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

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 21 – 28, 2021; 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.

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.

In addition to our Feature Film Jury Award, Gravitas Ventures will provide a first look Distribution Deal to the winner of the Narrative Feature Competition.

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 and at least one additional selected in-competition filmmaker per category will have the opportunity to participate in advisory sessions with members of the AFF jury.

The jury already includes representatives from notable companies such as Pixar Animation Studios, ESPN Films, Participant, Powderkeg, Stage 13, Sony Pictures Animation, Rain Management Group, Writ-Large, and Verve.

Eligibility for the Advisory Program are as follows:

1. Only in-competition selected filmmakers are eligible for this program.
2. The Jury winner of each competition is guaranteed access to the Advisory Program along with at least one additional selected in-competition filmmaker.

All Awards are presented during the Austin Film Festival Awards Luncheon*. Those advancing to the Semifinalist level or beyond will have the option to attend exclusive panels hosted by participating panelists. They 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 will receive a $1,000 prize; 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. An AMC representative will meet with each of the finalists in this category at the AFF Conference (October 21 -28) or arrange calls with the finalists and winner at a later date.

The winner will receive a $1,000 prize; 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 finalists and winner will be given the opportunity to meet with a representative from WarnerMedia during this year’s Conference (October 21-28) or virtually at a later date.

*This award can be added to the following category submissions: Drama Teleplay Pilot, Comedy Teleplay Pilot 

The Rooster Teeth BIPOC Fellowship seeks scripts from underrepresented writers in the industry. While open to any genre, submissions should generally align with Rooster Teeth’s voice: an emphasis on comedy concepts that feature ordinary people in extraordinary situations, coming-of-age stories, or other engaging journeys of self-discovery.

The winner will receive a $2,500 prize and will be flown (travel-expenses covered) to Austin for a week-long mentorship with Rooster Teeth’s team. The winner will meet with Rooster Teeth executives and their development team.

*Note: This category is only open to writers who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). To submit to this category please select one of the options within the Demographics section in this form. Applicants from underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply.

The Rooster Teeth Women & Animation Fellowship seeks scripts from women looking to enter into the field of animation. While open to any genre, animation scripts should generally align with Rooster Teeth’s voice: an emphasis on comedy concepts that feature ordinary people in extraordinary situations, coming-of-age stories, or other engaging journeys of self-discovery.

The winner will receive a $2,500 prize and will be flown (travel-expenses covered) to Austin for a week-long mentorship with Rooster Teeth’s team. The winner will meet with Rooster Teeth executives and their development team.

*Note: This category is only open to writers who identify as female. Applicants from underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply.

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 2021 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 23, 2021. 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.

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.

Three finalists 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.

The Enderby Entertainment Award category is open to feature scripts in all genres with an original concept and distinctive voice that can be independently produced under $10 million. The 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. An Enderby representative will meet with each of the finalists in this category either at the AFF Conference (October 21 – 28) or set up a phone call at a later date.

The Capri Fellowship hopes to provide a place where writers can find their voice and tell the stories they want to tell. The winner of the Drama Feature Screenplay Award will be provided the opportunity to stay at the Capri Residency in Marfa, Texas for 2 weeks – stay must be scheduled from November 2021 – December 2022. Schedule stay to be determined by the winner(s) based on Capri Residency Availability.

Finalists will pitch live (virtually) in front of three Industry judges. Each winner will receive a one-on-one video call with one of our judges to further discuss their script.