Austin Film Festival & Conference // October 16 - 23, 2008

Posted on Friday | April 11, 2008

Did you know...

...that at an AFF awards luncheon, industry legend Gary David Goldberg gave out his personal phone number and told attending screenwriters to call him if they ever felt like giving up?

...that the festival regularly screens rare and unseen television work with writers and directors in attendance and that past highlights have included programs with Robert Altman, Garry Shandling, Judd Apatow, Bob Odenkirk, David Cross and Adam McKay?

...that competition filmmakers frequently appear on panels with established industry heavyweights to discuss the craft of filmmaking?

...that Austin Film Festival has been ranked among the top twenty festivals worth your entry fee?

...that Will Ferrell snuck in the back to watch Garry Shandling’s retrospective screening?

...that Austin was ranked as the best place to live and make movies by Moviemaker Magazine?

...that competition filmmakers and screenplay finalists attend our awards luncheon where winners accept their awards alongside distinguished honorees such as Oliver Stone and Shane Black?

...that AFF headquarters is steps away from a host of live music venues?

...that AFF Short film juries have included representatives from Atom Films, iFilm, Wholphin and other companies that acquire short form content?

Don't take our word for it...

"My short film In God We Trust played AFF back in 2000 and won an award, but I got the phone call too late and was never able to come. It is a thrill to finally be in Austin which is home of a lot of filmmakers who made me want to be want to be a director myself."

-Jason Reitman, Juno, AFF 07

"The Austin Film Festival did a great job of bringing together a group of very talented and interesting people from the film world. The inclusiveness and accessibility of the festival and its participants allowed for the kind of sparkling impromptu conversations without the stilt or pressure of a formal sit-down. Fun, productive and comfortable!"

- Daryl Freimark, New Line Cinema