Austin Film Festival (AFF) and The Donners’ Company, headed by prolific producer Lauren Schuler Donner, are thrilled to announce The Donners’ Company Screenwriting Award! This award is open to Feature length screenplays submitted to either the Drama or Comedy Feature category in AFF’s 2025 Script Competitions.
Through this new partnership we are thrilled to recognize features with well-developed characters and a complex, original plot. This award aims to highlight compelling stories showcasing depth, creativity, and strong narrative structure. The Donners’ Company believes all stories should have humor within.
Donners’ Company representatives will read the category’s top scripts to determine the winner, and provide feedback on the winning script. Pending availability, representatives from the Donners’ Company will meet with the category finalists at Austin Film Festival’s Writers Conference (October 23rd – 26th).
The Donners’ Company Screenwriting Award winner will receive:
- Awardee(s)* will take three (3) meetings with Lauren Schuler Donner and/or development executives on her team, where they will offer industry guidance, feedback on winning script, advice on future projects, and insight into the development process.
- $500 cash prize and up to $500 in airfare and up to $500 in lodging travel allowance to attend the 2025 Austin Film Festival (October 23rd – October 30th)
Entry Requirements:
- Requires additional $30 entry fee
- In order to be considered for this Award, you must be entered into the Comedy or Drama Feature categories of the 2025 AFF Screenplay Competition
Lauren Shuler Donner is a renowned and prolific film, TV, and theater producer. She has produced 30 movies over four decades including the X-Men franchise, Pretty in Pink, Free Willy, You’ve Got Mail, She’s The Man, and The Secret Life of Bees. She has also been EP on seven TV shows including 3 seasons of Legion. She is currently developing several Broadway musicals based on her and her husband’s films. Lauren serves as Vice President for the Producers’ Guild of America, is on the Board of The Motion Picture and TV Fund (MPTF), on the Board of The Geffen Playhouse, and LUPUSLA.
In 2023 Austin Film Festival awarded Lauren the Polly Platt Award for Producing, given annually to producers with a keen sense of story and who have a history of fostering new talent. We could not be more thrilled to work Lauren this year to uplift new talent through the script competitions.
MORE ABOUT AFF’S SCRIPT COMPETITIONS
AFF’s Script Competitions are currently open for submissions.
Script Competition Deadlines:
- Early Deadline: March 25
- Regular Deadline: April 22
- Late Deadline: May 28
- Extended Deadline: July 8 (Podcast & Digital Series Only)