Celebrate indie film in the old west!

The Wyoming International Film Festival - a registered 501c3 non-profit - isn't just another film fest; it's a 4-day celebration of filmmakers and art from around the world!

Screenings in a state-of-the-art theater, filmmaker Q&As, live dance, live music, unique western experiences, art and photography exhibitions, and nightly parties give filmmakers ample opportunity to network and exhibit their work. Most important of all, you’ll have a blast while visiting Wyoming! WyoIFF is capped off with an award ceremony where we present 21 awards. Join us for food, fun, and film!

WyoIFF welcomes movies from all over the world! We accept features, shorts, narratives, documentaries, and web series of every genre. The Wyoming International Film Festival is committed to screening a diverse slate of stories with a broad spectrum of genres, topics and styles. Because we are a film festival run by filmmakers; the WyoIFF team guarantees every submission is watched by a selection committee of experienced industry professionals.

Our alumni include Jamie Lee Curtis, Spike Lee, Lily Gladstone, Seal, Willie Nelson, Eric Roberts, Lee Child, Ralph Inerson, Virginia Madsen, Tom Skerritt, Jefferson White, Jason Faunt, Constance Shulman, Lavell Crawford, as well as more than 3 dozen Emmy Award Winning filmmakers! At WyoIFF you won’t just find celebrity helmed films; we insure a robust mix of industry professionals, up-and-coming directors, as well as first time filmmakers. With nightly networking events you will be sure to build lasting connections and lifelong relationships!

In an effort to create a more inclusive film program, and to give more opportunities to independent filmmakers, the Wyoming International Film Festival has partnered with several filmmaking organizations and institutions. If you are a member of any of these organizations, you are eligible for additional discounts. Please contact your member representative to access your discount code.

• Alliance of Women Directors
• Women in Film & Media Colorado
• International Documentary Association
• New York Film Academy

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT
WyoIFF prides itself on our transparency and filmmaker-forward thinking. Here is some beneficial information for filmmakers to consider before submitting:
• In 2025 WyoIFF received 622 submissions, selecting 166 films. This is a 27% acceptance rate.
• We screen in three theaters; Surbrugg Prentice Auditorium, a brand-new performance art theater with seating for 400. Pathfinder, a converted conference room with dual laser projectors seating 200. The Studio, an improvised theater for more personal screenings, seating 60. While quality and filmmaker experience is our top priority it’s important to know none of our screening rooms are traditional movie theaters.
• Our programming team is mostly made up of alumni filmmakers. Your film will be reviewed by a minimum of two programmers.
• Not sure if your film is right for WyoIFF? Visit our archive on wyoiff.com to see if we’ve programmed films like yours in the past. Always research a festival before you submit!

Minimum Review Times for First Round Screenings:
- All films will be reviewed by a minimum of two (2) programmers.
- Shorts under 15 minutes must be watched in full.
- Shorts over 15 minutes must be watched for 50% of their runtime, or up to 10 minutes, whichever is longer.
- Feature films must be reviewed for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Awards & Prizes

The Wyoming International Film Festival awards 14 Grand Jury Awards and 6 Audience Choice Awards!

Grand Jury Awards

• Best Narrative Feature
• Best Documentary Feature
• Best Wyoming Film
• Best Wyoming Documentary
• Best Narrative Short
• Best Documentary Short
• Best Director of a Feature Film
• Best Director of a Short Film
• Best Actress in a Feature
• Best Actress in a Short
• Best Actor in a Feature
• Best Actor in a Short
• Best Screenplay of a Feature Film
• Best Screenplay of a Short Film
• Best Music or Dance Video

Audience Choice Awards

• Best Narrative Feature
• Best Documentary Feature
• Best Wyoming Film
• Best Wyoming Documentary
• Best Narrative Short
• Best Documentary Short

Rules & Terms

Premiere Status – All films must be a Wyoming premiere.

Distribution & Online - With the exception of Web Series and Music Videos, films that are publicly available online, or are available to the public through a distribution service, are ineligible for submission.

Run Time –
• Short films and short docs: 0–25 min.
• Feature films and feature docs: 40-120 min.
• Wyoming films and docs: 0-120 min.
• Music videos: 0-8 min.
• Web series: 0-15 min.

English Language or English Subtitles – All films submitted to the Wyoming International Film Festival must be in English or have English Subtitles.

Delivery – Films must be delivered in .mov or mp4 format. We do not accept any other formats.

Genre – The Wyoming International Film Festival accepts films of all genres. This includes but is not limited to; action, animation, biographical, comedy, documentary, drama, experimental, genre (horror, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.) LGBTQ+, musical, music video, mystery, political, romance, sports, thriller, web series, western or period piece, etc.

Web Series – This category is for narrative or documentary episodic series produced exclusively for distribution on the web. Filmmakers may submit multiple episodes totaling up to 15 minutes. Episodes must be contained on the same screener. For awards purposes web series will be considered in the “Short Film” categories. Web Series made in Wyoming may submit under the “Wyoming Film” category for a discount.

Wyoming Films – To qualify as a Wyoming Film or Wyoming Documentary the project must meet one of the following criteria. The programming committee reserves the right to disqualify films that do not meet the criteria.
• The director of the film is a current resident of Wyoming.
• At least 50% of the film was shot in Wyoming.
• Wyoming strongly features as a character, setting, or plot point in the film.

Waiver Requests – WyoIFF only issues waivers under very specific circumstances, including but not limited to; filmmakers in countries under economic sanctions from the U.S., filmmakers from countries on the United Nation's list of LDCs, & refugees. Waivers are not issued to students, self-funded films, or films supported by grants or scholarships. To request a waiver email our staff and fill out our waiver request form.

Screening Fee - WyoIFF does not offer screening fees.

Refunds - WyoIFF does not issue refunds.

Agreement of Use – Selected films agree to allow the festival to use screen shots, clips, trailers, posters, or other materials to promote the film and festival. Filmmakers and guests agree to allow the festival to use their likeness in any photo, video, or audio recordings to promote the film and festival. Filmmakers grant WyoIFF permission the non-exclusive right to screen their film in the state of Wyoming as part of official exhibitions for a duration of one (1) year from the initial acceptance date.

Age of Film – Films cannot have been produced any earlier than January 1st, 2023. Films produced in 2022 and older are ineligible.

Copyright – By submitting filmmakers acknowledge they own the full copyright to their film, soundtrack, and all other elements contained within the film, and have the legal right to exhibit the film in the United States. The festival takes no responsibility for any copyright violations, and the filmmaker agrees they are the sole responsible party of their work.

Acceptance - After being invited to the festival, filmmakers will have 3 weeks to accept or reject their screening. Once filmmakers accept, they may not remove their film from the official lineup.

Non-Discrimination – The Wyoming International Film Festival has a strict non-discrimination policy and has zero tolerance for films promoting discrimination. Any film that actively promotes hate speech or discrimination against any protected class (Race, Ethnicity, Nationality, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Ability, Age, etc.) will be immediately disqualified.

Agreement - By submitting to the Wyoming International Film Festival filmmakers agree to all rules, terms, and conditions.
97 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Paul Kerr

    So exciting to have Teddy on the Edge be selected for WyoIFF - only wish we could have been there in person, because it looked incredible! Thanks a million!

    April 2026
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  • Matthew Stacey

    The Wyoming International Film Festival is one of the most welcoming experiences I've had the pleasure of taking part in. The entire team of hosts are extremely personable and down to earth. This festival showcases a diverse lineup of quality projects from around the world, and it really goes out of its way to put filmmakers first. There are countless networking events offered, allowing for all kinds of opportunities to not only connect with audiences and fellow creatives, but to truly get to know Wyoming, the city of Cheyenne, and its people better. Though there are occasional tech issues and some screening audiences are on the smaller side, the WyoIFF feels like a true celebration of film—a community-wide event bringing everyone together in one place to share their passions and learn from one another. I have the distinct feeling this festival will only continue to grow into something even grander in the coming years. I'm looking forward to being part of it again in the future!

    September 2025
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  • Lindsay Nyman

    Wyoming International Film Festival was an absolute standout on our festival run. Thoughtfully curated, incredibly welcoming, and truly supportive of indie filmmakers. I was honored that They Call Me the Tattoo Witch won Best Short Documentary, a meaningful recognition I’ll never forget (and amazing trophy:) Highly recommend submitting!

    August 2025
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  • Lauren Norby

    I would have loved this festival anyway, but receiving the trophy for best director of a short film certainly made it a memorable experience. I was impressed by the phone call I received from the festival director letting me know my film "$55 Private Room in a Safe Quiet Neighborhood" had been accepted into the festival. And everyone got that VIP treatment. The festival was fun, and the programming had something for everyone, and frequently multiple intriguing films or blocks playing on different screens simultaneously! The festival team was wonderful, and the community was great and supportive. I will definitely be back!

    August 2025
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  • Small Batch Films

    I was blown away by how great Wyoming International FF was. I had heard great things, and the programmers are active in forums communicating with filmmakers' questions, which is what interested me in the festival in the first place. I had never been to Cheyenne, so we attended, and they have done an excellent job of curating some great films, as well as working with filmmakers to get them there. They had an internal podcast for promotions, which to filmmakers is worth it's weight in gold. They had fun photography opportunities. And most importantly - every single person I interacted with from the festival had SEEN ALL THE FILMS that were programmed. They could recommend a block, and speak intelligently about each film (including ours!). This is a great model for how film festivals should be. Thanks Wyoming!

    July 2025
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