The Austin Film Festival has announced a new Fellowship opportunity for drama or comedy feature length screenplays that capture a sense of wonder, hope, and optimism. The Fellowship winner(s) will receive approximately 40-weeks of employment, where they’ll have the opportunity to develop concepts and work on scripts overseen by Wonder Project and Stand Together.
[Updated: 04/08/2025]
The Austin Film Festival has announced the opening of its 2025 Script and Film Competitions. AFF’s annual Script and Film Competitions are perhaps the most critical embodiment of our 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. A cornerstone of our programming, the Annual Competitions identify, embolden, and celebrate the talents of top emerging writers and filmmakers each year. Much more than just a competition for the famous bronze typewriter award, AFF is a hub for industry insight and connections, ripe with opportunities to skyrocket careers. AFF competitions do more than just honor winners but increase the visibility of visionary writers and filmmakers on the cusp of a breakthrough.
[Updated: 12/09/2024]
The 2024 Austin Film Festival Screenplay competition featured eighteen categories. Screenplay Award winners were selected by a distinguished panel of industry judges including, Jameel Saleem (co-executive producer/writer Bob’s Burgers; writer South Park, Disenchantment), Peter Craig (The Town, The Batman, Bad Boys for Life, parts 1 and 2 of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay), Wendy Calhoun (Empire, Prodigal Son, Nashville).
[Updated: 10/28/2024]
The 2023 Austin Film Festival Script Competition winners were chosen from a record field of 11,500 scripts entered in the Screenplay, Digital Series, Playwriting, and Fiction Podcast Competitions. The winners were selected by a distinguished panel of industry judges including, Tatiana Suarez-Pico (Hunters, Penny Dreadful, Iron Fist, Snowfall), Christina Hodson (Bumblebee, Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, The Flash), Tripper Clancy (Stuber, I Am Not Okay With This, Die Hart), & Herschel Weingrod (Trading Places, Kindergarten Cop).
[Updated: 11/07/2023]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2023 Script Competition Finalists! 67 scripts were chosen for the Final Round with one winner to be determined in each of the 17 categories. The winners will be announced during this year's Conference.
[Updated: 10/18/2023]
The 2022 Austin Film Festival Script Competition winners were chosen from a record field of 10,000 scripts entered in the Screenplay, Digital Series, Playwriting, and Fiction Podcast Competitions. The winners were selected by a distinguished panel of industry judges including, Jim Hart (Hook, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Contact), Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, Pokémon Detective Pikachu), Tripper Clancy (Stuber, I Am Not Okay With This, Die Hart), & Kelly Edwards (Living Single, Girlfriends, The Parkers, Clueless, Two Guys and a Girl).
[Updated: 11/09/2022]
The Austin Film Festival has announced the 2022 Script Competition Finalists. 70 scripts were chosen for the Final Round with one winner to be determined in each of the 18 categories. The winners will be announced during this year's Conference.
[Updated: 10/18/2022]
The 2021 Austin Film Festival Script Competition winners were chosen from a record field of 14,648 scripts entered in the Screenplay, Digital Series, Playwriting, and Fiction Podcast Competitions. The winners were selected by a distinguished panel of industry judges including, Matthew Michael Carnahan (writer DARK WATERS) , Felischa Marye (creator BIGGER), Peter Craig (writer THE TOWN), and April Shih (writer YOU’RE THE WORST).
[Updated: 11/01/2021]
The Austin Film Festival has announced the 2021 Script Competition Finalists. Sixty-four scripts were chosen for the Final Round with one winner to be determined in each of the 18 categories. The winners will be announced during this year’s Conference.
[Updated: 10/13/2021]
The Austin Film Festival has announced its 2021 Script Competitions Semifinalists, representing the top 2% of a record field of 14,648 submissions. Finalists will be revealed by mid-October and the winners will be announced during this year's Conference.
[Updated: 10/06/2021]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2020 Script Competition winners.
[Updated: 11/02/2020]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their contest finalists. 59 scripts were chosen for the Final Round with one winner to be determined in each of the 18 categories. The winners will be announced during this year’s Conference.
[Updated: 10/14/2020]
Austin Film Festival has announced that its 27th annual Film Festival and Writers Conference will be a completely virtual event including panels and film screenings that will feature leading industry creatives, to be held this October 22nd–29th, 2020.
[Updated: 07/28/2020]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced the launch of their inaugural Enderby Entertainment Filmmaking Fellowship Award, as well as their inaugural Jury Advisory Program.
[Updated: 05/18/2020]
Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced that its original interview series, Austin Film Festival's On Story®, will premiere its 10th season nationwide in April 2020 on public television stations across the country. Available in more than 85% of U.S. markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Houston, On Story gives viewers an inside look at the creative process behind some of our most popular and beloved movies and television shows. Season 10 features recorded conversations between acclaimed and award-winning screenwriters, TV creators, and filmmakers from the 26th Annual Austin Film Festival & Conference.
[Updated: 03/03/2020]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2019 Screenplay Contest Winners.
[Updated: 11/07/2019]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced their 2019 Script Competition Semifinalists (top 2%) and Second Rounders (top 20%), chosen from a record field of 11,907 scripts entered in the Screenplay, Digital Series, Playwriting, and Fiction Podcast Competitions. Finalists will be revealed by mid-October and the winners will be announced during this year’s Conference at the Awards Luncheon on Saturday, October 26 at the new LINE Austin Hotel, overlooking Town Lake downtown.
[Updated: 09/16/2019]
Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF), the premier film festival that champions the writers’ contribution to film, television, and new media, has announced 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.
[Updated: 05/06/2019]
Austin Film Festival and Rooster Teeth are partnering to launch the Inaugural "Rooster Teeth Fellowship Award" to be presented at the 26th Annual Austin Film Festival. This new award will be available in conjunction with AFF's existing Script Competitions and is open to all scripted submissions that embody the Rooster Teeth genre.
[Updated: 03/19/2019]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) and HUMANITAS have joined forces to launch the inaugural "HUMANITAS Originals Award". This joint initiative is a new addition to AFF’s Script Competitions and is open to both feature screenplays and teleplay pilots that reflect the kinds of stories HUMANITAS has honored for over four decades.
[Updated: 02/06/2019]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced their 2018 Screenplay Contest Winners in all categories.
[Updated: 11/13/2018]
The Austin Film Festival has announced the 2018 Script Competition Semifinalists, representing the top 2% of all submissions. They were chosen from a record field of 10,580 scripts entered in the AFF Screenplay, Digital Series, Playwriting, and Fiction Podcast Competitions.
[Updated: 09/19/2018]
In order to further expand their legacy of supporting storytellers, Austin Film Festival (AFF) is pleased to announce a distinguished panel of judges for its returning Fiction Podcast Script Competition, which includes development heads and creators of successful fiction podcasts such as THE BRIGHT SESSIONS and TUMANBAY.
[Updated: 06/21/2018]
HollywoodIQ:
Troy Anthony Miller shares some thoughts about what it takes to win the Austin Film Festival Script Competition ... twice!
[Updated: 05/11/2018]
HollywoodIQ:
Are there actually writers out there who enter screenplay competitions thinking they might win? Because I am mostly certainly not that kind of writer.
[Updated: 05/07/2018]
The Austin Film Festival has announced a partnership with producer Barry Josephson to present a Screenwriting Fellowship that will provide one-on-one mentorship in Los Angeles for two fellows – one writer or writing team with a feature script and one writer or writing team with a teleplay pilot – selected from the Final Round of this year's competition.
[Updated: 03/20/2018]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their competition winners from a record field of 9,487 scripts entered in the Screenplay, Digital Series, Playwriting, and Fiction Podcast Competitions.
[Updated: 10/29/2017]
HollywoodIQ:
Check out Heather Hughes inside scoop on how to get the most out of the Austin Film Festival Screenwriting Conference.
[Updated: 10/19/2017]
The Austin Film Festival has announce their 2017 Script Competition Finalists. Fifty-six scripts were chosen for the Final Round with one winner to be determined in each of the 13 categories.
[Updated: 10/11/2017]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2017 Screenplay Semifinalists in all genres and categories.
[Updated: 09/15/2017]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced their 2016 Screenplay Competition Winners, including STATIC, by Henry Jones, recognized in three categories and acquired by Max Borenstein's company, Inkubate.
[Updated: 10/20/2016]
The Austin Film Festival has named their 2016 Screenplay Competition Semifinalists, representing the top 1% of all submissions. The scripts were chosen from a record field of 9,100 individual scripts. Finalists will be revealed by early October and the winners will be announced during this year's Conference at the Awards Luncheon on Saturday, October 15 at the historic Austin Club.
[Updated: 09/13/2016]
Austin Film Festival, in partnership with the Academy Education and Nicholl Fellowships Programs, will present a series of panels dedicated to LAUNCHING YOUR WRITING CAREER. The event will take place on Saturday, March 26 from 12:30pm - 5:30pm at the Linwood Dunn Theatre in Hollywood.
[Updated: 03/15/2016]
Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced its 2015 Jury and Hiscox Audience and Courage Award Winners in Film, as well as the Screenplay & Teleplay Competition winners.
[Updated: 11/12/2015]
The Austin Film Festival has announce their 2015 Screenplay & Teleplay Competition Semifinalists and Second Rounders, chosen from a record field of 8,627 individual scripts (up by about 1800 scripts from last year).
[Updated: 09/16/2015]
The Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition has announced their semifinalists from a record field of 6,764 individual scripts.
[Updated: 09/10/2014]
Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced their 2013 Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners. A record number of 8,644 submissions across all categories (6,228 individual scripts) were received this year.
[Updated: 11/11/2013]
The Austin Film Festival has announced the 2013 Screenplay & Teleplay Competition Finalists. The winners will be announced during this year’s Conference at the Awards Luncheon on Saturday, October 26 at the Austin Club.
[Updated: 10/09/2013]
The Austin Film Festival has announced the semifinalists of their 2013 Screenplay & Teleplay Competition.
[Updated: 09/11/2013]
Austin Film Festival (AFF)has announced that AMC is the official sponsor and judge for the One-Hour Pilot Award of the 2013 Teleplay Competition.
[Updated: 05/22/2013]
Three of the most prestigious organizations centered around championing the screenwriter have partnered to present Launching Your Writing Career, a special panel sponsored in part and hosted by the Los Angeles Film School on Saturday, March 30th from 1:00pm to 2:30pm.
[Updated: 03/20/2013]
The Austin Film Festival has announced its 2012 Screenplay & Teleplay Competition Semifinalists from a record field of more than 6500 entries.
[Updated: 09/10/2012]
The Austin Film Festival has assembled a panel of industry judges to read and determine the Semifinalists, Finalists, and winners of this year's competition.
[Updated: 05/10/2012]
For the first time, AFF will offer the 2012 Sitcom Pilot winner the invaluable opportunity to have his or her winning pilot read aloud and workshopped during a special Roundtable Session.
[Updated: 04/24/2012]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced that Daniel Petrie, Jr. and Rick Dugdale's production company Enderby Entertainment is the new judge for the sponsored award category of the 19th Annual Screenplay Competition.
[Updated: 02/01/2012]
During the opening remarks of the 2011 Austin Film Festival (AFF) it was announced that veteran director Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny, The Whole Nine Yards) has signed on to helm Jasper Milliken, a quirky story written by Julie Howe that won the Best Comedy Screenplay Award in the 2010 AFF Screenplay Competition.
[Updated: 10/27/2011]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced its 2011 Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners. A record number of over 5,800 submissions were received this year.
[Updated: 10/27/2011]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced its 2011 Screenplay and Teleplay Competition Finalists. The Finalists were chosen from a field of more than 5,800 entries.
[Updated: 10/05/2011]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their Screenplay and TV Semifinalists for 2011.
[Updated: 08/31/2011]
by Barri Evins
I find the Austin Film Festival unique in so many ways, from the Austin atmosphere that puts everyone at ease - I've crossed paths in the halls with major writers I've admired forever, introduced myself and chatted casually - to the one of a kind combo of contest and conference. Not to mention mouthwatering barbeque! This is Matt Dy's second year as the Screenplay and Teleplay Competition Director, but he's worked for AFF in a number of capacities over the past seven years. Matt studied screenwriting at the University of Texas at Austin and has written a number of screenplays. As the Director, he is responsible for recruiting readers and judges, and reading lots of scripts for the competition. Make that LOTS of scripts! It can be a stressful job, but he loves it.
[Updated: 05/05/2011]
The Austin Film Festival and KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, have announced a new 12-episode series "On Story: Presented by Austin Film Festival" that will premiere on Saturday, April 16, 2011, on KLRU Q. Episodes will also be available online at klru.org the Sunday following each broadcast.
[Updated: 04/13/2011]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced its 2010 Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners.
[Updated: 10/28/2010]
The Austin Film Festival has announced the Finalists in the 17th Annual Screenplay and Teleplay Competition. The Finalists were chosen from a field of more than 4400 entries in the Drama, Comedy, Latitude Productions, Sci-Fi, and Teleplay categories.
[Updated: 10/12/2010]
The Austin Film Festival Screenwriting Conference is October 21-24, and the Austin Film Festival runs from October 21-28.
[Updated: 09/20/2010]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their screenplay contest results in all genres.
[Updated: 11/01/2009]
The Austin Fest has announced their 2009 second rounders.
[Updated: 09/09/2009]
"Watchmen" co-writer David Hayter and producer Benedict Carver's Dark Hero Studios will judge the 2009 Austin Film Festival (AFF) Sci-Fi Competition.
[Updated: 05/19/2009]
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced its 2008 Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners.
[Updated: 10/21/2008]
The 2007 Austin Film Festival Screenplay/Teleplay Competition has announced their semifinalists.
[Updated: 09/08/2007]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their screenplay and teleplay contest results for 2006.
[Updated: 10/25/2006]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2006 Screenplay and TV Writing Competition finalists.
[Updated: 10/19/2006]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their Screenplay and TV semifinalists.
[Updated: 09/25/2006]
The winners of the 2005 Austin Film Festival Screenplay/Teleplay Competition have been announced.
[Updated: 10/25/2005]
The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2004 screenplay and teleplay contest winners.
[Updated: 11/10/2004]
The 2003 Austin Film Festival has announced their television and screenwriting competition finalists and winners.
[Updated: 11/07/2003]
Congratulations to 2002 Semifinalist Michael Connor, who’s screenplay, Berkshire Village Idiot just sold to David Singer Entertainment.
[Updated: 04/14/2003]
Robert Soderstrom's JERUSALEM was named the winner of the Adult/Family competition, while Gelnn Forbes' HEAD FIRST, FACE DOWN won the comedy category.
[Updated: 03/13/2003]
The latest for the Austin Film Festival & Heart of Film
Screenwriter's Conference (October 10-17).
[Updated: 09/06/2002]
The Austin Heart of Film Festival has announced their screenwriting competition finalists.
[Updated: 11/20/2001]
It's been coined the premiere writer's festival but the 2001 Austin Film Festival came dangerously close to being canceled according to Festival co-founder/director, Barbara Morgan.
[Updated: 10/19/2001]
The Austin "Heart of Film" Festival has announced their screenwriting and television competetition semifinalists.
[Updated: 10/09/2001]
The Austin Film Festival has announced the screenplays that have advanced to the second round of their screenwriting competition.
[Updated: 09/25/2001]
The 8th Annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) and Heart of Film Screenwriters Conference announces a blue-ribbon list of Hollywood's top screenwriters and directors who will serve as panelists during this year's Festival and Conference, held Oct. 11-18.
[Updated: 06/26/2001]
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Show Less News
An interview with screenwriter Keith Davidson regarding the Austin Writing Competition. [Updated: 10/23/2009]
An interview with screenwriter Brian McDonald regarding the Austin/Film Writing Competition. [Updated: 10/26/2006]
An interview with screenwriter Karl Williams regarding the Austin/Film Writing Competition. [Updated: 10/25/2005]
