Since our inception in 1994, our goal here at AFF has been not only to create a community where writers can connect and support one another, but also to build a bridge from craft to career. Along the way, we’ve been fortunate to cultivate a family of storytellers across multiple mediums who come together in both the pursuit and celebration of story. Below we are proud to highlight the career achievements of alumni from the Austin Film Festival’s competitions and Writers Conference.
2025 Austin Film Festival Official Selection film, Miles Away, has been nominated for Imagen Awards’ Best Feature Film.
Hulu Orders Adult Animated Comedy Deano, co-created by 2025 Animated Short Winner David Ferrier (Beyond Measure) and 2015 Animated Short Winner (The Meek) and creator of Bluey Joe Brumm To EP
Laura Adkin, director of the 2023 official selection Re-Uniting, to direct best-selling author Catherine McKenzie’s Out of Luck. The two met while attending AFF’s Ghost Ranch Writers Retreat in 2022.
AFF alum Jason Reitman and two-time Script Competition Semifinalist Ian Shorr team for supernatural thriller 71 Minutes to Sunrise.
2016 Narrative Short Jury Winner, Screenwriter To Watch, and AFF panelist Megan Park is in a bidding war for new film My Old Ass.
2025 Script Competition Finalist Jacob Marx Rice lands on Black List with The Valley of Hinnom
Michel Vlamis discusses the release of his 2024 Film Competition Official Selection Feature “Crossword.”
2024 Script Competition Semifinalist Olivia Jampol received a special mention at the Gotham Awards for her film, Homestalker.
2024 Script Competition Winner Vivian Kerr chosen to be represented by L.A.-based company Apollo Management International’s sales division focused on indie features.
2024 Stage Play Competition Finalist Naya James Sonnad selected for The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and FilmNation Entertainment’s New York Screenwriting Fellowship.
New animated show Deano is picked up by Hulu, co-created by 2025 Animated Short Winner (for Beyond Measure) David Ferrier and Executive Produced by Joe Brumm (creator Bluey, 20215 Animated Short Winner The Meek)
Read More
2021 Script Competition Finalist Warren Wagner selected for Blumhouse and K Period Media’s Screamwriting Fellows for Horror Film & TV Writing Program.
2018 Drama Feature Horror Award Finalist Davey Morrison co-writes new horror feature film I See the Demon.
2018 Stage Play Competition Semifinalist Melissa Kong selected for 2025 Fox Entertainment Writers Incubator program.
2017 Script Competition Semifinalist Angie Nolan takes on Hallmark’s director mentorship program
2017 Script Competition Semifinalist and Writer, Garrett Ratcliff is joined by Til Schweiger and and Charlie Gillespie as cast for the thriller Contra.
2017 AFF Semifinalist Writer Chelsea Catalanotto brings Lana Condor on to her new project ‘Whodunnit’
2013 Script Finalist LaToya Morgan lands a First-Look with Universal TV as both a Writer and Executive Producer
2024 Enderby Entertainment Filmmaking Fellowship + Student Narrative Audience Award winning filmmaker, Emily Everhard was named a WGAEast x FilmNation Fellow.