Letter from the Competition Director
Hello filmmakers, screenwriters, and storytellers,
Austin Film Festival serves to further the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of storytellers. That’s what we do and who we are. COVID-19 has not changed this mission for us. We still intend to put great stories in front of our audiences and in front of the film industry. Our whole team is working on exactly how to do this right now. Our competitions will continue, our selections will continue, AFF will continue.
For starters, we’re expanding our completion date requirement for films back to January 1st, 2019 (previously April 1, 2019), so your window for what we consider eligible has grown. Second, if you’re missing color, or sound, or effects for your film, but it’s story and narrative are complete and stands on its own, we’ll consider it fairly and you’ll have until October to polish those last parts.
If you’re uncertain about the eligibility of your project or if you have any questions at all, please reach out to me. My virtual door is always open. I’m here, our programming team is here, AFF is here.
Stay healthy and stay inspired!
Best,
Rob Gonzalez – Film Competition Director
rob@austinfilmfestival.com
2020 Film Competition Deadlines
Early Bird Deadline: March 27 ($50)
Regular Deadline: May 22 ($60)
Late Deadline: June 26 ($75)
Extended Deadline: July 6 ($85)
About Us
The AFF Film Competition is here to bring independent filmmakers and their films into the spotlight. Whether your dream is to sign a contract, land an agent, learn from an industry icon, or take home the coveted Bronze Typewriter Award or one of our Audience Awards, it’s simple: you can’t win if you don’t enter.
THE BEST AROUND
Moviemaker Magazine once again named AFF one of the 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee! AFF is also proud to remain one of FilmFreeway’s Top 100 Festivals.
AFF’s Film Competition is here to ensure that compelling stories rise above and are given the recognition they deserve.
Most importantly, AFF’s Narrative, Documentary, and Animated Short Jury Winners qualify for consideration for an Academy Award®!
Invest in your career! The value for filmmakers at Austin Film Festival doesn’t stop with our competitions.
Attendees of AFF’s world famous Writers Conference get access to over 175 panels, roundtables, pitch sessions, and workshops, covering every nook and cranny of the art, craft, and business of storytelling through film, television, and digital platforms.
No velvet ropes, no VIP areas. In the words of Ed Solomon “there is no us and them” at AFF. Join AFF in demystifying the festival experience and instead participating in a one of a kind, world class event.
All entrants receive registration discounts regardless of programming status and we urge you to join us in Austin for this year’s Austin Film Festival! Buy your badge now!
our process
When we receive a submission, we are not just watching a movie – we are watching the result of intense collaboration, planning, and work.
Austin Film Festival considers every entry submitted to the Festival with a careful eye. Our Selection Committee is recruited, trained, and supervised by our Programming staff in order to best judge and fairly weigh all entries. Multiple screeners view each film and their notes are sent forward and considered by the Programmers before a final decision is reached. Our screening process is important to us. Just like your work.
NOTE: No feedback is given on selection decisions. The necessary infrastructure for constructive feedback on all film entries is currently not feasible.
Film Categories
Narrative Feature
Entry Requirements:
- Any narrative work of fiction with a running time of 41 minutes or longer.
- Feature films must be at least a Texas Premiere, but US and World Premieres are always preferred.
Narrative Short
Entry Requirements:
- Any narrative work of fiction with a running time of 40 minutes or less.
- Shorts must be Austin premieres, although Texas Premieres are preferred.
Narrative Student Short
Entry Requirements:
- Any student narrative work of fiction with a running time of 40 minutes or less.
- The film’s credited writer or director must be a current student or completed the film during the time the filmmaker was a student.
- Student Shorts must be non-animated, narrative works only. Documentary and Animated Shorts should be entered in their respective category.
- Shorts must be Austin Premieres, but Texas Premieres are preferred.
- Entrant must provide proof of enrollment in the form of an official transcript or signed letter from faculty on official letterhead. This can be sent to programming@austinfilmfestival.com.
Animated Short
Entry Requirements:
- Any animated narrative work of fiction with a running time of 40 minutes or less.
- Open to any form of animation. Animated Shorts must be narrative works only–no experimental pieces.
- Shorts must be Austin premieres, although Texas Premieres are preferred.
Documentary Feature
Entry Requirements:
- Any non-fiction film with a running time of 41 minutes or longer.
- Feature films must be at least a Texas Premiere, but US and World Premieres are always preferred.
- AFF specifically looks for documentaries that tell compelling and well-structured stories.
Documentary Short
Entry Requirements:
- Any non-fiction work of film with a running time of 40 minutes or less.
- Shorts must be Austin premieres, although Texas Premieres are preferred.
- AFF prefers films with compelling and well-structured stories.
Dark Matters Feature
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.
Comedy Vanguard Feature
Entry Requirements
- Films must be feature-length, 41 minutes or longer.
- Must be original narrative films that encompass any and all forms of the comedy genre, where the only thing that outweighs the humor is the story.
- Films must be at least a Texas Premiere, but US and World Premieres are always preferred.
Produced Digital Series
Entry Requirements
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- Any narrative serial content designed for digital platforms.
- Submission packages must total less than 30 minutes and can consist of the first one to three episodes of the first season.
- Entrants that advance to the Semifinalist level will be asked to provide a treatment of their vision for the series and how subsequent episodes will unfold.
- Have a web series? Submit on our Digital Series Competition page!
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Please Note: Austin Film Festival does not waive entry fees. AFF believes waiving entry fees hurts the integrity of the competition. The same rules and entry fees should apply to all applicants so no one film is favored over another. In a similar respect, AFF does not invite films to be in competition. Only films that are submitted will be considered for competition.
Questions?
For general questions our FAQ can be read here and our Rules can be viewed here.
Still in need of assistance? The AFF Film Department is happy to help! Email at programming@austinfilmfestival.com or call at 512-478-4795.