FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JIM SHERIDAN TO RECEIVE “DISTINGUISHED SCREENWRITER” AWARD AT
2014 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL & SCREENWRITERS CONFERENCE
“The Writers Festival” announces first tier of Panelists for 21st Anniversary, including screenwriters behind BARCELONA, CAST AWAY, DONNIE DARKO, FIGHT CLUB, HOTEL RWANDA, I LOVE YOU MAN, ROUNDERS, SAVING MR. BANKS, THE BOXER, and more
Programming continues to spotlight television and will feature writers and producers from China Beach, Girls, House, King of the Hill, Mind Games, Seinfeld, South Park, The Office, The West Wing, True Detective, and Masters of Sex creator Michelle Ashford
Austin, TX – February, 12, 2014 – Austin Film Festival (AFF), the premiere film festival that recognizes the writers’ and filmmakers’ impact on film, television, and new media, is thrilled to announce accomplished screenwriter and filmmaker Jim Sheridan as their 2014 recipient of the “Distinguished Screenwriter” Award. Sheridan’s credits include writing and directing MY LEFT FOOT, THE FIELD, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE BOXER, and IN AMERICA. He is known for writing INTO THE WEST and SOME MOTHER’S SON, as well as directing DREAM HOUSE, GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN’, and BROTHERS.
Sheridan’s work has achieved popular and critical acclaim worldwide. His films have garnered sixteen Academy Award nominations and have won two Academy Awards as well as numerous prestigious international awards.
Austin Film Festival annually recognizes a Distinguished Screenwriter for their collective body of work that has elevated and heavily contributed to the culture of film. Previous Distinguished Screenwriter Award recipients include Robert Altman, Shane Black, Horton Foote, Buck Henry, Lawrence Kasdan, Callie Khouri, Richard LaGravanese , Barry Levinson, Paul Mazursky, John Milius, David Peoples, Frank Pierson, Harold Ramis, Paul Schrader, William Wittliff, and Steven Zaillian.
Sheridan will accept the award at the Festival’s annual Awards Luncheon held on Saturday, October 25, 2014, as well as speak on panels during the Conference.
“We are thrilled to be honoring Jim Sheridan for our 21st anniversary. His body of work truly encapsulates the mission of Austin Film Festival,” said Conference Director, Erin Hallagan. “As we move into this third decade of championing the writer’s role in the landscape of film and television, we look forward to continuing a strong program that addresses both new developments in media, as well as the core elements of their craft.”
Sheridan joins a strong roundup of Panelists confirmed to speak at the 21st annual Austin Film Festival & Screenwriters Conference. The Conference will provide unparalleled access to some of the best writers, filmmakers, and industry personnel in film and television in an intimate and impassioned atmosphere. Registrants have the opportunity to attend an array of panels including: meet and greets with Conference speakers, roundtables, the 12th annual Pitch Competition, and panels that cater to the art, craft, and business of storytelling through film and television.
Confirmed panelists* include:
Michelle Ashford, creator Masters of Sex
Eli Attie, writer/executive producer Mind Games, writer/co-executive producer House, MD, writer/supervising producer The West Wing
William Broyles, writer CAST AWAY, APOLLO 13, THE POLAR EXPRESS, UNFAITHFUL, JARHEAD, ENTRAPMENT, China Beach
Cary Fukunaga, director/executive producer True Detective, director JANE EYRE, writer/director SIN NOMBRE
Terry George, writer/director HOTEL RWANDA, SOME MOTHER’S SON, RESERVATION ROAD, writer THE BOXER, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
John Hamburg, writer/director I LOVE YOU MAN, writer MEET THE PARENTS, ZOOLANDER
Richard Kelly, writer/director DONNIE DARKO, SOUTHLAND TALES, THE BOX, writer DOMINO
Brian Koppelman, writer ROUNDERS, OCEAN’S THIRTEEN, RUNAWAY JURY, writer/director SOLITARY MAN
Franklin Leonard, creator The Black List
Kelly Marcel, writer SAVING MR. BANKS, FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
Craig Mazin, writer IDENTITY THIEF, THE HANGOVER PART II & III, co-host ScriptNotes
Peter Mehlman, writer/co-executive producer Seinfeld
Scott Myers, host Go Into The Story, writer K-9, ALASKA, TROJAN WAR
Alvaro Rodriguez, writer MACHETE, SHORTS, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN 3: THE HANGMAN’S DAUGHTER, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series
Dan Sterling, producer Girls, The Office, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, writer/producer, The Sarah Silverman Program, writer King of the Hill, South Park
Whit Stillman, writer/director METROPOLITAN, BARCELONA, THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO, DAMSELS IN DISTRESS
Jim Uhls, writer FIGHT CLUB, SEMPER FI, JUMPER
*All speakers and events are based on permitting schedules and subject to change and/or cancellation without notice.
For a list of confirmed 2014 AFF Panelists, visit www.austinfilmfestval.com. Join the Panelists at the 21st Annual Austin Film Festival and Conference, taking place from October 23rd to 30th, 2014. Badges and Passes are available for purchase online 24 hours a day at www.austinfilmfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-310-FEST from 10am to 6pm CST.
ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL:
Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft, and business of filmmakers and screenwriters. In addition to a robust list of year-round events, AFF is producing its 21st Annual Film Festival & Conference in 2014. AFF is known as a uniquely pro-artist and interactive idea exchange. Its uncommonly loyal following is due to the fact that the organization has spotlighted the minds and imaginations behind projects for two decades—a trend now picking up steam in the industry. As director and producer Ron Howard said, Austin Film Festival “is really about creativity, about trying to help people find their voice. You sense it. There’s a spirit of camaraderie that’s palpable.” AFF is a greenhouse for projects and a clubhouse for legendary and emerging artists.
Past participants of the Festival & Conference include Vince Gilligan, Paul Thomas Anderson, Jonathan Demme, Will Ferrell, Wes Anderson, Frank Darabont, Ron Howard, Sydney Pollack, Danny Boyle, Oliver Stone, Robert Rodriguez, Chris Carter, David Simon, David Milch, Mitch Hurwitz, Greg Daniels, James L. Brooks, Sandra Bullock, Joel & Ethan Coen, Russell Crowe, Rian Johnson, Jenji Kohan, David Shore, Claire Danes, Robert Duvall, James Franco, Buck Henry, Dennis Hopper, Bryan Singer, Jason Schwartzman, Caroline Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Owen Wilson, to name just a few.
Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future.
For inquiries, contact Kristen O’Brien
kristengobrien@gmail.com
512-660-8850