We're excited to announce two of our 2025 Festival Jurors, and one of our 2025 Festival Workshop Presenters!

Anna Dewell, a 2025 Festival Juror, is a marketing and communication manager in student nutrition and has over twenty years of experience in art, graphic design, film, communications, and digital media. She is a native of Ark City and holds an M.F.A. in Radio, Television, & Film with a concentration in documentary film from the University of North Texas where she won several awards for documentary films. Before moving to Texas, Anna earned her B.A. at Southwestern College and an A.A. at Cowley County Community College. In her free time, Anna enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to concerts, and being on or near the water. She is the proud mother of two grown children - one an audio engineer and one a biochemist.

Gina Bryant, a 2025 Festival Juror, is a director, producer, production designer, and costume designer from Wichita, KS, currently with Illumination Cinema. She has always loved fashion and putting on a show. She started taking dancing and acting lessons when she was 5 and dreamt of being a child star, though her mother wouldn't let her move to Hollywood. She did take drama classes from then on and developed a life-long love of acting.
Even though Gina loves the stage, she also loves behind the scenes work. You could often find her in the costume shop in high school and she worked in the costume shop at Southwestern College where she designed costumes, props, hair and makeup for various shows. She went on to earn a BFA in Studio Art at Wichita State University with her senior project consisting of wearable art influenced by historical fashion. Eventually she made the transition to film.
Gina has been both a featured and background actor for several small independent films including several short films she produced under America's Front Porch Film Co. She has also been the production designer and costume designer for several more short films and two features produced locally. Though she still loves acting, she prefers directing these days. Her films have been featured in festivals across the country, winning numerous awards. Her first feature length film ARRIVE ALIVE recently had its world premiere at the 22nd annual Tallgrass Film Festival.

Stay tuned for more updates with the remaining Jurors and Workshop Presenters to be announced, along with other exciting festival updates!

Our 10th Annual BisonBison Film Festival will be on Friday April 4 & Saturday April 5, 2025 at the Historic Burford Theatre. 
Submissions are open now (check out the submissions tab for more information), and we're excited to see what you've been working on!
Keep an eye out for more updates like juror announcements, workshop presenter updates, and more.

Friday, April 5th
5:00PM - Check In at Burford Theatre
7:00PM - Film Viewings:
- The 7 Year Senior
- In-Visible
- Welcome to Godly
- This is He
- Piso
- Mollie's Goodbye
- Honey
- Bound in the Heartland

Saturday, April 6th 
10:00AM - Free Workshop - Gun Safety
11:00AM - Free Workshop - Acting & Effects of the Writers Strike
6:00PM - Film Viewings:
- Finding Neomi
- A Search for Light
- Wildflowers
- Jimmy Trigger and the Mystery Box
- Lost Soul
- Hochatown
- Turnabout Bounty ​

ROY NUGEN is an award-winning writer, producer, property master plus actor. He comes from a family of musicians, wildcatters, carpet salesmen, cops, lion tamers, and engineers. Roy learned about the magic of movies when, at the tender age of 3, he saw BATMAN (1989) in the theater and was mesmerized. After a brief detour into law enforcement and armed private security, Roy turned his sights back to filmmaking. 
 
He has written 15 short films including BAG FULL OF TROUBLE, POTBOILER, HANDLE WITH CARE, DEATH IN LAVENDER, and most recently, HOLE IN THE GROUND, many of which have played across the country. He’s presently finishing production on his feature film ARRIVE ALIVE. He has been the property master on 17 short films and 2 feature films. 
 
Roy is also a prolific book reviewer and collector of vintage pulp books. You can read his reviews on his blog bloodyspicybooks.blogspot.com, and multiple magazines including Paperback Fanatic, Hot Lead and Sleazy Reader. He has also written afterwards for novels and for various websites.

Roy will be presenting a workshop about prop weapon safety.

TODD TERRY, a native Dallasite, began his career in television, film and theater over 30 years ago. He studied theater at The National Youth Theater of Great Britain, American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and Professional Actors Conservatory in Los Angeles. In 2022, he completed production on the third season of the series Vindication as Detective Gary Travis, currently available on Amazon Prime and Pureflix. In 2023, he can be seen opposite Patricia Heaton and Zachary Levy in the film Unbreakable Boy and in The Senior with Michael Chiklis. Additional film releases in 2022 included Running the Bases and Pulled from Darkness. Past film credits include Five Feet Apart, Old Man and the Gun, El Camino, Unplanned, Beyond the Farthest Star, Because of Gracia, Waiting for the Miracle to Come, Arlington Road, and Walking Tall II. He has co-starred, guest starred and recurred on such shows as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Fear the Walking Dead, Queen Sugar, The Winchesters, Mr.
Mercedes, American Crime, Drop Dead Diva, Dallas, My Generation, Chase, Walker- Texas Ranger, Friday Night Lights, and Wishbone. He has also appeared in commercials for Home Depot, Home Title Lock, Texas Oncology, Mutual of Omaha, Fast Signs, American Airlines, Visionworks, Cabella's, Cooper Tires, Showtime, Blockbuster, TXU,
Service King, Brookshire's, Pepsi and Braum's. He served as the President of the Dallas/Ft Worth branch of the Screen Actors Guild in 2001. Todd has been married for 26 years to his wife Anna, and they have two boys, Austin, 24 and Conner, 18.

Todd will be presenting a workshop about acting for film.

​Gina Bryant is a director, producer, production designer, and costume designer from Wichita, KS, currently with Illumination Cinema. She has always loved fashion and putting on a show. She started taking dancing and acting lessons when she was 5 and dreamt of being a child star, though her mother wouldn't let her move to Hollywood. She did take drama classes from then on and developed a life-long love of acting.

Even though Gina loves the stage, she also loves behind the scenes work. You could often find her in the costume shop in high school and she worked in the costume shop at Southwestern College where she designed costumes, props, hair and makeup for various shows. She went on to earn a BFA in Studio Art at Wichita State University with her senior project consisting of wearable art influenced by historical fashion. Eventually she made the transition to film. 
 
Gina has been both a featured and background actor for several small independent films including several short films she produced under America's Front Porch Film Co. She has also been the production designer and costume designer for several more short films and two features produced locally. Though she still loves acting, she prefers directing these days. Her films have been featured in festivals across the country, winning numerous awards. She is currently finishing up her first feature film as a director: ARRIVE ALIVE.

​DARRYL COX is a professional SAG/AFTRA actor whose career spans the spectrum of major film and television productions.  Among his credits are over 90 principal roles in film (including ARLINGTON ROAD, ROBOCOP, BOTTLE ROCKET, MINARI, and A PERFECT WORLD) and TV (including FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, PRISON BREAK, L.A. LAW, RESERVATION DOGS, and NYPD BLUE). He taught On-Camera Acting at Adam Roarke’s Film Actor’s Lab in Dallas and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, later at Oklahoma City University and the University of Central Oklahoma, and for 25 years at the University of Oklahoma.  A former officer in the U.S. Navy, he served onboard the destroyer U.S.S. Forrest Sherman, including a deployment to the Persian Gulf in 1980.  In 1977 he graduated with a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma, and currently resides in Norman, Oklahoma.

​The BisonBison Film Festival is excited to announce the official opening of submissions for its upcoming annual event. Dedicated to providing a platform for student filmmakers to showcase their talent on the big screen, the festival has become a prominent fixture in the vibrant world of independent cinema. Filmmakers from Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and Arkansas are invited to participate and share their stories through the art of film.
Submissions for the BisonBison Film Festival open on September 1st, 2023. This is an unparalleled opportunity for student filmmakers to showcase their vision, creativity, and storytelling skills. Selected films will not only grace the silver screen but will also be considered for recognition through the coveted Awards of Excellence, each accompanied by a prize of $1,000. Additionally, the Audience Favorite Award, a celebration of the film that resonates most with viewers, will be presented.
Mark your calendars! The BisonBison Film Festival is scheduled to take place on April 5 & 6, 2024 at the Burford Theatre in Arkansas City, KS. This immersive two-day experience isn't just about showcasing films; it's a golden opportunity for student filmmakers to dive into a world of creativity, learn from industry experts, and connect with peers. 

"We feel like we received sincere "A-List" treatment the entirety of the weekend; thank you. I'm grateful for the workshops and resources that were shared at the festival, as well. I gained a lot of valuable information, insights, and resources there. ... You always made sure we had anything we'd need and I thought you did a fantastic job with the event."
- Michael A. Campbell, selected filmmaker at BBFF '23 Festival

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2023, 7PM - SCREENINGS
Puzzle Pieces by Kylee Faulk - University of Missouri-KC - PG - 4:39 min.
Filmed in Oklahoma by Kaden Wittig - Tulsa Technology - G - 9:16 min.
The King of Berry by Nathan Gusman - Wayne State College - PG-13 - 13:47 min.
Reminiscence by Mason Vietti - Wichita State University - PG-13 - 10:34 min.
Antics by Michael Campbell - University of Missouri-KC - PG-13 - 3:52 min.
It’s the Journey by Joseph Merkel - Wayne State College - R - 14:46 min.
Filmmaker Q & A
Intermission - 15:00 min.
Sacrament by Josh Eliot - Oklahoma City University - PG - 22:18 min.
Flight of Trouser Snake by Park Zebley - University of Missouri-KC - G - 2:30 min.
Exodus by Nathan Blizzard - Wayne State College - R - 28:02 min.
Filmmaker Q & A 

SATURDAY APRIL 1, 2023, BEGINNING AT 10AM - WORKSHOPS
all workshops are free and open to the public
10:00 am - Costuming for Film presented by Gina Bryant-Nugen
11:00 am - Current Camera Technology presented by Jason Cantu
12:00 pm - Lunch Break
1:00 pm - Open Panel Discussion with 2023 Festival Jurors: Darryl Cox, Lazara Gonzales, and Melanie Addington
2:30 pm - Acting for Film presented by Darryl Cox
4:00pm-5:00pm - Tour of Etzanoa Conservancy 

SATURDAY APRIL 1, 2023, 7PM - SCREENINGS
Strawberry Toast by Edje Perezantolo - Oklahoma City Community College - PG - 4:37 min.
I Seem to be Stuck by Abi Gaylord - University of Missouri-KC - PG - 6:11 min.
Girl by Emma Franco - Wayne State College - PG - 13:38 min.
The Scuffle by Caz Cherepak - University of Missouri-KC - PG-13 - 2:19 min.
Step One by Nathan Kampe - Wichita State University - PG-13 - 8:49 min.
Gills by Griffin Presnell - Wayne State College - PG-13 - 22:00 min. Filmmaker Q & A
Intermission - 15:00
April Fools Gag Reel
Award Presentation

All films and workshops will be at the Burford Theatre, 118 S. Summit, Arkansas City, KS All times and events are subject to change without notice.

Announcing Juror for 2023 Festival!

LAZARA GONZALEZ is a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. With a degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta, she wasted no time in making a name for herself. As a student, Lazara created and produced KT2 News, a groundbreaking news show for kids. She also wrote a script for a PSA called "Death of the Arts," which not only won a contest but was used as the premise for the ending of the hit show Seinfeld.
After graduation, Lazara went on to produce and direct "DEATH OF THE ARTS" in Atlanta, solidifying her position as a talented and innovative producer. She then began working as a Line Producer for major studios like CBS Radcliff, Paramount, Sony, Gower Studios, and Culver City Studio. Her contributions to hit shows like The Big Bang Theory, Grimm, Modern Family, and Enders Game have helped to shape the landscape of modern television.
In addition to her impressive work in television, Lazara has also made a name for herself in film. She has worked on movies like The Blind Side and Get Low, helping to bring talented actors and crew members into the industry.
But Lazara's accomplishments don't end there. She is a member of numerous organizations, including Women In Film/Latina's In Film, Script Writer Guild, LP Guild, George Lucas Producers Circle, and the Academy. Lazara's passion for mentoring and encouraging others is evident in the work she has done to help actors and crew members break into the industry. 
Today, Lazara is in pre-production for three unique films. Two of these films, SEPARATE BUT EQUAL - THE ADA LOIS SIPUEL FISHER STORY and Hood Chameleon, are based on true-life events, while the third, CPS, is a groundbreaking storyline that has never been brought to the screen.
As Julian Fellowes once said, in Los Angeles, being a producer may not mean much more than being a member of the human race. But for Lazara Gonzalez, being a producer means making a difference, breaking down barriers, and helping others achieve their dreams.