AFF IS HEADED TO LOS ANGELES!
Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 1:00PM
Join Austin Film Festival, in partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Education Initiatives ® for an afternoon of panels to help guide you on your writing journey.
On Saturday, April 30, join us at the Academy’s beautiful Linwood Dunn Theatre in Hollywood for a day full of seasoned advice from industry professionals– from learning what it takes to secure representation to carving your own path by producing your own script.
LIMITED WALK UP TICKETS FOR THE PANEL PORTION OF THE EVENT ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
ROUNDTABLES: The Art, Craft, and Business of Screenwriting* ROUNDTABLE SOLD OUT!
11:00am – 12:15am
Linwood Dunn Theater – 1313 Vine St
Get in-depth answers to your questions about the art, craft, and business of writing for film and television. This roundtable session offers registrants exclusive access to industry insiders in an informal setting. Come prepared with questions that focus on the importance of both the creative and business sides of breaking into and writing for film.
*Roundtable session requires an add-on ticket and space is limited.
Tripper Clancy writer Stuber, I am Not Okay With This, Die Hart
Isabella Mastrodicasa Founder of Never Settle Media
Ansley Martinez Creative Executive Diversity Hire Ltd.
Daniel Petrie, Jr. writer Beverly Hills Cop, The Big Easy; director Toy Soldiers, Dawn Patrol; partner in Enderby Entertainment
Panel # 1 – From Script to Screen
1:00pm – 2:15pm
Linwood Dunn Theater – 1313 Vine St
In an industry where breaking in can be the most challenging step in your climb to the top, sometimes taking your fate into your own hands is the best option. Join filmmakers who leveraged success through the Austin Film Festival script competition and the Nicholl Fellowship to go on to produce their own scripts. Filmmakers will detail leveraging connections and opportunities, transitioning from script to screen, and getting your work out to the world.
Khaled Ridgeway
Born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Khaled Ridgeway is a storyteller whose work illuminates ordinary men navigating extraordinary circumstances. Khaled, a former Bioengineer and dating app founder, pivoted into film with his MFA from USC. His social horror short Night Diner garnered the Student DGA and the AT&T Film Award Grand Prize before airing on Alter and Revolt TV. Sony recently acquired his award-winning feature directorial debut, Death of a Telemarketer, which screened at the Austin Film Festival and starred Lamorne Morris, Jackie Earle Haley, and Haley Joel Osment. He currently writes podcasts for Spotify.
Geeta Malik
Geeta Malik is an award-winning writer and director whose accolades include the inaugural Academy Gold Fellowship for Women, the Academy Nicholl Fellowship, and the Austin Film Festival Comedy Screenplay Award for her feature script, DINNER WITH FRIENDS (retitled to INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES).
Geeta is a Film Independent Project Involve Fellow and an alumna of UCLA’s graduate film program. She wrote and directed the viral narrative short, AUNTY Gs, which earned a College Television Award (a “student Emmy”) in comedy from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Her other short films include SHAMELESS, BEAST, and APU’S REVENGE. Her first feature film, TROUBLEMAKER, premiered at the 2011 Cinequest Film Festival.
In 2019, Geeta directed INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES, starring Bollywood superstar Manisha Koirala, Adil Hussain, and Sophia Ali. The film was produced by SK Global and Madison Wells Media, and premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES was released theatrically by Bleecker Street on November 19th and is currently streaming on Hulu.
Tate Hanyok
Tate Hanyok is a writer-actor-producer focused on female-driven comedy and young adult stories. She was named one of the AFF & Moviemaker Top 25 Writers to Watch and one of the Top 100 Emerging Writers on Tracking Board’s Young and Hungry List.
As a producer, Tate most recently executive produced her feature script Sex APPeal alongside American High for Hulu. The indie feature film Love and Baseball which she both produced and starred in, is set to release on HBO Max this spring. As a writer, Tate has most recently been hired to adapt two Wattpad novels into motion pictures. Additionally, as an actress, Tate has guest starred in many notable shows and films including The Office, Superstore, The Detour, Community, Shameless, Transparent, Burt Wonderstone, and she’s appeared in nearly 100 commercials.
Her multi-hyphenate career began on the stage, where she is a company member with The B Street Theatre at the Sofia Center for the Arts in CA. As a storyteller she relishes in uplifting themes, particularly the plight of the underdog, and is driven by a burning desire to tell the stories of her unsung heroes. Tate is repped by ICM.
Panel #2 – The Writer’s Team
2:30pm – 3:45pm
Linwood Dunn Theater – 1313 Vine St
Agents and managers will share their advice on how to best navigate finding, securing, and utilizing your representation, along with the low-down on the writer/rep etiquette. Join this panel for an inside look at the blood and guts of the business, and what you can do to best position yourself to transition from an aspiring writer to a working writer. Come prepared with questions on how to find and work with representation.
Raquelle David
Raquelle David is a Manager and Producer at Lit Entertainment Group in Los Angeles, hailing from Sydney, Australia. With over a decades experience in film development and production, Raquelle has held positions at Goalpost Pictures, Screen NSW, the Seven Network in Australia and Rhombus Media in Canada. Her various projects as producer have been nominated for a Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Screen Producers Australia and Australian Academy Cinema and Television Arts Award (AACTA). At Lit Entertainment, Raquelle’s clients include Jenny Yang (THE GORDITA CHRONICLES), Amos Mac (GOSSIP GIRL), Dani Parker (MIDNIGHT MASS), Perry Blackshear (THEY LOOK LIKE PEOPLE), Aisling Chin-Yee (THE REST OF US) Johnny Ma (TO LIVE TO SING – Directors Fortnight, Cannes) and Jovanka Vuckovic (RIOT GIRLS).
Manal Hammad
Born to Palestinian parents and being a first generation American, Manal Hammad always had a love of television and film growing up because it showed her that anything was possible through storytelling. Working with diverse voices isn’t just a passion but a mission to help put the stories of the marinized voices out front and center. Manal started her career in sales which is where she realized her passion for closing deals. After a successful 5 years, she came to see that agenting was the perfect career path for her, combining her love and appreciation for stories, her aptitude for negotiating and her tenacity towards championing diverse voices and stories. Hammad began her entertainment career at boutique agencies before moving to Verve in 2019. Since joining Verve, Hammad has been integral member of the television literary team, shaping the careers of her clients and providing guidance to the assistants and coordinators who want to pursue a career in entertainment. To use a few words to describe Manal, integrity, compassion and a sense of humor come to mind, shortly followed by dog lover and rescuer and fierce advocate for diverse voices.
Hammad’s clients include Amber Dupre (Soulville), Amy Rardin (Charmed, Jane the Virgin), Nicole Jefferson Asher (Madam CJ Walker, First Ladies), Bianca Sams (Charmed, DC’s Titans), Aitch Alberto (Ari & Dante, Little America), Bryan Edward Hill (DC’s Titans, upcoming Power Rangers reboot), David Slack (AP Bio, Person of Interest) and Lily Mariye (prolific television director) and Ben McKenzie (Gotham).
Hope Watson
Hope Watson is a Motion Picture Literary Agent at UTA hailing from Canberra, Australia. She moved to New York in 2010 to work in fashion, but after studying film and business at Columbia University she pivoted to a career in Entertainment. Before working at UTA, Hope produced commercials and short content for brands like Reformation, Cartier, Adidas, Apple and Warby Parker. Hope now resides in Los Angeles and represents artists like Rodney Rothman, Gatewood & Tanaka and Kitao Sakurai, as well as emerging creators like Kristoffer Borgli, Tyler Mitchell and Jenn Nkiru. Outside of the office her passions include soccer, nature and art, and her favorite film is ADAPTATION.
Screenwriter Happy Hour
4:15pm – 6:00pm
Sassafras Saloon – 1233 Vine St (one block away from the Linwood Dunn Theater!)
Enjoy a drink on AFF at the Sassafras Saloon! After an afternoon of insightful panels put your new knowledge to the test and connect with other screenwriters and filmmakers.
AND DON’T FORGET to enter your script in the Screenplay Competition by the June 1 Late Deadline. Entrants are eligible for special discounts to attend the annual Festival & Conference.
Venue Guidelines:
- All those entering the Linwood Dunn Theatre need to be fully vaccinated with an FDA / WHO authorized COVID vaccine and must show proof of vaccination and ID upon entrance. “Fully vaccinated” means at least 14 days past the final dose of the vaccine received.
- Everyone entering the Linwood Dunn Theatre must wear approved face coverings that cover the nose and mouth at all times. CDC guidelines state that bandanas, gaiters, or masks with vents/valves are not approved.