Austin Film Festival Script Competition

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Contest News

Austin Fest Names Screenplay Contest Winners

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]

Austin Fest Announces Script Competition Finalists

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]

AFF Names Screenplay Contest Winners

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]

Austin Announces Script Competition Finalists

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]

Austin Fest Announces Script Winners

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]

Austin Fest Names Contest Finalists

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]

Austin Fest Names Contest Semifinalists

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]

AFF Announces Screenplay Contest Winners

The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2020 Script Competition winners. [Updated: 11/02/2020]

Austin Fest Names Script Competition Finalists

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 Going Virtual for Its 27th Annual Festival and Writers Conference

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]

Austin Fest Launches Enderby Entertainment Filmmaking Fellowship Award

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]

On Story Premieres 10th Season on PBS

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]

Austin Film Fest Names Contest Winners

The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2019 Screenplay Contest Winners. [Updated: 11/07/2019]

AFF Announces Semifinalists & Second Rounders

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 Fest to Honor David Benioff and D.B. Weiss

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 Announce New Fellowship Award

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]

Austin Fest and Humanitas Announce New Partnership to Discover Original Voices

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]

AFF Names Screenplay Contest Winners

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced their 2018 Screenplay Contest Winners in all categories. [Updated: 11/13/2018]

Austin Fest Names Script Competition Semifinalists

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]

Austin Film Festival Announces Partners and Judges for Fiction Podcast Script Competition

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]

On Winning the Austin Film Festival Script Competition, Part II

Troy Anthony Miller shares some thoughts about what it takes to win the Austin Film Festival Script Competition ... twice! [Updated: 05/11/2018]

On Winning the Austin Film Festival Script Competition, Part I

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]

Austin Fest Announces Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship

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]

Austin Fest Names Screenplay Contest Winners

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]

How to Do the Austin Film Festival

Check out Heather Hughes inside scoop on how to get the most out of the Austin Film Festival Screenwriting Conference. [Updated: 10/19/2017]

Austin Fest Announces Script Competition Finalists

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]

Austin Fest Names 2017 Screenplay Semifinalists

The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2017 Screenplay Semifinalists in all genres and categories. [Updated: 09/15/2017]

Austin Fest Names Screenplay Winners

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]

Austin Names Semifinalists

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 Fest & Nicholl Fellowships Present Launching Your Writing Career

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 Fest Names 2015 Award Winners

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]

AFF Names Semifinalists & Second Rounders

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]

Austin Fest Announces Semifinalists

The Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition has announced their semifinalists from a record field of 6,764 individual scripts. [Updated: 09/10/2014]

Austin Fest Announces Contest Winners

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]

Austin Fest Announces Contest Finalists

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]

Austin Fest Announces Screenplay & Teleplay Semifinalists

The Austin Film Festival has announced the semifinalists of their 2013 Screenplay & Teleplay Competition. [Updated: 09/11/2013]

Austin Fest Announces AMC as New Sponsor for One Hour Pilot Award

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]

Austin Fest Presents Launching Your Film Career Panel Discussion

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]

AFF Announces Screenplay & Teleplay Competition Semifinalists

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]

Austin Fest Announces Contest Judges

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]

Austin Film Festival Announces Special Opportunities for Advancing Teleplay Entrants

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]

Austin Fest Announces Enderby Entertainment as New Screenplay Competition Sponsor

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]

Jonathan Lynn to Direct AFF Award Winning Screenplay Jasper Milliken For Experience Media Studios

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]

Austin Fest Announces 2011 Screenplay and Teleplay Winners

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]

Austin Fest Announces 2011 Finalists

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]

Austin Fest Announces Screenplay and TV Semifinalists and 2nd Rounders

The Austin Film Festival has announced their Screenplay and TV Semifinalists for 2011. [Updated: 08/31/2011]

Interview with Matt Dy: An Inside Look at the Austin Film Festival

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]

Austin Fest Presents
'On Story'

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]

Austin Fest Announces 2010 Competition Winners

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced its 2010 Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners. [Updated: 10/28/2010]

Austin Film Festival Announces Contest Finalists

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]

How To Get the Most Out Of the Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival Screenwriting Conference is October 21-24, and the Austin Film Festival runs from October 21-28. [Updated: 09/20/2010]

Austin Fest Announces Screenplay Contest Results

The Austin Film Festival has announced their screenplay contest results in all genres. [Updated: 11/01/2009]

Austin Fest Announces Second Rounders

The Austin Fest has announced their 2009 second rounders. [Updated: 09/09/2009]

Dark Hero Studios to Judge Austin Film Festival Sci-Fi Competition

"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]

Austin Fest Announces Contest Winners

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced its 2008 Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners. [Updated: 10/21/2008]

Austin Fest Announces Semifinalists

The 2007 Austin Film Festival Screenplay/Teleplay Competition has announced their semifinalists. [Updated: 09/08/2007]

Austin Film Festival Announces Screenplay Contest Results

The Austin Film Festival has announced their screenplay and teleplay contest results for 2006. [Updated: 10/25/2006]

Austin Announces Screenplay and TV Finalists

The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2006 Screenplay and TV Writing Competition finalists. [Updated: 10/19/2006]

Austin Film Fest Announces Screenplay Semifinalists

The Austin Film Festival has announced their Screenplay and TV semifinalists. [Updated: 09/25/2006]

2005 AFF Screenplay / Teleplay winners announced

The winners of the 2005 Austin Film Festival Screenplay/Teleplay Competition have been announced. [Updated: 10/25/2005]

Austin Film Fest Announces 2004 Screenplay and Teleplay Winners

The Austin Film Festival has announced their 2004 screenplay and teleplay contest winners. [Updated: 11/10/2004]

Austin Fest Announces Contest Finalists and Winners

The 2003 Austin Film Festival has announced their television and screenwriting competition finalists and winners. [Updated: 11/07/2003]

Austin Extends Deadline; Semifinalist Sells Script to David Singer Entertainment

Congratulations to 2002 Semifinalist Michael Connor, who’s screenplay, Berkshire Village Idiot just sold to David Singer Entertainment. [Updated: 04/14/2003]

2002 Austin Fest Screenplay and Teleplay Competition Winners

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]

Austin Fest Confirmed Movies & Panelists

The latest for the Austin Film Festival & Heart of Film Screenwriter's Conference (October 10-17). [Updated: 09/06/2002]

Austin Fest Announces Competition Winners & Finalists

The Austin Heart of Film Festival has announced their screenwriting competition finalists. [Updated: 11/20/2001]

Inside the 8th Annual Austin Film Festival, The Festival That Almost Wasn't, by Fran Harris

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]

Austin Fest Announces Screenwriting/TV Semifinalists

The Austin "Heart of Film" Festival has announced their screenwriting and television competetition semifinalists. [Updated: 10/09/2001]

Austin Fest Announces Second Rounders (Adobe PDF Format)

The Austin Film Festival has announced the screenplays that have advanced to the second round of their screenwriting competition. [Updated: 09/25/2001]

Top Screenwriters and Directors Announce for Austin Heart of Film Screenwriters Conference

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]

Austin Film Festival Announces Confirmed Panelists

[Updated: 02/26/2001]

Austin Fest Winners & Finalists

[Updated: 10/28/2000]

Austin Fest Announces Screenplay Contest Winners

[Updated: 10/25/2000]

AUSTIN POWER - An insider's look at the coolest screenwriter's conference on the film festival circuit By Sam A. Scribner

[Updated: 09/24/2000]

More Austin Fest Conference Participants Announced

[Updated: 08/30/2000]

More Confirmed Participants Added to Austin Fest

[Updated: 08/29/2000]

Participants Added to Austin "Heart of Film" Screenwriters Conference

[Updated: 08/17/2000]

Daily Variety to Co-Sponsor Austin Fest

[Updated: 06/29/2000]

David Chase and Anne Rapp to Attend Austin Film Fest

[Updated: 05/31/2000]

Austin Fest Presents Academy-Award Nominee Stewart Stern

[Updated: 05/16/2000]

Austin Film Fest Call for Entries

[Updated: 05/01/2000]

Austin Heart of Film Call for Entries

[Updated: 02/09/2000]

Heart of Film Conference Confirms New Panelists

[Updated: 09/20/1999]

Austin Fest Confirms Additional Panelists

[Updated: 08/25/1999]

Robert Altman Confirmed for Austin Film Fest

[Updated: 08/03/1999]

Austin Fest Announces Panelists

[Updated: 07/26/1999]

Austin Film Fest Fact Sheet

[Updated: 07/26/1999]

Austin Film Fest Semifinalist Opens in Theaters

[Updated: 04/18/1999]

Interviews

MovieBytes Interview:Screenwriter Keith Davidson

An interview with screenwriter Keith Davidson regarding the Austin Writing Competition. [Updated: 10/23/2009]

MovieBytes Interview:Screenwriter Brian McDonald

An interview with screenwriter Brian McDonald regarding the Austin/Film Writing Competition. [Updated: 10/26/2006]

MovieBytes Interview:Screenwriter Karl Williams

An interview with screenwriter Karl Williams regarding the Austin/Film Writing Competition. [Updated: 10/25/2005]

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First-time user? Register now to receive FREE email contest updates, news, results, deadline reminders and more. Rest assured, information submitted here is held in strict confidence. MovieBytes never sells or in any way distributes email names or addresses. We promise!