The countdown to Made in the West Film Festival is on!
Updated: 5 days ago
Submissions have closed, our jury is watching, and preparations for our 15th anniversary season are well underway. Made in the West Film Festival returns to Event Cinemas Liverpool for Opening Night on Saturday 28 November 2026, kicking off a summer of Western Sydney films and celebrations.
Congratulations to everyone who submitted a film! We know how much goes into getting your stories onto the screen, and we can’t wait to introduce this year’s program.
This year, as you may have noticed, we’ve given the lead-up a little more room!
Our usual four-week countdown is now closer to seven weeks between submissions closing and all of us celebrating Opening Night, with jury deliberations, sponsor announcements and a full program reveal along the way.
So, we can imagine you're now wondering when you’ll hear updates and what's coming up next! Here's the lowdown, friends.
Right now: the jury is watching
With submissions closing on 9 October, we’re now in the midst of the jury selection period.
Over the next two weeks, our judges will be watching and assessing this year’s entries, bringing their varied expertise and perspectives to the task.
There’s plenty happening behind the scenes as we prepare the screening program and get ready to share the films that will make up our 15th anniversary season.
For now, meet the people taking on those big decisions in our 2026 Awards Jury announcement.
Coming up: sponsors and prizes
While the jury gets to work, we’re introducing the sponsors and partners helping bring this year’s festival to life. Did you see the first sponsors announced earlier this week?
We’re finalising a prize pool right now that’s set to be upwards of $25,000, with awards supporting filmmakers to build their skills, make connections and take their next creative steps.
The full prize list is coming very soon!
Keep an eye out for more sponsor announcements as we reveal the businesses and organisations backing Western Sydney filmmakers and the creative community here out West.
Before the program drops: priority ticket offers
Want to get your festival plans sorted early? Sign up to our newsletter for priority ticket offers ahead of the public program announcement. Click on the pink banner on our website to register!
Filmmaker VIPs and newsletter subscribers will have the opportunity to access tickets before the program launches on Friday 30 October. We’ll send the details directly to your inbox, so now is a good time to make sure you’re on the list.
Gather your cinema crew and get ready to choose your sessions!
Friday 30 October: the program reveal
This is the date to circle! On Friday 30 October, we’ll reveal our 2026 Official Selection and festival program. You’ll discover which films are heading to the big screen, when they’re screening, and how to join us across the season.
Every film in the Official Selection will have its place in the cinema program, giving filmmakers the chance to gather their cast, crew, friends and family to enjoy their work on the big screen at Event Cinemas Liverpool.
Opening Night is our shared launch party: a chance for filmmakers from across the program to walk the red carpet, get photographed, meet fellow creatives and enjoy the spotlight. It’s also a great opportunity to build some buzz for your screening!
So when the program drops at the end of October, it’s time find your session, rally your supporters and plan your get together at the cinema.
In November: meet the award nominees
Once the program is out, we’ll turn the spotlight onto this year’s jury award nominees.
Throughout November, we’ll introduce the filmmakers and screen talent in the running for recognition, before revealing the jury award winners at our Opening Night Awards Gala.
Spot a familiar name? See a film you worked on? This is your cue to share the news and help us celebrate the people behind the screen!
Saturday 28 November: Opening Night Gala
The countdown leads us to Event Cinemas Liverpool on Saturday 28 November, where we’ll open our 15th anniversary season with red carpet celebrations, local films and our first awards.
Whether you’re joining us as a filmmaker, a proud friend or a curious film lover, we’d love to have you in the cinema as Western Sydney steps into the spotlight.
And once those first trophies have been handed out, there’s still a whole summer of film ahead.
Three weekends of Western Sydney films on screen
Opening Night gets the cameras flashing, but it's just the beginning! Our full Official Selection rolls out across three weekends, with a short film marathon session each Sunday afternoon at Event Cinemas Liverpool.
Every selected film will have its place in this cinema program, giving filmmakers the chance to gather their cast, crew, friends and family to enjoy their work up on the big screen.
When the program drops, find your session, rally your supporters and make an afternoon of seeing some local films together.
Your film’s session is your moment to bring your people to the cinema. We’ll get the celebrations started together on Opening Night, then keep that excitement rolling as the full program takes to the screen over the following three Sundays.
Sharing Western Sydney films beyond the cinema
Our online MEGA Movie Marathon returns over summer, bringing a selection of Western Sydney films to viewers across Australia and around the world.
For friends, family and film lovers who can’t join us at the cinema, it’s another way to discover local stories and be part of the festival from wherever they are
February Film Showcases: a fresh perspective
The summer of film continues after the Christmas break, with something new coming your way in February! We’re working with guest curators and partner venues to create a series of Film Showcases, bringing fresh perspectives to this year’s Official Selection.
Selected films will have the opportunity for an additional screening, reaching new audiences and sparking conversations through filmmaker Q&As.
For audiences, it’s a chance to discover a film they missed, revisit a favourite, or see how a different selection of stories brings out something unexpected.
With People’s Choice voting continuing across the season, these showcases will also give participating filmmakers another opportunity to rally supporters and win over new viewers.
Across the summer: your vote counts
All films in the Official Selection will be in the running for our People’s Choice awards, with winners announced at Closing Night.
As you watch your way through the season, you’ll have the chance to champion your favourites, voting for films in each genre, and your overall favourite film of the season. We’ll share voting details with the program so you know how to make your voice heard.
Did you hear? Panavision has pledged a $5,000 equipment hire voucher for the winner of our 2026 People’s Choice Award!
We’re excited to see who takes home the final trophy of the season, and this amazing prize to help you make your next masterpiece, with the help of the world's best camera lenses.
There's so much to look forward to, friends!
For now, save Opening Night in your calendar, follow our announcements and sign up to the newsletter for priority ticket offers before 30 October.
Fifteen years of Made in the West and a whole summer to celebrate #WesternSydneyFilm.
We’ll see you at the cinema!