Peter Hedges’ “The Same Storm” is set to open the anticipated 28th annual Film Festival
Austin, TX (September 22, 2021) – Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing the writers’ contributions to film, television, and new media, announced today the full schedule of films and panels for the in-person 28th annual Festival, October 21-28. Kicking off the festivities is the Opening Night Film The Same Storm by Academy Award® Nominee Peter Hedges. which stars Noma Dumezweni, Mary-Louise Parker, Sandra Oh, Elaine May, Raúl Castillo, Ato Blankson-Wood, Corey Michael Smith, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston, and Alison Pill.
AFF’s feature film slate includes 26 World, North American, and US Premieres, and highly anticipated marquee titles, including the World Premiere of Dark Star Pictures’ Time Now written/directed by Spencer King and starring Eleanor Lambert, Claudia Black, Xavier Polk, Paige Kendrick, and Dwele; as well as the US Premiere of CICADA, distributed by South Korean powerhouse Contents Panda and written/directed by Chung-ryoul Lee.
Other marquee titles include Academy Award® Nominee Wes Anderson’s love letter to journalists The French Dispatch, starring Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric, Stephen Park, Bill Murray, and Owen Wilson; Cambodian Sci-Fi title Karmalink from XYZ Films, by writers Jake Wachtel and Christopher Larsen; and Captains of Za’atari by writer/director Ali El Arabi which chronicles friends in a Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan chasing an undying dream of becoming professional football players.
A24 expands their partnership with the Festival through the Mike Mills tour de force C’MON C’MON starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Scoot Mcnairy, Molly Webster, Jaboukie Young-White, and Woody Norman; alongside Joanna Hogg’s shimmering story of love and a young woman’s formative years The Souvenir Part II, starring Honor Swinton Byrne, Tilda Swinton, Ariane Labed, Jaygann Ayeh, and Richard Ayoade.
NEON also returns with a slew of titles, including the Joachim Trier rom-com stunner The Worst Person in the World, starring Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum, and Hans Olav Brenner; while the previously announced Céline Sciamma’s Petite Maman brings a whimsical wonder to the slate this October. Additional World Premieres include The Grand Bolero (a middle-aged pipe organ restorer struggles to control her obsessive attraction to her new 20-year-old mute assistant), and I Can Feel You Walking (two people who are losing their internal battles against depression and addiction, find solace in each other one night when they start to stray from their comfort zones). Also joining them will be The Time of the Fireflies (separated by thousands of miles and during a pandemic, Miguel tries to stay connected to his family in Mexico while fulfilling his life goals), and TORAO (while conducting research for her project, a college student stumbles upon an old detective and she decides to help him solve a decades-old cold case).
Learn more about the 2021 Full Slate, here.
In addition to its film lineup, the Austin Film Festival also revealed today their full schedule for the highly-anticipated Writers Conference. The Conference features a roster of prominent screenwriters in film and television, including conversations with Academy Award nominee Will Berson, co-writer of Judas and the Black Messiah; and Brad Ingelsby, Emmy Award-nominated creator of Mare of Easttown. Lisa Joy, Emmy Award-nominated co-creator of HBO’s Westworld and writer/director of 2021’s Reminiscence; and Linda Yvette Chavez, co-creator of Netflix’s popular series Gentefied will also be joining.
Blazing a new path forward for screenwriters, the Festival also announced the inaugural Game Writing Track scheduled for this years’ Writers Conference. Headlined by panelists representing local development studios and institutions such as Airship Syndicate, Wolfeye Studios, FarBridge, and University of Texas at Austin, the Track aims to demystify the style, scope, substance, and functionality of storytelling within the medium. Conversations this year will include creators Susan O’Connor, Lucas Loredo, Evan Narcisse, Erin Firestine, Donald Harris, and Frank Barbiere.
This year’s Writers Conference will also feature programming with previously announced Austin Film Festival’s 2021 Awardees; Stephanie Allain, recipient of 2021’s Polly Platt Award for Producing, Scott Frank, recipient of 2021’s Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting, and Michael Schur, the Outstanding Television Writer Award recipient.
Virtual schedule and more live announcements will be coming soon.
AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL’S 2021 SLATE:
MARQUEE FEATURES
The Same Storm (OPENING NIGHT FILM)
(USA, 99 MIN)
Writer/director: Peter Hedges
A Chiara (Italy, France, 121 MIN)
Writer/director: Jonas Carpignano
Cicada (South Korea, 122 MIN)
Writer/director: Chung-ryoul LEE
Karmalink (Cambodia, USA, 102 MIN)
Writer: Jake Wachtel, Christopher Larsen
Director: Jake Wachtel
Mascarpone (Italy, 101 MIN)
Writers: Giuseppe Paternò Raddusa, Matteo Pilati, Alessandro Guida
Directors: Alessandro Guida, Matteo Pilati
One Second (China, 104 MIN)
Writers: Yimou Zhang, Jingzhi Zou
C’MON C’MON (USA, 108 MIN)
Writer/director: Mike Mills
The French Dispatch (France, 107 MIN)
Writer/director: Wes Anderson
The Worst Person in the World (Norway, France, Sweden & Denmark, 128 MIN)
Writer/director: Joachim Trier
Captain of Za’atari (Jordan, Qatar, 73 MIN)
Writer/director: Chung-ryoul LEE
Time Now (USA, 90 MIN)
Writer/director: Spencer King
The Souvenir Part II (USA, 106 MIN)
Writer/director: Joanna Hogg
NARRATIVE FEATURES
Atonement (India, 132 MIN)
Writer/Director: Mahesh Manjrekar
A World for Julius (Peru, 104 MIN)
Writer: Rossana Díaz Costa (written for the screen by), Alfredo Bryce Echenique (based on the novel by)
Director: Rossana Díaz Costa
Disfluency (USA, 95 MIN)
Writer/Director: Anna Baumgarten
Don’t Go to School Tomorrow (Mexico, 84 MIN)
Writer/Director: Diego Barragan
My Dead Dad (USA, 91 MIN)
Writers: Pedro Correa, Fabio Frey
Director: Fabio Frey
Range Roads (USA, 86 MIN)
Writer/Director: Kyle Thomas
Sons of the Sea (South Africa, 82 MIN)
Writer/Director: John Gutierrez
The Falconer (USA, Oman, 100 MIN)
Writer/Director: Seanne Winslow, Adam Sjoberg
The Grand Bolero (Italy, 90 MIN)
Writers: Gabriele Fabbro, Ydalie Turk
Director: Gabriele Fabbro
TORAO (Japan, 102 MIN)
Writer/Director: Kazuya Murayama
When Men Were Men (USA, Ireland, 96 MIN)
Writers: Aidan Dick, Izzi Rojas
Directors: Izzi Rojas, Aidan Dick
Unsilenced (Canada, 108 MIN)
Writer/Director: Leon Lee
COMEDY VANGUARD FEATURES
Adventures in Success (USA, 95)
Writer: Jay Buim, Susan Juvet, Rachel Webster
Director: Jay Buim
Cardboard Fort (UK, 95)
Writer/Director: Sam Hartshorn
Go to Kill (South Korea, 95)
Writer/Director: Nam Won Park
Rehab Cabin (USA, 77)
Writer: Kate Beacom
Director: Kate Beacom, Louis Legge
Holidays at All Costs (France, 105)
Writer/ Director: Stevan Lee Mraovitch
DARK MATTERS FEATURES
Briefly (South Africa, 96 MIN)
Writer: Ernst van Wyk
Director: Marinus Gubitz
CRAM (USA, 44 MIN)
Writer/Director: Abie Sidell
Jacinto (Spain, 95 MIN)
Writer/Director: Javi Camino
Lucas (Spain, 92 MIN)
Writers: Álex Montoya, Sergio Barrejón
Director: Álex Montoya
Spaghetti Junction (USA, 97 MIN)
Writer/Director: Kirby McClure
RETROSPECTIVES
Hustle and Flow (USA, 132 MIN)
Writer: Brian Helgeland
Director: Brian Helgeland
Parks and Rec (USA, 44 MIN)
Creators: Greg Daniels, Michael Schur
The Big Lebowski (USA, 117 MIN)
Writer: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Director: Joel Coen
TEXAS INDEPENDENT FEATURES
Acid Test (USA, 103 MIN)
writer/director: Jenny Waldo
Addict Named Hal (USA, 83 MIN)
writer/director: Lane Michael Stanley
Buck Alamo (USA, 80 MIN)
writer/director: Ben Epstein
Ranch Water (USA, 80 MIN)
writer/director: Sophie Miller
Swamp Lion (USA, 111 MIN)
writer/director: Torben Bech
Tickets and passes are currently on sale at www.austinfilmfestival.com
Press accreditation is now open through October 8, 2021. Press can apply at https://austinfilmfestival.com/contact/press-inquiries/
Austin Film Festival has enhanced health and safety protocols for this year’s event. Current policies can be found on http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/covif-19-policies/
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ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL:
Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. AFF is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts. Badges and passes are available for purchase online at www.austinfilmfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-310-FEST.