AFF Programming within Six Square, Austin’s Black Cultural District
Austin Film Festival is excited to announce that we will again be hosting a free Writers Conference program within Six Square this October.
For the past couple of years, we were proud to put on our celebrated Industry Roundtable sessions, alongside a First Three Pages Live! script reading with industry judges. In October 2026, we will host the same two sessions, and are looking to expand the program further! This programming will be open to Festival badge-holders as well as the public. Come one, come all!
Six Square – Austin’s Black Cultural District (formerly known as Austin’s African American Cultural Heritage District) is the first black cultural district in the state of Texas and the only cultural arts district in the city of Austin. The organization was created in 2013 as an outgrowth of the City Council’s African American Quality of Life Initiative, which detailed widespread disparities, racial biases, and a decreasing Black population. Since inception, Six Square has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for African American residents through preservation of historic Black spaces, artistic cultivation, and by serving as a catalyst for social and economic development.
Past AFF x Six Square programming
Festival Programming
Explore AFF x Six Square past festival programming!
Events
Look back at AFF x Six Square year-round events!
AFF at Six Square 2025
Austin Film Festival hosted free Writers Conference programming within Six Square, Austin’s Black Cultural District. This event was open to both Festival Badge holders and the general public to connect, cultivate, and celebrate BIPOC artists. The event will consist of an Industry Roundtable session and a live reading of the First 3 Pages for selected scripts. Transportation was provided from the Festival headquarters at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown to Hilton Double Tree – University.
First Three Pages, Live!
At the First 3 Pages reading, selected writers will have their work read aloud by working actors and will receive notes from attending panelists.
More info can be found here.
Six Square Industry Roundtables: The Art, Craft, and Business of Writing as a Career
At the Roundtables, writers, managers, producers, and/or executives will speak openly about their experiences in the industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to personally interact with the panelists and ask directed questions about the art, craft, and business of working in film, television, and new media.
More info can be found here.
AFF at Six Square 2024
Austin Film Festival hosted free Writers Conference programming within Six Square, Austin’s Black Cultural District. This event was open to both Festival Badge holders and the general public to connect, cultivate, and celebrate BIPOC artists. The event will consist of an Industry Roundtable session and a live reading of the First 3 Pages for selected scripts. Transportation will be provided from the Festival headquarters at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown to Huston-Tillotson University. Buses will pick up for the First 3 Pages Live Script Reading outside of the hotel.
Six Square Industry Roundtables: The Art, Craft, and Business of Writing as a Career
At the Roundtables, writers, managers, producers, and/or executives will speak openly about their experiences in the industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to personally interact with the panelists and ask directed questions about the art, craft, and business of working in film, television, and new media.
More info can be found here.
First Three Pages, Live!
At the First 3 Pages reading, selected writers will have their work read aloud by working actors and will receive notes from attending panelists.
More info can be found here.
First Three Pages Live! at Six Square
2023
The first 3 pages of submitted scripts were read aloud by working Austin actors, brought to us by our community partner Coldtowne Theater. Our esteemed panelists provided feedback to these writers on how to much their story stronger in future drafts. See 2023 selectees and read more about this event here!
That’s My Face Short Film Screenings
2022
Presented by Austin Film Festival and the George Washington Carver Museum
That’s My Face was Carver’s FREE film series spotlighting Black achievements and stories. Each screening was followed by a discussion. This event looked toward youth filmmakers and stories aimed at youth/young adults interested in film. Read more about this event here!
Roundtable Event
2022
This event offered registrants exclusive access to local BIPOC industry leaders with the goal of fostering diverse and inclusive opportunities within creative spaces for new storytellers. Read more about this event here!
Panel: Representation On and Off Screen
2022
Presented by Austin Film Festival and the George Washington Carver Museum
Panelists discussed writing ethnicity, race, and culture in film and television, and the importance of increasing diversity in the media landscape. Our writers talked about tone, breaking stereotypes, using setting as a character, and the responsibility a writer has to their work and others. Read more about this event here!
Summer Film Camp Speaker Series with Wendy Calhoun
2021
Wendy Calhoun joined us at Summer Film Camp to discuss her career as a writer. Her scripted drama credits include Co-Executive Producing and writing the historic first season of FBC’s Empire. Read more Wendy here!
A Conversation With…
Kemp Powers
On August 4th, 2024, we heard form Kemp Powers about his creative process and latest film, Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse. Read more here!
Kevin Wilmott
Presented by AFF and Huston-Tillotson University
Willmott discusses balancing messages of social justice with entertainment, working with famed director Spike Lee, and writing BlacKkKlansman, Destination Planet Negro, and Da 5 Bloods. Read more about it here!
Mike Johnson
Presented by AFF and the George Washington Carver Museum
Jackson discusses his prolific career and how the role of producer has helped him champion unique voices and storytellers in the industry. Read more about it here!