Known as the “Writers Festival” since its inception 23 years ago, Austin Film Festival recognizes the importance of narrative at the core of filmmaking. By celebrating the work of storytellers; those committed to crafting intricate worlds, fully-formed characters, and diverse perspectives, AFF bolsters its reputation as a champion for the creator.
Make sure to submit your film to AFF’s Oscar®-qualifying Animated Short category! Many animated shorts that play AFF have gone on to be nominated for an Academy Award®, including The Dam Keeper in 2015, Head Over Heels in 2013 and The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore in 2012.
5 REASONS TO SUBMIT TO AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL:
1. THE CONFERENCE: Accepted filmmakers have access to AFF’s Screenwriters Conference, the largest writer’s conference in the world. The Conference attracts groundbreaking producers, agents, managers, and development execs, as well as countless working screenwriters and filmmakers. Many conferences are footnotes to festivals; the AFF Conference is worth the trip alone. The lineup is interactive, raw, and fun – you’re destined to leave with a notebook full of strategies and the inspiration to start your next project.
2. THE SELECTION PROCESS: We take to heart the amount of work put into each film. Therefore, we are careful to ensure that each movie is reviewed at least twice. We like to be transparent in our process and judge the story over the production value.
3. THE CITY: There’s a reason why Moviemaker Magazine named Austin one of the best cities to live and work as a moviemaker. Perhaps one of the only cities where you can eat authentic BBQ, go to chicken shit bingo and try vegan ice cream in the same night, Austin is rich with culture and renowned for its hospitality and it supportive and innovative film community.
4. THE INDUSTRY PRESENCE: Each year we have a plethora of distributors, agents, producers, and industry insiders that attend and participate in the Festival, excited to meet new faces. Many films are picked up for distribution and many important introductions are made each year in our movie theaters, conference halls, and party venues. In addition, Jury Award winners are decided each year by esteemed and celebrated judges, including executives from The Weinstein Company, POV, Seed&Spark, Drafthouse Films, Radius-TWC, Oscilloscope Laboratories, and Gravitas Ventures
5. THE AFF HUB: We can guarantee that AFF isn’t your average fest. Yes, there’s incredible barbecue. Yes, the margaritas can’t be beat. But what’s most apparent is the hub of filmmakers and supporters that continues to grow around the Festival. There are no velvet ropes here, and registrants and filmmakers are known to rendezvous with the best of them. At our parties, relationships are made and subsequent babies are created (in this metaphor the babies are films. Or babies. We don’t judge).
