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.

The Austin Film Festival is a not for profit 501c3 corporation.

Ya'Ke Smith

Ya’Ke picked up a camera when he was 15, and never put it down. His films have received world-wide acclaim, screening and winning awards at over 30 film festivals, including The Cannes InternationalFilm Festival, The Pan African Film and Arts Festival, The American Black FilmFestival and The Los Angeles Shorts Film Festival.

His short Hope’s War, was the recipient of the Director’s Guild of America Student Film Award, broadcast nationally on Showtime Television's Black Filmmaker Showcase and was a finalist of BETJ’s The Best Shorts Film Competition. His film, The Second Coming, was nominated for a Student Academy Award and also won the HBO Short Film Award at the 2007 American Black Film Festival. His latest short Change, was selected as one of three finalists in the 2009 American Black Film Festival as part of their Allstate Beyond February film competition.

Ya’Ke graduated with his Master’s of Fine Arts degree from theUniversity of Texas at Austin’s film program. He is currently in pre-production on his debut feature, which he plans to shoot in the near-future.