AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL TO HONOR NINA JACOBSON AND ERIC KRIPKE AT THE 2026 AWARDS LUNCHEON; ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY FELLOWSHIPS INCLUDING THE DONNERS’ COMPANY, AMC, VALHALLA ENTERTAINMENT, YMH STUDIOS, AND STARBURNS INDUSTRIES
Austin, TX (April 1, 2026) – AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL (AFF), which hosts the world’s largest screenwriters conference and leads in championing the art and craft of storytelling for more than three decades, announced today the first two honorees for 2026: the Polly Platt Award for Producing will be given to renowned film and television producer (Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, The Hunger Games franchise) Nina Jacobson, and the Outstanding Television Writer Award will be given to ground-breaking creator, executive producer, showrunner (The Boys, Supernatural) and AFF-winning alum (Truly Committed) Eric Kripke during the 2026 Awards Luncheon taking place on Saturday, October 31. Both will also participate in panels during the AFF Writers Conference. Additionally, AFF is excited to highlight its 2026 industry-sponsored fellowships, designed to celebrate and empower the next generation of screenwriters and filmmakers.
Established in 2019, the Polly Platt Award for Producing is annually given to a producer with a keen sense of story and a history of fostering new talent. Previous recipients include Christine Vachon (Carol, Boys Don’t Cry), Kathleen Kennedy (Jurassic Park, E.T.), Lauren Shuler Donner ( X-Men franchise, Deadpool), Dede Gardner (12 Years A Slave, F1, Moonlight), Stephanie Allain (Dear White People, Hustle & Flow), and Sarah Green (The Tree of Life, Mud).
Nina Jacobson, founder of the independent production company Color Force, is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Peabody-winning producer who has produced some of the most commercially successful and culturally impactful films of the past three decades including The Hunger Games franchise and the upcoming prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which premieres this November; Crazy Rich Asians; Diary of a Wimpy Kid; as well as the Emmy-winning The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story; Pose; and more. This year, along with Color Force partner Brad Simpson, Jacobson executive-produced the critically and commercially acclaimed limited series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.
Prior to forming Color Force, Jacobson was president of the Walt Disney Motion Picture Group. During her tenure, 15 of Jacobson’s projects grossed over $100 million domestically, including Pirates of the Caribbean, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Princess Diaries.
Introduced in 2000, the Outstanding Television Writer Award highlights the artistic achievements and contributions of television creators and their importance in shaping the landscape of serialized storytelling. Past award recipients include Yvette Lee Bowser (Living Single, Black-ish), Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica, Outlander), Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen), Larry Wilmore (The Bernie Mac Show, The Nightly Show), Marta Kauffman (Friends, Grace and Frankie), and Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul).
Eric Kripke, creator, executive producer, writer, director, and showrunner of the multi-Emmy Award-winning series The Boys, has helped redefine modern genre television, building one of Prime Video’s most successful franchises. Kripke is also executive producer within the expanding universe of The Boys, including Gen V, Emmy Award-winning animated anthology The Boys Presents: Diabolical, and the upcoming series Vought Rising. His previous credits include Supernatural, one of the longest-running genre series in American history, as well as Timeless. In addition to his work in television, Kripke produced and wrote the feature screenplay for The House with a Clock in Its Walls and wrote / co-produced Screen Gems Boogeyman.
As a true reflection of AFF’s mission to support storytellers at every stage of their career, Kripke first gained recognition at the Festival as a student filmmaker. He earned both the jury and audience awards in the Narrative Student Short category at the Austin Film Festival in 1997 for his film Truly Committed. Kripke now returns in 2026 as the recipient of the Outstanding Television Writer Award.
To expand its mission of furthering the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and all artists who use written and visual language to tell a story, Austin Film Festival collaborates with industry leaders to offer tailored fellowships. These fellowships provide emerging artists with invaluable guidance, script feedback, and development experience to propel their careers forward.
2026 Fellowships and Awards will include:
AMC One Hour Pilot Award – AMC is the ultimate destination for premier storytelling, known for some of the most celebrated original content in television and film history. Open to drama pilot scripts that demonstrate masterful writing.
The Donners’ Company Screenwriting Award – open to feature length screenplays with well-developed characters and a complex, original plot. This award aims to highlight compelling stories showcasing depth, creativity, and strong narrative structure.
Enderby Entertainment Screenwriting Award – The Screenwriting Award is open to feature scripts in all genres with an original concept and distinctive voice that can be independently produced for under $10 million.
Adult Comedy Animated Series Presented by Starburns Industries – is looking for half-hour animated comedies written for a mature audience with a focus on Starburns’ four main ingredients, Funny, Sad, Strange, and Beautiful.
The Roadmap Writers Representation Fellowship – open to scripts submitted to the Feature Screenplay and Teleplay Pilot categories; award aims to connect writers to industry opportunities through a year-long fellowship.
The Valhalla Entertainment Award – will recognize character driven genre projects in both Television and Film with inventive takes on sci-fi, horror and thrillers that will push the boundaries of expectation for even the most ardent of genre fans.
The William N. Collage Screenwriting Award – will recognize writers of feature length scripts that fit into the action, drama, or thriller genre.
YMH Studios Comedy Fellowship – open to Comedy Feature scripts constructed with easily understandable and rewatchable themes, prioritizing a comedic storytelling approach.
Enderby Entertainment Filmmaking Fellowship – open to Narrative Short or Student Narrative Short categories, Enderby will provide in-depth feedback related to character development, plot execution, and world building.
The Narrative Feature Film Award presented by Valhalla Entertainment – is the presenting sponsor of the Narrative Feature Film Award category in the 2026 Film Competition.
Submissions for the 2026 Film and Screenplay Competitions are now open. Badges for the 2026 Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference are now available at www.austinfilmfestival.com.