--- title: articles | Jay Knapp description: Jay Knapp (he/him) is an event manager and community builder with a talent for connecting people and ideas. He possesses more than a decade of communications, engagement and events experience, and a genuine passion for building relationships and delivering exceptional customer service. On set, you will find Jay taking on the role of writer, production manager or producer. As Community and Events Manager at Made in the West, Jay oversees the delivery of Made in the West Film Festival and leads community engagement initiatives that support emerging filmmakers and activate new audiences. Jay is a driving force behind Made in the West’s year-round outreach, facilitating meetups, mentoring programs, pop-up screenings and partnerships that grow the Western Sydney screen ecosystem from the ground up. As a non-Indigenous Australian, he possesses a deep comprehension of this land’s history and a keen interest in Indigenous perspectives and culture. Jay is passionate about social justice and helping contribute to the growing sense of agency and determination for First Nations Australians. image: https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/hubfs/Made%20in%20the%20west%202023-program%2016x9.jpg --- [![](https://24105364.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/24105364/Made%20in%20the%20West%20BOLD%20Logo%20Black.png)](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/home) - [Home](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/home) - [Our Story](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/about-made-in-the-west) - Services - [Content Production](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/our-services/content-production) - [Content Provision](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/our-services/content-provision) - [Cultural Development](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/our-services/cultural-development) - [Consultation](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/our-services/consultation) - Events - [#WesternSydneyFilm Online Networking Event](https://events.humanitix.com/westernsydneyfilm-online-networking-event-september-2026) - [Made in the West Film Festival](https://www.madeinthewest.com.au/news) - [Projects](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/latest-projects-by-made-in-the-west-creative) - [Our River: From Nawi to Now](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/our-river-from-nawi-to-now) - [Western Sydney Aerial Footage Library](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/western-sydney-aerial-footage-made-in-the-west) - [Stories From Here: Penrith Workshops](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/stories-from-here) - [Case Study: Catalyst West Films](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/case-study-western-creative) - [Articles](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/articles) - Work With Us - [Western Sydney Crew](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/film-crew-western-sydney-work-with-us) [contact us](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/contact-us) Search **the website** # Posts by **Jay Knapp** Jay Knapp (he/him) is an event manager and community builder with a talent for connecting people and ideas. He possesses more than a decade of communications, engagement and events experience, and a genuine passion for building relationships and delivering exceptional customer service. On set, you will find Jay taking on the role of writer, production manager or producer. As Community and Events Manager at Made in the West, Jay oversees the delivery of Made in the West Film Festival and leads community engagement initiatives that support emerging filmmakers and activate new audiences. Jay is a driving force behind Made in the West’s year-round outreach, facilitating meetups, mentoring programs, pop-up screenings and partnerships that grow the Western Sydney screen ecosystem from the ground up. As a non-Indigenous Australian, he possesses a deep comprehension of this land’s history and a keen interest in Indigenous perspectives and culture. Jay is passionate about social justice and helping contribute to the growing sense of agency and determination for First Nations Australians. ![](//cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/24105364/raw_assets/public/@marketplace/if_else_agency/Aesthetics/assets/images/icons/arrow-down.svg) ![Calling Cards at ACE](https://24105364.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/24105364/Jay%20headshot_Joseph%20Mayers.jpg) ![](https://24105364.fs1.hubspotusercontent-ap1.net/hubfs/24105364/Movie%20FAS%20o.jpg) **Licensing Films for Local Screenings** By Jay Knapp, on November 12, 2025 In a recent article, we shared how we've transformed a decade of Made in the West Film Festival content into a... Read more ![](https://24105364.fs1.hubspotusercontent-ap1.net/hubfs/24105364/Year%20in%20Review%20-%20example%20CMC%20intern%20report.jpg) **Building Industry Career Internships** By Jay Knapp, on November 05, 2025 At a time when emerging creatives face increasing barriers to entry, Made in the West Creative has been quietly... Read more ![](https://24105364.fs1.hubspotusercontent-ap1.net/hubfs/24105364/Meetup%20crowd%20SXSW%202024-1.png) **Indie Filmmaker Meetup at SXSW** By Jay Knapp, on October 10, 2025 Three years strong and still going! We’re pleased to announce that Made in the West Creative is returning to SXSW... Read more ![](https://24105364.fs1.hubspotusercontent-ap1.net/hubfs/24105364/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-28%20at%2011.35.57%20pm.png) **Online Networking for Creatives** By Jay Knapp, on September 20, 2025 Made in the West Creative is hosting its next free online networking event on Thursday 25 September, 7–8.30pm, bringing... Read more ![](https://24105364.fs1.hubspotusercontent-ap1.net/hubfs/24105364/MITW%20Film%20Festival/2012%20Filmmakers.jpg) **From Grassroots to Global** By Jay Knapp, on August 12, 2025 Fourteen years ago, Made in the West Film Festival began as a small student film screening night — just a projector, a... Read more ## want a **sneak peak?** Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Donec velit neque, auctor sit amet aliquam vel, ullamcorper sit amet ligula. contact us [![Made in the West BOLD logo white 400px](https://24105364.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/24105364/Made%20in%20the%20West%20BOLD%20logo%20white%20400px.png)](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/articles/author/madeinthewestcreative.com.au/home) We acknowledge that the land we call Western Sydney, where we are proud to work and create community, is Dharug country. We give thanks to our elders and the traditional custodians of the Dharug, Dharawal and Gundungarra lands that make up the Greater Western Sydney region.   * ©* *2025 Made in the West Creative Pty Ltd.  All rights reserved.* **SYDNEY** PO Box 794, Penrith NSW 2751 **PERTH** PO Box 543, South Fremantle WA 6162 ABN: 79 665 735 599 [Privacy Policy](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/privacy-policy)![Penrith-Valley-Chamber-logo](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/Penrith-Valley-Chamber-logo.png?width=103&height=103&name=Penrith-Valley-Chamber-logo.png)![SocialTraders_CertificationLogo_Outlined_Blue_RGB](https://madeinthewestcreative.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/SocialTraders_CertificationLogo_Outlined_Blue_RGB.png?width=104&height=120&name=SocialTraders_CertificationLogo_Outlined_Blue_RGB.png)