Statement of Purpose
Austin Film Festival (AFF) is guided by its mission — to further the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and all artists who use written and visual language to tell a story.
Committed to the elevation of all artists within an industry notorious for its barriers, hurdles, and inaccessibility, AFF’s Uplifting Storytellers Initiative encourages, connects, and uplifts talented new voices from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds through the execution of skills-based and career-focused enrichment programs.
The Uplifting Storytellers Initiative is interwoven into all aspects of AFF’s expansive year-round programming and is designed to promote inclusion within the media arts, thereby usurping trends of inequality.
Created in collaboration with the Initiative’s accompanying Advisory Committee, the Uplifting Storytellers Initiative facilitates opportunities for career advancements for writers, filmmakers and creators through four programmatic pillars: Industry & Community Partnerships; Annual Script & Film Competitions; Festival & Writers Conference, and Year-Round Programming; and last, but certainly not least, AFF’s Young Filmmakers Program (YFP). AFF utilizes its connections with pioneering industry creatives as invited panelists, competition judges, fellowship mentors, and even as guest speakers and educators for YFP, to enact a more direct and sustainable change within the industry.
Initiative Goals
AFF recognizes its unmatched ability to open doors and provide opportunities for emerging writers, filmmakers, and creatives of all kinds.
AFF improves inclusion within its sector of the media arts through:
- Events in partnership with the industry’s key players
- Programming that showcases and celebrates pioneering artists
- Annual competitions which amplify new voices
- Youth programs intended to spark creativity in all students
Pillars of AFF
The Uplifting Storytellers Initiative is interwoven into all aspects of AFF programming through four pillars:
Industry & Community Partnerships
Through AFF’s long standing relationships with both pivotal industry partnerships and local community organizations, the Uplifting Storytellers Initiative serves not only as a launchpad for creatives but a bridge to creative communities nationwide.
Six Square Cultural District
In partnership with the Six Square Cultural District known for its vibrant arts scene and cultural significance to Austin’s Black Community, AFF presents yearly events within the historic neighborhood home to AFF’s office headquarters. Six Square events include free Festival programming open to the public, year-round networking events for local filmmakers of color, free film screenings, and youth film camps all of which are designed to develop careers and showcase the stories from Black artists.
In partnership with the Six Square Cultural District known for its vibrant arts scene and cultural significance to Austin’s Black Community, AFF presents yearly events within the historic neighborhood home to AFF’s office headquarters. Six Square events include free Festival programming open to the public.
2024 Programming Includes:
- A Conversation with Kemp Powers
- Six Square Industry Roundtables: The Art, Craft, and Business of Writing as a Career
- First 3 Pages, Live! at Six Square
Check back on this page to stay up-to-date with our 2025 Programming, coming soon!
Other community partners include:
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, WGA East, WGA West, aGLIFF, Austin Jewish Film Festival, Austin School of Film, Black Pearl Books, E4, OutYouth, Cine Las Americas, Huston-Tillotson University, Hyperreal Film Club, Indie Meme (Austin’s South Asian Film Festival), Greetings From Queer Mountain, Red Salmon Arts, SAFE Alliance, and Women in Film
Advisory Committee
VJ BOYD
CHUCK HAYWARD
ELGIN JAMES
LIZ KELLY
ALI LEROI
REBECCA WINDSOR
WENDY CALHOUN
Script & Film Competitions
At the core of AFF’s mission, AFF’s Annual Script and Film competitions recognize emerging, new voices of unparalleled talent each year. With all submissions evaluated blindly from our panel of industry judges, AFF second-rounders, semi-finalists, finalists, and of course, winners utilize their accolades to advance careers and embark on their next creative journey. Known for its reputation as the premiere script competition in the world, studios, agents, and executives trust AFF to identify the storytellers of tomorrow. Competition winners annually reflect a diversity of talent, as opposed to industry standards, thereby upholding the Uplifting Storytelling Initiative’s purpose and intentions.
Juror Demographics
Script Competitions Success Stories
“When I placed as a finalist in 2017 with my first pilot, it was an eye-opening experience. Not only did I learn incredible things from panelists who were working writers, managers, and agents, but I also interacted with an active showrunner who requested a script of mine. He eventually sent my work to his manager at 3 Arts Entertainment, where I’ve now been repped for 3 years.”
— Sean Collins-Smith AFF Winner, 2018; AFF Finalist, 2017, 2021
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“2022 was my first time attending Austin Film Festival, and I met many finalists who kept coming back to the festival every year. They shared so much wisdom on navigating the festival and beyond, and I was genuinely moved by how much they believed in the festival’s community. The accolade from Austin helped me stand out as an early-career writer when I met executives and producers who were just getting to know me. It is an affirmation of my craft as a writer and allows me to focus on presenting my authentic self as a human being.”
— Grace (Ge) Gao, 2022 Rooster Teeth BIPOC Finalist Old Maiden’s Prayer
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“I placed in AFF for a stage play that I wrote and was focused on theater, but being at AFF definitely pushed me to consider screenwriting more seriously. It was great to be surrounded by so many writers and filmmakers. Being in the room and hearing writers talk about process was invaluable– especially in panels for The Bear and Watchmen. I returned home very inspired.”
— Nijae Draine, 2023 Playwriting Winner, The Housing Situation on Neptune
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Film Competitions Success Stories
Ralph P – “Since it was the first festival I’ve been to, it inspired me to no end. From the immaculate screenings to the wonderful receptions where I got to make memories and connections, it reminded me how real and colorful the world of filmmaking can be.”
Will H – “At Austin and through the experience I was able to meet and connect with so many amazing writers/filmmakers. It was my first experience like that and it all felt so organic and genuine. It left me feeling so inspired and rejuvenated. Definitely the spark I needed.”
— Ralph Parker III & Will Henderson III, Sammy, Without Strings, 2023 Jury Award for Narrative Student Short
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“We had a Portuguese film, heavy on dialogue with some very culturally-specific jokes and attitudes and so we were very concerned it wouldn’t “translate”. But that wasn’t the case at all. From the very first moments, people were engaged, laughing and even being sincerely touched by some scenes. In the end, you could see by their questions and comments, that the movie really moved them in a strong way. And that feeling/memory will stay with me for a long time.”
— António Sequeira, Autumn, 2023 Audience Award for Narrative Feature
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“Attending AFF is always memorable, one year I had a chat with David Kajganich (writer of Bones & All and Suspiria) after attending his panel on story structure. I hadn’t gotten any of my films to a festival at that point, but he was so encouraging and kept my spirit up. We kept in touch after the festival and so a few years later, I was excited to tell him that I finally got a film into AFF! That’s one thing I love about this festival, you make genuine connections here.”
— Chinwe Okorie, Writer/Director, Elephant!, AFF 2022, 2023 Screenwriter To Watch
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Programming
All AFF programming is curated with the intention of providing a robust, educational deep-dive into the art, craft, and business of storytelling.
Annual Writers Conference and Festival
AFF’s Writers Conference provides an authentic and unfiltered look at both the creative and career components of Film, TV and other emerging media arts. Conference programming includes informative panels, interactive workshops, film Q&As, and networking events. Find out everything Writers Conference here.
Year-Round Events
With the programmatic focus of emboldening writers and filmmakers, AFF hosts industry roundtables, live script readings, writer’s retreats, film screenings, and writer/filmmaker Q&As. These events are often recorded for our PBS program On Story, which gives the public free access to our educational discussions.
Screenwriters To Watch
Every year, AFF highlights for the industry 25 of the most promising emerging screenwriters presented in partnership with MovieMaker Magazine. Check out every year’s list here.
Panel Highlight: Women In The Room
In 2023 AFF hosted the panel, “Women in the Room” allowing an unfiltered look for audiences members to hear industry experiences first hand from working women creatives. Panelists include Noelle Stehman (writer All I Didn’t Want For Christmas; co-creator/showrunner Astrid & Lilly Save the World), Betsy Van Stone (writer All I Didn’t Want For Christmas; co-creator/showrunner Astrid & Lilly Save the World), Kara Lee Corthron (writer/co-executive producer You; writer/co-executive producer Servant), and Jessica Esteves (Staff Writer Vida; Story Editor Work in Progress; Executive Story Editor Republic of Sarah).
“I loved my experience at the AFF because it attracts intelligent and generous writers who are willing to keep it real and share what they’ve learned in an intimate and celebratory environment. And the easy-to-reach venues were full of curious, appreciative festival goers. No wonder it’s still going strong after 28 years!”
— Stephanie Allain, 2021 Recipient of the Polly Platt Award for Producing
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“I truly enjoyed my time and experience at AFF. It was my first time attending and I cannot say enough great things about the festival and the level of intimacy you are able to have with so many emerging and talented writers and creators from all backgrounds. As a Producer, that was such an added benefit beyond speaking on a panel, which is probably why I enjoyed the roundtables the most. It allowed a chance to actually get to know attendees more personally and there was a lot of exchanging of information which rarely happens when I’m a guest at other events!”
— Deniese Davis, 2017, 2020 AFF Panelist
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Young Filmmakers Program
Austin Film Festival’s Young Filmmakers Program (YFP) inspires the next generation of storytellers by introducing students ages 9–18 to screenwriting, filmmaking, and editing. Developing students’ creativity while providing an insider look at the business of film, many YFP students go on to pursue the media arts at a collegiate and professional level.
“This was one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had the
privilege to participate in at school. I wish more classes included
material like this.”
— Screenwriting Digital Storytelling Student
Young Filmmakers Competition
Free to students ages 13–18, the Young Filmmakers Competitions highlights top student films nationwide. Selected short films are showcased as part of the Festival’s Film slate and the competition winner receives their award at AFF’s awards lunch.
Digital Storytelling Program
AFF’s in-school, English and Language Arts TEKS-aligned curriculum on the arts of screenwriting, podcasting, and film production. Formally launched in 2005 and offered at no cost to participating schools, Digital Storytelling has proven to increase student engagement and is a particularly effective tool in classrooms with a high Emergent Bilingual, or English Language Learner (ELL) population.
Summer Film Camp
AFF offers camp classes and teen workshops on the arts of screenwriting, filmmaking, editing, and Claymation animation.
Festival & Conference Scholarship Program
This program annually provides over 300 Festival badges to students and educators from 24 schools across the state to attend AFF’s Writers Conference & Film Festival for free! Through AFF’s student-specific programming such as the student Pitch Competition and student-focused Roundtable event, young aspiring writers and filmmakers are given the opportunity to directly engage with industry professionals who illustrate avenues to creative careers.
“Attending the Austin Film Festival was one of my best film festival experiences. It was the first time that I met so many talented writers, and was exposed to numerous panels, talks and round table discussions about screenwriting. Everyone I met there was very passionate about stories and films. I have made good filmmaker friends who I would possibly collaborate with in the future, and industry professionals who were interested in hearing about my future projects. Most importantly, I saw the value of my own voice as a filmmaker. I’m glad to be part of this community where I can share my ideas, get inspired, and create more films in the future.”
– Siqi Song, 2018 Animated Jury Award Winner, SISTER