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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GAME OF THRONES’ DAVID BENIOFF AND D.B. WEISS TO RECEIVE “OUTSTANDING TELEVISION WRITER” AWARD AT 2019 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL & WRITERS CONFERENCE
Austin, TX – May 2, 2019 – Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF), the premier film festival that champions the writers’ contribution to film, television, and new media, is thrilled to announce David Benioff and D.B. Weiss as the recipients of the “Outstanding Television Writer” Award at the 26th Annual Austin Film Festival, this October 24-31, 2019.
Benioff and Weiss are the award-winning co-creators, writers, executive producers, and showrunners of the critically-acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones, based on the bestselling book series by George R.R. Martin. With a record-breaking 47 Emmy Awards, one Peabody Award, and an average of 30 million viewers per episode, the groundbreaking series has altered the landscape of episodic storytelling, setting a new bar for the caliber of narrative and cinematic production in modern television.
In addition to the series, Benioff and Weiss have also found great success in the worlds of film and literature. D.B. Weiss is the author of the fiction novel Lucky Wander Boy. David Benioff adapted his first novel, The 25th Hour, into a feature film directed by Spike Lee. His second novel, City of Thieves, has been translated into thirty-five languages, and stories from his collection, When the Nines Roll Over, appeared in Best New American Voices and The Best American Nonrequired Reading. His screenplays include The Kite Runner, Brothers, Troy, and Stay.
Benioff and Weiss will accept the award on Saturday, October 26 during the annual Awards Luncheon, and participate in Conference programming at the 26th Annual Writers Conference. Past recipients of this award have included Greg Daniels, Vince Gilligan, Marta Kauffman, Norman Lear, David Simon, and Keenen Ivory Wayans. More awardees for this year’s Festival will be announced at a later date.
The 2019 Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference will once again present over 150 panels on the art and craft of storytelling, featuring a slate of prominent industry professionals working in film, television, and new media. Benioff and Weiss join a growing roster of panelists including Megan Amram (The Good Place), Alec Berg (Barry), Christina Hodson (Transformers: Bumblebee), David Mandel (Veep), and Alex Tse (Wu-Tang: An American Saga), with more panelist announcements to come. The 26th Annual Austin Film Festival & Conference takes place October 24 through 31, 2019.
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. www.austinfilmfestival.com