Made in the West Film Festival 2026: Opening Night Gala

Made in the West Film Festival is turning 15 – and you’re invited! Join us for a season of short films, red carpet celebrations and fresh discoveries, showcasing the imagination and talent of Western Sydney filmmakers. Expect big laughs, unexpected twists and stories that stay with you. Start with our Opening Night Gala on Saturday 28 November, then keep exploring through cinema marathons, online screenings and February showcases before our Closing Night Awards Party. The full festival program is online now. Plan your summer of film below! TICKETS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER. Opening Night Gala Saturday 28 November | Event Cinemas Liverpool Dress up, step onto the red carpet and help us launch the festival season! Join filmmakers, cast, crew, sponsors and film lovers for a special selection of short films, filmmaker interviews and the announcement of our Jury Award winners. Get your photo taken on arrival, catch our TV crew interviewing filmmakers and soak up the celebrations. Inside the three-storey V-Max cinema, settle into a comfy leather armchair, with a private cocktail bar, popcorn and snacks available to complete your cinema night. The evening • 6–7pm: Red Carpet Entry and VIP Meet & Greet • 7pm–10pm: Film screening, including intermission • 10pm: Jury Awards Choose your ticket • General Admission – FREE: Join the Opening Night celebration. • Dress Circle – $20: Priority upper-level seating. • VIP Exclusive – $100: The best seats in the house, unlimited soft drinks and popcorn, plus entry to the pre-show VIP Meet & Greet with sparkling on arrival. Book your Opening Night tickets on this page. The film lineup will be announced soon. Marathon Cinema Sessions 29 November, 6 December & 13 December | Event Cinemas Liverpool Opening Night is just the beginning. Across three bumper two-hour cinema marathons, every film in this year’s Official Selection gets its moment on the big screen. Hosted by festival favourite Shetu Simone, each session offers a different mix of stories: • Sunday 29 November – Worlds Collide: Unlikely connections, awkward laughs and worlds coming unstuck. • Sunday 6 December – Life Takes Turns: Heartfelt stories, unexpected twists and everyday lives heading somewhere extraordinary. • Sunday 13 December – Hearts and Minds: Big feelings, tangled relationships and the complicated business of being human. Stay for the vote at the end, because your selection determines which filmmakers win our People’s Choice and Genre Awards at the end of the season! Tickets: $15 through Event Cinemas. Use code MAD26 when booking. Online MEGA Movie Marathon Your festival, wherever you are. Bring the festival home with an epic three-hour marathon featuring finalist films, hosted by local podcaster Shetu Simone, with filmmaker interviews and red carpet action captured on Opening Night. Rent for one week and watch in one sitting or spread it across a few nights. Prefer a smaller serving? Shorter marathon selections will also be available. Watch, discover your favourites and join the audience vote from home. Rentals: $10–$15 through our online screening channel February Film Showcases Fresh selections, different perspectives and more discoveries. Return to the cinema for festival films selected by guest curators, alongside a special Blue Mountains showcase and encore screening for WSU students. Revisit a favourite, discover something you missed and connect with fellow film lovers and filmmakers. • Sunday 7 February – Liverpool: Guest Curator Chris Elena • Sunday 14 February – Liverpool: Valentine’s Special with Guest Curator Laneikka Denne • Friday 19 February – Blue Mountains: MTNS MADE Showcase • Sunday 21 February – Liverpool: Guest Curator Matthew C. Vella • Thursday 4 March – Kingswood: Encore screening for WSU students Liverpool showcases: $15 through Event Cinemas. Blue Mountains ticket details to be announced. Closing Night Awards Party Saturday 27 February | 7–10pm | The Joan, Penrith You’ve watched, you’ve voted... now it’s time to celebrate! Join us for red carpet arrivals, a short screening of winning films and the announcement of our People’s Choice and Genre Award winners. Look back over the season, catch up with filmmakers and help us give our 15th-anniversary festival a fitting finale. Special guests My88 radio will join us, with filmmaker Wayne Tunks interviewing guests about their latest work for broadcast in the following weeks. Tickets: $15. Follow the Closing Night ticket link on this page to book. Your festival. Your favourites. Your vote. Our Jury Awards – including Best in the West, Best Student Film and Best Music Video – will be announced on Opening Night. Across the summer, audiences can vote for the People’s Choice and Genre Awards, with winners revealed at Closing Night. With more than $25,000 in prizes supported by over 30 sponsors, there’s plenty to cheer for! Come for Opening Night and stay for a full summer of Western Sydney film.