Success Stories

Austin Film Festival Screenplay and Teleplay Competition Success Stories

"The Austin Film Festival screenwriting contest is widely regarded as one of the most respected in the business, and has opened a lot of doors for me that otherwise might have been closed. I met with eight Producers and Literary Managers while in Austin, all of whom agreed to read my script. I also had Producers call me to request to read my work. If you are looking to break into the business, this is one festival that you do not want to miss."

-Michael Chase, 2006 Semifinalist

Austin Film Festival recognizes the work of the writer through our Screenplay and Teleplay Competitions, and continues to open doors by creating a networking system for new writers to further their career within the industry. Industry professionals recognize the Austin Film Festival as a widely respected and popular writing competition, with representatives from agencies and production companies participating in the judging process. Past judges include: Focus Features, Lightstorm Entertainment, CAA, Donners' Company, Village Roadshow Pictures, Saturn Films, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, Josephson Entertainment, Nickelodeon Movies, Flower Films and more.

2011
Bradley Jackson, 2009 Semi-Finalist, had his script “Drunk Dial” picked up by TenFour Pictures, and it is currently being filmed in L.A. with Gil Cates Jr. directing. He also received the grand prize for the Doorpost Film Project for his film The Man Who Never Cried, which he wrote and directed.

Christopher Cantwell, 2010 Comedy Semi-Finalist with “Piano Toes,” is now represented by ICM and Management 360 for feature and TV writing. He and his writing partner, Christopher Rogers, are currently working on a feature and TV pilot.

VJ Boyd, 2008 Teleplay Finalist, is currently a staff writer on the FX show Justified.

Tess Ortbals and JR Burningham were Sci-Fi Semi-Finalists in 2010 with their script “Terra Incognita.” They are now represented by CAA and Untitled Management. Recently, their Doritos ad won the #1 TV Spot during Superbowl XLV. They are currently writing/directing spots for Pepsi and Tor Books.

2010 Second Rounder Lee Hoverd had his script, “Ex-Men” optioned by Mike Fry (“Over the Hedge”) after hearing Lee’s pitch as a judge in the Pitch Competition during the Conference.

Julie Howe, 2010 Comedy Winner for “Jasper Milliken”, has entered into a collaborative production agreement with Experience Media Studios. Michael-Ryan Fletchall will produce with Julie remaining on as co-producer. Filming will take place in the Midwest which is where the story takes place.

Dan Steele, 2010 Sitcom Teleplay Winner, was admitted into the Warner Bros. Workshop and is now a staffed writer on “Gossip Girl”

Daniel Corey’s 2009 Second Round screenplay, “"Moriarty: The Dark Chamber", has been acquired by mega-publisher Image Comics (“Walking Dead”, “Spawn”). The story follows the nefarious Professor Moriarty, arch nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. Look for Image to release issue #1 of “Moriarty” on May 11th of this year.

Kevin Miller, 2010 Finalist in the Comedy category, signed with manager Peter Meyer through a relationship that began at the 2010 AFF. Also, Miller's action/comedy, Mother's Day was quickly optioned after the Festival by Sony producer Harry Gittes (About Schmidt).

Oren Uziel, the 2008 Latitude Productions Winner and 2008 Drama Finalist, recently optioned his script, “The Kitchen Sink”, to Matt Tolmach, the former Columbia Pictures Co-President of Production.

JR Burningham and Tess Ortbals, 2010 Sci-Fi Semi-Finalists for their screenplay “Terra Incognita”, have started a production company called Mythmakers Entertainment with the goal of developing and producing family adventure entertainment.

Dale Taylor, second rounder at the 2009 Austin Film Festival, created a new CG animated web series called Martyrs based loosely on his previously screenplays. Martyrs launched on January 5th on www.martyrstheseries.com.

2010
Sarah Cornwell, 2009 Semi-Finalist in the Teleplay Competition, landed the 2010 Humanitas Student Drama Fellowship with her spec script Friday Night Lights – “Just a Game.”

Andrew Lanham, 2010 Drama and Latitude Productions Award Winner, has signed with
United Talent Agency. Also, in 2010, he was selected as a winner of the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting for his screenplay, “The Jumper of Maine.”

Terrence Michael, a Second Rounder in the 2010 AFF Screenplay Competition, has had his comedy script “The Girl with Something Extra” added to the 2010 Black List. Also, he has been signed by Original Artist and Media Talent Group.

Jesse Wolfe, a 2009 Drama 2nd Rounder will have his screenplay Eye of the Hurricane produced by Braveart Films out of Los Angeles. Principal photography is scheduled to begin August 2010. Jesse will direct the project. The movie features Campbell Scott and Jose Zuniga.

In 2010, Enderby Entertainment (Daniel Petrie Jr. and Rick Dugdale’s production company) acquired the 2008 Semi-Finalist script, Stranded by AFF alums Rachel Long and Brian Pittman. Rachel and Brian attended the 2008 Festival where they met the producing partners after a Conference panel at the Driskill Hotel.

2009 Drama Semifinalist Joe Muszynski currently has a film in pre-production called Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding. It is directed by Bruce Beresford, staring Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Chace Crawford.

2009
Jim Martin, a Semi-Finalist in 2008, was hired as a staff writer for Heroes and is now a member of the WGA.

Kirby Timmons’s 2008 Teleplay Semi-Finalist script, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – “Miasms of the Mind,” also placed at Scriptapalooza and won the grand prize at Toronto’s WildSound Film Festival in 2009. Kirby is currently working on a feature.

Oren Uziel has optioned his script /Shimmer Lake/ (2008 Latitude Productions Award Winner and 2008 Drama Finalist) to Fox Atomic. Barry Josephson is attached to produce.

Irin Evers, 2008 Second Rounder for The Junior Detectives and the Cities of Gold, has signed with agent Sue Giordano at the Hudson Agency.

Marcia Chandler Rhea and Margaret C. Ford, 1999 Semifinalists for The Carolina Storyteller, have optioned their script to Sydell Albert Productions, Inc.

Adrienne Lusby and Emiliana Dore, 2008 Finalists for Relativity, have optioned their script to Dahooma Productions and Trilogy Films both based in NY.

Sean Corrigan, 2008 Semifinalist for Confession, has been selected for the 2009 Writers Ranch.

Melissa McVeigh, 2008 Finalist for Senior Prank and Domesticated, has been selected for the 2009 Writers Ranch

K.W. Pearson, 2008 Finalist for Short Tracker, has been selected for the 2009 Writers Ranch.

2008

Kathy Garcia, 2007 Sci-Fi Semifinalist for The Kingdom, was selected for the 2008 Writer’s Ranch.

Keith Davidson, 2007 Adult/Family Finalist for When Lanterns Dim, was selected for the 2008 Writer’s Ranch.

Sean Minogue, 2007 Adult/Family Finalist for Son of No Man, was selected for the 2008 Writer’s Ranch.

Jimmy Miller (winner Adult Family Category in 2007 for Slugger) signed with Gayla Nethercott at Buchwald

Russell Gilwee, 2004 Adult/Family Semifinalist, has optioned his screenplay (SHADY CREEK) with Jo Films out of New York. They are shooting for a late fall 2008 production date. He has been hired to write a second project for Jo Films as well as working on a project for Momentum Films.

Pamela Ribon, 2001 Sitcom Finalist, is a writer on the ABC series Samantha Who?

Patrick Rodio’s script CRICKET HILL was a finalist in the 2003 Comedy category at Austin. It was optioned in 2005 by Prospect Pictures. He was also able to land a great manager who he is currently working with on a script.

Tobia Iaconis, 2003 Adult/Family SemiFinalist, is writing a small movie for Fox; he just did a re-write for the director and producer, it starts shooting in Puerto Rico in two weeks.

Devon Lehr, 2003 Adult/Family Finalist, got representation at CAA as a direct result of his placement in the Austin Film Festival. He sold his first script last year, a television movie for Lifetime entitled “Lost in the Dark.” It aired in June 2007. He currently has another project in development and is working on a comedy series proposal.

Stephen Scaia and Matthew Federman, 2003 Drama Teleplay Winners, have been writing for TV since almost immediately after their trip to Austin in ’03. They have written on several shows since including CBS’ Judging Amy, ABC’s E-ring, and the entire run of Jericho.

2007

Karl Williams' 2005 triple winner script Punctured was picked for production this year. Production on the film is set to begin this May with Shari Hancock producing and directing.

Nick Sidorovich, Second Rounder at the Austin Film Festival in 2005 with his script Buck Forty Nine, was written up in Daily Variety for the soon to be film The Miracle of Santa Rosa.

Cyd Casados and Curtis Casados, 2006 Comedy Finalists, were selected for the 2007 Writer's Ranch with their script Our Lady of the Pink Pussycat.

Michael Bucklin, 2006 Sci-Fi Finalist, was selected for the 2007 Writers Ranch with his script Chain Letter.

Dwayne McKenzie and JJ Masley, 2006 Comedy Semi-Finalists, were selected for the 2007 Writers' Ranch with their script Moxie.

2006

Brian Jun premiered his directorial debut film Steel City, based on his 2003 Adult/Family Semifinalist script.

Former Second Rounder Betsy Morris' script Ten Inch Hero finishes post production.

2005

Alessia Costantini, Sitcom Teleplay Winner with Bernie Mac, "To Kill a Mockingbird," was recently accepted into the ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship and also won the Grand Prize in the Sautter Television Outreach Program. She has signed with the Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency and is currently going out for staffing season. She just received her first writing credit on the Nickelodeon comedy, THE X'S, airing this fall.

Charley Dane has recently been accepted into the ABC/Disney Fellowship program with his Semifinalist Drama Teleplay, The Shield: Sangrenegra. He is currently writing for the ABC Family drama KYLE XY.

Benjamin Lee, Sci-Fi and Adult/Family Semifinalist, has been accepted into the Austin Film Festival Writers' Ranch with his screenplay Mindreader.

Terry Parmer, Adult/Family Semifinalist with The White Caterpillar, has been selected into the Austin Film Festival Writers' Ranch. Ian Shorr has sold his Comedy Semifinalist script, Rigged, to C-47 Productions. Currently in production, the film should wrap in mid-March. Details of release to follow.

Jeremy Wadzinski, Ruby Blue, Adult Finalist, has just signed with manager Brendan McDonald from Blazeland Entertainment. Jeremy has also been selected to participate in the Austin Film Festival Writers' Ranch.

Rob Blatt and Sam Reigel, Sitcom Teleplay Winners with "Pump'd", a Curb Your Enthusiasm spec script, have recently signed with Industry Entertainment. They are currently preparing for a live sketch and music comedy show.

Christine Boylan, with the Drama Teleplay winning script Six Feet Under: "The Strike", is working for Tokyopop adapting Japanese comics for English audiences. She is currently working on a script to be produced and directed August '05.

Tom O'Connor, Comedy Winner with It Bleeds, It Leads, signed with CAA.

David Ullendorff, Winner of the Adult/Family category with Gideon's Secret, has signed with an agent at APA, and a manager at Blaine and Associates.

Jonathon Chappell and Christian Raymond, writers of Semifinalist script Sand Castle, recently signed with Brant Rose Literary Agency, and just recently optioned a current script with producer Tom Engleman (Pitch Black, The Last Samurai)

Doug Davidson, Semifinalist writer of Letter Quest, signed with United Talent agency and manager, Andy Licht.

Matthew Fedderman and Stephen Scaia, Drama Winners with "The Second Law of Thermodynamics", a West Wing spec, signed with the William Morris Agency. Both have worked on the shows Judging Amy and E-Ring, and are currently writing for the new show Jericho, premiering in the fall '06.

Devon Lehr, with the Adult Finalist script The Carrington Affair, signed with CAA.

2004

Semi-Finalist Russell Gilwee's script Shady Creek was optioned by Jo Films.

2002

Bob Soderstrom, Adult/Family Winner with Jerusalem, signed with William Morris.

Michael Armbruster, Adult Finalist with Bohemian Nut Roll, signed with Gayla Nethercott.

Martina Broner, Sitcom Winner with a Sex & the City Teleplay, signed with Pat Quinn at Paradigm.

Michael Conner, Comedy Semi-Finalist, had entry Berkshire Village Idiot optioned by David Singer Entertainment.

Grant Janes, Comedy Finalist, Conversations with my Aunt, optioned and signed as director.

2001

Kevin Kerwin, winner of Comedy Category with Over and Out, signed with CAA.

David Watts, winner of Sitcom Teleplay Competition Category with the SouthPark Teleplay, "Eric Cartmen and the Cheesy Poof Factors", signed with UTA.

Hendrson Smith, Adult/Family Winner with The Ugly Princess, signed with manger Gayla Nethercott.

Adult Finalist Matt Lopez, The Passenger, optioned first screenplay to Dreamworks.

2000

The writer of This is Not a Toy, Family Finalist, Cindy Davis Hewitt, was signed by Pixar, and optioned this winning story with Miramax. Hewitt received a re-write job with Working Title, and was also hired to translate Spirited Away and Porco Rosso.

1999

Mrs. Baker, Adult Semi-Finalist, written by Kris Kristensen and Brian McDonald, an independent film produced by Scotopia Pictures, renamed Inheritance.

1998

Anna Blue, written by David L. Hudacek, was optioned by Polestar Productions.

Trapped Daylight, written by Sharon Ross, was optioned by Chicago Films.

Happy Hour, written by Richard Levine. Optioned and made into film, starring Anthony Lapaglia, Eric Stoltz, Caroleen Feeney and Robert Vaughn. Directed by Mike Bencivenga.

1997

Miracle in Lane Two, Family Finalist, written by Donald Yost and Joel Kauffmann, optioned by Disney, aired on the Disney Channel.

1996

Natural Selection, Adult Semi-Finalist, written by B.J. Burrow and Allen Odom, is optioned by 24/36 productions. Movie stars David Carradine, Michael Bowen, Darren Burrows, Stephen Root, and Bob Balaban, aired on Showtime. Available on DVD renamed The Monster Hunters.

1995

Goodbye Lover, Adult Winner, written by Ron Peer, is picked up by Gotham Entertainment. Movie stars Patricia Arquette, Don Johnson, and Ellen Degeneress.

1994

Excess Baggage, Adult Winner, written by Max Adams, is optioned by Columbia. Movie stars Alicia Silverstone and Benicio del Torro.