to learn from. Thank you to the team at AFTRS for supporting this year's event costs and believing in our mission to uplift Western Sydney filmmakers!
Put your hands together for our wonderful Screen Sponsors!
And now let us tell you, our PRIZE Sponsors are also in a class of their own...
These incredible businesses, industry guilds, and organisations who have donated more than $32,000 worth of prizes, equipment, services, and opportunities to our 2025 award winners. These contributions create meaningful pathways for filmmakers to continue developing their craft and building sustainable creative careers!
We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Panavision Australia as a new sponsor this year! As one of the world's leading camera and lens companies, Panavision's backing of our community means everything. They're contributing a massive $3,500 camera equipment prize package to our People's Choice Award winner, which will be announced at our Closing Night Party in February. This is a game-changing opportunity for a local filmmaker, and we're so grateful for their generous support!
Auteura is a local production studio led by Luke Agius - writer, director and Made in the West festival alumni - and we're so proud to welcome him as a new sponsor! Their mentorship prize shows their commitment to giving back and contributing to the growth of Western Sydney talent. Thank you for supporting the next generation of filmmakers!
Vellamatt Entertainment is another local production studio, helmed by Matthew. C Vella - also Made in the West alumni and a powerhouse producer and director - returning to support Made in the West! Their mentorship and dedication to help lift up emerging filmmakers is exactly the kind of community spirit that makes Western Sydney special. We're so grateful for your support!
We're excited to welcome Australians in Film as a new prize sponsor! Their support helps us expand the reach of local stories internationally, creating connections and opportunities for Western Sydney filmmakers on a global stage. Their prize will open some seriously big doors for one lucky award winner to engage with Australian leaders in the USA film scene!
Another fantastic new addition to our sponsor family! Dingoo's work is helping amplify Western Sydney stories beyond our borders and create international opportunities for local filmmakers. We're so grateful you're creating new distribution pathways for our community's creative talent!
We're absolutely delighted to welcome the Australian Screen Editors as a new sponsor this year! Having industry guilds like ASE supporting Made in the West is incredibly meaningful – it shows that the broader screen industry recognises and commits to support pathways for Western Sydney filmmakers. Thank you for contributing a prize that will support our editors to develop their craft!
Another incredible industry guild joining our sponsor family! Screen Producers Australia's support means so much to our community. Their prizes will create valuable connections between Western Sydney producers and the wider screen industry. We're so grateful to have you on board!
We're thrilled to welcome the Australian Screen Sound Guild as a new sponsor! Having ASSG supporting our sound designers and mixers is a huge milestone for Made in the West. Their prize will help our award winners continue developing their skills and building industry connections. Thank you for welcoming in Western Sydney talent!
WIFT NSW is a vital voice championing gender equity and diversity in the screen industry, and we're honoured to have their support again this year. WIFT NSW's mentorship and membership prize will provide our Outstanding Female Filmmaker award winner with access to their network of industry professionals and resources to help them build a sustainable and rewarding career. Thank you for standing with Western Sydney's creative community!
ACE has been a cornerstone of Western Sydney's creative community for over 30 years, and we're so grateful for their ongoing support. They're donating rehearsal room hire and audio recording studio time to some of our 2025 award winners, providing essential resources for filmmakers to develop their next projects!
The Australian Guild of Screen Composers is supporting our Best Original Music Score winner with membership opportunities that include access to professional resources, networking events, and industry recognition. Thank you for helping us foster more collaboration between filmmakers and composers from the West!
APDG is offering membership opportunities to our Best Production Design winner, including access to mentorship programs, industry resources, and eligibility for APDG Awards. Thank you for supporting Western Sydney's production designers and helping them build connections within the broader creative industry!
The Australian Writers' Guild is offering membership to our Best Screenplay winner, providing access to writing initiatives, competitions, and networking opportunities. Thank you for recognising and supporting the storytellers of Western Sydney!
Creative Plus Business is donating a mentorship for the 2025 Rising Star, providing valuable advice and practical skills for creative professionals. Thank you to Monica and team for empowering Western Sydney artists with your knowledge and expertise!
Marsden Park-based Irierootsini Photography is offering professional actor headshot packages to three of our award winners this year. Thank you to Emil and the team for helping our talented performers promote themselves to casting directors with stunning professional photos!
Million Masters Studio is contributing two awesome music mastering and film mastering packages to our Best Music Video and Best in the West award winners. Thank you Karna for sharing your audio expertise with Western Sydney's emerging filmmakers and musicians!
Founded by Western Sydney local and past Made in the West award winner Pete Ireland, Opening Act Films is donating camera equipment to our Best Student Film winner. Thank you Pete for investing in the next generation of filmmakers and supporting emerging talent!
Sydney Prop Specialists is offering studio hire in their TV production facility to our Best in the West award winner. Thank you for providing essential production resources that will help bring the next creative vision to life!
Please give them all a round of applause! And while you're at it, go and check out their websites and offers, follow them on socials, and keep these local businesses at the top of your go-to list of creative collaborators for your next project.
Meanwhile, take a look at this this list of festival partners who are helping us make this expanded festival season possible, and we're so grateful for their support!
SWR 99.9 FM is our fantastic media partner, running community service announcements encouraging submissions to the festival. With their great reach across Sydney's west, they've helped our festival reach tens of thousands of people across the region. Thank you for amplifying our message!
Western Sydney Filmmakers Hangout is our community partner, hosting the Opening Night After Party at The Mac Hotel once again! Thank you Matthew C Vella and the #WSFH crew for creating spaces where filmmakers can connect, celebrate, and inspire each other!
Penrith City Council is our Closing Night Party partner, contributing funds to help us cover venue costs for our spectacular finale at The Joan in February. Thank you for supporting Western Sydney's creative community!
And a huge collective thank you to our screening venue partners who are hosting screenings throughout the summer: Event Cinemas Liverpool, Event Cinemas Campbelltown, Bankstown Arts Centre, Arts & Cultural Exchange Parramatta, The Street University Liverpool, and The Joan Penrith. Your screening spaces are where the magic happens, where audiences connect with local stories, and where filmmakers will be celebrating seeing their work on the big screen. We couldn't do this without you!
We'd like to say A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE involved in this year's festival program!!
We're so grateful to every single organisation, business, and individual who has supported Made in the West this year. Your contributions – whether funding, prizes, venues, or partnerships – are building a thriving, sustainable creative ecosystem in Western Sydney.
Together, we're championing more locally made films, creating more job opportunities for talented filmmakers in the region, supporting more thriving arts venues and studios, and building a growing audience excited to celebrate homegrown talent.
Want to see the full list of awards and prizes? Check them out here! With this year's record-breaking prize pool, we can't wait to celebrate and share these incredible opportunities with our 2025 award winners.
This year's festival is shaping up to be unforgettable, and our sponsors and partners are at the heart of making it all possible.
If you're a local or small business owner inspired by our vision, we'd love to hear from you! Supporting Made in the West is a chance to be part of something truly special.
Thank you for believing in Western Sydney stories. See you on the red carpet!