A record-breaking 320-strong audience attended on the night to support local filmmakers and celebrate the Western Sydney film community.
Hosted by Still Searchin’ Productions, Made in the West showcases short film content independently produced in Western Sydney, including all genres such as comedy, drama, sci-fi, horror, animation, web series and music videos.
All films feature cast members, crew members or film locations from Western Sydney.
“The atmosphere at the festival this year was absolutely electric with so many people in the house and all the action on the red carpet,” says artistic director Ross Page.
“The films this year were outstanding and we’re so pleased to see so many new filmmakers and upcoming artists included in the festival line-up.”
This year’s official selection featured 19 short films that were judged by a panel of 10 industry professionals, including renowned Bankstown-born actor Bryan Brown, ABC presenter Sunil Badami and local film director Michael Budd.
Kamil Domaradzki took home the ‘Best in the West’ trophy for the film Leopard, Katrina Lay won ‘Best Student Film’ for Baby Dole, and Ashley Dawes was awarded ‘Best Music Video’ for Only One. There were also 9 individual category awards for outstanding achievement awarded throughout the night.
At the end of the show, the audience cast their votes for the highly coveted Audience Choice Award, won by WSU student filmmaker Pamela Manos for Hello My Name Is Mother Nature.
The festival attracts hundreds of filmmakers and fans from around the greater Sydney region to celebrate and network with other creatives while watching the cutting edge screen content made by emerging artists from the western suburbs.
The prize pool for this year’s festival was valued at over $10,000 thanks to the generosity of local businesses and festival sponsors Still Searchin’ Productions and The Pagey Train podcast, Western Sydney University, Luke Walker Productions, Sydney Prop Studios, Creative Plus Business, Irierootsini Photography, Million Masters, AFTRS, Arts and Cultural Exchange (ACE), the Australian Writers’ Guild and Australian Production Design Guild.
Made in the West Film Festival will be screening online throughout December and January via a new on-demand content platform that welcomes a worldwide audience for Western Sydney films.
“We’re excited to be sharing the festival experience on demand this year with our new online platform – online screenings are a great way for local festivals like ours to reach a wider audience,” says general manager Misty McPhail.
“Hybrid digital and live streamed events have become more popular since 2020 and it's important to continue making this local content accessible to audiences across our region in particular, as well as across Australia.”
The online festival includes all 19 finalist short films in a 3-hour movie marathon with red carpet highlights and filmmaker interviews during intermissions – perfect for anyone who wants to experience the excitement of Made in the West Film
Festival from home.
More information can be found at www.madeinthewest.com.au Photo credits: Lexy Potts, Nataly Thomson, Liam Dealtry, Aaron Tully.
2022 MADE IN THE WEST AWARD WINNERS
MAJOR AWARDS
Best Music Video: Only One: Ashli by Ashley Dawes
Runner-up: I Don’t Get You: Particles by Luke Walker
Best Student Film: Baby Dole by Katrina Lay
Runner-up: Arco’s World by Kasey Medeiros
Best in the West: Leopard by Kamil Domaradzki
Runner-up: Yannis by James Elazzi
Audience Choice Award Hello My Name is Mother Nature by Pamela Manos
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Best Director: Kamil Domaradzki and Ali Zoghi for Leopard
Best Screenplay: Kamil Domaradzki for Leopard
Best Editor: Sharon Mani for Seen
Best Sound Design: Jarad Avnell for Bogan Moths
Best Production Design: Katrina Lay for Baby Dole
Best Original Score: Emma Greenhill and Ali Zoghi for Leopard
Best Lead Actor: Will Bartolo for Yannis
Best Supporting Actor: Tyson Ibrahim for Leopard
