Copyright © 2026 THE WILD BUNCH FILM FESTIVAL All Rights Reserved.
2026 FILM SYNOPSIS
WINNERS IN VARIOUS FILM CATEGORIES WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE
AWARD SHOW SUN EVENING OCT 25th AT THE GALAXY THEATRES IN TUCSON.
1) 8 Seconds - 2 Min
A visual poetic tribute to one of the most dangerous sports in the world...Rodeo.
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2) 12 Cents - 43 Min
Set in the dusty frontier town of Harker’s Pass in 1889, 12 Cents is a lighthearted Western comedy packed with outlaws, small-town gossip, gold, and one unforgettable bank robbery.
When three members of the notorious James gang ride into town with their sights set on Harker’s Pass’s newly opened bank, Sheriff Sam and Deputy Jack must protect the townsfolk—and its gold. Well… Mr. and Mrs. Crabby’s gold, to be exact.
With courage, clever thinking, plenty of frontier mischief, and a little help from Em’s famous fried chicken, the people of Harker’s Pass soon discover that justice in the Old West can come at a surprisingly small price…
Just twelve cents.
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3) According to Kate - 41 Min
A New York reporter travels to Cochise County, Arizona, searching for Kate Elder — the woman history remembers as “Big Nose Kate.” Over whiskey and guarded memories, Kate recounts her turbulent life with Doc Holliday, her witness to the aftermath of the O.K. Corral, and the cost of surviving a West that judged women more harshly than the men who made legends of themselves. As Lucy presses to publish her story, Kate must decide whether history deserves the truth — and whether she is willing to give it away.
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4) Adventures of Miss Happy - 119 Min
Adventures of Miss Happy is a 'Storybook' movie, that uses an innovative live action/animation hybrid style of camera and editing that creates pictures in motion with dolls as cast members in real sets and locations. It is a family western adventure story of Hepibeth Rockefeller (Miss Happy) who came West to escape her past and find a new start. Unable to get a job, she turned outlaw to survive. Could she outrun the law, while befriending a nun and California mission orphans, to prove her innocence and find justice and her true purpose?
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5) Becoming Billy: An Outriding the Devil Origin Story - 11 Min
Becoming Billy journeys back to Silver City, New Mexico Territory in 1875. How did Henry McCarty, an orphaned Irish kid of little repute and fewer prospects, become known to history as Billy the Kid?
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6) Between Gunfights - 5 Min
Modern day Old West gunfight show performers become discouraged until they meet a young boy who renews their enthusiasm.
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7) Bloom - 17 Min
A bounty hunter seeks revenge against the man who murdered her sister.
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8) Bountiful - 112 Min
Retired gunfighter Tash Beckett finds a home in the town of Bountiful, but soon the past comes calling.
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9) Clean Slate - 15 Min
An outlaw with amnesia forgets where he buried his treasure. He strikes a deal with the woman who saved his life to help him find it.
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10) Cowboy Meditations - 56 Min
Cowboy and poet Dick Gibford embodies the landscape where he lives: tough, timeless and resilient. He is a link to the Old West and an antidote to modern times.
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11) Dangerous Decisions - 85 Min
Everyone wants to know... Was it a slaying or self-destruction? A western who done it. The saloon owner has died under mysterious circumstances. Who's going to inherit the bar?
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12) Dawn at Dominion - 39 Min (would've been 40 min but has 26 secs of blk screen)
The film follows Lucas Stone, a former US Marshal turned bounty hunter, tracking a kidnapped woman that does not want to be found.
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13) Dr. Goodfellow - 122 Min
In 1880s Tombstone, Dr. George Emory Goodfellow treats lawmen, outlaws, and gunfighters alike, pioneering bold methods for gunshot wounds while struggling to remain neutral amid the violence surrounding Wyatt Earp and the O.K. Corral.
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14) El Ranchero - 15 Min
In the unforgiving desert, power is won through blood. El Ranchero follows a hardened rancher who becomes the last barrier between Montezuma - a ruthless kingpin bent on conquering land and people - and total domination. When Montezuma’s men strike, El Ranchero fights back with grit, cunning, and vengeance. Guided by his Navajo ally Gad, whose reverence for the land clashes with Montezuma’s greed, El Ranchero forges his own brutal path. This modern Western tells the tale of how hate is a dead-end road.
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15) Eye For An Eye - 20 Min
A scavenger in a post-apocalyptic combine attempts to flea their tyrannical leader's control, but will her sister (their leader) let her.
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15A) Famous Wolverton Stagecoach - 8 Min
Kip Wolverton brings Red Wolverton's famous Wolverton Stagecoach to its new home at Western Trading Post!
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16) Fireball - 15 Min
There’s a storm brewing in the Wild West, and bounty hunter Fireball seeks refuge in the wall of the Silver Spoon- a saloon owned and operated by Valentine, Beau and Eloise. Eloise takes an interest in Fireball, and repeatedly attempts to connect with her throughout the busy night, only to be brushed off as Fireball notices a familiar face across the bar: the outlaw Jeremiah Ray. Tensions rise throughout the night as Fireball watches him drink more and more, until a violent outburst at Eloise sets everyone on guard. Now with their lives and safety on the line, Fireball and Eloise work together to take him down and once again make the Silver Spoon a refuge from the danger outside.
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17) Forged By Steele - 16 Min
Forged by Steele is a documentary created by local Milwaukee filmmaker Natalie Derr that aims to spotlight the little‑known history of Black cowboys and the legacy of the Black Cowboys & Buffalo Soldiers Association in Milwaukee.
The film follows Issac Steele, a third‑generation Black cowboy and founder/president of the Milwaukee chapter, and Kevin Nichols, who is helping to carry the torch to the next generation.
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18) Four Tarantulas - 11 Min
An aged outlaw, challenged by memories of past days bygone, finds himself on a journey of self-reflection.
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19) Geronimo's Revenge - 2 Min
This is the official movie trailer for GERONIMO'S REVENGE, an old west tale circa 1881
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20) Gold Blooded - 106 Min
A pair of Marshals nab an outlaw after a heist goes bad and he is separated from his crew. But little do they know, the rest of the outlaw's posse is hot on their heels.
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21) Gold's Folly - 5 Min
Nearing the end of his life, an old prospector contemplates if his obsession with gold and becoming rich was truly life's "Greatest Reward".
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22) Gracie Buckshot and The Kiddo - 12 Min
In the dust and blood of the frontier, outlaw women Gracie Buckshot and her partner, Kiddo, sit atop a coffin, waiting on the Hutch Mercado gang to collect their bounty. What starts as tense negotiation turns into a full-blown standoff when Hutch's cocky crew underestimates the women — a mistake that costs them everything. Guns drawn, stakes escalating, Hutch makes one last desperate play, but these women didn't bring a coffin for nothing. Gracie Buckshot and the Kiddo is a spaghetti-western with Coen Brothers bite — where brains outdraw brawn every time.
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23) Hell on Wheels - 52 Min
"Hell on Wheels" rides shotgun with rodeo’s wildest star, bareback rider Rocker Steiner,
as he tears up the circuit, battles fierce competition, and fights to claim his
first gold buckle—all while living life loud, fast, and unapologetically on his own terms.
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24) High Moon at Blackwood - 112 Min (Rated R)
Circa 1898: An alternate reality. Every full moon, the fortress settlement of Blackwood is besieged by ravenous werewolves. But tonight is different. At the stroke of midnight, the harvest moon will reach the meridian line, giving their curse even more power. And to make matters worse, someone or some "thing" is coming to town on the last stagecoach to seek revenge on one person - Sheriff Tess Garner. As Tess attempts to recruit deputies, she is discouraged to find that the people of Blackwood are selfish cowards. For this showdown, she must face the Evil alone. Come "High Moon” all hell’s going to break loose!
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25) Hole in the Wall| The Ultimate Outlaw Fortress - 70 Min
Hole-in-the-Wall country is a fifty-mile long red sandstone formation that defined the bounds of a utopic home base for cattle rustlers and popular outlaws in the late 1800's in Johnson County, Wyoming. Legends passed down by local families tell the rustic stories about famous characters like Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid, and the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. A hometown perspective on the Johnson County Cattle War is revealed, while ancient Native American presence and geological findings further demonstrate the enduring spirit of the American West in Johnson County.
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26) Jenkins - 3 Min
A ranch hand loses her way hunting for a shortcut through the woods...where she finds something monstrous lurking.
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27) Jet - 82 Min
Max, a human jet fighter, must compete with AI pilots in a dual to the death.
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28) Justice Hill Texas - 15 Min
A Texas Cowgirl stumbles upon a deadly situation in the Old West town of Justice Hill Texas.
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29) Memento Mori - 18 Min
A man is on the hunt for the killer of his wife when he rediscovers his faith in Christ.
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30) No Small Sacrifice - 118 Min
No Small Sacrifice is a moving piece about two brothers and the difficult choices they must make about the family ranch.
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31) Old Joe and Colorado - 4 Min
This poem was written when I was living on a farm in Southfork, Colorado
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32) One More Breath: Horses Helping Veterans Heal - 14 Min
Veterans share deeply personal stories of trauma, resilience, and recovery in this powerful short documentary. When traditional approaches weren't enough, connection with horses offered a path toward healing, self-acceptance, and hope. Their stories highlight the life-changing impact of the horse-human bond in helping veterans find a way forward.
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33) Out Here in the Sticks - 5 Min
This music video is based on an original award-winning song of the same title. Out Here in the Sticks is meant to be tongue-in-cheek about strange sightings and supernatural occurrences in the West.
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34) Running On Faith - 4 Min
This is our original song and music video for the film of the same name, "Running On Faith", about a 17 year old barrel racer as she balances rodeo life, acting, and high school while chasing her dreams with discipline and dedication guided by the
3 G's: God, Grace, & Grit!
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35) Sheriff Ron - 5 Min
Old west showdown is not all it seems to be.
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36) Sorry, Clancy Miller - 13 Min
A Gold Rush showdown takes a surreal turn when Clancy Miller confronts the fast-talking swindler who stole his claim — and discovers you have to play the hand you’re dealt.
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37) Taffy, Rita and The Rattlesnake - 46 Min
Guitar playing, wanna be bounty hunter Taffy Ladderback sets off to find his estranged father. Along the way he teams up with Rita Tejada, a former wild west gang member seeking revenge against her ex-lover Sam "Rattlesnake" King. Together they battle thugs, ghosts of their past and the ruthless Rattlesnake.
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38) Tame - 16 Min
Even the baddest outlaw can have the worst day.
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39) Tex and Lila - 5 Min
A cowboy love story for the ages.
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40) Texas Heat - 8 Min
When a rag-tag group of outlaws' stumble into a Texas saloon they are forced with two choices. Learn to play music fast or risk jail. Can their descendants break the generational chain of lawlessness?
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41) Texas Ollie - 60 Min
Texas Ollie, an Irish man who dreamed of being a cowboy since childhood, finally finds his calling in middle age through an unlikely partnership with a troubled horse named Silver. What begins as a struggle to tame an unpredictable horse becomes a life-changing bond, that transforms them into a beloved trick-riding and musical act that travels from rural Ireland to international stages.
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42) The Bar(n) - 17 Min
When rancher Cal Bennett stops by a newly opened bar, his quiet evening takes a dangerous turn when Silas Kane, a cold-blooded contracted killer, arrives with a job to eliminate him. What begins as a tense confrontation quickly erupts into a violent fight between the two men, leaving the bar and the first-time bartender in shambles.
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43) The Getback - 104 Min
In 1989, a small town Texas sheriff arrests the daughter of a drug lord and sparks an all out war as the cartel attempts to break her out of jail.
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44) The Invitation - 3 Min
A farm rancher gets the fright of his life.
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45) The Last Outlaw - 46 Min
When Buffalo Bill Cody sets up auditions for his next Wild West Show in the small town of Electra, TX., he finds solace in an acquaintance from the 19th century.
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46) The Meaning - 8 Min
It's a beautiful thing, life. But what life gives, it also takes away.
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47) The Unbreakable Bond - 22 Min
In the Southwest Arizona Territory
a man driven crazy, living in a cave in the mountains, in complete solitude, kills unsuspecting travelers. Now a murdering madman, he takes whatever possessions
strike his demented fancy.
Not far away two aging lawmen, are pursuing an escaped outlaw to bring back to justice. What follows are the events that unfold and surround their lives....
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48) The Wilson 3 - 16 Min
A Documentary about the Wilsons, a rodeo family that was swept away by the July 4th tragedy in 2025 Texas.
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49) They Paid for the Sins of Others - 15 Min
Two families seek revenge, and in the end, everyone pays for the sins of others.
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50) Thirsty and Blue - 4 Min
Goes to show... Going to bed thirsty can get you in a heap of trouble.
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51) Trailblazers - 40 Min
In 1982, brothers Troy and Powell “Gil” Gillenwater walked across Arizona. They weren’t chasing fame or following a mapped route because there wasn’t one. What began as a homegrown adventure became an internal journey that reflected the rugged beauty of the Southwest. Accompanied by two mules, a stray dog, and a handful of topo maps, they faced snowstorms, irate ranchers, mule mishaps, a closed passage through the Grand Canyon, and the constant challenge of finding water. Their grit was a rebellion against convenience.
Today the Arizona Trail, a National Scenic Trail, offers that same spirit of discovery, but its roots trace back to Native Peoples, prospectors, outlaws, and two brothers who believed that if no path existed, they would create one.
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52) Trail Bottom Biscuits - 10 Min
A young cowboy is troubled that he cannot fulfill the wishes of a lady back East, whom he never met, deal with the death of her beloved friend whose unmarked grave is somewhere in the open Texas desert.
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53) Under the Western Skies - 58 Min
Kristyn can handle rugged land, stubborn cattle, and impossible odds. What she is not prepared for is the possibility that saving her family’s ranch may require help from a tech-savvy outsider with shiny cowboy boots.
Fiercely independent and deeply tied to the traditions of ranch life, Kristyn has spent her life proving she can carry her family’s legacy forward. But when foreclosure threatens the future of the ranch, she is forced to consider a future she never wanted – one shaped by innovation instead of instinct.
That future arrives in Jordan, a charming city-bred neighbor whose modern ideas challenge everything Kristyn has fought to preserve. As their worlds clash, Kristyn must navigate the tension between tradition and progress, pride and vulnerability, duty and desire.
A Ranch Musical is a romantic western about family, identity, and the courage it takes to embrace change without leaving your roots behind.
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54) Westerns - A Fistful of Women - 91 Min
Join us on a journey to shine a light on the women of the American West who have inspired many of us with their stories brought to life on the silver screen.
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55) Where Thunder Walks (A.I. Screenplay Teaser) - 5 Min
In the Gold Rush frontier, a miner and a Miwok leader must overcome hatred to forge an unlikely bond and save a village from a brutal cavalry force.
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56) You and Me - 23 Min
A young woman stands by her husband when he returns home from the civil war emotionally scarred. A story of love and endurance.
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COMING SOON!
COMING SOON!
All donations are accepted in any amount to help offset the costs! Thank you so much!
11th Annual Int'l
