2025 Wyoming International Film Festival Award Nominees and Winners

Best Music or Dance Video

·      “Aquabellet”, Marianna Aventurier Dir. (Winner)

·      “Les Coeurs Simples”, Dir. Maxime Mathieu Quiroga

·      “Light Bodies” Dir. Stephanie Heckert, Emmy Frevele

·      “Rumble”, Dir. Ciro Ayala

·      “Tandang by Sego”, Dir. Austin Archer, Kayla Janssen

Best Screenplay – Short Film

·      “Cherry-Colored Funk”, Written by Chelsie Pennello, Corbett Blair

·      “Eat Hot Chip & Lie”, Written by Anders Kapur

·      “El Lloron”, Written by Rodrigo Moreno-Fernanadez (Winner)

·      “Silent Cycle”, Written by Smahi Anand

·      “Teddy on the Edge”, Written by P.L. Kerr

Best Screenplay – Feature Film

·      “Do Us Part”, Written by Reed Arnold

·      “Micro Budget”, Written by Morgan Evans, Patrick Noth

·      “The Ladder”, Written by Emilio Miguel Torres

·      “The Strange Dark”, Written by Chris Messineo (Winner)

Best Actress – Short Film

·      Amy Bailey for “A Woman is Many Things (Just Fine Isn’t One of Them)”

·      Hannah Connally for “Nowhere Pie”

·      Lea Zawada for “Private Moments” (Winner)

·      Melissa Dunn for “Ghost Town”

·      Tal Chatterjee for “Lia Has To Go Home”

Best Actor – Short Film

·      Axel Hansen for “Our Last Day As Kids”

·      Edgar de Santiago for “The Vote”

·      Jeremy Hoffman for “Ambush at St. Mary’s”

·      Michael Tow for “Cherry-Colored Funk” (Winner)

·      Yuri Angelov for “Shifting Tides”

Best Actress – Feature Film

·      Kelly Russo for “Do Us Part” (Winner)

·      Virginia Madsen for “Sheepdog”

·      Sharina Martin for “Caravan”

Best Actor – Feature Film

·      Doug Harris for “Caravan”

·      Keith Smith for “The Ladder”

·      Steven Grayhm for “Sheepdog (Winner)

Best Director – Short Film

·      Gregory JM Kasunich for “The Heart of Texas”

·      Kateryna Kurganska for “Two Breaths”

·      Lauren Norby for “$55 Private Room in a Safe Quiet Neighborhood” (Winner)

·      Neil Ferron for “Fishmonger”

·      Nick Young for “I Get Knocked Down”

·      Simen Nyland for “Filther”

Best Director – Feature Film

·      Craig Ouellette for “Straight on ‘till Morning” (Winner)

·      Morgan Evans for “Micro Budget”

·      Steven Grayhm for “Sheepdog”

Best Documentary Short

·      “Bridgers”, Dir. Joseph Fletcher

·      “No Way Back”, Dir. Tom Turner

·      “Stronger Than The Storm”, Dir. Justin Lee Stanley

·      “They Call Me The Tattoo Witch”, Dir. Lindsay Nyman (Winner)

·      “Through Thin Ice”, Dir. Gabrielle Kardon, Arthur Veenema

Best Wyoming Documentary

·      “Kai Jones Falling Into Place”, Dir. Clayton Vila, Todd Jones (Winner)

·      “Mountain Roots”, Dir. Carrie McCarthy, Mark Pedri

·      “Sweetwater”, Dir. Michael Hanson, David Hanson

·      “The Way Back”, Dir. Amy David, Drew Holt

·      “What’s in a Name”, Dir. Doctor Ethan C. Parrish

Best Feature Documentary

·      “Anna and the Egyptian Doctor”, Dir. Taliya Finkel

·      “The Kids are not Alright”, Dir. Mikaela Shwer

·      “The Snake and the Whale”, Dir. John Carlos Frey (Winner)

Best Narrative Short

·      “Fireline”, Dir. Robin Takao D’Oench

·      “Rajas & The Wolf Girl”, Dir. Nidhi Reddy

·      “The Vote”, Dir. Sylvia Ray

·      “When Everything Was Blue”, Dir. Christina Chironna

·      “Yearn”, Dir. Kenneth Beckerdite (Winner)

Best Wyoming Film

·      “Motion & Magic”, Dir. Alexander Robinson

·      “The Great American Broadcast”, Dir. Matthew Stacey

·      “Teenhood”, Dir. Jiayang Liu (Winner)

·      “Where Darkness Grows”, Dir. Naomi Plasterer

Best Narrative Feature

·      “Do Us Part”, Dir. Reed Arnold

·      “Sheepdog”, Dir. Steven Grayhm (Winner)

·      “Straight on ‘till Morning”, Dir. Craig Ouellette

Audience Awards

Best Documentary Short Film

“MOUNTAIN ROOTS”

Best Wyoming Documentary

“KAI JONES FALLING INTO PLACE”

Best Feature Documentary

“KAI JONES FALLING INTO PLACE”

Best Short Film

“EL LLORON”

Best Wyoming Film

“THE GREAT AMERICAN BROADCAST”

Best Feature Film

“THE GREAT AMERICAN BROADCAST”

Wyoming 48 Hour Films

  • Clinical Trial (Winner: Best Cinematography)

  • Date or Eliminate

  • Do it Yourself

  • Fractured

  • Endless (Winner: Best Screenplay)

  • Herbert (Winner: Best Use of Dialogue)

  • I Know I’m Only Human (Winner: Best Editing)

  • Me, Myself, & I (Winner: Best Actor)

  • Penfeather (Winner: Best Use of Prop)

  • Phobos (Winner: Best Actress, Best Director)

  • Reciprocity (Winner: Best Use of Genre)

  • The Android Strain

  • There Are No Time Machines

  • Void It (Winner: Best of Fest)

  • Welcome to the Canvas

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

07.09.25

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET

5:30pm - SPA

Celebrate the opening of the 11th annual Wyoming International Film Festival!

KAI JONES’

FALLING INTO PLACE

Feature Documentary, Sports - Preceded by short documentary “Adaptive Avalanche: Inclusive Outdoors Project”

6:30pm - SPA

At 16, pro skier Kai Jones faces a life-threatening injury—an inspiring story of talent, resilience, and growing up in the Tetons.

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

07.10.25

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

Tour of the Terry Bison Ranch

9:30am - RSVP’d Guests Only

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

DOCUMENTARY #1

Shorts Documentary Films

1:15pm - SPA

SWEETWATER

Feature Documentary, Sports

3:25pm - SPA

This film weaves the stories of four different characters whose lives converge for a 7-week horse racing season in Rock Springs, WY.

SPORTS

Short Films About Sports and Athletes

5:30pm - SPA

WOMEN OF THE WEST

Short Docs Celebrating Women in Western States

7:05pm - SPA

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

07.11.25

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

ARTHOUSE

Arthouse and Experimental Short Films

9:50am - SPA

ANNA AND THE EGYPTIAN DOCTOR

Feature Documentary, Biography, World War Two - Preceded by short documentary “A Wall Overgrown”

9:50am - Pathfinder

The story of Dr. Helmy, an Arab doctor, posing as a Nazi supporter, who rescued a Jewish girl disguised as a Muslim, in Nazi Berlin.

MUSIC & DANCE

Music and Dance Videos

12:00pm - SPA

WAR

Short Films About War and Veterans

12:00pm - Pathfinder

THE STRANGE DARK

Feature Film, Drama, Sci-Fi

2:10pm - SPA

Edgar believes he can see the future, but his wife thinks he's mad and the agents from double star accounting will stop at nothing to get their data back.

THE KIDS ARE NOT ALRIGHT

Feature Documentary, Children’s Welfare

2:10pm - Pathfinder

The Kids Are Not Alright is an intimate portrait of trauma and what it means to survive in the absence of justice.

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

Short Films with Creatures, Curses, and Strange Encounters

4:20pm - SPA

DRAMA #1

Drama Short Films

4:20pm - Pathfinder

AFTER PARTY

Fridays on the Plaza

BOYS LIKE GIRLS

With Public Figure

6:30pm

1 Depot Square West 15th Street

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007

After Show Cocktails - Paramount Ballroom

1609 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

07.12.25

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

THE LADDER

Feature Film - Drama, Sci-Fi

9:45am - SPA

In the twilight of his life, an aging Alaskan fisherman and grieving father contemplates restarting with the help of a mysterious procedure.

HISTORICAL

Period and Historical Fiction Short Films

9:45am - Playhouse

FAMILY

Family and Children’s Short Films

9:45am - Pathfinder

THE SHORT GAME

Feature Film, Sports, Family

12:15pm - Playhouse

On the brink of his greatest victory, Jeremy Avery must make a life-altering decision, realize his greatest goal or stand by his younger autistic brother.

THE GREAT AMERICAN BROADCAST

Feature Film, Thriller, Dark Comedy

12:15pm - SPA

A hopeless college grad gets a dead-end job at a small town news station, where he befriends a serial killer who could make all his dreams come true.

COMING-OF-AGE

Coming-of-Age Short Films

12:15pm - Pathfinder

DOCUMENTARY #2

Short Documentary Films

5:10pm - Playhouse

DO US PART

Feature Film, Romance, Comedy. Preceded by short film “I Get Knocked Down”

2:35pm - SPA

When Rose shows up to a wedding uninvited, the licentious best man must stop long-buried feelings and secrets old and new from ruining everyone's lives.

  • I Get Knocked Down

  • Do Us Part

CRIME

Crime & Thriller Short Films

2:35pm - Pathfinder

OTHER WORLDS

Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Films

2:35pm - Playhouse

CARAVAN

Feature Film, Drama, Road Trip. Preceded by short film “When Everything Was Blue”

5:10pm - SPA

Greg needs insulin. The affordable kind. Only an eclectic group of fellow healthcare refugees (THE CARAVAN) can get him to Canada in time to save his life.

HORROR/THRILLER

Horror and Thriller Short Films

5:10pm - Pathfinder

THE SNAKE AND THE WHALE

Feature Documentary - Political, Conservation. Preceded by short documentary “Tides of Change”

7:35pm - Playhouse

Revealing propaganda maintaining the status quo, investigation uncovers outdated dams on the Lower Snake River driving salmon and killer whale extinctions.

  • Tides of Change

  • The Snake and the Whale

STRAIGHT ON ‘TILL MORNING

Feature Film, Horror, Thriller

7:35pm - SPA

Dani and Kaitlin are two dreamers falling for each other on a romantic roadtrip. The world is theirs -- until they cross paths with a twisted family.

DRAMA #2

Drama Short Films

7:35pm - Pathfinder

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

07.13.25

Laramie County Community College

1400 E College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007

WYOMING 48 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL

10:00am - SPA

  • Clinical Trial

  • Date or Eliminate

  • Do it Yourself

  • Fractured

  • Endless

  • Herbert

  • I Know I’m Only Human

  • Me, Myself, & I

  • Penfeather

  • Phobos

  • Reciprocity

  • The Android Strain

  • There Are No Time Machines

  • Void It

  • Welcome to the Canvas

INSPIRE

Short Docs About Inspiring Stories and People

12:15pm - SPA

SHEEPDOG

Feature Film - Drama, Veteran’s Affairs

2:00pm - SPA

A decorated combat Veteran is court ordered into treatment when an ex-convict shows up on his doorstep and reveals that he must put himself back together again.

COMEDY

Comedy and Satire Short Films

2:00pm - Pathfinder

MICRO BUDGET

Feature Film, Comedy. Preceded by short film “No Small Parts”

5:00pm - SPA

A mockumentary about an absolute moron attempting to make an indie movie.

  • No Small Parts

  • Micro Budget

CONNECTIONS

Shorts about Friends, Family, Love, and Loss

5:00pm - Pathfinder