WYO Film Festival Future Filmmaker Video

The WYO Film Festival, based in Sheridan, Wyoming, launched the Future Filmmaker program in 2020 to inspire creativity and develop the next generation of Wyoming storytellers. The program gives Sheridan County students hands-on experience working alongside professional filmmakers. It guides them through every stage of production and culminates in original films screened at the annual festival.

As a new initiative, the program needed a clear way to communicate its value and build community support. However, traditional marketing alone could not capture the depth of the students’ experience. Outside Voice founder Breton Shepherd has been involved with the festival since its inception in 2018. As a result, our team understood the importance of telling this story with authenticity and care.

From there, we focused on capturing the program through real voices and real moments. On the final day of the students’ year-long project, we recorded interviews with students, parents, and program leaders. Meanwhile, we filmed behind-the-scenes footage of the creative process. Together, these elements highlighted the collaboration, confidence, and personal growth of each participant.

Once filming was complete, we shaped the material into a short documentary-style video. In turn, the final piece brought structure and emotion to the story. It connected individual experiences to the broader mission of the program.

Ultimately, the completed film was screened before every feature presentation at the festival that year. As a result, the Future Filmmaker program became a central part of the audience experience. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of the program’s purpose and its role in Wyoming’s creative community.

• Creative Director: Breton Shepherd
• Cinematography & Editing: Jeffrey Shanor
• Special Thanks: Dana White, Nancy Bannon