The Austin Film Festival is dedicated to championing the work of aspiring and established filmmakers, defined as screenwriters, directors, editors, producers, actors and all those artists who use the language of film to tell a story. The AFF furthers the art, craft and business of filmmaking by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships.

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Shane Black

Shane Black made his mark as a screenwriter after his action/buddy script Lethal Weapon became a runaway hit at the box-office with stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a pair of mismatched cops. Not only did Black’s storytelling redefine the “buddy” movie genre, but it also gave birth to one of the more successful movie franchises in film history.

With his tongue-in-cheek sensibility, Black immediately became known as a writer who could create memorable and complex characters not normally associated with the action genre. His follow up screenplay The Last Boy Scout starred Bruce Willis as a down-on-his-luck private-eye whose penchant for booze was offset by his strict code of ethics. Thereafter came The Long Kiss Goodnight starring Geena Davis as a suburban homemaker with amnesia who discovers she was once a kick-ass top-secret agent.

With his distinct cinematic voice, Black returned last year not only as the writer, but also director of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, a film-noir-esque action/comedy about a petty thief from New York who finds himself embroiled in a Hollywood mystery.