It’s almost here!
The date is approaching fast and we’re making preparations. Don’t miss out!
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jOIN uS FOR THE wESTERN hERITAGE & Film Festival! 8-18 August 2026 & 8 May 2027
Learn more at the Festival Website!
A HUGE 'THANK YOU' TO OUR WONDERFUL 2025 PARTNERS!
A Special Thank you to the Arizona Commission on the Arts for a 2025 Festival Grant!
Contrubuting Supporter
Mazatzal Casino
Poster Contest!
Artists, buckle up and create your designs for a poster!
The winner will receive $1000.00 in prize money from Rim Country Artists in exchange for donating the original artwork to RCA.
There will be special press and social media publicity.
- Proportion your artwork to have high resolution when reproduced at 24” x 36”.
- Use any medium and any support.
- Do not frame your work so that it is camera-ready.
- Oriented vertically, the artwork must leave room to give very visible room to these words:
143nd World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo
August 20-23, 2026 and the presenters’ titles with their logo (See logos below)
Rim Country Artists, Payson Pro Rodeo Committee
The Payson Pro Rodeo Committee (PPRC) will judge the competition. No Rim Country Artists (RCA) Board members may compete. After the winning artwork is selected, RCA will add the typography. Both the Rodeo and RCA Boards will approve the design before production. The PPRC will select the number of posters, pay for them, sell them, and retain all profits. The winning artist is asked to sign a maximum of 50 printed posters for the PPRC.
RCA will never reproduce the artwork, as reproduction rights are reserved by the PPRC. RCA may, however, sell or auction the original at a future date. The PPRC will keep all rights to the poster itself, in perpetuity, as well as its reproduction and all profits from sales. These posters will likely become collectors’ pieces, especially those that are signed.
All photographed entries must be turned in by July 1st. Send your jpeg photo file to Elizabeth Fowler at WHandFF2023@gmail.com
Our Logos
Introducing FilmFreeway!
New to our festival in 2026 is FilmFreeway - where filmmakers can submit their films for us to download and judge. We invite you and your films to the Western Heritage and Film Festival, Payson AZ, a celebration of the American West!
We ask that your submission uses, reflects, or springs from the classic genre, and that this is apparent in the majority of your entry. We are interested in tales that pull from authentic Western heritage -- whether Indigenous, White or Hispanic. We encourage submissions which consider the traditional Western from different perspectives and offer unique interpretations. Standard narratives about the Old West may be used and/or transformed, bridging the past and the present to make compelling stories. Post-modern Westerns are welcome. Your entry may be full length or short, a documentary or a commercial, web-based or animated.
Western Heritage and Film Festival 2026
The Western Heritage and Film Festival Experience
August 8-18, 2026 and May 8, 2027, in Payson, Arizona
Web: filmfreeway.com/WesternHeritageandFilmFestival paysonazfilmfestival.org
Facebook: Western Heritage and Film Festival, Rim Country Artists
Instagram: westernheritagefilm
WHFF Schedule of Events August 8 & August 10-18, 2026 and May 8, 2027
All films, with introductions, are at the Sawmill Theatres, 201 W Main St, Payson AZ
- Sat Aug 8, 9:45 am – Family Matinee: Spirit – Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) with cartoons ahead of time, gifts and a drawing for a scooter, photo ops, cowgirl ventriloquist, reenactors are ushers -- free
- Mon Aug 10, 1 pm – Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
- Tue Aug 11, 1 pm – Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- Tue Aug 11, 6 pm - at the Sawmill Theatres: Kristyn Harris Concert. She is 6-time International Western Music Association Entertainer of the Year and 8-time CURRENTLY REIGNING International Western Music Association Female Performer of the Year
- Wed Aug 12, 1 pm – Blazing Saddles (1974)
- Thurs Aug 13, 1 pm – 3:10 to Yuma (2007)|
- Thurs Aug 13, 5 pm - Cowboy Poetry and art exhibit at Noley’s -- free
- Fri Aug 14 - All day prize-winning new films. Special food arranged for and served by the Sawmill, available during the day, outdoor seating, misters rented. Evening: Award Ceremony, cocktail party/ Macky’s catered reception at the Sawmill
- Sat Aug 15, 9:15 am – The Dog Bite Murders (2025)
- Sat Aug 15, 11:30 am – Ticketed Rim Country BBQ luncheon with Bob Boze Bell, talking in depth about The Searchers.
- Sat Aug 15, 1:30 pm – Searchers (1956)
- Sat Aug 15, 5:00 pm – Rodeo Kickoff Dance (with the Payson Pro Rodeo Committee) at Macky’s Grill -- free
- Sun Aug 16, 1 pm – Winning films played again for public. The winning feature gets a contract to play for a week
- Mon Aug 17 – High Noon (1952)
- Tue Aug 18 – Ticketed “Breaking Camp” Carpinos Concert at The Sawmill Theatres -- performing old-time songs, cash bar
- Sat May 8, 2027 – Ranch Tales with local ranchers telling stories at Rumsey Park with food, cultural displays, authors, family friendly activities -- free
Ticket Prices:
- $8 individual films at the door, including limited for The Searchers
- $40 movie passes for just films, including Spirit. Not including The Searchers, nor Winning Films and Awards Ceremony
- $75 Luncheon and The Searchers – separate special ticket
- $100 badges for lunch and all the films including Spirit, The Searchers, luncheon, Winning Films & Awards Party, and the Carpino Concert
- $10 or a donation for the Breaking Camp Carpino Concert
Image Right: by Deb Schwalm
2025 Poster Contest Winner - RCA's Donn Morris!
Contact Us
Reach out to us for any questions!
Festival Email: whandff2023@gmail.com
RCA Email: rimcountryartists@gmail.com
Rim Country Artists | Western Heritage & Film Festival 2026
Rim Country Artists | Western Heritage & Film Festival 2025
Rim Country Artists | Western Heritage & Film Festival 2024
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