Awards
All our awards are presented during the Austin Film Festival Awards Luncheon. To buy tickets for the event please contact our offices at 512.478.4795. [Badge holders only.]
About Our Film Competition Awards
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.
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 1st 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.
Film Competition Jury Advisory Program
The Jury Advisory Program will facilitate opportunities for entrants across all nine of AFF’s film competition categories sourced from selected in-competition films.
Each Jury Winner per competition category will have the opportunity to participate in advisory sessions with a member of the AFF jury.
Members of the 2023 jury included representatives from notable companies such as Walt Disney Animation, Participant, Vertigo Entertainment, 20th Century, and Amazon MGM Studios.
Eligibility for the Advisory Program are as follows:
- Only in-competition selected filmmakers are eligible for this program. If writer and director are separate individuals, the writer will be selected to participate in the Program.
- The Jury winner of each competition is guaranteed access to the Advisory Program
About The Enderby Entertainment Filmmaking Fellowship
The Enderby Entertainment Filmmaking Fellowship Award is open to short films entered under the Narrative Short and Narrative Student Short categories. Founded by Daniel Petrie, Jr. (Beverly Hills Cop, The Big Easy) and Rick Dugdale, the production company will provide airfare and hotel accommodations for a week-long trip to Enderby’s Los Angeles offices, guidance, and the opportunity to shadow executives and filmmakers on-site.
- Consideration requires an additional $25 submission fee.
- The expenses of the writer(s) and the director(s) will be covered under the fellowship (at most 2 people). If only one writer/director, only one person will be covered.
About The Dark Matters Feature Award and Fellowship presented by Vertigo Entertainment
Narrative films with a running time of 41 minutes or longer and with a story easily identified as belonging to the horror or thriller genre and embodying dark themes, unconventional subject matter, or suspenseful sensibilities are eligible for the Dark Matters Features presented by Vertigo Entertainment category. The winner of the Dark Matters Feature presented by Vertigo Entertainment will be granted a 6-month Filmmaker Fellowship under Co-founder and producer Roy Lee and executives, which includes but is not limited to one monthly meeting / virtual call with Vertigo executives and associates focused on career guidance and providing insight to the filmmaker. The Fellow receives:
- One (1) monthly virtual call (if filmmaker does not reside in the greater Los Angeles area)
- Advice on career guidance including workshopping ideas, networking, insight into the Hollywood studio system
- Opportunity to discuss future scripts/films with Roy Lee and receive advice and guidance
- The option to bring filmmaker onto projects with Vertigo Entertainment or any of its subsidiaries
- Opportunity to meet with Vertigo Entertainment contacts & partners, such as managers, agents, and executives, per the discretion of Vertigo Entertainment
Consideration for the Fellowship does not require additional fees.
Entry Requirements
- Any narrative work of fiction with a running time of 41 minutes or longer and with a story that is easily identified as belonging to the horror or thriller genre and that embodies dark themes, unconventional subject matter, or suspenseful sensibilities.
- Films must be at least a Texas Premiere, but US and World Premieres are always preferred.
About Our Screenplay Awards
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)
- The Drama Award presented by Writers Guild of America, East Winner Receives: $5,000 cash; reimbursement of round-trip airfare (up to $500 per script, excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement (up to $500 per script); and AFF Bronze Typewriter Award.
- The Comedy Winner Receives: $5,000 cash; reimbursement of round-trip airfare (up to $500 per script, excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement (up to $500 per script); and AFF Bronze Typewriter Award.
- The Horror Award presented by Vertigo Entertainment Winner Receives: $2,500 cash; reimbursement of round-trip airfare (up to $500 per script, excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement (up to $500 per script); and AFF Bronze Typewriter Award. In addition the winner receives a Screenwriter Fellowship from Vertigo Entertainment. In order to be considered for this award, you must be entered in the Drama or Comedy Feature categories.
- The Sci-Fi Award Winner Receives: $2,500 cash; reimbursement of round-trip airfare (up to $500 per script, excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement (up to $500 per script); and AFF Bronze Typewriter Award. In order to be considered for this award, you must be entered in the Drama or Comedy Feature categories.
- The Short Screenplay Winner Receives: $1,000 cash; reimbursement of roundtrip airfare (up to $500 per script excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement at the Film Festival (up to $500 per script); and the AFF bronze typewriter award.
TELEPLAY COMPETITION AWARDS (ONE WINNER PER CATEGORY)
- The Comedy Spec Winner Receives: $1,000 cash; reimbursement of roundtrip airfare (up to $500 per script excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement at the Film Festival (up to $500 per script); and the AFF bronze typewriter award.
- The Drama Spec Winner Receives: $1,000 cash; reimbursement of roundtrip airfare (up to $500 per script excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement at the Film Festival (up to $500 per script); and the AFF bronze typewriter award.
- The Comedy Pilot Winner Receives: $1,000 cash; reimbursement of roundtrip airfare (up to $500 per script excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement at the Film Festival (up to $500 per script); and the AFF bronze typewriter award.
- The Drama Pilot Winner Receives:$1,000 cash; reimbursement of roundtrip airfare (up to $500 per script excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement at the Film Festival (up to $500 per script); and the AFF bronze typewriter award.
Finalists in All Categories Receive: one complimentary Producers Badge to attend the Austin Film Festival and Conference (value $775).
All Semifinalists may purchase a Producer’s Badge at the discounted price of $300.
*Awards Luncheon tickets are only available to Producers and Conference Badge holders.
About TV Comedy Fellowship presented by the Nickelodeon Writing Program
TV Comedy Fellowship presented by the Nickelodeon Writing Program
Founded in the year 2000, the Nickelodeon Writing Program is a launching pad for diverse and emerging creatives. To continue to grow their partnership with AFF and its community of writers, they are excited to announce the TV Comedy Fellowship Sponsored by Nickelodeon Writing Program.
The fellowship winner will receive:
- $1,000 cash prize and $500 travel allowance to attend the Austin Film Festival
- feedback from Nickelodeon executives on the winning script
- meetings with Nickelodeon executives in either the live-action or animation field
- the option of a studio visit.
Entry Requirements:
- Requires additional $30 entry fee
- In order to be considered for this Fellowship, you must be entered into the Comedy Teleplay Spec or Comedy Teleplay Pilot categories. Scripts are suggested to be half-hour comedy scripts, no longer than 40 pages, with a particular focus on joke heavy subjects with broad comedic sensibilities and family friendly content
About Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship
Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship
Acclaimed producer Barry Josephson has been a longtime supporter of AFF since the very first festival in 1994 when he optioned the winning script from the Screenplay Competition. For the third year, Barry will present the “Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship” which will provide a one-on-one mentorship for the writers of two scripts – one feature script and one teleplay pilot – selected from the Final Round of the 2024 Screenplay Competition. Finalists will be invited to apply and AFF will select the top writers for Josephson Entertainment to further review. The selected fellows will be announced and presented by Barry Josephson at the Awards Luncheon on October 26, 2024. Each fellow will be flown to LA to be mentored by Barry and take meetings with various executives from Josephson Entertainment to take their writing to the next level.
*Finalists of the Drama Feature, Comedy Feature, Drama Teleplay Pilot, and Comedy Teleplay Pilot categories will be invited to apply for this fellowship.
About The Enderby Entertainment Screenplay Fellowship
- Consideration requires an additional $30 submission fee.
About Our Digital Series Competition
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.
About Our Playwriting Awards
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.
About Our Fiction Podcast Script Awards
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.
Austin Film Festival had a great staff and were very gracious hosts across the board. You could sense a genuine passion for films and filmmakers, combined with a healthy dose of rocking parties, Texas barbecue, and a dash of red carpet glamor. Overall it was an awesome experience and it was truly an honor to be invited.”
– Adam Cornelius, director/producer of Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters, 2011 AFF Audience Award Winner for Best Documentary Feature
The top-notch quality of the films at the festival and the caliber of professional talent on the panels at the conference provided an experience that was both informative and inspiring. And, okay, fine, the bar – there I said it – my time in the Driskill Hotel bar was pretty memorable, too.”
– Tony Glazer, writer/director, JUNCTION, 2012 Narrative Feature Competition