We're officially on the one-week countdown to the 2024 festival and we bet you’re full of questions about Western Sydney Film’s greatest night of nights. Read on for all the answers you’re seeking!
Made in the West Film Festival Screening & Awards Night is on Saturday 30 November at Event Cinemas Liverpool. This Opening Night celebration kicks off the summer of Western Sydney films with a special screening of our Official Selection films.
This year’s Official Selection includes 14 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!
PLUS this year we’ve got an additional 10 short films included in a bumper lineup coming to you over the summer with our MEGA Movie Marathon streaming online and on demand. You’ll see us filming on Saturday night in preparation for this extra special showcase!
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 30 more seats left to fill it looks like we’re going to be screening the 2024 lineup to a packed house! How lucky are Western Sydney filmmakers to have such great support?
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 those free GA 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 at the cinema!
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 want an audience for Western Sydney films more than we want the ticket sales.
Made in the West has always been free to attend, and we’re committed to keeping it that way!
Those 30 generous people who paid for reserved seats and a VIP experience have just saved the other 270 people from having to pay $5 to attend. Think of it like paying it forward! We much prefer it this way.
And by the way, every seat in the house has a great view of the screen, so we promise you’ll be happy no matter where you’re sitting,
The V-max cinema at Event Cinemas Liverpool 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.
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 for a seamless and smooth check-in experience, and so we can find their name easily on our guest lists. It’s also helpful if you forward your guests’ tickets to them ahead of time so the entry queue moves quicker. Check out our tickets blog for more FAQs and help if you need.
Please 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 ‘Manage 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.
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
When you arrive, walk up to the top foyer where you will be greeted by our festival volunteers and show them your digital ticket. 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.
Check your tickets for your seat allocation. You would have selected seats at the time of registering to attend the event. Volunteers on the festival entrance will also remind you of your seat numbers too.
The VIP section (and the Opening Night 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 – 7:30pm, so you can enjoy the opportunity to network and chat until the cinema doors open.
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 doors to the festival cinema will open at 7:30pm. 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!
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 Tuesday 10 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. Pick up a copy of our 10-year Anniversary Magazine for just $10 and take a deep dive into our festival history! Featuring interviews with filmmakers, a winners’ almanac, poster archive and a picture gallery of audience memories, this magazine is a spectacular way to commemorate the first decade of festivals and films in Western Sydney.
We’ll have plenty of other merch to get your mitts on too - from mugs to tote bags, notebooks, key rings, postcards, magnets, pens and film slates.
We take card payment and everything is under $50 so there's no reason not to #represent.
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 7:30pm so you can take your seats in time for the show commencing at 7:50pm.
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. Event Cinemas will be serving hot food for festival attendees; we’ll share a menu on our social channels on the day. We encourage you to order before 7.30pm to collect at intermission (approx. 9:30pm). The bar is open until 10:30pm, with other snacks available until late at the Parlour Lane candy bar.
We’re kicking off the festival screening at 7:50pm. The show includes 14 short films viewed in two 75-minute segments, with a half-hour intermission in between. At the end of each segment we will announce the individual category awards (check out the 2024 nominees!) and once all the films have screened we will call on YOU the audience to vote for the Audience Choice Award. The final trophy presentations should happen at around 11:15pm.
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!
AWARDS AND PRIZES
All 14 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 quicker than you can say “Where’s the After Party?” 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 $35,000 in expert services, studio hire, set building, workshops, mentorships with industry experts, actors photo headshots, and podcast guest spots to promote your work. It’s our biggest prize pool ever!
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 prize sponsors certainly do not disappoint!
Good luck to all of the nominees.
THE CELEBRATIONS ARE ONLY JUST BEGINNING
Join us for the After Party! We weren’t kidding – if you’re keen to kick on after the show then you’re in luck! We’re partnering with Western Sydney Filmmakers Hangout to bring back the Festival After Party at The Macquarie Hotel. It's just an 8 minute walk from the cinema - at the top of the mall. Head over there with your crew after the show we’ll have the back bar open until 2am.
Thanks to Matthew C Vella and #WSFH for hosting! We're glad there will be an opportunity to discuss the films, deconstruct the judges’ decisions, and hopefully meet a few people and get inspired to start working on your next film!
Make a night of it! Book a stay at Quest Liverpool Serviced Apartments or the brand-new Meriton Suites nearby, so you can hang without worrying about the last train or a late-night Uber.
Can’t make it to the festival? We’ve got you covered! Made in the West will be online and ON DEMAND from Tuesday 10 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 purchase the presentation for one week of viewing over the summer for $6 USD. Check out the festival program online and get ready for a fun at-home viewing experience!
WE CAN’T WAIT!!
We hope this information has been helpful! If we’ve forgotten anything, check out our FAQ page and if you still have any questions that went unanswered, contact us via email if you need further help.
We’re looking forward to hosting you next Saturday at Made in the West 2024.
See you on the red carpet!