Under the Western Skies Celebrates Big Wins at the Wild Bunch Film Festival

Five Awards and a Whole Lot of Gratitude! Tucson, You Sure Know How to Make Us Feel Welcome!

We came to Arizona hoping to share our film, meet some wonderful people, and celebrate western storytelling. What we didn't expect was to come home with FIVE AWARDS! 🏆🤠

On Sunday, October 25, Under the Western Skies screened at Galaxy Theatres in Tucson, Arizona, as part of the 11th Annual Wild Bunch Film Festival. The festival brought together filmmakers, actors, western enthusiasts, and storytellers from across the country to celebrate the wonderful world of western cinema.

We were already over the moon to have received 11 award nominations, but walking away with five wins was an incredible surprise and an honor we will never forget!

From 11 Nominations to 5 Incredible Wins

Our film was originally recognized in 11 categories, including Best Modern-Day Western Feature, Best Drama, Best Comedy, Best Romance, Best Cast Ensemble, and individual acting nominations for Kristyn Harris, Dorian O'Brien, Tim Moore, and Jan Moore.

To see our little independent western musical recognized across so many different categories was a victory in itself. After all, this project was made with a small crew, a whole lot of determination, and an incredible community of ranchers, musicians, actors, and friends who believed in the story.

And then came the awards!

🏆 Best Musical Western Film — Under the Western Skies

This one means the world to us!

When Director Natalie Aramendia first dreamed up the idea of making a western musical, it was a pretty unusual concept. Westerns and musicals aren't exactly the most common pairing, but we believed there was something special about bringing these two genres together.

This award celebrates the film as a whole — the storytelling, the music, the performances, and the creative risk of making something a little different.

For everyone who helped bring this unconventional idea to life, this one's for you!

🏆 Best Actress in a Modern Feature Western Film — Kristyn Harris

Can we get a big YEEHAW for Kristyn Harris?!

This award is especially meaningful because Under the Western Skies marks Kristyn's first acting role!

While Kristyn is already an accomplished western singer, songwriter, and entertainer, stepping into the world of film acting was an entirely new adventure.

She embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, hard work, and her signature warmth and authenticity. And considering she spent much of the shoot battling a cold, learning choreography, and working through long filming days, we couldn't be prouder!

Kristyn brought so much more than her beautiful voice to this project. She helped shape the story as a producer and brought her real-life ranching knowledge to the screen.

Seeing her recognized for her acting is such a wonderful achievement!

🏆 Best Female Director in a Western Feature Film — Natalie Aramendia

For Natalie, this award is a beautiful reminder that sometimes you just have to take a chance on an idea and see where it leads.

As a filmmaker from Los Angeles who grew up loving musicals, Natalie never imagined that her first feature musical would be filmed on a working ranch in northeastern Nevada.

But with the support of an incredible team, the generosity of the ranching community, and a whole lot of determination, she brought that vision to life.

This award, shared in a tie with filmmaker Manuela Schneider for Dr. Goodfellow, is particularly special because it recognizes women working behind the camera in the western genre.

Here's to more women directing westerns, telling unexpected stories, and creating opportunities for the next generation of filmmakers!

🏆 Best Film Song for a Modern Western Feature Film — "Yodelin' Fever"

If you've seen Under the Western Skies, you know exactly why this song deserves some love!

Written and performed by Kristyn Harris, "Yodelin' Fever" brings an infectious energy to the film and helps send audiences home with a smile.

It's a celebration of western music, Kristyn's incredible yodeling talent, and the pure joy that inspired us to make this film in the first place.

We couldn't imagine a better song to capture the playful spirit of our western musical!

🏆 Best Film Soundtrack — Under the Western Skies

Music is the heartbeat of this movie, so receiving this award was particularly meaningful.

From the very beginning, Kristyn's music inspired the story. In fact, it was her song "Cows Around" that first sparked the idea for Natalie to create a western musical.

Songs like "Old Soul," "The Mule Song," and "Yodelin' Fever" help tell the story in ways dialogue alone never could.

To have the film's soundtrack, performed by Kristyn Harris, recognized by the festival is an incredible honor and a celebration of the western music traditions that helped inspire this entire project.

A Huge Thank You to the Wild Bunch Film Festival

Beyond the awards, one of the greatest parts of this journey has been meeting people who share our love for western storytelling.

The Wild Bunch Film Festival brings together an incredible community of filmmakers, performers, and fans who believe that western stories still have so much to offer.

We are incredibly grateful to the festival organizers, volunteers, judges, and everyone who helped make this year's event possible.

And to the audience members who came out to watch our film, shared kind words, asked questions, and became new fans — THANK YOU!

We came home with more than just five awards. We came home with even more encouragement to keep bringing this film to audiences across the country.

The Trail Doesn't End Here!

Every festival, every screening, and every award reminds us why we started this journey.

Under the Western Skies is a film about family, tradition, resilience, innovation, and the beauty of ranch life. But behind the scenes, it is also a story about friendship, collaboration, and what can happen when a group of people believes in a dream.

We are especially grateful to the Elko and Tuscarora communities and to the late Jordan Wright, whose generosity and family ranch made so much of this film possible. We carry his memory with us at every screening and every milestone.

These five awards belong to our entire cast, crew, musicians, ranching families, supporters, and everyone who helped us get here.

Thank you, Tucson, for five unforgettable reasons to celebrate!

We're not done riding yet! More screenings are on the horizon, and we cannot wait to share what's next.

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram) and sign up for our newsletter to find out when Under the Western Skies will be coming to a theater near you.

Five awards. One little western musical. A whole lot of heart. 🤠❤️