For inquiries or media credentials:
Samantha Levine, AFF
marketing@austinfilmfestival.com
512-478-4795
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TONY GILROY TO RECEIVE “DISTINGUISHED SCREENWRITER” AWARD AT 2018 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL AND WRITERS CONFERENCE
“THE WRITERS FESTIVAL” ALSO ANNOUNCES “HEART OF FILM” AWARD RECIPIENT DANIEL PETRIE, JR. FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Austin, TX, — May 8, 2018 – Austin Film Festival (AFF), the premier festival that champions the writers’ contributions to film, television, and new media, announced today veteran screenwriter Tony Gilroy as the 2018 recipient of the “Distinguished Screenwriter” Award. Previous honorees of this award have included Lawrence Kasdan, Kenneth Lonergan, Nancy Meyers, and Caroline Thompson.
Tony Gilroy’s credits include the 2007 thriller Michael Clayton, which he wrote and directed. The film earned seven Academy Award® nominations including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, Gilroy worked on the first three Bourne films (The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum) and co-wrote and directed the fourth film in the franchise (The Bourne Legacy). Most recently, he co-wrote the screenplay for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and produced and wrote the political thriller Beirut, starring Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike.
The Festival also announced that Beverly Hills Cop writer, Daniel Petrie, Jr., will receive the Festival’s second “Heart of Film” Award for his many contributions to film and television and his service to the screenwriting community. The first “Heart of Film” Award was given to producer Barry Josephson at the Festival’s 20th anniversary in 2013.
Petrie’s screenplay credits include Beverly Hills Cop and The Big Easy. In 2006 he co-founded Enderby Entertainment with producer Rick Dugdale. In addition to his numerous writing, directing, and producing credits Petrie has an extensive history of volunteer service to the entertainment industry, including two terms as the president of the Writers Guild of America West. Petrie has been participating as a panelist at Austin Film Festival for over 20 years and serves on the organization’s Board of Advisors.
Gilroy and Petrie join already announced “Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking” recipient Roger Corman. They will accept their awards at the Festival’s annual awards luncheon held on October 27th at the Austin Club.
The 25th annual Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference runs October 25 – November 2, 2018. Confirmed panelists include Megan Amram (writer The Good Place), John August (writer Big Fish), William Broyles Jr. (co-writer Apollo 13), Lee Eisenberg (writer The Office), Nicole Holofcener (writer/director Enough Said), Ali LeRoi (co-creator Everybody Hates Chris), Ed Solomon (writer Mosaic) and many more. Panelists continue to be confirmed, the growing list can be found at www.austinfilmfestival.com.
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. This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts. All attendees and events are based on permitting schedules and are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice. For media credentials, please contact Samantha Levine at marketing@austinfilmfestival.com. Badges and passes are available for purchase online at www.austinfilmfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-310-FEST.
As part of the AFF mission, the On Story Project has shared rich and entertaining conversations about the power of storytelling with audiences around the world for free on public media. At no charge, film and TV lovers can access all past and current episodes of On Story in its various formats. Funding for the arts in public media is at an all-time low, and while AFF covers a significant portion of the budget; it can’t do it alone so AFF has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise $75,000 by May 10th. Any participation in this creative project will help pay for production and post-production costs—shooting, animation fees, editing, sound mixing, etc.—investments that will further improve the quality of programming and help AFF continue to bring On Story to audiences worldwide for free. To find out more visit seedandspark.com.