Wyoming Filmmaker Grant

Three Wyoming filmmakers will receive $1,000 to make their next movie!

Apply

Applications: July 8 - September 25

Recipients Announced: October 16

Grant Committee
Rules and Terms

Grant Committee

Sophie Barksdale

Sophie Barksdale is a Heartland Emmy-winning Australian/ American filmmaker based in Lander, Wyoming. Internationally she has worked with Screen Ireland, international film festivals, and the National Gallery of Victoria. Her recent film Who She Is (2022) earned multiple awards including a heartland Emmy and a national PBS broadcast after a WORLD channel premiere. She produced Heartland Emmy-nominated Home From School: The Children of Carlisle (2021) which aired nationally on Independent Lens; and produced Heartland Emmy-Nominated The State of Equality (2019) with WYPBS, chronicling Wyoming’s role in women’s suffrage. She is a Wyoming Arts Council Visual Arts Fellow (2024) and founder of Twin River Studios.

Lander, Wyoming

Kelly Eastes

Kelly Eastes earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Wyoming and a Bachelor’s in Recreation and Parks from Texas A&M University. He has served as Parks Manager for Natrona County Parks for 14 years, where he excelled in creating events, partnerships, and fundraising for projects and infrastructure. While at the County Parks, he assisted with Starship Troopers, filmed at Hell’s Half Acre. Kelly runs a film office in Natrona County through Visit Casper and another in Park County through Cody Yellowstone. He currently resides in Casper, Wyoming. The film offices have supported multiple television shows, documentaries, independent films, and commercials.

Casper, Wyoming
Marketing Director

Eleanor Parks

Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience.

Customer Service Manager

Karl Holland

Friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, our customer service manager ensures every interaction is a positive one. They keep communication clear, timely, and human.

    • Applicant must be a current Wyoming resident for a minimum of six (6) consecutive months prior to the application deadline.

    • Applicant must serve in one of the following key creative roles on the project:

      • Director

      • Producer

      • Writer

      • Lead Cast Member

    • The project must be 100% produced in the State of Wyoming. This includes pre-production, production, and post-production. No exceptions.

    • The following credit must appear in the end credits: “Funding Provided By”
      followed by the official Wyoming International Film Festival logo.

    • The project cannot be more than 10 minutes, including credits.

    • The project must be either:

      • Narrative short film

      • Documentary short film

    • The following formats are not eligible:

      • Music videos

      • Commercials

      • Industrial or corporate videos

      • Explainer or essay-style videos

      • Installation pieces

      • AR/VR projects

      • Social media content

      • Any other non-narrative or non-documentary short-form content

    • Projects may be in development, pre-production, production, or post-production at the time of application.

    • Completed projects seeking funds solely for exhibition, marketing, or distribution are not eligible.

    • Applications will be accepted from July 8th through September 25th.

    • Applications must be submitted through the official WyoIFF application portal

    • Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

    • Recipients will be announced on October 16th.

    • All decisions by the WyoIFF Grant Committee are final.

    • 100% of the grant funds must be used directly toward production expenses of the approved project.

    • Funds may not be used for personal compensation unrelated to the project, debt repayment, or unrelated business expenses.

    • A written report detailing how the grant funds were spent must be submitted within 30 days of project completion, or by a mutually agreed-upon date.

    • Prior to picture lock, the project must be submitted to WyoIFF for notes and feedback. Incorporation of feedback is encouraged but not mandatory unless otherwise agreed.

    • The completed project must be delivered to WyoIFF within 12 months of receiving funds unless an extension is approved in writing.

    • WyoIFF reserves the exclusive right to host the Wyoming premiere of the completed project. This exclusive right applies within the State of Wyoming only. This right includes theatrical screenings, film festival screenings, private screenings, and online screenings.

    • The exclusivity period shall last for 12 months from completion of the project.

    • After the exclusivity period expires, all exhibition and distribution rights revert fully to the filmmaker.