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Here Out West

"Here Out West is a rare contemporary take on Western Sydney"
Garry Maddox, Sydney Morning Heralds

"Here Out West is re-defining the Australian story"
Jared Richards, Junkee

"A refreshing, clever and emotional work of art that deserves huge attention."
Benson Wu, Taiwan Film Festival

"From the very first scene the world and the characters feels authentic and lived in."
Virat Nehru, Screenhub/Diversity Arts Australia

Nancy visits her daughter in the hospital who has just given birth. Tagging along is her 8-year-old Lebanese neighbour, Amirah. It is a bittersweet meeting for Nancy, as her new grandchild is about to be taken by the Department of Community Services. While holding the baby to say her farewell, Nancy makes the spontaneous decision to bolt from the hospital with the baby, Amirah as her accomplice. Not long after their audacious escape, a pedestrian is involved in a hit and run. Three young boys step in to help, unsure if he'll survive the night. Across eight distinct yet interconnected stories, Nancy's desperate flight sets off a chain of events that brings together complete strangers over the course of one dramatic day.

SPECIAL EVENT
Join us for the first screening on Saturday 19 February when one of the writers, Vonne Patiag joins us for a Q&A following the screening. Find out about the film industry, writing for screen, finding the story to tell and more about the film.

Vonne Patiag 1080x1080.jpg Vonne Patiag is an AACTA and AWGIE nominated filmmaker based in Western Sydney. He co-wrote and associate produced on Australia’s first prime time Filipino TV series The Unusual Suspects (SBS) for Aquarius Films and anthology feature film Here Out West (ABC) for Emerald Productions and Co-Curious which was released theatrically in February 2022. He also show-ran and directed Halal Gurls (ABC) and directed and wrote Tomgirl (SBS, Outfest Fusion LA 2020, Palms Springs Shortfest 2019, St Kilda FIlm Festival 2019), a 10-minute short that serves as a proof-of-concept for the feature. He was awarded the Spirit Of The West award by Made In The West Film Festival for his impact on promoting inclusive filmmaking practices in the Australian film industry.