The WYO Film Festival is an annual celebration of independent film held in Sheridan, Wyoming at the base of the stunning Big Horn Mountains. Since its founding in 2018, the festival has become a beloved cultural event that brings filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals together for a weekend of storytelling, connection, and community.

After several years of steady growth, the WYO Film Festival set its sights on a new milestone for 2024: deepen its community roots, attract a broader regional audience, and elevate the festival experience to rival larger, more established events—all on a modest budget and with a lean internal team.

The success of this year’s fest wasn’t the result of a significantly larger budget or increased scope of work—it was the result of a refined strategic approach and focused messaging on what makes the WYO Film Fest truly special: authentic storytelling rooted in Wyoming. We pivoted our messaging strategy to highlight what matters most to our audience—local stories, real community connections, and meaningful moments that happen when filmmakers and attendees come together in Sheridan.

Through our established scope of work—including creative, advertising, strategic communications, press outreach, and on-the-ground support—we shifted our content to focus more deeply on Wyoming-based films, visiting filmmakers’ experiences in the community, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of how the festival brings people together.