The 8th Annual WYO Film Festival has officially wrapped, and we’re thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Audience Choice Awards!
For the first time in the festival’s history, festivalgoers had the opportunity to celebrate the films that moved, inspired, and entertained them most. Through our new Votemo-powered voting platform, attendees rated every film they watched—and after hundreds of votes were tallied, two powerful stories rose to the top.
🎬 Audience Choice Feature Film
Catching Pinecones
Directed by Chad Heddleston
Catching Pinecones is the story of Jan and Herb Conn, pioneering rock climbers and cave explorers who lived life to the fullest on their own terms. Rejecting a conventional lifestyle in pursuit of adventure and fun, the Conns’ story reveals a legacy of renowned discoveries and their philosophies for a simple, well-lived life.
Learn more at catchingpinecones.com
🎥 Audience Choice Short Film
The Singers
Directed by Sam Davis
From Academy Award® Nominated filmmaker Sam Davis, The Singers is a genre-bending film adaptation of a 19th-century short story written by Ivan Turgenev, in which a lowly pub full of downtrodden men connect unexpectedly through an impromptu sing-off.
With a cast comprised of first-time actors from the unlikeliest corners of TikTok and YouTube, the film is a celebration of diamonds in the rough and a testament to the power of vulnerability through art.
Learn more at thesingersfilm.com
We extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended this year’s festival, supported our filmmakers, and cast their votes. Your enthusiasm and participation help us celebrate the creativity, passion, and storytelling spirit that make the WYO Film Festival what it is.
We can’t wait to see what next year brings! Submissions for the ninth annual WYO Film Festival will open on November 3rd. Films can be submitted to the festival on FilmFreeway.
