The Austin Film Festival furthers the art and craft of film making by inspiring and championing the work of screenwriters, filmmakers, and all artists who use the language of film to tell a story.
The Austin Film Festival is a not for profit 501c3 corporation.
2012 CONFERENCE: October 18-21
2012 FESTIVAL: October 18-25
View the schedule by day:
Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Click here for the full festival and conference schedule by day.
Saturday 10/24
9:00 am-10:15 am
Teaching Storytelling Through Screenwriting
Texas State Capitol, Extension Auditorium
How do you teach the art of storytelling to high school students? How do you do so within the structure of a screenplay and/or a film? How do you keep students interested and excited about the sometimes tedious format? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in this panel session on preparing teachers to teach screenwriting in the high school classroom. This panel is for high school teachers only.
Tom Skerritt
Moderator: Alissa Ziemianski
Finalist/Semifinalist Panel
Driskill Hotel, Citadel Club
Your script has made its way through the competition, all the way to the top. How do you use it to your advantage? What are your next steps? This is your chance to have special Q&A sessions with successful writers in the business. This panel is open to Semifinalists and Finalists only.
Greg Beal with AFF Screenplay Competition Director Alex McPhail
Roundtable: Young Filmmakers Program
Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room
Get in-depth answers to your questions about the craft and business of screenwriting and filmmaking. This session offers students exclusive access to professional filmmakers in an informal setting. This panel is for high school students only.
Adam Beechen, Greg Carter, Jay Edwards, Juliana Farrell, Chris Mass, Chuck Sklar, Bob Soderstrom, John Turman
Agents
Driskill Hotel, Hogg Room
At one point do you need one? What can you expect from a general option agreement? Do you need an LA/NY agent or will you be okay with a local one? What if you want to direct your script? What if your co-writer has a different agent? This is the panel to get the answers to all of these questions and more.
David Boxerbaum, Rebecca Ewing, Gayla Nethercott
Moderator: Stuart Kelban
They Can Kill You But They Can't Eat You
Driskill Hotel, Ballroom
Top writers discuss their experiences at the helm of a critically acclaimed yet cancelled show. How to validate yourself through your work and not through the response, or lack thereof, your work receives.
Paul Feig, Michael Green, Mitchell Hurwitz
Moderator: Andy Langner
Script to Screen: THE UGLY TRUTH
Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony
Case study on the writing and production process of getting stories to the screen. Come and talk with writer/producer Kirsten Smith about being part of one of Hollywood’s most successful (female) writing teams.
Should Movies Reflect the Real World?
Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room
A discussion on scripts and films that have social, economic, or political relevance.
William Broyles, Jr., Chris McQuarrie, Alex Meenehan, Herschel Weingrod
Moderator: Marcia Nasatir
A Conversation with Steven Zaillian
Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Ballroom
Come and join a conversation with Academy Award® winner Steven Zaillian, whose screenwriting credits include Schindler’s List, Awakenings, The Falcon and the Snowman, American Gangster, Gangs of New York and Searching for Bobby Fischer, among others. Steven Zaillian is the recipient of the AFF’s 2009 Distinguished Screenwriter Award.
Moderator: Sacha Gervasi
TV Development
Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Assembly Room
How do spec pilots become successful primetime television shows? Discuss with television executives and producers the process of developing drama, comedy, and non-fiction.
DMA/Donna Michelle Anderson, John Markus, Jeffrey Reiner
Moderator: Greg Garrett
10:45 am-12:00 pm
Young Filmmakers Program Panel
Texas State Capitol, Extension Auditorium
A panel specially aimed at students aged 9-17 but open to all. Panelists discuss how they got started in the industry, answer questions about the craft and business of screenwriting and filmmaking, and offer encouragement for those beginning their journeys in the film business.
Jessica Bendinger, Bryanne Cooke, Mike White
Moderator: Fred Strype
Finalist/Semifinalist Panel
Driskill Hotel, Citadel Club
Your script has made its way through the competition, all the way to the top. How do you use it to your advantage? What are your next steps? This is your chance to have special Q&A sessions with successful writers in the business. This panel is open to Semifinalists and Finalists only.
William Broyles, Jr., Terry Rossio
Moderator: Karl Williams
Austin Pitch #6
Driskill Hotel, Austin Room
It’s the seventh annual Austin Film Festival Pitch Competition! Give your best pitch in 90 seconds and secure your spot in the finals at the Pitch Finale Party on Saturday evening.
Tonia Davis, Kirsten Smith
Roundtable: Producers & Executives
Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room
Get in-depth answers to your questions about the business of screenwriting and filmmaking. This session offers registrants exclusive access to producers and executives in an informal setting. This session is open to Second Rounders only.
Marvin V. Acuna, Curtis Burch, Melissa Breaux, Leah Keith, Dawn Wolfron, Alexander F. Young
Independent Productions: Financing
Driskill Hotel, Hogg Room
Putting together a solid proposal that will secure funding.
Greg Carter, Turk Pipkin, Tom Schatz
Moderator: Andrew Dignan
Write What You Know: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Driskill Hotel, Ballroom
A new series of master classes on writing for specific genres.
David Hayter, Damon Lindelof, Roberto Orci
Moderator: BJ Burrow
Script-to-Screen: THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony
Case study on the writing and production process of getting screenplays to the screen. Come and talk with writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood about writing the screenplay adaptation of this bestselling book, the production process, directing her own script, working with the cast and the studio, and much more.
Write What You Know: Crime/Suspense
Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room
A new series of master classes on writing for specific genres.
Billy Brown, Shane Black, Chris McQuarrie, Daniel Petrie, Jr.
Moderator: Warren Etheredge
A Conversation with Mitchell Hurwitz
Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Ballroom
Come and join a conversation with Emmy Award® winner Mitchell Hurwitz, the creator of “Arrested Development.” Mitchell Hurwitz is the recipient of the AFF’s 2009 Outstanding Television Writer Award.
Moderator: Paul Feig
Art of the Pitch
Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Assembly Room
Here's where you learn one of the most challenging skills of a screenwriter's career: pitching a story that sells. Your livelihood in the film industry depends on the presentation of your ideas in a short but entertaining way. Want to make your buyer believe you can capture the tone of an amusing, thrilling and dramatic story? Come and learn how to be a great storyteller.
Juliana Farrell, Bob Soderstrom
Moderator: Dawn Wiercinski
2:00pm-3:15pm
Script-to-Screen: CAPRICA
Driskill Hotel, Hogg Room
Case study on the writing and production process of getting stories to the screen. Talk with Caprica director Jeffrey Reiner and actor Esai Morales about what goes on behind-the-scenes of the highly anticipated prequel to the 2004-2009 hit series Battlestar Galactica. This panel is presented by Syfy.
Austin Pitch #7
Driskill Hotel, Austin Room
It’s the seventh annual Austin Film Festival Pitch Competition! Give your best pitch in 90 seconds and secure your spot in the finals at the Pitch Finale Party on Saturday evening.
Judges: Richard Bever, Leah Keith
Roundtable: Filmmakers/ Screenwriters
Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room
Get in-depth answers to your questions about the craft and business of screenwriting and filmmaking. This session offers registrants exclusive access to filmmakers in an informal setting.
Robert Byington, Jay Edwards, Joel Heller, Gary Lundgren, Jimmy Miller, Julie O'Hora, Andrew Shea, Ya'ke Smith
Independent Productions: The Team
Driskill Hotel, Citadel Club
Assembling your crew on a limited budget. How to face the challenges of finding talent that you can afford without compromising the quality of your project.
Marvin V. Acuna, Tom Copeland, Alma Kuttruff, Victor Moyers
Moderator: Andrew Dignan
Write What You Know: Love Stories/ Romantic Comedies
Driskill Hotel, Ballroom
A new series of master classes on writing for specific genres. How to structure your love story for maximum emotional involvement: creating characters engaged in original, credible and satisfying, romantic relationships, negotiating the rules of love stories and romantic comedies, imbuing your characters with powerful inner and outer conflicts, and creating multi-layered scenes that are original, powerful and funny.
Maggie Biggar, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Kirsten Smith
Moderator: Dawn Wiercinski
Script-to-Screen: WATCHMEN
Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony
A case study on the writing and production process of getting stories to the screen. Come and talk with screenwriter David Hayter about the complex – and conflicted – journey of adapting the graphic novel of the same name.
What Gets Producers Excited
Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room
Think you have what it takes to become the next “it” writer? Find out what successful producers are looking for in a script and learn what projects interest them the most.
Garrett Basch, Jeff Graup, Dawn Wolfrom
Moderator: Drew Yanno
A Conversation with Ron Howard
Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Ballroom
Come and join a conversation with Academy Award® winner Ron Howard, whose credits include A Beautiful Mind, Parenthood, The Da Vinci Code, Apollo 13, Night Shift, Cocoon, and Splash, among others. Ron Howard is the recipient of the AFF’s 2009 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award.
Moderator: William Broyles, Jr.
Breaking Into the Business
Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Assembly Room
While seeing your work produced is the ultimate goal, selling the script is a great first step. Many scripts are bought and never produced. But your script can serve as a sample to secure other work. Much of a professional screenwriters' income lies in script doctoring and assignments, not movies produced from their spec scripts.
David Boxerbaum, Carlo Eugster, Alex Meenehan, Matt Summers
Moderator: Aadip Desai
3:45 pm-5:00 pm
Austin Pitch #8
Driskill Hotel, Austin Room
It’s the seventh annual Austin Film Festival Pitch Competition! Give your best pitch in 90 seconds and secure your spot in the finals at the Pitch Finale Party on Saturday evening.
Judges: Maggie Biggar, Alex Meenehan
Roundtable: Writers
Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room
Get in-depth answers to your questions about the craft and business of screenwriting and filmmaking. This session offers registrants exclusive access to professional writers in an informal setting.
Adam Beechen, Jessica Bendinger, Shane Black, Billy Brown, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Danny Rubin, Kirsten Smith, Boaz Yakin
Second Rounder Panel
Driskill Hotel, Hogg Room
Grab a cup of coffee and your composition notebook—you’re going to hear from production company executives who have stories and advice to share.
Carlo Eugster, Steven Puri, Matt Summers
Moderator: BJ Burrow
TV Development
Driskill Hotel, Ballroom
How do spec pilots become successful primetime television shows? Discuss with television executives and producers the process of developing a weekly drama or comedy.
Paul Feig, Damon Lindelof, Chuck Sklar
Moderator: Andy Langer
Script-to-Screen with Roberto Orci!
Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room
A conversation with Roberto Orci and Steven Puri of Kurtzman/Orci. Orci, along with Alex Kurtzman, penned 9-figure grossing hits like Star Trek, Transformers 2: Revenge of The Fallen, Transformers, Mission Impossible: III and The Legend of Zorro. Their credits also include the hit Fox series "Fringe" (co-created with J.J. Abrams) and the ABC cult-fave TV show "Alias". Puri is Executive Vice President of Kurtzman/Orci.
Script-to-Screen with Terry Rossio
Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony
Come and listen to Academy Award®-nominated writer Terry Rossio share his experiences of getting stories like Pirates of the Caribbean, Deja Vu, Shrek and The Mask of Zorro to the screen.
What Actors Look for in a Script
Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Ballroom
From the Oscar®-worthy monologue to life-altering physical changes, what do actors look for when they are reading a script for the first time? Hear from actors about the challenges of delivering your message to those who will eventually interpret it.
Beth Grant, Clint Howard, Esai Morales, Tom Skerritt, Dana Wheeler Nicholson
Moderator: Jane Sumner
The Art of Storytelling with Ron Howard, Mitchell Hurwtiz and Steve Zaillian
Paramount Theatre
What causes a great script stand out from all the rest? Why do some scripts seem to pale in comparison to others, even if both capture an interesting story? Three titans of cinema discuss the tools they use to bring a script life with rich characters, authenticity, and memorable dialogue.
Ron Howard, Mitchell Hurwitz, Steven Zaillian
Independent Productions: Marketing & PR
Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Assembly Room
In a market saturated with new films, learn how to make your film stand out at festivals and in theaters.
Warren Etheredge, Chris Holland, Jesse Trussell, Joel Heller
Moderator: Andrew Dignan
Mark Your Calendars!
AFF 2012, October 18-25
AFF 2013, October 24-31
AFF 2014, October 23-30
AFF 2015, October 22-29