A film festival for Sheridan

Since 2018, The WYO Film Festival has celebrated films of all sizes; short films, feature length films and even animated films. The real features are the independent films created to entertain, to make viewers jump with fear, to laugh and documentaries that cause viewers pause, to think and wonder. 

It is the brainchild of Justin Stroup, who banded together with a few other Sheridan organizations and like minded people to put the city on the film festival map. 

At an early stage Stroup recruited Breton Shepard, a public relations officer to aid him in creating the WYO Film Festival.

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Stroup said early in the development, the team understood they needed more than just a screen to create the festival atmosphere.

A native of Sheridan, Stroup said he wanted to create a film festival for the people of Sheridan, one that reflected the cultural aspects of the city he loves. 

Now in its sixth year, The WYO Film Festival has grown and matured to feature something for everyone while never losing the foundation of the event, bringing like-minded people together to celebrate and enjoy the skills and vision of filmmakers as a community.

The festival begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, by celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Coen Brothers film, The Big Lebowski, starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore and Sam Elliot. 

To learn more, see a full line-up of films, including trailers and purchase tickets to the 2023 WYO Film Festival, click here, or purchase tickets at the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center box office.