The WYO Film Festival, located in Sheridan, Wyoming, launched the Future Filmmaker program in 2020 to inspire creativity and develop Wyoming’s next generation of storytellers. The program offers Sheridan County students the opportunity to work with professional filmmakers in various roles, culminating in the creation of their own films to be screened at the annual WYO Film Fest. As a new initiative, the program needed a way to capture its impact and engage the local community to ensure its ongoing success and growth.

Outside Voice founder, Breton Shepherd, has been involved with the WYO Film Festival since its inception in 2018, and Outside Voice proudly continues to support the festival’s work today. When the Future Filmmaker program was introduced, we recognized that the best way to communicate its significance was through storytelling via film.

On the final day of shooting for the students’ year-long film project, we conducted interviews with students, parents, and program leaders to document their experiences. These interviews were paired with behind-the-scenes footage of the filmmaking process, showcasing the creativity, collaboration, and growth of the participants. The final video was screened before every film at the festival that year, bringing the program’s story to life for attendees and creating a compelling narrative for community support.