Hold onto your hats, folks – we're officially on the one-week countdown to the 2023 festival! Have you got questions? Well, guess what? We're here to give you all the answers!
Made in the West Film Festival is on Saturday 25 November at Event Cinemas Liverpool.
This year’s Official Selection includes 18 Western Sydney short films which will be screened on a HUGE V-max cinema screen in our fabulous private cinema with theatre-style seating for 330 people. We can’t wait to show you what the local filmmakers in our region have been working on lately.
Every year at Made in the West is so different! The films this year embrace the boldness that defines Western Sydney filmmakers. Buckle up for an adventure through funny, heart-breaking, impactful, and downright bold films that will linger in your thoughts long after the credits roll!
But before we forget, let us give you our usual reminder that Made in the West is an R18+ event. Many of the films will contain mature content and this means that all of the usual things (including L,S,A,D,V, N) will probably (definitely) make an appearance at some point throughout the show. Sorry kids, this one’s for the grown-ups only!
Tickets have been flying out the door!! With only 80 more seats left to fill it looks like we’re going to be screening the 2023 lineup to a packed cinema!
We’re so excited that our VIP and reserved seats have almost sold out too! We want to say a huge thank you to those people who purchased a ticket when, let's face it, you could have snapped up one of the free tickets quite easily. We really appreciate your contribution to this year’s event costs and we look forward to thanking you in person when we see you next week!
Note: Some of you might be wondering why we offer optional paid tickets (or wondering why we don’t charge everyone for tickets), and well, it’s really simple – we need an audience for Western Sydney films more than we need the ticket sales. Made in the West has always been free to attend and we’re committed to keeping it that way!
Those 20 generous people who paid for reserved seats and a VIP experience have just saved the other 300 people from having to pay to attend. Think of it like paying it forward! We much prefer it this way.
And by the way if you are a General Admission seat holder, don’t worry, because you are still going to get some great seats. In fact every seat in the house has a great view of the screen (even the front row), so we promise you’ll be happy – the V-max cinema at Event Cinemas has a HUGE 3-storey screen, comfy leather arm chairs and heaps of room to relax and enjoy the show.
So, now that we’re one week out, let’s get down to business! We’ve compiled some information below that will (hopefully) answer any questions you may have at this point, but if there’s something we’ve missed please feel free to reach out to us via email.
To help you prepare for a great night out, here’s everything you need to know before you get there:
CONFIRM YOUR GUESTS
All tickets should be reserved under correct attendee names. If you have reserved tickets for your friends or crew, please ensure each attendee name is on their ticket so that they can enter the festival site and we can find their name easily on our guest lists at check-in. It’s also helpful if you forward your guests’ tickets to them ahead of time so the entry queues move quicker!
Double-check your guests are coming. Humanitix allows you to easily change, cancel and update your orders, so please don't let a ticket go to waste if someone decides not to come. Click on the ‘Edit Order’ button on your confirmation email to make changes. Contact us if you need help cancelling or changing your tickets. We’ll be happy to release your tickets to anyone on the waitlist.
GETTING THERE IS EASY
Parking is free after 6pm at Westfields – go to the rooftop car park. Event Cinemas is located on the top floor of Westfield Shopping Centre, on Elizabeth Drive in Liverpool (access via the George Street entrance). Arrive after 6pm to get free rooftop parking for the cinema, which means avoiding public transport without worrying about the parking costs.
We recommend car pooling with your friends, cast or crew! Assign a designated driver to get you all home safely. Also, if you arrive together you’ll be seated together.
If you are taking public transport, be sure to check for trackwork or planned industrial action. We’ll keep an eye on these things too and let you know on our social channels if we spot any delays. Visit Transport NSW to plan your trip and travel safely. The cinema is 600m from the Liverpool train station.
Event Cinemas Liverpool is wheelchair accessible. If you require use of the wheelchair holds or easy-access seats inside the cinema, just let us know when you arrive.
TICKETS AND SEATING ALLOCATION
Show your digital ticket to enter the cinema and then walk up to the top foyer bar where you will be greeted by our festival volunteers. They will scan the QR code on the ticket to allow you entry to the Festival foyer and Cinema 12 where the screening takes place. PRO TIP: Take a screenshot of your ticket so you don’t have to go hunting for it in your email inbox!
General admission seating is assigned on a first come, first served basis. Once you have arrived, head over to the ticket table in the foyer where you will receive your seat number allocation. If you want to ensure you sit with your friends, just collect your seat numbers at the same time and we’ll allocate you as a group.
Reserved seating and VIP ticket holders will have allocated seat numbers waiting for you at the ticket table. Collect your seat numbers from the volunteers at the ticket table and make your way to your seats after cinema doors open at 7pm. Before then, you have time to grab a drink at the bar, get your photo taken at the media wall and mingle with the other guests!
VIP Exclusive ticket holders will receive a lanyard that entitles you to free popcorn and soft drinks all night, plus you’ll find a glass of champagne waiting for you in the VIP section before the show.
The VIP section (and the Pre-Festival Party!) is at the end of the foyer. If you have been invited to join the Official Selection filmmakers for a champagne before the show, just make your way down to the far end of the foyer and one of our team will be there to mark you off the guest list and let you through. The VIP section is for Special Guests, Sponsors, Judges and Official Selection filmmakers only from 6pm–7pm, so you can enjoy the opportunity to network and chat until the cinema doors open.
GET READY TO WALK THE RED CARPET
Dress to impress because you’re sure to get snapped by our festival photographers! We love seeing everyone enjoy the red carpet, so be sure to get your photo taken as a memento of the night. Friends, family and filmmakers are all welcome to enjoy the spotlight at Made in the West!
Filmmakers can invite your cast and crew to take pics on the red carpet before the show and during the intermission – it’s a great way to capture the moment as you all celebrate seeing your hard work on the big screen! We'll share the photos with you once they come in, via our festival photo gallery and social channels.
Keep an eye out for our red carpet TV crew! We’ll be capturing the highlights of the night and interviews with filmmakers on the red carpet, so if you find yourself in the background (or foreground!) of the shot as our film crew makes their way around, then as they say, just smile and act natural!
We’ll be including the interviews in our Red Carpet Highlights Video, along with all the antics from the red carpet in our Online Movie Marathon screening which launches on 1 December and is available on demand throughout the summer. It’s going to be great!
VISIT THE MERCH DESK AND #REPRESENT
Made in the West merchandise will be available for purchase in the festival foyer. You can pre-purchase one of our 10-year Anniversary Magazines via Humanitix for just $10, or pick up one on the night.
Take a deep dive into the festival history, from our beginnings at The Roxy to the wonder years at The Paddo and our new home at Event Cinemas! Featuring interviews with filmmakers, a winners’ almanac, ten-year poster archive and a picture gallery of our favourite red-carpet memories, this magazine is a spectacular way to commemorate the first decade of festivals and films in Western Sydney.
SETTLE IN FOR A FUN NIGHT AT THE CINEMA
We’re so excited to be hosting the festival at Event Cinemas again! Thanks to our venue sponsors and the awesome team at Liverpool, we’re going to be watching Western Sydney films in style! Doors to Cinema 12 will open at 7pm so you can take your seats in time for the show commencing at 7.20pm.
Did we mention the bar? The foyer bar will be open and we’ve got a nice selection of beers & wine plus a couple of our favourite cocktails too (hello, espresso martinis!). The cinema is fully licensed so you can bring your drinks to your seat with you. And of course, a night at the movies wouldn’t be the same without popcorn and a choc-top!
Order food for intermission. The cinema kitchen won’t be open on festival night, but fear not because our friends at Event Cinemas have decided to let us order in! So if you need a feed just order from your favourite local delivery service and collect from the cinema entrance. You’re welcome to bring your food into the cinema while you’re watching the show, just make sure you toss your rubbish in the bin when you’re done please. Big thanks to the cinema for allowing us to order in!
We’re kicking off the festival screening at 7.20pm. The show includes 18 short films viewed in two 60-minute segments, with a half-hour intermission in between. At the end of each segment we announce the individual category awards (check out the 2023 nominees!) and once all the films have screened we will call on YOU to vote for the Audience Choice Award. Final trophy presentations will be at approx 10.30pm.
Networking during the intermission is a thing! It’s no secret that local filmmakers LOVE Made in the West and the number one feedback we get is how great the networking is. We promise you’ll make a new friend, meet someone interesting, or find your next film collaborator. So grab a drink, find a fellow filmmaker and introduce yourself!
YOUR ONLINE OPTION
Can’t make it to the festival? We’ve got you covered! Made in the West will be online and ON DEMAND from 1 December! Get the popcorn ready and settle in on the couch at home for a full marathon of festival films, plus highlights from the red carpet and interviews with Western Sydney filmmakers.
Find Made in the West MEGA Movie Marathon on Vimeo and rent the presentation for one week over the summer for $5 USD. Check out the festival program online and get ready for a fun at-home viewing experience!
AWARDS AND PRIZES
All 18 Official Selection finalist films are in the running to win! The judges’ scores determine the winner of our Best in the West trophy, a prestigious award recognising the top indie talent from Western Sydney each year. 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.
Music artists will compete for the Best Music Video trophy, a one-of-a-kind trophy for Western Sydney recording artists creating magic with local filmmakers.
Nine individual category winners will be awarded for Best Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Screenplay, Sound Design, Production Design, Original Score, Lead Actor and Supporting Actor. Check out the nominees here!
YOU decide the final award winner! After the last film finishes, we will hold a live audience vote so that you and your friends can nominate your favourite film for the Audience Choice Award. We’ll count the votes over a quick final break and announce the winner shortly after. We can’t wait to see who wins the final prize!
Speaking of prizes, this year we have some amazing awards & prizes to give away thanks to our wonderful sponsors! We’re so excited to be handing out $25,000 in expert services, studio hire, set building, workshops, mentorships with industry experts, actors photo headshots, and podcast guest spots to promote your work.
We love finding practical prizes that are valuable and helpful for local indie and student filmmakers as they dive into their next creative ventures. This year's prizes certainly do not disappoint!
Good luck to all of the nominees.
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 contact us via email if you need further help.
We’re looking forward to hosting you next Saturday at Made in the West 2023!
See you on the red carpet soon.