2026 Wyoming International Film Festival

Award Winners
Photos (Coming Soon)
Schedule

Best Music or Dance Video

·     Digging My Own Grave – Dir. J.B. Lawrence

·     Prom Party Massacre – Dir. Jordan Gustafson

·     Sunbeam – Dir. Jacob Skaggs

·     The Worms – Dir. William Cowser

·     Walk With Me Through The Fire – Dir. K.K. Hammond, Richard Heeley (Winner)

BEST SCREENPLAY – SHORT

·     Au Gratin – Written by John Volk

·     Are We Just Flowers? – Written by Eugene Rocco Utley

·     Façade – Written by Modupe Thompson (Winner)

·     Mort – Written by Larry Ziegelman, Terry Ziegelman

·     The Whole Thing – Written by Jake Mynatt

BEST SCREENPLAY – FEATURE

·     Buffalo Buffalo Turquoise Buffalo – Written by Martha Magruder (Winner)

·     The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo – Written by Michael Walker, Susan Gnomes

·     Zoe – Written by Emanuela Galliussi

BEST ACTRESS – SHORT

·     Angela Nordeng – Brody’s Choice

·     Noreen Mao – Insensible Losses (Winner)

·     Cheyann Dillon – Nora Will Not Explode

·     Diane Harrington – Wanna be a Star?

·     Elyssa Nicole Trust – Observance

·     Gabby Beans – Higher Education

BEST ACTOR – SHORT

·     Brian Park – Seppuku in the Park (Winner)

·     David Klaut – Khmerican

·     Greg Pragel – Mort

·     Jai’Reeh Demon – Intergalactic Ingenue

·     Mohamed Ayman – Seif

·     Tosin Morohunfola - Cornerman

BEST ACTRESS – FEATURE

BEST ACTRESS – FEATURE

·     Anna Mirodin – The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo

·     Emanuela Galliussi – Zoe (Winner)

·     Martha Magruder – Buffalo Buffalo Turquoise Buffalo

BEST ACTOR – FEATURE

·     Gareth Reynolds – Give It Up

·     Jack Alcott – Lone Rider (Winner)

·     Paul Kissaun – The Theft of the Caravaggio

BEST DIRECTOR – SHORT

·     Dave Rosas – Right On!

·     Ilona Laboy – 12th House

·     Olenka Wellisz – Falling Short

·     Rishi Raj – The Turning Point (Winner)

·     Ryan Kennedy – The Binding

·     Thomas Pierce – The Cauldron

BEST DIRECTOR – FEATURE

·     Adam Jumba – Lone Rider

·     Kyle Anderson – Give it Up (Winner)

·     Michael Walker – The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo

BEST DOCUMENTARY – SHORT

·     Body of Work – Dir. Cassidy Rast, Odin Wadleigh (Winner)

·     Dick’s-A-Thon – Dir. Dylan Young

·     Children of Mairowa – Dir. Paul Dowler

·     Puma Matriarchs of Torres Del Paine – Dir. David P. Glatz, Shiela P. Glatz

·     Remnants – Dir. Michael Catenacci

BEST WYOMING DOCUMENTARY

·     Cookin’ With Cowboys – Dir S.R. Gentry

·     Heart of a Lion – Dir. Joe Pontecorvo

·     Hole in the Wall – Dir. Stephen Howard Tucker (Winner)

·     Land of Abundance – Dir. Bob Noll

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

·     Crime & Parody – Will Thwaites

·     She Cried That Day – Amanda Erikson (Winner)

·     Our Colors Never Fade – Jim McSherry

BEST SHORT FILM

·     Intertwined – Dir. John Schwert

·     Khmerican – Dir. Jimmy Chhiu

·     Mom and Dad Live in Different Houses – Dir. Brad Bischoff (Winner)

·     Sam & Me – Dir. Orly Morris

·     Shoot, Shovel, & Shut Up – Dir. Tran Hoang Calvin

·     The Ride – Dir. Slava Denisov

BEST WYOMING FILM

·     Always – Dir. Faith Roden

·     Here Sits – Dir. Naomi Plasterer

·     Iblis – Dir. Jay S. Ackerman

·     Night at the Joker’s Lounge – Dir. Ana Rivera Betlejewski

·     Thread Valley Massacre – Dir. J.J. Reign (Winner)

BEST FEATURE FILM

·     Give it Up – Dir. Kyle Anderson

·     The Theft of the Caravaggio – Dir. Joshua Cassar Gaspar

·     Zoe – Dir. Emanuela Galliussi, Dean Ronalds (Winner)

Audience Award Winners

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

The Last Barrel Race 

BEST WYOMING DOCUMENTARY

Heart of a Lion 

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

Heart of a Lion

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT

Mr. Mittens 

BEST WYOMING FILM

Night at the Jokers’ Lounge 

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE

Thread Valley Massacre

48 Hour Film Fest

Best Use of Prop (Radio)

·      Green White Red White Blue

·      Speakers (Winner)

·      Third Wheel

Best Use of Genre

·      Hall of Fame (Winner)

·      The Fourth Valentines

·      The Party Never Ends

·      Turkey Nap

Best Actor

·      JJ Reign – The Man in the Red Cap

·      Marcus Burrell – Hall of Fame

·      Patrick Wood – Talk Like a Pirate (Winner)

·      Solomon Henderson – Hall of Fame

Best Cinematography

·      Leap Day (Winner)

·      Speakers

·      The Gift

·      The Veil

Best Director

·      Aaron Flohrs for Third Wheel

·      Jay S. Ackerman – Hall of Fame (Winner)

·      JJ Reign – The Man in the Red Cap

·      Jordan Jacknitsky – Our Holiday

Best Use of Action (Wave or High Five)

·      ISO (Winner)

·      Leap Day

·      Speakers

Best Screenplay

·      Our Holiday

·      The Gift (Winner)

·      The Man in the Red Cap

·      Turkey Nap

Best Actress

·      Mariah Morales - Goodnight Hank (Winner)

·      Ricci Roberts – Our Holiday

·      River Nelson – Third Wheel

·      Shelbi Lawson – The Party Never Ends

Best Editing

·      Desperation

·      Leap Day (Winner)

·      Our Holiday

·      The Party Never Ends

·      The Veil

BEST OF FEST

THIRD WHEEL by BIG WING FILMS from JACKSON WYOMING
Schedule
Map

WEDNESDAY

July 8

THURSDAY

July 9

FRIDAY

July 10

SATURDAY

July 11

SUNDAY

July 12

AUDIENCE GUIDE

All films are unrated, viewer discretion is advised. All blocks are first come first seated.

Safe

For

All Ages

Some Viewer

Discretion

Advised

Mature

Audiences

Only

WEDNESDAY

07.08.26

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET

5:30pm - SPA

Celebrate the opening of the 12th annual Wyoming International Film Festival!

HEART OF A LION

Feature Documentary, Wildlife

6:30pm - SPA

The story of two mountain lion mothers reveals the secret world of a predator long misunderstood.

AFTER PARTY

Westby Edge Brewing Co.

714 W 20th St, Cheyenne, WY 82001

9:00pm

AUDIENCE GUIDE

All films are unrated, viewer discretion is advised. All blocks are first come first seated.

Safe

For

All Ages

Some Viewer

Discretion

Advised

Mature

Audiences

Only

THURSDAY

07.09.26

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

With a special screening at the Cheyenne Children’s Museum

1618 O Neil Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001

Tour of the Terry Bison Ranch

9:30am - RSVP’d Guests Only

Meet at Laramie County Community College, SPA. Buses leave 10:00am SHARP.

SINCERELY, RIC

Feature Documentary, Bio, Animals

1:20pm - SPA

A forgotten storage unit uncovers the lost archive of dog show reporter Ric Routledge, giving him a final act decades after his fall from grace.

THREAD VALLEY MASSACRE

Feature Film, Comedy, Horror

3:05pm - SPA

A grungy adult themed grindhouse style puppet slasher like you have never seen before.

DRAMA #1

Shorts That Tug On The Heart Strings

5:05pm - SPA

·      Break Room

·      Squall Mouth

·      The Liars of Black Mountain Road

·      Ata Pūao

·      Life Support

·      Light Bunny

·      Hāfu

WESTERN SKIES

Documentaries Celebrating Life in the West

7:15pm - SPA

  • Ride for the Brand

  • Horses and Highwater: Restoring Tincup Creek

  • Mother Range

  • Como: Rails Reawakened

  • The Last Barrel Race

  • Land of Abundance

  • Remnants

  • Cookin' With Cowboys

FAMILY

Family Friendly and Children's Short Films

8:30pm - Cheyenne Children’s Museum - 1618 O Neil Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001

AFTER PARTY

Blue Raven Brewery

209 E 18th St, Cheyenne, WY 82001

9:30pm

AUDIENCE GUIDE

All films are unrated, viewer discretion is advised. All blocks are first come first seated.

Safe

For

All Ages

Some Viewer

Discretion

Advised

Mature

Audiences

Only

FRIDAY

07.10.26

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

AND THE BEAT GOES ON

Music Videos, Short Films, and Documentaries Celebrating Music

9:50am - SPA

ARTHOUSE

Experimental, Arthouse, and Avant-Garde Films

9:50am - Playhouse

  • 5:28 AM

  • The Second Coming

  • The Climate Change Volumes: Fall

  • The Mother, The Sons and The Holy River

  • Firstborn

  • 12th House

  • Containers

  • Are We Just Flowers?

THRILLERS

Short Films That Get Your Heart Pumping

12:10pm - SPA

COMING OF AGE

Short Films About Change and Growing Up

12:10pm - Playhouse

SHE CRIED THAT DAY

Documentary, True-Crime, MMIW

2:25pm - SPA

She Cried That Day is the story of a sister's love and the spirit, strength and will of Indigenous Women refusing to let loved ones remain invisible.

WTF?

Short Films That Make You Say…

2:25pm - Playhouse

OUR COLORS NEVER FADE

Feature Documentary, War, LGBTQ. Preceded by short film “Nothing Happened Yesterday.”

4:40pm - SPA

LGBTQIA+ Ukrainians leave civilian life to defend their country, revealing sacrifice, resilience and identity through frontline footage and testimony

  • Nothing Happened Yesterday

  • Our Colors Never Fade

LONE RIDER

Feature Film, Coming-of-Age, Drama. Preceded by short film “A Little Sad”

4:40pm - Playhouse

After stealing his dad's old 1989 Mustang, a lonely millennial drifts along through midnight summer drives, figuring out who he is along the way.

AFTER PARTY

Hell on Wheels Rodeo

Dinner 5:30pm, Rodeo 7:00pm

Buy Tickets

3801 Archer Pkwy, Cheyenne, WY 82009

After Show Cocktails - Wagonhound Wine Co.

1610 Capitol Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001

AFTER PARTY

Fridays on the Plaza

Featuring Rome Ramirez

6:30pm

1 Depot Square West 15th Street

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007

After Show Cocktails - Wagonhound Wine Co.

1610 Capitol Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001

AUDIENCE GUIDE

All films are unrated, viewer discretion is advised. All blocks are first come first seated.

Safe

For

All Ages

Some Viewer

Discretion

Advised

Mature

Audiences

Only

SATURDAY

07.11.26

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

BUFFALO BUFFALO TURQUOISE BUFFALO

Feature Film - Comedy, Mystery. Preceded by short film “Au Gratin”

9:50am - SPA

Mae wakes up in Albuquerque with a hangover. Her one-night-stand is gone, and so is her car. His roommate Ford helps her look for him. Hijinks ensue.

GAME ON

Short Films & Docs About Athletes and Sports

9:50am - Playhouse

CONNECTIONS

Short Films About Friends, Family, Love, and Loss

9:50am - Pathfinder

THE THEFT OF THE CARAVAGGIO

Feature Film, Thriller, Mystery, Crime

12:15pm - SPA

After a priceless Caravaggio is stolen from St. John’s in Valletta, Orpheus joins a Washington detective to solve the case.

BREAK A LEG

Shorts About the "Joy" of Being an Actor

12:15pm - Pathfinder

CRIME & PARODY

Feature Documentary, Social Justice

12:15pm - Playhouse

After a comedian is thrown in jail for parody, The Onion joins his fight for free speech in a case that draws national attention to police conduct.

ZOE

Feature Film, Romance, Comedy

2:35pm - SPA

A boy dressed as a wizard grants Zoe a wish at three chances to live life anew. Zoe awakens in Ibiza, London and Paris experiencing three new lives

DOCUMENTARY

Documentary and Non-Fiction Short Films

2:35pm - Playhouse

  • Children of Mairowa

  • Dad vs. Bees

  • Body of Work

  • Lobster Queen

  • A Derailment

DRAMA #2

Shorts That Tug on the heart Strings

2:35pm - Pathfinder

  • I & Me

  • Night Light

  • Rebloom

  • GRIM

  • Insensible Losses

  • Intertwined

  • The Ride

  • A Voicemail for Sarah

CHEYENNE GUNSLINGERS

A Performance by the Cheyenne Gunslingers!

5:00pm - Outside Pathfinder Building

HOLE IN THE WALL

Feature Documentary, History, Western. Preceded by music video “Walk With Me Through The Fire - The Curse of KK Hammond”

5:25pm - SPA

Gallop across Wyoming with famous outlaw legends, a cattle tycoon war against homesteaders, and ancient native presence in America's wildest valley.

  • Walk With Me Through The Fire - The Curse of KK Hammond

  • Hole in the Wall | The Ultimate Outlaw Fortress

ACTION

Short Films With a Healthy Dose of Bruises

5:25pm - Playhouse

HORROR COMEDY

Shorts For People Who Laugh At The Sight of Blood

5:25pm - Pathfinder

HORROR

Shorts For People Who Enjoy Nightmares

7:25pm - SPA

THE LEGEND OF JUAN JOSE MUNDO

Feature Film, Drama, Comedy, Coming-of-Age. Preceded by short film “Living With Maria”

7:25pm - Playhouse

Based on a true story set in 1984. Julie hosts a Spanish exchange student, the charismatic Juan Jose Mundo.

  • Living With María

  • The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo

399 FOREVER

Feature Documentary, Wildlife. Preceded by short documentaries “Mountain Shrimp” and “Puma Matriarchs of Torres Del Paine”

7:25pm - Pathfinder

399 Forever is a documentary that follows wildlife guides, photographers and the world’s most famous bear, grizzly 399, in the final year of her life.

AFTER PARTY

FLIPPERS FAMILY ARCADE

9:45pm

1617 Capitol Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001

AUDIENCE GUIDE

All films are unrated, viewer discretion is advised. All blocks are first come first seated.

Safe

For

All Ages

Some Viewer

Discretion

Advised

Mature

Audiences

Only

SUNDAY

07.12.26

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

WYOMING 48 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL

10:00am - SPA

  • Desperation

  • Goodnight, Hank

  • Green White Red White Blue

  • Hall of Fame

  • ISO

  • Leap Day

  • Our Holiday

  • Speakers

  • Talk Like A Pirate

  • The Fourth Valentines

  • The Gift

  • The Man in the Red Cap

  • The Party Never Ends

  • The Veil

  • Third Wheel

  • Turkey Nap

GIVE IT UP

Feature Film, Drama, Comedy. Preceded by short film “The Joke's on Him”

12:30pm - SPA

When Mortimer is replaced on his podcast by a viral 9-year-old, he sets off on a DIY tour to salvage his career and film a comeback comedy special.

  • The Joke's on Him

  • Give it Up

SCIENCE FICTION

Short Films That Explore Other Worlds, Defy Time, and Warp Reality

12:30pm - Playhouse

  • Well-Being

  • Eyes in the Woods

  • Rever

  • Intergalactic Ingenue

  • Octopus

  • IBLIS

COMEDY

Shorts That Hit Your Funny Bone

3:00pm - SPA

  • Mom Walkers

  • Hallow's Eve

  • Bus

  • Brody's Choice

  • Slick

  • Bad Cop, Bad Cop

  • It’s Hard Not to be Romantic About Time Travel

  • Seasonal Work

  • Golden Swingers

  • May I Put You On Hold?

  • Higher Education

HISTORICAL

Journey Back in Time With These Historical Fiction Shorts

3:00pm - Playhouse

SCRIPT WORKSHOP

5:35pm - SPA