Check out Austin Film Festival’s awardees throughout the years!

2022—2021—2020–2019—2018—2017—2016—2015–

–2014—2013—2012—2011—2010—2009—2008—2007—2006—2005–

–2004—2003—2002—2001—2000—1999—1998—1997—1996—1995–

All awards will be presented to the Writer of the winning films, with the exception of the Documentary awards, which will be presented to the Director. The Jury Awards will be presented during the Austin Film Festival Awards Luncheon. Awards are based on overall merit of the entries. Jury members reserve the right not to grant an award.

Submit your film here!

AUDIENCE AWARD

Directly following each screening, viewers will be given an Audience Award ballot in order to judge each film on its overall quality and courage. Audience Awards will be awarded to Best Marquee Feature, Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Comedy Vanguard Feature, Best Dark Matters Feature, Best Texas Independent Feature, Best Stories From Abroad Feature, Best Heart of Film Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Narrative Student Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Animated Short, and Best Produced Digital Series. Don’t forget to vote!

Award winners are announced within one week following the Festival. The Audience Award is based solely on audience voting at the film’s screening(s).

JURY AWARDS

Prizes
Each Competition Filmmaker receives two film screenings, October 26 – November 2, 2023; five complimentary tickets to each of the film’s screenings; one ticket to the AFF Awards Luncheon (if in attendance, it is the preference of AFF that the writer be provided this ticket); the film featured in the AFF Program Book; and two complimentary Producers Badges to the Austin Film Festival (if in attendance, it is the preference of AFF that the writer be provided one of the complimentary Producers Badges).

Feature Films
1st Place Winners in both the Narrative Feature Category and Documentary Feature Category receive a cash prize of $2,500; reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend AFF; reimbursement (up to $500) for stay at an AFF hotel during the Festival; and the AFF Typewriter Award.  The 1^st Place Winner in the Dark Matters and Comedy Vanguard Feature Category receives a cash prize of $1,000; reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend AFF; reimbursement (up to $500) for stay at an AFF hotel during the Festival; and the AFF Typewriter Award.

Documentary Feature and Short Awards

Short Films
1st Place Winners receive a cash prize of $1,000 (Narrative Short Category only) or $500 (Narrative Student Short, Documentary Short, Animated Short Categories); reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend AFF; reimbursement (up to $500) for stay at an AFF hotel during the Festival; and the AFF Typewriter Award.  In addition, the winning films in the Narrative Short, Animated Short, and Documentary Short categories are eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award®.

Produced Digital Series
The winner will receive a $1000 cash prize; AFF’s bronze typewriter statue; reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend Austin Film Festival & Conference; reimbursement (up to $500) for stay at an AFF hotel during the Festival.

All Awards are presented during the Austin Film Festival Awards Luncheon*. Those advancing to the Second Round level or beyond will have the option to attend exclusive panels hosted by participating panelists. Those advancing to the Semifinalist level or beyond will also be included in the Producers Book, distributed to competition judges and other industry professionals.

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION PRIZES (ONE WINNER PER CATEGORY)

*Awards Luncheon tickets are only available to Producers and Conference Badge holders.

The winner of the Scripted Digital Series category will receive a $1000 cash prize; AFF’s bronze typewriter statue; reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend Austin Film Festival & Conference; reimbursement (up to $500) for stay at an AFF hotel during the Festival.

The winner of the Produced Digital Series category will receive a $1000 cash prize; AFF’s bronze typewriter statue; reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend Austin Film Festival & Conference; reimbursement (up to $500) for stay at an AFF hotel during the Festival. Additionally, all produced series finalists will be screened publicly at the Festival.

One finalist from the Playwriting Competition will have staged readings during the festival which will be performed in front of an audience including the industry professionals already in attendance at the Conference. One winner will be selected and will receive a $1000 cash prize, AFF’s Bronze Typewriter Award, and reimbursements of up to $500 for travel and up to $500 for lodging if used during the Festival.

The Fiction Podcast Script Competition Winner receives: a $1000 cash prize, AFF’s Bronze Typewriter Award, reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend AFF, reimbursement (up to $500) for stay at an AFF hotel during the Festival.