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Samantha Levine, Marketing Director
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL’S ON STORY” PREMIERES SEASON 8
ON PUBLIC TELEVISION
New Episodes Feature Filmmakers Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea), Keenen Ivory Wayans (In Living Color), Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler), Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead), and more!
AUSTIN, Texas—March 13, 2018— Austin Film Festival (AFF) is delighted to announce that its original series, Austin Film Festival’s On Story®, premieres its 8th season nationwide in April 2018 on public television stations. Available in more than 70% of U.S. markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, D.C., and Houston, On Story gives viewers an inside look at the creative process behind some of our most popular and beloved films and television shows.
This season’s 20 all-new episodes feature in-depth and entertaining conversations with Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), Mark Frost (Twin Peaks), Robert Townsend (Hollywood Shuffle), Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator), Walter Hill (The Warriors), Scott Frank (Godless), and many others.
“On Story is an encyclopedia of all the hard-earned knowledge you wish were taught in school. Before now, you could only get this from experience,” says Oscar®-nominated screenwriter Eric Heisserer, featured in this year’s season with an episode on the journey of bringing blockbuster and award-winning film Arrival to the screen.
Each On Story episode traces a theme – reinventing classic stories, writing culturally groundbreaking comedies, dramatizing true life stories for the screen, creating a cult favorite show, crafting fairy tales, and more – sometimes highlighting the topic with a specially selected short film previously screened at Austin Film Festival.
Every year, Austin Film Festival hosts almost two hundred conversations between writers, TV creators, and filmmakers that simultaneously inform, enlighten, and entertain. This season will bring you the best of these conversations.
On Story producer and writer Maya Perez says, “Getting to hear these artists talk about how they do what they do—their creative processes, behind-the-scenes decisions behind our favorite TV shows, analyzing and offering new insight into beloved movies—is such a gift, and it thrills me that through On Story programming we get to share these recorded interviews with audiences around the world for free.”
In addition to the nationally distributed weekly television series, On Story content is available through the following:
- one-hour weekly radio program via PRI that includes such guests as Issa Rae (Insecure) and Alec Berg (Barry, Silicon Valley)
- three books published by University of Texas Press: On Story – Screenwriters and Their Craft, On Story – Screenwriters and Filmmakers on Their Iconic Films, and the forthcoming On Story – The Golden Ages of Television to be released this October, coinciding with the 25th Anniversary of Austin Film Festival
- free podcasts; and
- archives from 24 years of the festival, housed at The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University.
On Story is co-produced by AFF Co-Founder and Executive Director Barbara Morgan and filmmakers Miguel Alvarez and Maya Perez and is presented by KLRU. The series is funded by the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation and distributed by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA). Past episodes and more information can be found at www.onstory.tv.
Check local public television listings to find out when On Story airs in your city. The On Story radio series is available via Public Radio International.
ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL:
Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft, and business of writers, creators, and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television, and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers, creators, 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
ABOUT KLRU-TV, AUSTIN PBS:
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS is dedicated to telling stories that entertain, inspire and change our lives. KLRU highlights what makes Austin unique – whether music, arts or public issues – by creating and distributing award-winning original content. KLRU produces several series including Austin City Limits, Arts In Context, Central Texas Gardener, Civic Summit and Overheard with Evan Smith. As a nonprofit educational organization, KLRU also prepares children to succeed in school and creates lifelong learning opportunities for all. Find out more at klru.org.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (NETA):
The National Educational Telecommunications Association is a professional association that serves public television licensees and educational entities in all 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Since 1967, our reason for existing has been to connect public television people and ideas, by providing quality programming, educational resources, professional development, management support, and national representation.
Do you live in Austin? Join us for the Premiere Party of Season 8!
We will feature a live taping of On Story with special guest co-writer of The Shape of Water, Vanessa Taylor! Complimentary beverages and bites will be served!