“THE X-FILES” CREATOR CHRIS CARTER TO RECEIVE OUTSTANDING TELEVISION WRITER AWARD

EARLY 10 FILMS ALSO INCLUDE SHADOW DANCER, FREE SAMPLES, RISING FROM ASHES, IT’S A DISASTER, TO KILL A MEMORY, SPINNING PLATES, LAST WILL & TESTAMENT, PICTURES OF SUPERHEROES, AND MORE

FULL LINEUP COMING MID-SEPTEMBER

AUSTIN, TX (August 27, 2012) - Austin Film Festival & Conference (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television and new media, announced today the first 10 films included in the 2012 lineup of Festival film screenings October 18-25. Also announced is this year’s Outstanding Television Writer Award recipient, “The X-Files” creator Chris Carter. Carter will receive the award at the Festival’s annual Awards Luncheon held Saturday, Oct. 22, 2012 at the Austin Club.

Described by Time Magazine as a “televisionary,” Chris Carter created four ground-breaking television series for Fox: “The X-Files”, “Millennium”, “Harsh Realm”, and “The Lone Gunmen” Carter is best known for his longest running series, the award-winning sci-fi drama “The X-Files”, which ran for nine seasons on Fox and spawned two feature films. He’s currently developing a new series for cable.

Carter’s participation during the Conference will include “A Conversation with Chris Carter,” where he will share stories from his long career in television and film. Carter will also present special retrospective screenings of “The X-Files” and “Millennium” episodes and, as a guest programmer, will host a screening of one of his favorite films for Festival audiences. And, stay tuned for details on “The X-Files” marathon at the Alamo Drafthouse. The Festival annually recognizes an Outstanding Television Writer and Carter joins previous recipients Hart Hanson (“Bones”), David Simon (“The Wire”), Mitchell Hurwitz (“Arrested Development”), Greg Daniels (“The Office,” “Parks & Recreation”) and many more.

Carter joins Paul Feig and Brian Helgeland as part of AFF’s new Guest Programmer section of the Festival, giving highly regarded filmmakers an opportunity to screen and discuss the films that influenced them. These filmmakers will shed new light not only on these classic films but also on their own work.

The Early 10 films include the highly anticipated new film by Robert Zemeckis, Flight, this year’s Centerpiece; It’s A Disaster, written and directed by AFF alum Todd Berger and starring Julia Stiles, America Ferrera and David Cross (Stiles and Ferrera to attend); Free Samples, a new comedy starring Jess Weixler and Jesse Eisenberg; Shadow Dancer, a tense drama starring Clive Owen; Rising From Ashes, a remarkable documentary about Rwanda’s national cycling team; To Kill A Memory, indie western starring Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn (Brooks to attend); Spinning Plates, a documentary feature about the challenges and triumphs of three very different restaurants around the country; Pictures of Superheroes, a comedy written and directed by Don Swaynos, produced by former AFF Program Director Kelly Williams and starring Austin actor/comedians Kerri Lendo and John Merriman; Last Will & Testament, a startling documentary about the debate over the authorship of the works attributed to Shakespeare; and more.

AFF annually hosts over 180 film screenings and special events, and the Conference boasts more than 100 speakers participating in panels and roundtable discussions. Among the films screened during the Festival are numerous world and US premieres in a wide range of genres, from comedy to documentary, horror to drama. Filmmakers from around the world showcase everything from breakout indie films to big-budget Oscar®-bound productions.

The Early 10 films include a sampling of the premieres and special presentations the Festival has to offer in 2012. The complete list of films screening at AFF this year, including short films and competition titles, will be announced in mid-September. Cast and crew attendance is subject to change and based on permitting schedules.

AFF 2012 EARLY 10 FILMS

FLIGHT – Centerpiece Film

Writer: John Gatins

Director: Robert Zemeckis

In this action-packed mystery thriller, Academy Award winner Denzel Washington stars as Whip Whitaker, a seasoned airline pilot who miraculously crash-lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, saving nearly every soul on board. After the crash, Whip is hailed as a hero, but as more is learned, more questions than answers arise as to who or what was really at fault, and what really happened on that plane? Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the highly anticipated new film also stars John Goodman, Don Cheadle, and Melissa Leo.

FREE SAMPLES

Writer: Jim Beggarly

Director: Jay Gammill

A Stanford law school dropout named Jillian escapes to the anonymity of Los Angeles to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and on the day of her college boyfriend’s birthday, she finds herself stuck running an ice cream truck

fending off locals and oddball friends alike. This one day spent in a truck on the streets of LA will wake Jillian from her aimless daze and make her see that life doesn’t stop just because you want it to. Starring Jess Weixler, Jesse Eisenberg, Halley Feiffer, Jason Ritter, this great new comedy is directed by Baylor University film school grad Jay Gammill.

IT’S A DISASTER

Writer/Director: Todd Berger

Four couples meet for Sunday brunch only to discover they are stuck in a house together as the world may be about to end. Starring Julia Stiles, America Ferrera and David Cross. Julia Stiles and America Ferrera will present the screening at AFF.

LAST WILL & TESTAMENT

Directors: Laura Wilson, Lisa Wilson

US Premiere

This documentary explores the ongoing debate about the authorship of the works attributed to Shakespeare. Writers and critics, actors and scholars, including Mark Twain, Sigmund Freud, Charlie Chaplin, and many others have struggled to reconcile England’s “Star of Poets” with the grain dealer from Stratford. Why? – Featuring interviews with Vanessa Redgrave, Derek Jacobi, Mark Rylance, and other highly regarded Shakespearean actors.

PICTURES OF SUPERHEROES

World Premiere

Writer/Director: Don Swaynos

A young maid is asked by her employer to pretend to be his wife as part of a highly questionable business scheme. Meanwhile, she meets the comic book superhero artist living in her employer’s home (seemingly without the employer’s knowledge or permission), and she begins to wonder if there is something more to life than fake marriages and carpet cleaners. Produced by Kelly Williams, and starring Kerri Lendo, John Merriman, Byron Brown and Chris Doubek.

RISING FROM ASHES

Director: T.C. Johnstone

Two worlds collide when cycling legend Jock Boyer (first American to compete in the Tour de France) moves to Rwanda and teams with Tom Ritchey (inventor of the mountain bike) to help a group of struggling genocide survivors pursue their dream of a national team. As they set out against impossible odds, both Jock and the team find new purpose as they rise from the ashes of their past. Narrated by Forest Whitaker and directed by Austin native T.C. Johnstone, this remarkable story culminated at the 2012 Olympics in London when one of the subjects of the film, Adrien Niyonshuti, competed in the Games and became Rwanda’s first Olympic cyclist.

SHADOW DANCER

Writer: Tom Bradby

Director: James March

Single mother Collette McVeigh is a Republican living in Belfast with her mother and hardliner IRAbrothers. When she is arrested for her part in an aborted IRA bomb plot in London, an MI5 officer (Mac, played by Clive Owen) offers her a choice: lose everything and go to prison for 25 years or return to Belfast to spy on her own family. With her son’s life in her hands, Collette chooses to place her trust in Mac and return home, but when her brothers’ secret operation is ambushed, suspicions of an informant are raised and Collette finds both herself and her family in grave danger. Starring Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, and Gillian Anderson.

SPINNING PLATES

World Premiere

Writer/Director: Joseph Levy

Spinning Plates is a feature documentary film about three restaurants, extraordinary for what they are today as well as the challenges they have overcome. A cutting-edge restaurant named the seventh best in the world whose chef must battle a life-threatening obstacle to pursue his passion… a 150-year-old family restaurant still standing only because of the unbreakable bond with its community… a fledgling Mexican restaurant whose owners are putting everything they have on the line just to make enough to survive and provide for their young daughter. Features Chef Grant Achatz of Chicago’s Alinea and Chef Thomas Keller of California’s The French Laundry.

TO KILL A MEMORY

World Premiere

Writers: Dustin Rikert, William Shockley, Philip Tiboni

Director: Dustin Rikert

A respected US Marshal is imprisoned after being suspiciously involved in a bank robbery gone wrong. When he learns that the other bank robbers may be going after his wife, the Marshal must escape prison and catch them before it’s too late. This low budget indie Western features an astonishing lead performance from country western singer Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn. Kix Brooks will present the screening at AFF.

PAUL FEIG PRESENTS: THE HUMAN TORNADO AND BRINGING UP BABY

This year, AFF is excited to introduce an all new Guest Programmer section, which invites some of our highly regarded panelists and guest filmmakers to program and present films that inspired them. Paul Feig (director of BRIDESMAIDS, creator of “Freaks and Geeks,” also directed episodes of “Arrested Development,” “The Office,” “Mad Men,” “30 Rock” and more) has chosen two very different films: the blaxsploitation Dolemite adventure THE HUMAN TORNADO and Howard Hawks’ immortal screwball comedy BRINGING UP BABY. Don’t miss an opportunity to hear how these two wildly diverse films influenced one of the most in-demand directors in Hollywood today.

EXPERIENCE THE FESTIVAL ALONG WITH AUSTIN’S HISTORIC HOTELS AND CULINARY HOT SPOTS

AUSTIN, TX (JULY 10, 2012) – Austin Film Festival (AFF) is excited to announce their new Weekend Getaway Packages, discounted travel packages that encourage visiting festival-goers to experience Austin’s restaurants and historic hotels. Packages range from $725 to $765, and offer a value of 18-19% off regular prices.

Each of the three packages, named for food-centric films, include a Weekend Badge to the 19th Annual Austin Film Festival, October 18 – 25, 2012, special discounted rates at either The Driskill Hotel or The InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel for the first weekend of the Festival, gift certificates to the city’s culinary destinations, and an Austin Film Festival gift bag filled with AFF merchandise. The offer will end August 31, 2012, and there are a limited number available – five per package – so act now to enjoy an Austin weekend full of film, food and comfort.

AFF, which draws both national and international visitors to the city each October, designed the packages to introduce those visitors to new experiences in Austin. The Festival celebrates writers’ and filmmakers’ creative contributions to film through storytelling and features film premieres and screenings, exciting and informative panels with some of the top names in the industry, and numerous parties and other special events. According to Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates, AFF currently contributes in excess of $8 million to the local economy annually.

“We fill over 30,000 theater seats each Festival, and many of those moviegoers are from out of town. We’re thrilled that they get to experience the wonder of The Paramount Theatre and our other great venues, and we wanted to create more opportunities to show visitors all that Austin has to offer,” says AFF Director of Marketing Taylor Cumbie.

THE PACKAGES

Babette’s Feast

Price: $765 ($930 value)

In addition to a Weekend Badge to the 2012 Austin Film Festival, this package includes and two night stay at The Driskill Hotel for Saturday, October 20th and Sunday, October

21st, 2012. Built in 1886, The Driskill remains a landmark of legendary Texas hospitality. Located on Sixth Street in the heart of downtown Austin, the luxurious, historic hotel is convenient to all that the city has to offer including the Texas State Capitol, convention center, opera, symphony, fine dining, shopping, and Austin’s music scene.

It also includes a $50 gift certificate to 2nd Bar + Kitchen. Recently commended in the New York Times Magazine for its irresistible cuisine, 2nd Bar + Kitchen is a dynamic downtown destination where Executive Chef David Bull combines seasonal ingredients and local artisan products to create what he calls “Natural American” cuisine. In 2011, Bon Appétit named it one of the “Top Ten Best New Restaurants.”

Julie & Julia

Price: $725 ($895 value)

Along with a Weekend Badge to AFF, the Julie & Julia Package includes a two-night stay at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel for Saturday, October 20th and Sunday, October 21st, 2012. A pivotal part of the Austin scene for more than 60 years, the Beaux Arts hotel opened in 1924 and was named to memorialize Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas and a beloved Texas Statesman. The hotel has been witness to much Austin history and served as the campaign headquarters for LBJ during his 1937 run for the House of Representatives.

The package also includes gift certificates to Chez Nous, Austin’s neighborhood authentic French bistros since 1982, and Parkside, the gastro pub by chef Shawn Cirkiel, an Austin staple.

Soul Food

Price: $725 ($895 value)

Also featuring a Weekend Badge to the Festival and a two-night stay at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin for Saturday, October 20th and Sunday, October 21st, 2012, the Soul Food Package offers visitors a chance to taste a little bit of Texas with gift certificates to South Texas gourmet legend Ranch 616 and downtown favorite Hickory Street.

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL RECEIVES RECORD ENTRIES FOR 2012 SCREENPLAY & TELEPLAY COMPETITION

OVER 6,500 ENTRIES FOR 2012, UP BY 12% FROM 2011

AUSTIN, TX (JUNE 13, 2012) – Austin Film Festival (AFF) is excited to announce record entries for their 19th annual Screenplay & Teleplay competition. The 2012 competition received a total of over 6,500 entries, up by approximately 700 entries or 12% from last year’s record of over 5,800. Entries came in from all over the U.S. and 42 other countries, and the records show the Competition has grown by over 62% since 2009.

This year, a significant rise in entries occurred in each category of the competition, including screenplay entries in Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi and the Enderby Entertainment Award; and teleplay entries in Sitcom Spec, One-Hour Spec, Sitcom Pilot, and One-Hour Pilot. Panels of judges, including some of the industry’s top writers, showrunners, producers and managers, will choose the winners in each category, who will accept their awards and prizes at the 19^th annual Austin Film Festival & Conference October 18-25, 2012 in Austin, TX.

Competition winners will receive cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $5,000; reimbursements for travel and lodging while at the 2012 Festival & Conference; access to and recognition by some of the most important writers, agents, producers and filmmakers in the industry; and will also be included in the annual Producers Book distributed to more than 400 production companies. Advancing writers in the Second Round (roughly top 10-12%), Semifinals and Finals will be given exclusive opportunities to attend special roundtables and panels at this year’s Conference.

AFF not only recognizes the work of writers for feature screenplays but also those for television. This year’s number of entries includes over 1,500 submissions in the Teleplay Competition, which is open to both spec scripts for existing shows and original pilots. For the first time, the winner of the Sitcom Pilot category will be given the opportunity to have his or her winning script read aloud and workshopped during a special Roundtable session at the Conference with a panel of industry professionals including Alec Berg (writer The Dictator, Eurotrip, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Kell Cahoon (writer/producer “Psych”, “NewsRadio”, “Just Shoot Me”), and Etan Cohen (writer Men in Black III, Tropic Thunder, “King of the Hill”), among others.

The Writer’s Guild of America, East, this year’s underwriting sponsor of the Drama Screenplay Award, will present the winner of the Drama category at this year’s Conference and have provided the following three WGAE writers to judge and choose the winner: Stephen Schiff (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, True Crime), Christopher Kyle (Alexander, The Weight of Water) and John J. McLaughlin (Hitchcock, Black Swan). Overall, 40 industry jurors have been confirmed to judge the Screenplay & Teleplay Competition including Herschel Weingrod (writer, Trading Places; producer, Falling Down), Kyle Killen (writer, The Beaver; showrunner, “Awake”, “Lone Star”), Craig Mazin (writer, The Hangover II), and representatives from Escape Artists at Sony, Oasis Media, Washington Square Arts and Paradigm Agency.

In its 19-year history, the AFF Screenplay & Teleplay Competition has served to jumpstart many writing careers. In the competition’s first year, screenplay competition winner Max Adams’ script Excess Baggage was optioned by Columbia and made into a film starring Alicia Silverstone and Benicio Del Toro. Rachel Long and Brian Pittman’s 2008 Semifinalist script Stranded was acquired by Enderby Entertainment (Daniel Petrie, Jr. and Rick Dugdale’s production company). The project is currently in pre-production with Petrie set to direct. Julie Howe, 2010 Comedy Screenplay Award Winner for Jasper Milliken, signed an exclusive deal with Experience Media Studios after the 2010 Conference with the help of an AFF judge and panelist. The producers of the film have officially signed on veteran director Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny, The Whole Nine Yards) to helm the film.

The 19^th annual Austin Film Festival & Conference will be held Oct 18 – 25, 2012 in Austin, TX. AFF has already announced the first round of panelists for this year’s Conference, including some of the top screenwriters, directors, showrunners and producers in the business. The full list of panelists can be found here. Stay tuned for announcements from AFF with this year’s awardees, film lineup, Conference panels and more panelists, and more. For more information on Austin Film Festival and to purchase passes or badges go to www.austinfilmfestival.com.

For regular updates, follow AFF on Facebook at facebook.com/AustinFilmFestival and Twitter @austinfilmfest.

ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL

Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships.

Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

INCLUDING THE INDUSTRY’S TOP WRITERS, FILMMAKERS, PRODUCERS, AGENTS, EXECUTIVES, AND MANAGERS

AUSTIN, TX (May 3, 2012) – The 19th annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) announces the first round of conference panelists for the 2012 Festival & Conference. The Festival, taking place in Austin October 18-25, features conversations and panels featuring some of the industry’s top writers, filmmakers, producers, show creators and more. AFF is also currently still accepting Screenplay and Teleplay competition submissions, but the deadline is fast approaching. Visit austinfilmfestival.com/submit to find out more.

Along with AFF’s prestigious screenplay competitions, stellar lineup of film screenings and premieres including big budget and indie films alike, and awardees in categories such as Extraordinary Contribution To Filmmaking (past awardees including John Lasseter, Ron Howard, Danny Boyle and more), the Festival’s Conference enlightens and inspires future filmmakers and fans alike. Conference panelists shed light on their own productions as well as the film and television industries in general. They lead discussions on taking a film from script-to-screen, writing for animation and comedy, how to break into the business and much more.

More panelists and a full Conference schedule breakdown to come later, but the below speakers are confirmed to participate in the 2012 Austin Film Festival & Conference.

2012 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL & CONFERENCE PANELISTS

WRITERS & FILMMAKERS

• Dan Angel, R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour, Young Blades, Night Visions, Goosebumps

• John August, FRANKENWEENIE, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, BIG FISH, CHARLIE’S ANGELS

• Alec Berg, THE DICTATOR, EUROTRIP, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Seinfeld

• Michael Brandt & Derek Haas, Chicago Fire, WANTED, THE DOUBLE, 3:10 TO YUMA, 2

FAST 2 FURIOUS

• Aline Brosh McKenna, WE BOUGHT A ZOO, 27 DRESSES, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

• Billy Brown, The Haunting Hour, John Carpenter’s Body Bags, Night Visions, Goosebumps

• Scott Z. Burns, CONTAGION, THE INFORMANT, THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

• Kell Cahoon, The Larry Sanders Show, Newsradio, Just Shoot Me, King of the Hill, Method and Red, Psych

• Etan Cohen, MEN IN BLACK III, TROPIC THUNDER, IDIOCRACY, King of the Hill, Beavis and Butt-head

• Peter Craig, BAD BOYS 3, THE TOWN

• Evan Daugherty, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN

• Pen Densham, ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES, MOLL FLANDERS, HOUDINI

• Pamela Gray, writer CONVICTION, A WALK ON THE MOON, MUSIC OF THE HEART, Once and Again

• David Guggenheim, SAFE HOUSE

• Phil Hay, R.I.P.D. ‘13, CLASH OF THE TITANS, AEON FLUX, CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL

• Eric Heisserer, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (2010), FINAL DESTINATION 5, THE THING (2011)

• Brian Helgeland, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, MAN ON FIRE, MYSTIC RIVER, PAYBACK, A KNIGHT’S TALE

• Kyle Killen, Awake, Lonestar, THE BEAVER

• Simon Kinberg, ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, THIS MEANS WAR, SHERLOCK HOLMES, MR. & MRS. SMITH, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND

• Abby Kohn & Marc Silverstein, THE VOW, VALENTINE’S DAY, HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, NEVER BEEN KISSED

• Max Landis, CHRONICLE, GOOD TIME GANG

• Alex Litvak, PREDATORS, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, FIVE AGAINST THE BULLET

• Jeff Lowell, Just Shoot Me!, Spin City, HOTEL FOR DOGS, OVER HER DEAD BODY

• Jenny Lumet, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

• Craig Mazin, IDENTITY THEFT, TURKEYS, THE HANGOVER PART II, SCARY MOVIE 3 & 4

• Ashley Miller, THOR, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, Fringe, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Andromeda

• Peter Murrieta, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, Hope & Faith, Greetings from Tucson

• Marti Noxon, FRIGHT NIGHT, I AM NUMBER FOUR, writer/producer Glee, Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy

• Zak Penn, LAST ACTION HERO, ELEKTRA, X2, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND; creator of SyFy series Alphas

• Daniel Petrie, Jr., Combat Hospital, BEVERLY HILLS COP, THE BIG EASY, SHOOT TO KILL

• Scott Rosenberg, GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS, CON AIR, HIGH FIDELITY, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS

• Philip Rosenthal, EXPORTING RAYMOND, Everybody Loves Raymond, Coach, Down the Shore

• Terry Rossio, SHREK, DÉJÀ VU, THE MASK OF ZORRO, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise

• Liz Tigelaar, Life Unexpected, writer/producer Brothers & Sisters, American Dreams, Once and Again

• Ric Roman Waugh, EVEL (2014), SNITCH, FELON

• Hilary Winston, Happy Endings, Community, My Name is Earl

• Stu Zicherman, A.C.O.D., Fables, Lights Out, Six Degrees, ELEKTRA, 2000 AD

AGENTS, EXECUTIVES, MANAGERS & PRODUCERS

• Elizabeth Avellán, producer SIN CITY, MACHETE, PREDATORS, SHORTS, GRINDHOUSE

• Garrett Basch, Film Rites

• David Boxerbaum, Paradigm Agency

• Dave Brown, Artist International

• Bryan Brucks, Brucks Entertainment

• Lindsay Doran, producer STRANGER THAN FICTION, NANNY MCPHEE, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

• Rick Dugdale, Enderby Entertainment

• Tai Duncan, Paul Schiff Productions

• Rebecca Ewing, United Talent Agency

• Lisa Fragner, Century Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios, Inc.

• Jane Francis, Fox 21

• Matthew Gross, Gross Entertainment

• Barry Josephson, Josephson Entertainment

• Jessica Julius, Disney Animation

• Kris Meyer, producer PLIMPTON!, HALL PASS, THE HEARTBREAK KID, FEVER PITCH, STUCK ON YOU, SHALLOW HAL

• Gayla Nethercott, Nethercott Agency

• Ryan Saul, APA

• Joyce San Pedro, Alex Siskin and with Escape Artists at Sony

• Matt Summers, 821 Entertainment

• Mark Vahradian, di Bonaventura Pictures

• Alexander Young, Josephson Entertainment

*All panelists are confirmed, schedules permitting and are subject to change.

Austin, TX – Austin Film Festival (AFF) is excited to announce its newest screening series, AFF Audience Award Film Series Presented by Esurance, featuring four of the most beloved films from the 2011 Austin Film Festival. The series, screening at the Alamo Drafthouse Village (2700 W Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78757), will take place every third Monday of the month, beginning on May 21^st, 2012 at 7:00pm.

Last year during the 2011 Austin Film Festival, audience members were invited to rate the 170+ films that screened at the Festival and vote for their favorites. This year, AFF will bring four of the Esurance Audience Award Winners back to Austin audiences for an encore screening: RESTIVE (writer/director Jeremiah Jones, winner – Narrative Feature Competition); ECSTASY OF ORDER: THE TETRIS MASTERS (director Adam Cornelius, winner (tie) – Documentary Feature Competition); STORIES FROM AN UNDECLARED WAR (director Dennis Rice, winner (tie) – Documentary Feature Competition); and SIRONIA (writer/director Brandon Dickerson, writers Thomas Ward and Wes Cunningham, winner – Texas Independents Category). The award-winning writers and/or directors of each film will be present at the screening to discuss their film, creative process, and future projects.

“There truly is no greater reward for a filmmaker than an Audience Award, which confirms their ability to tell a good story. Every filmmaker is a storyteller at heart, and you can’t receive better validation than the approval of your audience,” says AFF Film Program Director Stephen Jannise.

AFF will kick off the series with SIRONIA on May 21^st. Singer/songwriter Wes Cunningham stars as a man who has been chewed up and spit out by the Hollywood music machine. A once ambitious musician, he impulsively moves with his pregnant wife to a small town called Sironia, Texas in search of authenticity and purpose in his life. This poignant film played to two standing-room-only audiences at AFF last year. The writer/director of SIRONIA, Brandon Dickerson, will be present at the screening for a Q&A.

The next entry in the series, screening on Monday June 18^th, will be ECSTASY OF ORDER: THE TETRIS MASTERS, co-winner of the AFF Audience Award in the Documentary Feature category. The film follows a group of record-holding Tetris players as they prepare to compete in the 2010 Classic Tetris World Championship. The film gives us an intimate look at the Masters as they reveal their secrets, recount their obsessions with the game, and take us to the transcendental state required to reach the highest level, known as the ‘Ecstasy of Order.’

The series will continue on with RESTIVE, a Southern Gothic tale from promising new writer/director and University of Texas graduate Jeremiah Jones, and STORES FROM AN UNDECLARED WAR, a documentary that follows The Freedom Writers Diary, a collection of journal entries written by 150 at-risk students from Long Beach, CA. The dates of these two screenings are TBD and will be announced on Austin Film Festival’s website.

The AFF Audience Award Film Series is sponsored by Esurance, the direct-to-consumer car insurance company. Esurance has been a longtime supporter of filmmakers and artists who help bring compelling stories to life.

About Austin Film Festival

Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft, and business of filmmakers and screenwriters, and recognizing their contributions to film, television, and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships.

Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

For more information on the upcoming 19^th Annual Austin Film Festival & Conference, October 18^th – 25^th, 2012 in Austin, TX, visit www.austinfilmfestival.com, or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378). Badges and Film Passes are currently on sale and can be purchased online. For regular updates, follow AFF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AustinFilmFestival and Twitter @austinfilmfest.

About Esurance®

Esurance provides auto insurance direct to consumers online, over the phone, and through select agents, including sister company, Answer Financial. With easy-to-use mobile apps, quick comparison quotes, and online repair monitoring, Esurance is insurance for the modern world™ and the smart choice for today’s web-savvy consumer. As a member of the Allstate family with an A+ rating from A.M. Best, Esurance is a reliable choice for car insurance, offering anytime, anywhere service just a click, call, or tap away. For more information, visit www.esurance.com or call 1-800-ESURANCE (1-800-378-7262).

 Picked Up Nationwide in Over Sixty Markets including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Boston and Houston

Austin, TX – Austin Film Festival (AFF) is excited to announce that its original television show, “On Story: Presented by Austin Film Festival” has been picked up for a second season on KLRU, Austin’s PBS station, and will expand to 100 stations in over 60 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Detroit, Tampa, Denver, and more.

“On Story” is a half-hour series that gives viewers anecdotal backstories into the making of some of the most popular and beloved films and television shows ever made and premiered on Austin’s PBS station KLRU-Q in 2011 to an audience of over 500,000 viewers in Central Texas. Season one has already begun airing on various stations around the country and the entire first season can also be viewed online at www.austinfilmfestival.com/onstory.

The show features interviews with some of the industry’s most accomplished and acclaimed screenwriters, directors and producers, and offers behind-the-scenes insight into the process of screenwriting and filmmaking. Featured filmmakers include Academy Award-winning director and producer Sydney Pollack (Tootsie, Out of Africa, The Way We Were), Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up), Academy Award winner Ron Howard (Cocoon, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind), Emmy Award winner David Milch (NYPD Blue, Deadwood, Luck), Buck Henry (screenwriter – The Graduate), Emmy Award winner Matthew Weiner (The Sopranos, Mad Men), David Simon (The Wire), and more.

“Accessibility has always been one of the touchstones of our mission. I’m thrilled we can now bring the gems of wisdom from the writers and filmmakers who speak at the Festival to an even greater audience,” says Austin Film Festival’s Executive Director, Barbara Morgan.

The second season of “On Story” will premiere on KLRU-Q on Saturday, May 26^th at 7:30pm. The season will bring you 12 all new episodes featuring interviews and discussions from the 2011 Austin Film Festival & Conference. Audiences will have the chance to hear from 2011 AFF Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Awardee John Lasseter (Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios), 2011 AFF Distinguished Screenwriter Awardee Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Addams Family), 2011 AFF Outstanding Television Awardee Hart Hanson (Bones), and many more.

John August, screenwriter of Go, Big Fish, and Charlie and the Chocolate Facotry, notes, “Austin Film Festival is unique in its focus on writing, and the stories behind the stories. I’m excited that viewers across the country will get to learn more about how their favorite movies and television shows came to be.”

For more information on “On Story: Presented by Austin Film Festival,” and to watch previously aired episodes, visit www.austinfilmfestival.com/onstory. For the full list of stations, visit the Austin Film Festival’s website, www.austinfilmfestival.com. Check with your local PBS affiliate to find out when “On Story” airs in your city.

For more information on the upcoming 19^th Annual Austin Film Festival & Conference, October 18^th – 25^th 2012 in Austin, TX, visit www.austinfilmfestival.com, or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378). Badges and Film Passes are currently on sale and can be purchased online. For regular updates, follow AFF on Facebook at facebook.com/AustinFilmFestival and Twitter @austinfilmfest.

About Austin Film Festival

Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft, and business of filmmakers and screenwriters, and recognizing their contributions to film, television, and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships.

Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Austin, TX- Austin Film Festival (AFF) is proud to announce that two of its award-winning films from 2011 are also now Academy Award® winners. THE ARTIST, which won the 2011 Austin Film Festival Audience Award for Out-of-Competition Feature, was named Best Picture of the Year by the Academy. The film’s writer/director Michel Hazanavicius was named Best Director of the Year while the star, Jean Dujardin, was given the award for Best Actor. THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS FOR MR. MORRIS LESSMORE, winner of both the Grand Jury Award and the Audience Award for Best Animated Short at AFF 2011, was named Best Animated Short at the Oscars®. AFF’s 2010 Best Animated Short winner, THE LOST THING, also went on to win the Academy Award®, making THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS the second AFF film in a row to win the Oscar® in that category.

Other AFF 2011 films that were nominated this year include THE DESCENDANTS (winner, Best Adapted Screenplay), ALBERT NOBBS (nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress), PUSS IN BOOTS (nominated for Best Animated Feature), HELL AND BACK AGAIN (nominated, Best Documentary Feature), and RAJU (nominated, Best Live Action Short Film). 2007 AFF Alumnus Terry George also took home an Oscar® for his live action short film THE SHORE.

Austin Film Festival has a long history of screening films that continue on to make Oscar® history. In 2008, AFF Audience Award winner SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE went on to win eight Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, Best Director – Danny Boyle, and Best Adapted Screenplay – Simon Beaufoy. Boyle and Beaufoy’s 127 HOURS screened at AFF 2010 and subsequently went on to gain six Academy Award® nominations. Other AFF films that have gone on to win Oscars® include JUNO (AFF 2007 Audience Award for Out-of-Competition Feature), PRECIOUS (AFF 2009), UP IN THE AIR (AFF 2009), and BLACK SWAN (AFF 2010). THE ACCOUNTANT, AFF 2001 Best Narrative Short Film, went on to win an Academy Award® in 2002.

AUSTIN, Texas—Jan. 26, 2012— Austin Film Festival (AFF) is pleased to announce that Daniel Petrie, Jr. and Rick Dugdale’s production company Enderby Entertainment is the new judge for the sponsored award category of the 19^th Annual Screenplay Competition.  The new Enderby Entertainment Award is a sub-category of the Screenplay Competition and is open to feature scripts in all genres with an original concept and distinctive voice that can be independently produced with a production budget under $5 million.  Enderby Entertainment will review the top scripts submitted in this category and will determine the Semifinalists, Finalists, and winner.  Finalists will be given the opportunity to meet with the production company during the Festival and Conference, which will be held Oct. 18-25, 2012.  The winner of the Enderby Entertainment Award will receive a prize package including $2,500, reimbursement for airfare (up to $500) and hotel (up to $500) for attendance to the Festival and Conference, and the bronze AFF Typewriter Award.

“We’re thrilled that Enderby Entertainment was chosen to be part of Austin Film Festival’s screenwriting competition” said Daniel Petrie, Jr. and Rick Dugdale.  “Austin Film Festival has always believed, as we do, that the screenplay is the heart of a film.  It’s a pleasure and an honor to be a small part of all the good work the Festival does to encourage and empower screenwriters.”

Festival badges and film passes for the 2012 Austin Film Festival, taking place October 18-25^th, are currently on sale. For more information on the upcoming 19^th annual Austin Film Festival, visit the official website at www.austinfilmfestival.com or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378). For regular updates, follow AFF on Facebook at facebook.com/AustinFilmFestival and Twitter @austinfilmfest.

About Enderby Entertainment

Los Angeles-based Enderby Entertainment is an independent film, television and digital media company with an old-fashioned emphasis on storytelling, on the creative side, and transparency, on the financial side.  Founded in 2006 by partners Rick Dugdale and Daniel Petrie, Jr., Enderby Entertainment’s film credits include writer/director Stephen Elliot’s upcoming film Cherry, starring James Franco and Heather Graham, which will premiere at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival, and five films from Enderby’s thriller division:  The Speak, Vile, 5 Souls, Silver Falls and No Tell Motel.  Upcoming films include The Storm, to be directed by Walter Hill, and Stranded, to be directed by Daniel Petrie, Jr. from a screenplay by Austin Film Festival semi-finalists Rachel Long & Brian Pittman.  Films in development include Heartbreak Hill, to be directed by Donald Petrie, and the comedy 50 Yard Line.  Digital media properties include the internet production Get Wylde and a soon-to-be-released gaming application.

About Rick Dugdale

Enderby Entertainment President Rick Dugdale oversees all aspects of finance and physical production for Enderby.  He serves as producer or executive producer on all Enderby Entertainment projects, including Cherry, which Dugdale produced for Enderby in addition to playing a key role in arranging the financing for the film.  Dugdale also serves as CEO of Tony-Seven Films, Enderby Entertainment’s thriller division; he served as executive producer on The Speak, Vile and 5 Souls and as producer on Silver Falls and No Tell Motel.  Dugdale joined Daniel Petrie, Jr. & Company as Vice President, Production in 2003 before becoming a full partner in 2004.  He then founded Enderby Entertainment with Petrie in 2006.

About Daniel Petrie, Jr.

Enderby Entertainment partner Daniel Petrie, Jr. oversees creative affairs for the company.  Petrie was nominated for an Academy Award for his first produced script, the box-office hit Beverly Hills Cop, starring Eddie Murphy.  Next came Petrie’s original screenplay of the romantic thriller The Big Easy, starring Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin.  Petrie served as producer of the thriller Shoot to Kill, starring Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenger, and as executive producer of the comedy Turner & Hooch, starring Tom Hanks; Petrie co-wrote both films.  Petrie also served as executive producer of The 6^th Day, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Petrie’s directorial debut was the film Toy Soldiers, starring Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton, and Louis Gossett, Jr., which he also co-wrote.  Petrie also directed the HBO film Dead Silence, starring James Garner and Marlee Matlin, and adapted and directed the TNT movie Framed, starring Rob Lowe and Sam Neill.  Most recently, Petrie was executive producer, showrunner and co-creator of the 13 episode TV series Combat Hospital, simulcast on ABC and Canada’s Global TV in the summer of 2011.

A past President of the Writers Guild of America, West, Inc., Petrie currently serves as Vice President, Programs of the Writers Guild Foundation.  He is a former Governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a former Trustee of the American Film Institute.  Petrie has also been an active supporter for Austin Film Festival since 1997.

About Austin Film Festival’s Screenplay Competition

One of the most respected competitions in the country, the AFF Screenplay Competition provides emerging writers the means to expose their work to major players in the entertainment industry.  Past entrants have signed with Artisan Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency, Metropolitan Talent Agency, William Morris Agency, DreamWorks Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Miramax Films, and other highly respected companies.

The Screenplay Competition has two main categories: Drama and Comedy, and also features two sub-categories: The Enderby Entertainment Award and the Dark Hero Studios Sci-Fi Award (science fiction, horror, supernatural thriller, fantasy, etc.).  The Teleplay Competition is open to spec scripts from a currently airing network and original pilot scripts and features four main categories: Sitcom Pilot, One-Hour Pilot, Sitcom Spec, and One-Hour Spec.  The Screenplay Competition deadline is May 15 with a late deadline of June 1.  The Teleplay Competition final deadline is June 1.  Winners of the competitions will be announced in Austin at the Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 at The Austin Club.

For additional information on the 19^th Annual Austin Film Festival Screenplay and Teleplay Competition including entry forms, submission fees and Competition guidelines rules call 1-800-310-FEST (3378) or visit the official website at www.austinfilmfestival.com.

About Austin Film Festival

Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships.

Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

AUSTIN, TX (October 7, 2011)—The Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced today that Actress Alexis Bledel has been named honorary co-chair for the 9th Annual Film & Food Gala, benefitting AFF’s Young Filmmakers Program. Previously announced honorary co-chair, Actress and Producer America Ferrera is no longer able to attend due to a work schedule conflict. Bledel will be joined by writer/director Ryan Piers Williams (The Dry Land).

A native of Houston, Bledel is a versatile actress in both film and television. She starred as “Rory Gilmore” in the critically acclaimed series “Gilmore Girls.” She recently appeared with James McAvoy and Robin Wright Penn in Director Robert Redford’s period drama “The Conspirator.” Next, Bledel stars opposite Saoirse Ronan in Oscar winner Geoffrey Fletcher’s directorial debut “Violet and Daisy.” The film centers on a pair of teenage assassins who are lured into what is supposed to be just another quick and easy job, only to find complications as the man they’re supposed to kill is not what they expected. Bledel’s additional film credits include “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Tuck Everlasting” and the Robert Rodriguez film “Sin City,” which was filmed in Austin.

The Gala will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at the Driskill Hotel in Austin, TX and kicks off the 18th Annual Festival and Conference. For more information, please visit www.austinfilmfestival.com/.

9TH ANNUAL FILM & FOOD GALA
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2011
7PM – 10PM
DRISKILL HOTEL / AUSTIN, TX
Tickets are $90/$75 for AFF Members and Badge Holders
Call 512.478.4795 or visit austinfilmfestival.com for tickets
Benefitting Young Filmmakers Program

All chairs are confirmed based on permitting schedules and are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice. Proceeds from the ticket sales and event auctions benefit Austin Film Festival’s Young Filmmakers Program, which was founded to encourage students, ages 9-18, to explore their literacy skills through the arts of screenwriting and filmmaking. Programs are offered free through AISD schools and partner organizations.

Sponsors of the Film & Food Gala include Whole Foods Market, KVUE, Twin Liquors, Dos Equis, Shweiki Media Printing, Livestrong Austin Marathon & Half Marathon, and United/Continental Airlines.

More information on the 18th annual Austin Film Festival is available at www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378). For regular updates, follow AFF on Facebook at facebook.com/AustinFilmFestivaland Twitter @austinfilmfest.

About Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art and craft of filmmaking 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Dos Equis, KVUE, KUT 90.5 FM, United/Continental Airlines, Esurance, and Wells Fargo Advisors.

A NOIR SCRIPT BY SHANE BLACK & ANTHONY BAGAROZZI. READ BY PROFESSIONAL ACTORS WITH BLACK DIRECTING.

SUNDAY, OCT. 23RD AT THE ROLLINS THEATER IN AUSTIN, TX

AUSTIN, TX (August 30, 2011) – The Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced today an exclusive staged reading of Shane Black and Anthony Bagarozzi’s noir script, “The Nice Guys,” during the Festival. The script will be read by professional actors with Black and Bagarozzi in attendance, with Black directing. The reading will be Sunday, October 23rd at 4:30pm at the Rollins Theatre at The Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, TX.

It’s going to be a production you won’t want to miss during the Festival, as these two seasoned screenwriters give film fans a first glimpse at this dark murder mystery read live by actors. “The Nice Guys” follows last year’s wildly popular and successful reading of Maggie Carey’s “The Hand Job.” AFF’s script readings are energetic and considered some of the Conference’s most beloved events, bringing the page to life with comedic, dramatic and exciting performances.

ABOUT THE NICE GUYS
In smoggy 1970s Los Angeles, Jackson Healy (muscle-for-hire, recovering alcoholic) and Holland March (private eye, practicing alcoholic) are brought together by the suicide of a fading porn star. Problem is, the dead girl’s aunt is convinced she saw her niece alive and well, AFTER the highly publicized incident. March needs money, takes the case-and within days, it’s blossomed into a far-reaching murder conspiracy, bizarrely rooted in smog and the U.S. auto industry.

Shane Black has had tremendous success in creating a number of box office blockbusters, including the first two “Lethal Weapon” movies and 1991’s “The Last Boyscout.” In 1990, Shane sold his espionage script “The Long Kiss Goodnight” for a record sum of money. His directorial debut, the romantic thriller “Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang” re-teamed him with producer Joel Silver. Black was the recipient of the 2006 Austin Film Festival’s Distinguished Screenwriter Award. Next, he’s writing and directing “Iron Man 3” starring Robert Downey, Jr., scheduled for release May 2013.

Anthony Bagarozzi broke into the business with the sale of “Tick Tock,” an original screenplay, which he co-wrote with Chuck Mondry. Along with writing “The Nice Guys” with Shane Black, Bagarozzi is currently working on a “Doc Savage” screenplay for Sony Pictures, as well as adapting the best selling manga “Death Note” for Warner Brothers. Next year he plans to make his directorial debut with the supernatural thriller “Deathless,” co-written by Chuck Mondry and produced by Modern Pictures.

Past Austin Film Festival script readings include works by Anne Rapp, Ya’Ke Smith, Jim Dauterive, Tim McCandlies, Bill Wittliff, Larry Wright, Mike Fry, Kat Candler, the late Bud Shrake and, most recently, the 2009 Black List scripts “By Way of Helena” by Matthew Cook with Jeff Fahey, D.B. Sweeney and others, and “The Hand Job” by Maggie Carey, with performers Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader, Jessica Alba, Colin Hanks, and others.

Film Passes and Festival Badges are currently on sale at a discounted rate until September 30th and can be purchased athttp://austinfilmfestival.myshopify.com/collections/2011-badges-film-passes. Right now, Film Passes are only $42. All Badges and Passes grant admission to the script reading.

AFF has also announced the early 10 films screening at the festival this year, as well as this year’s award winners and the confirmed Conference panelists. These announcements and general information on the 18th annual Austin Film Festival is available atwww.austinfilmfestival.com/ or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378). For regular updates, follow AFF on Facebook at facebook.com/AustinFilmFestival and Twitter @austinfilmfest.

About Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art and craft of filmmaking 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Dos Equis, KVUE, KUT 90.5 FM, United/Continental Airlines, and Esurance.

INCLUDING JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME, PUSS IN BOOTS, BENEATH THE DARKNESS, ALBERT NOBBS, HAROLD’S GOING STIFF, ECSTASY OF ORDER: THE TETRIS MASTERS, AND MORE

FULL LINEUP COMING MID-SEPTEMBER

AUSTIN, TX (August 23, 2011) – The Austin Film Festival (AFF), the premiere film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television and new media, announced today the first 10 films included in the 2011 lineup of Festival film screenings October 20-27. AFF annually hosts over 170 film screenings and special events, and the Conference boasts more than 100 speakers participating in panels and roundtable discussions.

Included in the early 10 films announced are Jeff Who Lives At Home, a new comedy by the Duplass brothers starring Jason Segel; Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters (world premiere), a documentary about the obsession of the masters at the 2010 Classic Tetris World Championship; Harold’s Going Stiff (U.S. premiere), a contemporary and affecting zombie film; UCB dance film Freak Dance (world premiere); the gender-blurring tale of Albert Nobbs, starring Glenn Close, with director Rodrigo Garcia in attendance; Puss in Boots, the animated film about the swashbuckling feline; American Teacher, an inspiring documentary about U.S. educators; We Need To Talk About Kevin, a gripping drama starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly; and the Southern Gothic tale Restive.

One of the films announced, Beneath the Darkness, was birthed out of the 2003 Festival when writer Bruce Wilkinson and director Martin Guigui met following a screening of Guigui’s film Swing. This meeting at the Festival allowed Wilkinson to achieve a life dream before his passing following the film’s completion. This will be the world premiere of Beneath the Darkness, which stars Dennis Quaid as a psychopathic killer. Quaid, along with the director and much of the cast, will be in attendance.

The 2011 film lineup includes several World, U.S., and regional premieres in all genres ranging from comedy to horror, documentary to drama. Filmmakers from around the world and Texas alike showcase everything from obscure indie films to big-budget Oscar®-bound productions.

The complete list of films screening at AFF this year, including short films and competition titles, will be announced in mid-September. Cast and crew attendance is subject to change and based on permitting schedules

AFF’S 2011 EARLY 10 FILMS ARE:

ALBERT NOBBS
Writers: Glenn Close, John Banville
Director: Rodrigo Garcia (in attendance)
Cast: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Brendan Gleeson
Glenn Close stars as a woman who must disguise herself as a male butler in order to find work in 19th century Ireland.

AMERICAN TEACHER
Director: Vanessa Roth
Narrator: Matt Damon
Regional Premiere
Weaving interviews of policy experts and startling facts with the lives and careers of four teachers, Matt Damon narrates the collective story by and about those closest to the issues in our educational system—the 3.2 million teachers who spend every day in classrooms across the country.

BENEATH THE DARKNESS
Writer: Bruce Wilkinson
Director: Martin Guigui (in attendance)
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Tony Oller, Aimee Teegarden, Stephen Lunsford, Brett Cullen (entire cast listed will be in attendance)
World Premiere
After watching their best friend get murdered, a group of teens struggle to expose a local hero (Dennis Quaid) as the psychopathic killer and keep from becoming his next victims.

ECSTASY OF ORDER: THE TETRIS MASTERS
Director: Adam Cornelius
World Premiere
This video game documentary brings world-record-holding Tetris players together for the 2010 Classic Tetris World Championship. Witness the Masters as they reveal their secrets, recount their obsession with the game, and enter the transcendental state required to reach the highest levels known as the ‘Ecstasy of Order’.

FREAK DANCE
Writer: Matt Besser
Directors: Matt Besser, Neil Mahoney
Cast: Michael Cassady, Megan Heyn, Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Tim Meadows, Andy Daly, Horatio Sanz
World Premiere
The Upright Citizens Brigade unleash their unique take on the dance film with this funky, epic dance floor battle, featuring several past and present members of the popular sketch comedy group.

HAROLD’S GOING STIFF
Writer/Director: Keith Wright
Cast: Stan Rowe, Sarah Spencer, Andy Pandini, Lee Thompson, Richard Harrison, Phil Gascoyne
US Premiere
Lonely pensioner, Harold Gimble, has become the first man to suffer from a new neurological disease that is slowly turning him into a zombie-like state. Harold’s hermit-like existence is shaken up when a vivacious nurse, Penny Rudge, is sent along to alleviate his stiffness.

JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME
Writers/Directors: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass
Cast: Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon, Judy Greer, Rae Dawn Chong
Regional Premiere
Jeff (Jason Segel) is living in his mother’s (Susan Sarandon) basement and waiting for destiny to fall right into his lap. When he goes out on a simple errand, he runs into his estranged brother (Ed Helms) and starts to see the signs that may point him toward a new life.

PUSS IN BOOTS
Writers: Brian Lynch, David H. Steinberg, Tom Wheeler, Jon Zack
Director: Chris Miller
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris
Regional Premiere
Way before Puss (Antonio Banderas) ever met Shrek, our suave and furry feline hero goes on a swashbuckling ride, as he teams with mastermind Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and the street-savvy Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs.

RESTIVE
Writer/Director: Jeremiah Jones
Cast: Christopher Denham, Connor Hill, Michael Mosley, Marianna Palka, Ivan Sandomire
Regional Premiere
A mother deals with emotional and physical abuse from her mentally unstable husband as the narrative twists and turns in this thrilling Southern Gothic tale.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
Writers: Lynne Ramsay, Rory Kinnear
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Cast: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller
Regional Premiere
Two parents (Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly) try to come to terms with the horrifying atrocities committed by their young son in this wrenching drama from acclaimed filmmaker Lynne Ramsay.

The 2011 Conference will offer registrants the opportunity to attend informative and inspiring discussions, including A Conversation with John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, and Academy Award®-winning director and executive-producer of Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Toy Story 3, and more. Also on tap is A Conversation with “Bones” and upcoming “The Finder” show creator Hart Hanson, as well as A Conversation with Caroline Thompson, writer of Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas. There will be in-depth Script-To-Screen discussions on The Graduate with writer Buck Henry, Fight Club with writer Jim Uhls, and “Veronica Mars” with show creator Rob Thomas, as well as a panel on Zombies, Apes & Vampires: Breathing New Life Into Old Subjects with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Rise of The Planet of The Apes, The Relic), Alvaro Rodriguez (Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn 3), and Rhett Reese (Zombieland). Full panel schedule coming soon.

This year’s Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award recipient is John Lasseter (Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios). Along with Distinguished Screenwriter Awardee Caroline Thompson (screenwriter of Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas) and Outstanding Television Writer Awardee Hart Hanson (creator, writer, executive producer of “Bones,” “The Finder”), they will receive their awards at the annual Award Luncheon on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Austin Club.

Film passes and Festival badges are currently on sale at a discounted rate until September 30th and can be purchased athttp://austinfilmfestival.myshopify.com/collections/2011-badges-film-passes. Right now, Film Passes are only $42. All badges and passes grant admission to films.

For more information on the 18th annual Austin Film Festival, panels, film screenings and special events, visit the official website atwww.austinfilmfestival.com/ or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378). For regular updates, follow AFF on Facebook at facebook.com/AustinFilmFestival and Twitter @austinfilmfest.

About Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art and craft of filmmaking 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Dos Equis, KVUE, KUT 90.5 FM, United/Continental Airlines, and Esurance.

INCLUDES FIGHT CLUB WITH JIM UHLS, THE GRADUATE WITH BUCK HENRY, AND “VERONICA MARS” WITH ROB THOMAS

PLUS, ADDITIONAL CONFERENCE PANELISTS ANNOUNCED

AUSTIN, TX (AUGUST 4, 2011) – The 18th annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced today this year’s Script-To-Screen panels during the Festival Conference, which will take place October 20th-23rd. Also announced, are many of the AFF’s 2011 Conference panelists, including many film and television writers, producers, directors, show creators and more.

The 2011 Script-To-Screen conversations include examinations of FIGHT CLUB with screenwriter Jim Uhls, THE GRADUATE with screenwriter Buck Henry, and “Veronica Mars” with creator Rob Thomas. During the Script-To-Screen section of the Conference lineup, film and television writers go in depth about their triumphs and tragedies as they worked to bring the project from script to screen. Audience members gain insight into some of their favorite productions as well as get an accurate picture of what it takes to bring a film or show from original idea to completion.

2011 SCRIPT-TO-SCREENS

FIGHT CLUB with Jim Uhls
In 1997, Chuck Palahniuk’s manuscript for the soon to be published FIGHT CLUB had made the rounds all over town and been rejected by everybody as being “unadaptable.” But, with the help of Laura Ziskin, then the executive running Fox 2000, screenwriter Jim Uhls and director David Fincher, the film went on to become one of the most controversial and talked-about films of 1999, turning the book into an instant cult classic.

With script in hand and film clips on the wall, screenwriter Jim Uhls (FIGHT CLUB, SEMPER FI, JUMPER) will dissect his critically acclaimed screenplay FIGHT CLUB, discussing his writing process, what worked, what didn’t, what needed to be changed for film production and why.

THE GRADUATE with Buck Henry
Ranked as the seventh greatest film of all time on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies, THE GRADUATE is a 1967 classic comedy-drama directed by Mike Nichols and based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Webb. Prolific writer Buck Henry wrote the screenplay, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his adaptation.

At the Conference, Buck Henry will dissect his critically acclaimed screenplay THE GRADUATE, discussing his writing process and the film’s production, what worked, what didn’t, what needed to be changed and why.

“Veronica Mars” with Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas’ critically acclaimed TV series “Veronica Mars,” starring Kristen Bell in the title role, premiered on September 22, 2004 during television network UPN’s final two years, and ended tragically prematurely on May 22, 2007. During the series’ run, it was nominated for two Satellite Awards, four Saturn Awards, five Teen Choice Awards and was featured on AFI’s TV Programs of the Year for 2005.

With the original pilot script in hand and film clips on the wall, television producer, screenwriter, and author Rob Thomas (“Veronica Mars,” “Party Down,” “Cupid,” “90210″ ’08) will dissect his pilot episode of “Veronica Mars.” Using this episode as a case study for how a TV show comes together, he will discuss how the idea for the show came about, the research and staff writing process, and other aspects of the show’s production.

More panels and discussions during AFF’s 2011 Conference will be announced soon, but you can find more information online atwww.austinfilmfestival.com//new/2011_panelists. Many of this year’s participating panelists have been announced below, including many of the industry’s top writers, directors, producers, show creators and more. More details on their specific panels to come shortly.

2011 CONFIRMED PANELISTS

-Elizabeth Avellan, producer Sin City, Machete, Predators, Shorts, Grindhouse
-Henry Bean, writer Internal Affairs, Deep Cover, The Believer
-Alec Berg, writer “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” Eurotrip, “Seinfeld”
-Pen Densham, Trilogy Entertainment Group, author Riding the Alligator, writer Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Moll Flanders, Houdini
-Rodrigo Garcia, Albert Nobbs, “In Treatment,” Mother and Child
-Pamela Gray, writer Conviction, A Walk on the Moon, “Once and Again”
-Buck Henry, writer The Graduate, To Die For, Catch-22
-Jim Herzfeld, writer Meet The Fockers, Meet The Parents, Tapeheads, writer/producer “Married… With Children”
-Laeta Kalogridis, executive producer Avatar, writer Shutter Island, Alexander, Night Watch
-Lawrence Kasdan, writer Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Body Heat, The Big Chill, The Accidental Tourist
-Mike Mitchell, director Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked ’11, Shrek Forever After, Surviving Christmas
-Rhett Reese, writer Zombieland, GI Joe 2, Deadpool
-Alvaro Rodriguez, writer Machete, Shorts, From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter
-Terry Rossio, writer Shrek, Déjà Vu, The Mask of Zorro, Pirates of the Caribbean franchise
-Amy Talkington, writer Valley Girl ’12, Private Benjamin ’12, Night of the White Pants
-Rob Thomas, creator/writer “Veronica Mars,” “Cupid,” “Party Down,” developer/writer “90210,” writer “Dawson’s Creek”
-Jim Uhls, writer Fight Club, Semper Fi, Jumper
-Kyle Killen, creator/producer “Awake,” “Lonestar,” writer The Beaver
-Ric Roman Waugh, writer Snitch, Bobby Martinez, Felon

*All panelists are confirmed, schedules permitting and are subject to change. The complete list is available atwww.austinfilmfestival.com/, or upon request.

AFF will take place October 20-27, 2011 in Austin, Texas and will host more than 170 exciting film screenings and events. AFF will also include a conference lineup with over 100 panelists participating in 90 plus panels and roundtable discussions. Film screenings, additional panelists and special events will be announced in the coming months. Attendance of Conference speakers is schedule permitting and subject to change without notice.

Austin Film Festival’s 2011 award recipients have already been announced, including John Lasseter (Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios), who will receive the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award; Caroline Thompson (screenwriter of Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas) receiving the Distinguished Screenwriter Award; and Hart Hanson (creator, writer, executive producer of “Bones”) receiving the Outstanding Television Writer Award. They will accept their awards at AFF’s annual Award Luncheon held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Austin Club.

To purchase passes or badges to the 2011 Austin Film Festival (October 20 – 27, 2011), go tohttp://austinfilmfestival.myshopify.com/collections/2011-badges-film-passes.

For regular updates, follow AFF on Facebook at facebook.com/AustinFilmFestival and Twitter @austinfilmfest.

About Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art and craft of filmmaking 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by United Airlines and Esurance.

CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER OF WALT DISNEY AND PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS JOINS DISTINGUISHED SCREENWRITER AWARDEE CAROLINE THOMPSON AND “BONES” CREATOR HART HANSON, OUTSTANDING TELEVISION WRITER AWARDEE

John Lasseter appears courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Visiting Artists program.

AUSTIN, TX (June 14, 2011) – The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is proud to announce that this year’s recipient of the 2011 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award will be John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. He will accept the Award, along with the other awardees, at AFF’s annual Award Luncheon held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Austin Club. The Awards Luncheon is presented by the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation. Lasseter will also speak on panels during the Conference, including “A Conversation with John Lasseter” and “The Art of Storytelling with Caroline Thompson, Hart Hanson and John Lasseter.”

Lasseter is a two-time Academy Award®-winning director and creatively oversees all films and associated projects from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. His executive-producing credits include “Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “WALL•E,” “Bolt” and last year’s critically acclaimed “Up,” the first animated film ever to open the Cannes Film Festival and the recipient of two Academy Awards® for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score. Lasseter also served as executive producer for Disney’s Oscar®-nominated films “The Princess and the Frog” and “Tangled” as well as Pixar’s most recent Academy Award® winner for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, “Toy Story 3.”
Under Lasseter’s supervision, Pixar’s animated features and short films have earned a multitude of critical accolades and film industry honors.

Lasseter joins Caroline Thompson who will receive the 2011 Distinguished Screenwriter Award and Outstanding Television Writer Awardee Hart Hanson. Thompson’s writing credits include “Edward Scissorhands,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Corpse Bride,” “The Addams Family,” “The Secret Garden” and more. Hanson is most well known in his role as creator, writer and executive producer of the popular television series “BONES,” which just got picked up for a 7th season on Fox.

The Austin Film Festival annually recognizes outstanding filmmakers for going above and beyond with their consistently exceptional body of work with the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award. Previous recipients of the award include Robert Rodriguez (’10), Ron Howard (’09), Danny Boyle (’08), Oliver Stone (’07), and the late Sydney Pollack (’06.)

The inclusion of Lasseter in the 2011 Conference will round out an impressive list of animation writers, filmmakers, and executives attending and speaking at the Festival, helping make this an outstanding year for animation at AFF. Below are a few of the confirmed names in film and television and their animation credits taking part in AFF 2011.

• Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger, writers “Kung Fu Panda,” “Kung Fu Panda 2,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked,” “Monsters vs. Aliens,” “King of the Hill”
• Rita Hsiao, writer “Toy Story 2,” “Mulan”
• Jason Eaton, writer “Ice Age 3”
• Lisa Fragner, 20th Century Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios, Inc.
• Tim McCanlies, writer “The Iron Giant”
• Mike Mitchell, director “Alvin and The Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked,” “Shrek Forever After”
• Nancy Pimental, writer “South Park”
• Rhett Reese, writer “Dinosaur”
• Tim Talbott, writer “South Park”

AFF will take place October 20-27, 2011 in Austin, Texas and will host more than 170 exciting film screenings and events. AFF will also include a conference lineup with over 100 panelists participating in 90 plus panels and roundtable discussions. The complete list is available at www.austinfilmfestival.com/, or upon request. Film screenings, additional panelists and special events will be announced in the coming months. Attendance of Conference speakers is schedule permitting and subject to change without notice.

Awards Luncheon tickets are $50 each and are available for purchase by Conference and Producers Badge holders only. For additional information on the 18th Annual Austin Film Festival, panels and film screenings, and how to purchase everything from a Producers Badge to a Film Pass, visit the official website at www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378).

About Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art and craft of filmmaking 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Continental and United Airlines, KVUE, KUT 90.5, and Dos Equis.

Click here to buy your Badge today!

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL & BALLET AUSTIN PRESENT A SPECIAL SCREENING OF CENTER STAGE
FOLLOWED BY A BALLET CLASS TAUGHT BY A BALLET AUSTIN COMPANY MEMBER AT BUTLER DANCE EDUCATION CENTER SUNDAY, JULY 24TH

FINAL EVENT IN DANCE FILM SERIES

Who: Austin Film Festival & Ballet Austin
What: Screening of the 2000 film Center Stage
When: Sunday, July 24, 2011 at 3pm / $10 (free for AFF members with RSVP)
Where: Ballet Austin’s AustinVentures StudioTheater (501 W 3rd Street)
Tickets: All tickets are $10 and include admission to Ballet class ($17 value) immediately following the screening. Visitwww.balletaustin.org/film

AUSTIN, TX (June 13, 2011) – Austin Film Festival (AFF) and Ballet Austin announce a special dance film screening of Center Stage (2001) followed by a free Beginning Ballet class for all attendees on July 24th at Ballet Austin. In addition, a pair of ballet shoes signed by the Ballet Austin Company will be given away to a lucky audience winner.

The screening at Ballet Austin’s AustinVentures StudioTheater (501 West 3rd St) offers a special treat for ballet fans as well as film buffs looking to expand their artistic horizons and get moving with a dance class following the film. With the event, AFF and Ballet Austin hope to engage new arts audiences outside of their genres and bring them a new appreciation for both dance and film.

About Center Stage:
This story follows the challenges that a group of young talented dancers face when they enroll in the American Academy Ballet in New York. Each student is talented and ambitious, but how far will they go to achieve their dream?

Austin Film Festival and Ballet Austin came together for special screenings of the film Fame on Sunday, May 22nd with a free Jazz Class workshop, as well as The Company on Sunday, June 26th with a free Ballet Fit Class. AFF and Ballet Austin first worked together on the screening of Black Swan during the 2010 Austin Film Festival, and everything went so well, they decided to create other opportunities to collaborate for a full artistic experience. They have been working together as part of the Austin Shared Service group, which is a collection of local arts organizations collaborating to increase awareness, participation and excitement for the arts as well as arts education in Austin.

All proceeds benefit the Ballet Austin Academy Scholarship Program.

AFF members must RSVP in advance of the screening. All RSVP information will be posted at www.austinfilmfestival.com/ shortly. All non-AFF members are able to purchase $10 tickets at www.balletaustin.org/film

For more information on Austin Film Festival’s year round events, go to www.austinfilmfestival.com//new/events

For more information on Ballet Austin’s year round events, go to www.balletaustin.org

About Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art and craft of filmmaking 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Special support for Summer Film Camp is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Austin High School, Shweiki Media, KVUE, and Whole Foods Market.

About Ballet Austin
As distinctive and dynamic as the city it calls home, Ballet Austin welcomes audiences near and far to participate in its “classically innovative” vision for the democratization of dance. With a rich history spanning five decades, acclaimed productions, and one of the nation’s largest classical ballet academies, the organization is poised for an even greater future. From their new home at the Butler Dance Education Center and Community School in downtown Austin, Ballet Austin and artistic director Stephen Mills actively engage the community, dancers, and audiences alike. The New York Times proclaims Ballet Austin “a company with big ambitions” originating work that is “absorbing.”

AUSTIN, TX (April 11, 2011) – Austin Film Festival and KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, announced today the new 12-episode series “On Story: Presented by Austin Film Festival” will premiere on Saturday, April 16, 2011, on KLRU Q.

The new half-hour series will focus on the inspiration and creative process at the conception of the filmmaking process and air right after “Roger Ebert presents: At the Movies” and just before the station’s new movie package at 8pm. “On Story” will include new interviews and footage from past Austin Film Festival panels and screenings of screenwriters and filmmakers discussing their craft and films. Each episode will pair these conversations with a short film from a Texas filmmaker, which has previously screened at the Austin Film Festival. “On Story” is produced by Austin Film Festival co-Founder and Executive Director Barbara Morgan.

“Austin Film Festival is quite proud of the new series, and we’re so happy to be working with KLRU on it,” says Barbara Morgan. “We’ve been working on concept for a while and are thrilled to finally be able to give local audiences a taste of the Festival.”

The filmmakers and screenwriters appearing on the show include Lawrence Kasdan (EMPIRE STRIKES BACK), Shane Black (LETHAL WEAPON), Ed Burns (THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN), Randall Wallace (BRAVEHEART), John Lee Hancock (THE BLIND SIDE), David Peoples (BLADE RUNNER), Judd Apatow (KNOCKED UP), Ron Howard, and more.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE
April 16, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 1
Footage: Lawrence Kasdan, Shane Black, and Randall Wallace at Austin Film Festival
Short film: FRENTE NORESTE by Angela Torres Camarena

April 23, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 2
April 30, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 3
May 7, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 4
May 14, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 5
May 21, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 6
May 28, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 7
June 4, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 8
June 11, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 9
June 18, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 10
June 25, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 11
July 2, 2011 at 7:30pm: Episode 12

The show airs on KLRU-Q broadcast channel 18.3, which is available free over the air in KLRU’s 18 county viewing area including Travis, Hayes, Bastrop, Williamson and Caldwell counties. KLRU-Q is also available to digital cable subscribers of Time Warner (channel 20 or 225) or Grande (channel 284).

Episodes will also be available online at klru.org the Sunday following the broadcast.

For more information on the Austin Film Festival, visit www.austinfilmfestival.com/. And, go to www.klru.org to find out more about the station and for programming schedules.

About Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art and craft of filmmaking by inspiring and championing the work of screenwriters, filmmakers, and all artists who use the language of film to tell a story.

Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts. Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Continental Airlines, KVUE, KUT 90.5, and Dos Equis.

About KLRU
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, reflects, celebrates and inspires Central Texas through creative excellence, community engagement and lifelong learning. In addition to providing locally produced and quality national television programming, KLRU is also a non-profit organization helping to build a stronger community through educational workshops, community engagement projects and public events. Known as the producing station of the longest-running live music television show “Austin City Limits,” KLRU has also worked on several other national productions including the documentaries CITIZEN ARCHITECT and LAST BEST HOPE. Get more information about KLRU at www.klru.org.

SCREENWRITER OF EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CORPSE BRIDE, THE ADDAMS FAMILY AND MORE JOINS HART HANSON, RECIPIENT OF THIS YEAR’S OUTSTANDING TELEVISION WRITER AWARD

AUSTIN, TX (April 5, 2011) – Austin Film Festival (AFF) proudly announced today this year’s recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Screenwriter Award will be Caroline Thompson, screenplay writer of EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CORPSE BRIDE, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE SECRET GARDEN, BLACK BEAUTY, and more. Thompson will accept the award at the Festival’s annual Award Luncheon held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Austin Club. Thompson will also speak on panels during the Conference.

Caroline Thompson published her first novel, First Born, in 1983, and adapted it for the screen with director Penelope Spheeris. Although the film was never made, Thompson discovered her love for writing screenplays, and her first film was 1990’s EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, which was immediately followed by THE ADDAMS FAMILY in 1991. She went on to write HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY, THE SECRET GARDEN, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, BLACK BEAUTY, BUDDY, SNOW WHITE: THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL, CORPSE BRIDE and CITY OF EMBER. She is currently working on adaptations of Melissa Marr’s novel Wicked Lovely and Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita. Eager to encourage the strange and idiosyncratic in young filmmakers, Caroline and her husband Steve Nicolaides founded and run the website Small & Creepy Films at www.smallandcreepy.com.

Thompson joins Hart Hanson, who is set to receive AFF’s Outstanding Television Writer Award at this year’s Festival. Hanson is best known as the creator, writer and executive producer of the popular television series “Bones,” which is currently in it’s 6th season on Fox. Hanson’s other credits include creator/showrunner for “Traders,” which was nominated for multiple Gemini Awards (Canadian Emmy’s), as well as writing for “Judging Amy,” “Joan of Arcadia,” and more. Presenting Hanson with his award will be “Bones” stars David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. Still to be announced is this year’s recipient of the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award.

The Austin Film Festival annually recognizes outstanding filmmakers and screenwriters for their accomplished bodies of work and contributions to filmmaking. Previous recipients of the Distinguished Screenwriter Award include David Peoples, Steven Zaillian, Harold Ramis, Lawrence Kasdan, Barry Levinson, Frank Pierson, James L. Brooks, Richard LaGravenese and Horton Foote, among others.

Since 1994, Austin Film Festival has been dedicated to furthering the art and craft of filmmaking 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’s Conference offers over 80 panels, craft sessions and roundtable discussions led by more than 100 top professionals in the television and film industries. Focusing on the art, craft and business of film and television writing and production, it provides registrants unparalleled access to the best writers and filmmakers in the field. Just some of the speakers confirmed for 2011, schedules permitting, include:

• Alec Berg, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Seinfeld”
• Jon Aibel & Glenn Berger, KUNG FU PANDA 1 & 2, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 2 & 3, MONSTERS VS. ALIENS
• Shane Black, IRONMAN III ‘12, KISS KISS, BANG BANG, LETHAL WEAPON
• Lindsay Doran, producer STRANGER THAN FICTION, NANNY MCPHEE, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
• Rodrigo Garcia, writer/director “In Treatment,” MOTHER AND CHILD
• Pamela Gray, writer CONVICTION, A WALK ON THE MOON
• Ted Griffin, creator “Terriers,” writer OCEAN’S ELEVEN, RUMOR HAS IT…, MATCHSTICK MEN
• Noah Hawley, creator “My Generation,” writer/producer “The Unusuals,” “Bones”
• Jim Herzfeld, writer MEET THE FOCKERS, MEET THE PARENTS, TAPEHEADS
• Rita Hsiao, writerTOY STORY 2, MULAN
• Elizabeth Hunter, writer BEAUTY SHOP, THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS, “ER”
• Lawrence Kasdan, writer RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, RETURN OF THE JEDI, THE BIG CHILL, THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST
• Kyle Killen, writer THE BEAVER, creator “Lonestar”
• Luisa Leschin, writer “Are We There Yet?,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “George Lopez”
• Craig Mazin, writer THE HANGOVER 2, SCARY MOVIE 3 & 4
• Tim McCanlies, director ALABAMA MOON, writer SECONDHAND LIONS, THE IRON GIANT
• Mike Mitchell, director ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIP-WRECKED ’11, SHREK FOREVER AFTER, SURVIVING CHRISTMAS
• Peter Murrieta, creator “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Hope and Faith”
• Nancy Pimental, writer “South Park,” THE SWEETEST THING
• Rhett Reese, writer DEADPOOL ‘12, ZOMBIELAND, GI JOE2, MONSTERS, INC.
• Howard A. Rodman, writer AUGUST, SAVAGE GRACE, JOE GOULD’S SECRET
• Alvaro Rodriguez, writer MACHETE, SHORTS, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN 3
• Alex Smith, co-writer/director DANCE WITH THE ONE, THE SLAUGHTER RULE
• Dana Stevens, writer “What About Brian,” LIFE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT, FOR LOVE OF THE GAME
• Amy Talkington, writer VALLEY GIRL ‘12, PRIVATE BENJAMIN ‘12, NIGHT OF THE WHITE PANTS
• Beau Thorne, writer MAX PAYNE
• Donald Todd, writer/producer “Samantha Who?,” “Caroline in the City,” “Dave’s World,” “ALF”

The Conference will also include representatives from Overbrook Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios, Josephson Entertainment, di Bonaventura Pictures, CAA, UTA and many more. The complete list is available at www.austinfilmfestival.com/, or upon request. Film screenings, additional panelists and special events will be announced in the coming months. Attendance of Conference speakers is schedule permitting and subject to change without notice.

Awards Luncheon tickets are $50 each and are available for purchase by Conference and Producers Badge holders only.

Click here to buy your Badge today!

CREATOR OF “BONES” COMES TO AUSTIN WITH EMILY DESCHANEL AND DAVID BOREANAZ

HANSON WILL LEAD THIS YEAR’S LINEUP OF TELEVISION WRITERS & SHOW CREATORS AT THE CONFERENCE

AUSTIN, TX (February 14, 2011) – Austin Film Festival (AFF) proudly announced today that this year’s recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Television Writer Award will be Hart Hanson, creator, executive producer, show runner, and writer of 20th Century Fox Television’s “BONES.” “BONES” stars Emily Deschanel (Cold Mountain, Glory Road) and David Boreanaz (“Angel,” “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer”) will present Hanson with the Award at the Festival’s annual Awards Luncheon held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Austin Club. “I am thrilled the Austin Film Festival is recognizing the talents of Hart Hanson,” said Deschanel. “He is such a gifted writer and storyteller, and is truly the voice of our show. It’s been a joy to work with him, and it’s a great honor to celebrate his work.”

Hart Hanson is perhaps best known for his current work on the highly acclaimed television series “Bones,” now in its sixth season, where he serves as creator, executive producer, and show runner.

A native Canadian, Hanson received a B.A. from the University of Toronto and an MFA from the University of British Columbia. He began his writing career on the iconic Canadian show, “Beachcombers” and went on to write and produce episodes of many acclaimed Canadian shows including “North of 60,” “Road to Avonlea,” “The Odyssey,” “Ready or Not,” “Poltergeist,” “Street Legal,” “Neon Rider,” and the made for television movies “Trust in Me,” “Whale Music,” “Guitarman,” and “African Sky.” Hanson created and ran the show “Traders”, which was nominated for multiple Gemini Awards (Canadian Emmy’s).

Upon moving to the United States, Hanson served as a writer and producer on the television shows “Joan of Arcadia,” “Judging Amy,” “Snoops,” “Cupid,” “Stargate SG-1,” and “The Outer Limits.” He is a CTU fellow at the Banff Television Festival, A Trustee for the Humanitas Foundation, and an Advisor to the Canadian Film Centre.

Hanson will speak on panels during the Conference, including ‘A Conversation with Hart Hanson’ moderated by producer – and Austin Film Festival board member – Barry Josephson (LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, ENCHANTED, HIDE AND SEEK). In addition, Hanson, Josephson, Deschanel, and Boreanaz will present a special screening of an episode of “Bones.” The show is produced by Far Field Productions and Josephson Entertainment in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Hanson, Stephen Nathan, Ian Toynton and Barry Josephson are executive producers. In honoring Hanson, the Austin Film Festival is especially pleased to reach out to and be involved with the Canadian screenwriting and filmmaking community and the Writers Guild of Canada.

The Austin Film Festival annually recognizes an Outstanding Television Writer for their elevation of and impact on television writing and contributions to the culture of television. Previous recipients of the award include David Simon (“The Wire”), Mitchell Hurwitz (“Arrested Development”), Greg Daniels (“The Office”), David Milch (“Deadwood”), Garry Shandling (“The Larry Sanders Show”), David Chase (“The Sopranos”), Tom Fontana (“Oz”), Darren Star (“Sex and the City”), and Mike Judge (“King of the Hill”), among others.

Since 1994, Austin Film Festival has been dedicated to furthering the art and craft of filmmaking by inspiring and championing the work of screenwriters, filmmakers, and all artists who use the language of film to tell a story. The AFF’s Conference offers over 125 panels, craft sessions and roundtable discussions led by more than 100 industry professionals. Focusing on the art, craft and business of film and television writing and production, it provides registrants unparalleled access to the best writers in the field. Some of the speakers confirmed for 2011, schedules permitting, include:

• Alec Berg, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Seinfeld”
•Shane Black, KISS KISS, BANG BANG, LETHAL WEAPON, THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT
•Lindsay Doran, producer Nanny McPhee, Nanny McPhee Returns, Sense and Sensibility
•Rodrigo Garcia, “In Treatment,” MOTHER AND CHILD
•Ted Griffin, OCEAN’S ELEVEN, MATCHSTICK MEN
•Lawrence Kasdan, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, BODY HEAT, THE BIG CHILL
•Luisa Leschin, “Are We There Yet?,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “George Lopez”
•Craig Mazin, THE HANGOVER 2, SCARY MOVIE 3 & 4
•Tim McCanlies, ALABAMA MOON, SECONDHAND LIONS, THE IRON GIANT
•Peter Murrieta, “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Hope and Faith”
•Pamela Ribon, “Samantha Who,” “Romantically Challenged”
•Alvaro Rodriguez, MACHETE, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN 3: THE HANGMAN’S DAUGHTER
•Alex Smith, DANCE WITH THE ONE, THE SLAUGHTER RULE, SON OF THE GUN
•Donald Todd, “Samantha Who?,” “Caroline in the City,” “Dave’s World,” “ALF”

The Conference will also include representatives from Overbrook Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios, Fortis Films, CAA, UTA, and many more. The complete list is available at www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or upon request. Film screenings, additional panelists and special events will be announced in the coming months. Attendance of Conference speakers is schedule permitting and subject to change without notice.

Awards Luncheon tickets are $50 each and are available for purchase by Conference and Producers Badge holders only.

Click here to buy your Badge today!

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL’S FILM PASS FRENZY

STARTS SATURDAY, JULY 17^TH

ENTER TO WIN A VARIETY OF PRIZES BY PURCHASING 2 AFF FILM PASSES

AUSTIN, TX (July 14, 2010) – The 17^th annual Austin Film Festival announces the Film Pass Frenzy with 17 days of giveaways starting Saturday, July 17^th. Anyone who purchases two Film Passes to this year’s Austin Film Festival (October 21-28, 2010) during the 17 days of the Film Pass Frenzy, which ends Monday, August 2^nd, will have the chance to win a variety of cool prizes.

Each day, those who purchase two AFF Film Passes online between the hours of 12am and 11:59pm will be entered into that day’s drawing, with winners chosen at random from an AFF hat, to win the prize pack of the day. Prizes range from tickets to Fun Fun Fun Fest to Bird’s Barbershop swag to a free night’s stay at Lakeway Resort and Spa to an AFF badge upgrade that grants you further access to the Festival’s panels and parties. Each day’s winner will be announced via AFF’s twitter (@austinfilmfest) and Facebook page at 9:00am the following day, at which time that day’s prizes will also be announced. So, keep an eye on AFF’s social media sites to find out what you could win.

Right now, Film Passes are only $42 each, granting admission to all eight nights of film screenings and the Paramount Theatre Film Pass Party at Aces Lounge on Tuesday, October 26th where Film Pass holders can purchase$2 Dos Equis from 10pm – midnight.  The Festival boasts an outstanding program of Oscar©-winning studio and independent films each year, and due to AFF’s very accessible and open atmosphere, Film Pass holders are likely to be in close contact with many of the famous and award-winning filmmakers, screenwriters and actors in attendance. Past film screenings have included JUNO, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, UP IN THE AIR, PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE, and AN EDUCATION. The Film Pass price increases to $50 on August 1^st.

Many of this year’s amazing panelists for the conference have already been announced, as well as this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Television Writer Award. Stay tuned for updates on films to be screened this year and other news. For additional information on all things AFF and the Film Pass Frenzy, go to www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378). Follow AFF on Twitter @austinfilmfest and become a Facebook fan.

About Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Continental Airlines, KVUE and Dos Equis.

DAVID SIMON TO RECEIVE

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION WRITER AWARD

AT 2010 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL

CREATOR OF “THE WIRE” AND “TREME,” WRITER/PRODUCER OF “HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET”

WILL LEAD THIS YEAR’S STELLAR LINEUP OF TELEVISION WRITERS & SHOW CREATORS AT THE CONFERENCE

AUSTIN, TX (June 30, 2010) – The Austin Film Festival (AFF) proudly announced today this year’s recipient of the 2010 Outstanding Television Writer award will be David Simon, creator of HBO’s “Treme” and “The Wire.” Simon will accept the award at the Festival’s annual Award Luncheon held on Saturday, October 23, 2010, at the Austin Club. In addition, Simon will speak on panels during the Conference.

David Simon is perhaps best known for his work on the HBO series “The Wire,” where he served as creator, executive producer, head writer and show runner for the duration of the series. He also worked as a journalist for The Baltimore Sun for many years and wrote the narrative non-fiction book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and co-wrote The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood. The NBC series “Homicide: Life on the Street” was based on the former, and Simon adapted the latter into a mini-series for HBO called “The Corner.” He also adapted the non-fiction book Generation Kill, chronicling the experience of a battalion of Marines in Iraq during the 2003 invasion, into an HBO miniseries under the same name, where he also served as show runner.

The Austin Film Festival annually recognizes outstanding filmmakers and screenwriters for their accomplished bodies of work and contributions to filmmaking. Previous recipients of the Outstanding Television Writer Award include Mitchell Hurwitz (“Arrested Development”), Greg Daniels (“The Office”), David Milch (“Deadwood”), Garry Shandling (“The Larry Sanders Show”), David Chase (“The Sopranos”), Tom Fontana (“Oz”), Darren Star (“Sex and the City”), and Mike Judge (“King of the Hill”), among others.

The Festival offers some of the best panelists and speakers from television and film during the Conference, and several of those already scheduled this year include Allan Loeb (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), Peter Murrieta ( “Wizards of Waverly Place”), Jon Lucas & Scott Moore (The Hangover), John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side), Phil Hay (Clash of the Titans I & II), Larry Doyle (“The Simpsons” ), John August (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Randall Wallace (Braveheart), and many more.

Since 1994, AFF has been dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers while recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. Last year, Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award recipient Ron Howard presented a special retrospective screening event of Apollo 13 with archival footage from NASA and a panel discussion that followed featuring cast and crew.  Danny Boyle was named the 2008 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award recipient and he premiered critically-acclaimed Slumdog Millionaire at the Festival.  AFF prides itself on bringing great movies from independent writers and directors to Austin, Texas. Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman (writer and director, respectively) of the break-out film Juno attended the festival in 2007, and Reitman returned in 2009 to premiere Up in the Air.

The AFF’s Screenwriters Conference offers over 65 panels, craft sessions and roundtable discussions led by more than 100 industry professionals. Focusing on the art and commerce of film and television writing and production, it provides registrants unparalleled access to the best writers in the field. Past participants include Damon Lindelof (Star Trek, “Lost”), Matthew Weiner (“Mad Men”), Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day), Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson (Rushmore), John Milius (Apocalypse Now), Sydney Pollack (Tootsie), Robert Altman (Nashville), Joel & Ethan Cohen (Fargo), Russell Crowe (Gladiator), Bryan Singer (X-Men), and Oliver Stone (Platoon).

Already confirmed screenwriter and filmmaker speakers, schedules permitting, for the 2010 Screenwriters Conference include:

•  John August, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, Charlie’s Angels

•  Shane Black, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Last Boyscout

•  Michael Brandt & Derek Haas, Wanted, 3:10 to Yuma, 2 Fast 2 Furious

•  Larry Doyle, I Love You, Beth Cooper, “The Simpsons,” “Beavis and Butt-Head”

•  John Lee Hancock, The Blind Side, A Perfect World, The Rookie

•  Phil Hay, Clash of the Titans 2, Clash of the Titans, AEon Flux

•  Peter Hedges, About a Boy, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Pieces of April

• Allan Loeb, Cheaters, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The Switch

•  Jeff Lowell, Over Her Dead Body, John Tucker Must Die, “Just Shoot Me,” “Spin City”

•  Jon Lucas & Scott Moore, The Hangover, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Four Christmases

•  Craig Mazin, The Hangover 2, Scary Movie 4, Scary Movie 3

•  Peter Murrieta, “Hope and Faith,” “Wizards of Waverly Place”

•  Dan Petrie, Jr., Beverly Hills Cop, The Big Easy, Shoot to Kill

• Alvaro Rodriguez, Machete, Shorts, From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter

•  Tim Talbott, “South Park”

•  John Turman, Hulk, Fantastic Four II: Rise of the Silver Surfer

•  Randall Wallace, Secretariat, The Man in the Iron Mask, Braveheart

•  Jorge Zamacona, “Wanted”, “Homicide: Life on the Street”, “The Unusuals”

The Conference will also include representatives from Pixar Animation Studios, Paramount Pictures, Touchstone/ABC, Josephson Entertainment, Disney Animation Studios, di Bonaventura Pictures, Fortis Films, Focus Features, UTA, WME, APA, Inc., Mosaic Media, Depth of Field, 20th Century Fox and many more.  Complete list available at www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or upon request.  Film screenings, more panelists and special events will be announced shortly.  Attendance of Conference speakers is schedule permitting and subject to change without notice.

Awards Luncheon tickets are $45 each and are available for purchase by Conference and Producers Badge holders only.  For additional information on the 17^th Annual Austin Film Festival, panels and film screenings, and how to purchase everything from a Producers Badge to a Film Pass, visit the official website at www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378).

About Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Continental Airlines, KVUE and Dos Equis.

Austin Film Festival Hosts a Conversation in Film with Emmy® Award-Winning Comedy Writer Chuck Sklar!

AUSTIN, Texas – June 24, 2010 – Join comedy writer Chuck Sklar (“The Chris Rock Show” and the Chris Rock-produced documentary Good Hair) for a Conversation in Film on how to turn your funny ideas and stories into comedy material for the screen. In this workshop, Chuck will discuss writing for sketch comedy, sitcom and late night, as well as the changing landscape of television at Cap City Comedy Club on Sunday, July 25, 2010, from 2:00pm – 3:30pm.  Ticket prices are $8 for AFF members and $10 for non-members.

Chuck is an Emmy® Award-winning comedy writer whose credits include “Weekends at the DL,” with D.L. Hughley, the ABC family sitcom “Roommates,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Politically Incorrect” and “Everybody Hates Chris.”   He was head writer on “Scratch and Burn” and “The Man Show” in 2001. Sklar also worked on “The Chris Rock Show” from 1996-2000. Most recently, Chuck wrote the Chris Rock-produced documentary Good Hair, which won the Black Reel Award, Gotham Award, Image Award, and Sundance Special Jury Prize for Best Documentary.  The screenplay was nominated for a WGA Award.

Created in 2007, Conversations in Film is a year-round series of film seminars that provide the public with the unique experience to interact with local and visiting filmmakers.  Cap City Comedy Club is located at 8120 Research Blvd # 100, Austin, TX 78758.

To purchase tickets with your AFF membership, please call (512)478-4795.  Non-members may purchase tickets and find out more about AFF memberships, by visiting www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or by calling.

About Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Continental Airlines, KVUE and Dos Equis.

For press inquiries, contact:

Elaine Garza / Giant Noise / 512-382-9017 / elaine@giantnoise.com

William Mills / Giant Noise / 512-382-9017 / will@giantnoise.com

Spiderwood Studios to Sponsor Narrative Feature Film Award at Austin Film Festival 

State-of-the-Art Production Studio Backs Film Competition at Festival Focused on Discovering New Talent

AFF Film Competition Submission Deadline July 14

AUSTIN, Texas – June 16, 2010 – The Austin Film Festival announced today that Austin-based motion picture, music and animation production facility Spiderwood Studios will award the Narrative Feature Winner, a sub-category of the AFF Film Competition, a $5,000 cash prize as well as $5,000 toward services at their studios. 

For seventeen years, AFF has provided emerging filmmakers with a platform for screening their films in front of an audience of almost 30,000 and exposure to industry professionals. The Festival is among the select events accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®, and all award winning narrative short and animated short films are also eligible for an Academy Award®. The 2010 Austin Film Festival will be held Oct. 21-28, 2010, and winners of the Film and Screenplay Competitions will be announced in Austin at the Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, at The Austin Club.

In addition to the $5,000 cash prize, Spiderwood Studios will also donate $5,000 towards services at their studios, which could include Soundstages, Jumbor Cyclorama Wall, Edit Bay, Back Lot, and much more.

“Austin Film Festival is delighted that Spiderwood Studios is sponsoring the 2010 Narrative Feature Award.  The ability to offer a larger cash award, in addition to use of their studio space for potential future projects, will hopefully assist the winning filmmaker in the promotion of their current film,” said Kelly Williams, Film Program Director for the Austin Film Festival.

1^st Place Winners receive a cash prize of $5,000; $5,000 toward services at Spiderwood Studios; reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend the 2010 AFF; reimbursement (up to $500) for stay at an AFF hotel during the Film Festival; and the AFF Typewriter Award.

About Spiderwood Studios

SPIDERWOOD STUDIOS is a state-of-the-art, motion picture, music and animation production facility situated on 200-acres of diverse terrain along the banks of the Colorado River.  Spiderwood Studios is fully equipped with sound stages, full service audio suites, production offices, 24’ x 100′ cyclorama wall, edit bays, render farm, R.V. park and 200 acres groomed for production backlot.

About the Austin Film Festival Film Competition

The AFF Film Competition encourages and advocates the work of new and talented filmmakers.  One of the most respected competitions in the country, the AFF Film Competition provides emerging filmmakers the means to expose their work to major players in the entertainment industry.

Categories include: Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Narrative Student Short, Animated Short, Documentary Feature, and Documentary Short.  The film competition has a late postmark deadline of July 2^nd, and a very late postmark deadline of July 14, 2010.

Films can be submitted to the Austin Film Festival Competition three ways: on-line at www.austinfilmfestival.com/, through www.withoutabox.com or by Entry Form, available by calling 800-310-FEST (3378.)

For additional information on the 17^th Annual Austin Film Festival and the Film Competition, including entry forms, submission fees and Competition guidelines rules, visit the official website at www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or call David Gil, Film Competition Programmer, at (512)478-4795.

About Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers 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 funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Continental Airlines, KVUE and Dos Equis.

For press inquiries, contact:

Elaine Garza / Giant Noise / 512-382-9017 / elaine@giantnoise.com

William Mills / Giant Noise / 512-382-9017 / will@giantnoise.com

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TEXAS SENATOR KIRK WATSON AND THE AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL PRESENT A SPECIAL SCREENING OF “9500 LIBERTY” 

DISCUSSION AFTER THE FILM WITH SENATOR WATSON, POLICE CHIEF ART ACEVEDO, FILMMAKER ERIC BYLER, AND OTHERS WILL EXPLORE THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE IN TEXAS

Austin, TX – May 24, 2010 – Texas Senator Kirk Watson and the Austin Film Festival are pleased to announce a joint presentation of a special advance screening event of the documentary film “9500 Liberty” by award-winning filmmakers Eric Byler and Annabel Park at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, TX. “9500 Liberty” takes an intimate look at a Virginia county that adopted a resolution similar to the controversial law recently signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, and the decision’s effects on the people who lived there.

Scheduled for 7:00PM on Wednesday, June 2^nd, the screening will be immediately followed by a discussion moderated by Senator Watson with filmmaker Eric Byler, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, Brown McCarroll LLP partner and past American Immigration Lawyers Association President Kathleen Campbell Walker, and Eddie Aldrete, Senior Vice President for IBC Bank. The discussion will also take place in the Texas Spirit Theater at the Bullock Museum, which is located at 1800 North Congress Avenue.

Byler’s timely documentary explores Prince William County, Virginia, which became ground zero in America’s explosive battle over immigration policy after elected officials adopted regulations requiring police officers to question anyone suspected of being an undocumented immigrant.

“9500 Liberty” reveals the startling vulnerability of a local government that was targeted by national anti-immigration networks with Internet-based tactics designed to frighten citizens and intimidate lawmakers.  And it documents efforts of residents to resist the sudden climate of fear and racial division, setting up a real-life showdown between those elected to represent a divided community.  Depicting many of the same highly publicized conflicts at the intersection of politics and immigration – many of which are now on display in Arizona – “9500 Liberty” brings an affecting perspective to this inflamed debate.

This special advance screening event is free and open to the public.  To reserve tickets, please visit www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or call (512)478-4795.

After a sold-out premiere in Tempe, AZ, “9500 Liberty” is opening in theaters across the country. Byler will remain in Austin for Friday’s theatrical premiere at the Landmark Dobie Theater, 2025 Guadalupe Street in the Dobie Mall.

For more information about “9500 Liberty”, go to www.9500liberty.com.

For press inquiries, contact:

Elaine Garza / Giant Noise / 512-382-9017 / elaine@giantnoise.com

William Mills / Giant Noise / 512-382-9017 / will@giantnoise.com

ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. www.austinfilmfestival.com/.

The Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by Continental Airlines, KVUE and Dos Equis.

17^TH ANNUAL AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL 

ANNOUNCES LIMITED TIME PRODUCERS BADGE PROMOTION

TO KICK OFF MAY 24^TH

AND, A PEEK AT SOME OF THE CONFERENCE’S CONFIRMED PANELISTS

AUSTIN, TX – The 17^th annual Austin Film Festival (Oct. 21 – 28), the premiere film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television and new media, announced today a special one-week promotion which will kick off Monday, May 24^th and run through May 31^st.

Everyone who purchases a Producers Badge during that week will be automatically entered into a drawing for lunch with John Lee Hancock, writer/director of “The Blind Side” and “The Alamo”, writer of “A Perfect World” and director of “The Rookie”. Only five winners will be selected for this intimate lunch to kick off the 2010 Conference the afternoon of Thursday, October 21^st. And, AFF will pick up the tab.

Producers Badges are only $525 until midnight on May 31^st, and then $585 through September 28^th. After that, they go up to $650. With a Producers Badge, you gain access to parties, networking events, all four days of Conference panels and you’ll be the first in line for 200+ movies during the eight days of Festival screenings.

If you have already purchased your Producers Badge, you will still be entered in the drawing.

In case you need a little more incentive to buy your Badge early, here’s a look at some of the already confirmed panelists for this year’s Conference:

JON LUCAS & SCOTT MOORE: “The Hangover,” “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”

CRAIG MAZIN: screenwriter “The Hangover 2,” “Scary Movie 4,” “Scary Movie 3”

ASHLEY BRUCKS: Paramount Pictures

MARY COLEMAN: Pixar Animation Studios

JOHN AUGUST: screenwriter “Corpse Bride,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Big Fish,” “Charlie’s Angels”

SHANE BLACK: screenwriter/director “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang,” screenwriter “Lethal Weapon,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” “The Last Boyscout”

MICHAEL BRANDT & DEREK HAAS: screenwriters “Wanted,” “3:10 to Yuma,” “2 Fast 2 Furious;” Haas is also the author of The Silver Bear and Columbus

JEFF GORIN: William Morris Endeavor Entertainment

REBECCA EWIGN: United Talent Agency

MAGGIE MALONE: Disney Animation Studios

PETER HEDGES: screenwriter “About a Boy,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” writer/director “Pieces of April”

PETER MURRIETA: showrunner “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Hope and Faith”

Also, please note that there will be a home football game the weekend of the Conference. And, well, this being Texas, we strongly advise booking your hotel sooner rather than later. To take advantage of the substantial discounts AFF offers at surrounding area hotels, reservations must be booked through our office and you must be registered in advance. To make a reservation, please call 1-800-310-FEST (3378).

To buy your Badge or for more information on the Festival and Conference, go to www.austinfilmfestival.com/.

ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. www.austinfilmfestival.com/.

The Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

2009 Audience Award Winners (PDF)

2009 Screenplay Winners (PDF)

2009 Film Competition Winners (PDF)

2009 Opening and Closing Night Films (PDF)

2009 AFF Film Highlights

AUSTIN, TX— August 18, 2009 — Academy Award®-winning screenwriter, director and producer Steven Zaillian will be presented with the Distinguished Screenwriter Award at the 16th Annual Austin Film Festival & Conference, October 22-29, 2009. Steven Zaillian will be presented with the award during the Awards Luncheon on Saturday, October 24th, at the Austin Club. The Awards Luncheon is funded by AKR Foundation. In addition, Zaillian will be a featured speaker during the Festival’s four-day Conference, October 22-25, 2009.

“Starting with our inaugural Distinguished Screenwriter Award recipient, Pulitzer Prize and Oscar®-winning screenwriter Horton Foote, the Austin Film Festival annually celebrates a screenwriter for their body of work and contributions to furthering the art of screenwriting,” said Austin Film Festival Executive Director and Co-Founder Barbara Morgan. “Steven’s work is revered and respected by so many screenwriters. We are delighted that he will be joining us this October.”

Steven Zaillian received an Academy Award® for his screenplay for Schindler’s List. His work on the film was also honored with a Writers Guild Award, the British Academy’s BAFTA Award and the Humanitas Prize.

His other screenplays include the Academy Award®-nominated Awakenings, The Falcon and the Snowman, Jack the Bear and American Gangster. He co-wrote Clear and Present Danger, The Interpreter and the Academy Award®-nominated Gangs of New York. He also wrote and directed Searching for Bobby Fischer, Writers Guild Award-nominated A Civil Action and All the King’s Men.

Previous Distinguished Screenwriter Award recipients were John Milius, Shane Black, Harold Ramis, Barry Levinson, Frank Pierson, Richard LaGravanese, Lawrence Kasdan, Buck Henry, Robert Altman, William Wittliff, Paul Schrader, Paul Mazursky and Horton Foote.

Also at the Austin Film Festival this year, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Ron Howard will accept the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award. Mitchell Hurwitz, Emmy Award®-winning creator of “Arrested Development” will accept the Outstanding Television Writer Award.

This year’s Austin Film Festival and Conference will host over 140 exciting premiere film screenings and events, and produce over 80 panels and roundtable discussions focusing on the art and commerce of film and television writing and production. The AFF and Conference provides registrants unparalleled access to the best writers and filmmakers in the industry.

Recent confirmed screenwriter and filmmaker panelists include William Broyles, Jr. (writer Flags of Our Fathers, Cast Away, Apollo 13), Damon Lindelof (co-creator “Lost”), Kirsten Smith (writer The Ugly Truth, Legally Blonde), Matthew Weiner (creator “Mad Men”), David Hayter (Watchmen, X2, X-Men), Melissa Rosenberg (Twilight, New Moon, and Breaking Dawn), Paul Feig (creator “Freaks and Geeks”), Michael Green (creator “Kings”, writer The Green Lantern ‘10, “Heroes”), and Peter Hedges (writer About a Boy, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.)

The Conference will also include representatives from Paramount Pictures, ABC Studios, Dreamworks, Josephson Entertainment, Disney Animation Studios, Kurtzman/Orci, 20th Century Fox and many more.

For a complete list of panelists and events, for more information, click here or call 800-310-3378.

Conference badges and film passes are on sale now and can be purchased here or by phone.

About Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. www.austinfilmfestival.com/

The Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®, Continental Airlines, Clear Channel Radio, KVUE, Target®, and AKR Foundation.

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For more information, please contact:
Elaine Garza
Giant Noise
512.382.9017 o
917.693.7064 c
elaine@giantnoise.com

7th Annual Film and Food Gala (PDF)

AUSTIN, TX— July 14, 2009 — Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Ron Howard will be presented with the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award at the 16th Annual Austin Film Festival & Conference, October 22-29, 2009. Ron Howard will be presented with the Award during the Awards Luncheon on Saturday, October 24th, at the Austin Club. In addition, Howard will be a featured speaker during the Festival’s four-day Conference, October 22-25, 2009.

Producer, director and actor Ron Howard is one of this generation’s most popular directors. From the critically acclaimed dramas A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 to the hit comedies Parenthood and Splash, he has created some of Hollywood’s most memorable films. Howard directed and produced Cinderella Man starring Oscar® winner Russell Crowe, with whom he previously collaborated with on A Beautiful Mind, for which Howard earned an Oscar® for Best Director and which also won awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. The film garnered four Golden Globes as well, including the award for Best Motion Picture Drama. Additionally, Howard won Best Director of the Year from the Directors Guild of America (DGA). Howard and producer Brian Grazer received the first annual Awareness Award from the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign for their work on the film.

Howard’s skill as a director has long been recognized, starting in 1978 with his directorial debut of the comedy Grand Theft Auto. In 1995, he received his first Best Director of the Year award from the DGA for Apollo 13. The true-life drama also garnered nine Academy Award® nominations, winning Oscars® for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. It also received Best Ensemble Cast and Best Supporting Actor Awards from the Screen Actor’s Guild. Many of Howard’s past films have received nods from the Academy, including the popular hits Backdraft, Parenthood and Cocoon, the last of which took home two Oscars®. Howard was honored by the Museum of Moving Images in December 2005, and by the American Cinema Editors in February 2006. On January 24th, Howard, along with his partner Brian Grazer, was honored with the Milestone Award by the Producers Guild of America (PGA).

Howard’s latest film was his adaptation of Dan Brown’s best-selling novel Angels & Demons, starring Oscar® winner Tom Hanks. The film is a follow up to his internationally successful film The Da Vinci Code, also starring Tom Hanks.

Howard also produced and directed the film adaptation of Peter Morgan’s critically acclaimed play Frost / Nixon. The film, which was released in December 2009, was nominated for 5 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, and was also nominated for The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures by the PGA.

Howard’s portfolio includes some of the most popular films of the past 20 years. In 1991, Howard created the acclaimed drama Backdraft, starring Robert De Niro, Kurt Russell and William Baldwin. He followed it with the historical epic Far and Away, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Howard directed Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinise and Delroy Lindo in the 1996 suspense thriller Ransom. Howard worked with Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise and Kathleen Quinlan on Apollo 13, which was re-released recently in the IMAX format. Howard’s other films include the blockbuster Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey; Parenthood, starring Steve Martin; the fantasy epic Willow; and Night Shift, starring Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton and Shelley Long; and the suspenseful western, The Missing, starring Oscar® winners Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones.

Howard has also served as an executive producer on a number of award-winning films and television shows, such as the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, and Fox’s Emmy Award winner for Best Comedy, “Arrested Development,” for which he narrated. He is also producing the upcoming television series “Parenthood,” based on the comedy he directed.

Howard and long-time producing partner Brian Grazer first collaborated on the hit comedies Night Shift and Splash. The pair co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 to create independently produced feature films. The company has since produced a variety of popular feature films, including such hits as American Gangster, Friday Night Lights, The Nutty Professor, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, Bowfinger, The Paper and Liar, Liar. Howard and Grazer produced the recently released drama Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood and staring Angelina Jolie.

He began his career in film as an actor. He first appeared in The Journey and The Music Man, then as Opie on the long-running television series “The Andy Griffith Show.” Howard later starred in the popular series “Happy Days” and drew favorable reviews for his performances in American Graffiti and The Shootist.

Previous Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award recipients are Danny Boyle, Oliver Stone and Sydney Pollack.

This year’s Austin Film Festival and Conference will host over 140 exciting premiere film screenings and events, and produce over 80 panels and roundtable discussions focusing on the art and commerce of film and television writing and production. The AFF and Conference provides registrants unparalleled access to the best writers and filmmakers in the industry.

“Arrested Development” creator Mitchell Hurwitz will accept the 2009 Outstanding Television Writer Award. Recent confirmed screenwriter and filmmaker panelists include Lawrence Kasdan (writer/director The Accidental Tourist, Body Heat, The Big Chill), Damon Lindelof (co-creator “Lost”), Richard Linklater (writer/director Dazed and Confused, Before Sunset), Doug Ellin (creator “Entourage”), David Hayter (Watchmen, X2, X-Men), Gina Prince-Bythewood (writer/director The Secret Life of Bees), and Melissa Rosenberg (Twilight, New Moon, and Breaking Dawn.) The Conference will also include representatives from Paramount Pictures, ABC Studios, Dreamworks, Josephson Entertainment, Disney Animation Studios, Kurtzman/Orci, 20th Century Fox and many more.

For a complete list of panelists and events, for more information, go to www.austinfilmfestival.com/ or call 512-478-4795 or 800-310-3378. Conference Badges and Film Passes are on sale now and can be purchased on-line or by phone.

About Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. www.austinfilmfestival.com/

The Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®, Continental Airlines, Clear Channel Radio, KVUE, and Target®.

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For more information, please contact:

Maya Perez
Conference Director
Austin Film Festival
512-478-4795
maya@austinfilmfestival.com

“Arrested Development” Creator Heads Up Stellar List of Television Show Creators at 16th Annual Screenwriters Conference

AUSTIN, Texas — July 6, 2009 — The Austin Film Festival (AFF) proudly announces that “Arrested Development” creator Mitchell Hurwitz will accept the 2009 Outstanding Television Writer Award during the Festival’s annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, October 24th. In addition to claiming the honor, Hurwitz will speak on panels during the Festival’s 16th Annual Screenwriters Conference, October 22-25, 2009.

Hurwitz is a television writer and producer, best known as the creator of the television sitcom, “Arrested Development,” which earned numerous Emmy Awards.  Prior to that he created “Everything’s Relative,” where he worked with Jeffrey Tambor and also co-created “The Ellen Show.”  Currently Hurwitz is partnered with Eric and Kim Tannenbaum running a television production company called Tantamount Studios – where he’s writing a project for Will Arnett, and another for Jason Biggs.  He also neither denies, nor confirms, the reality of an Arrested Development feature.

The Festival annually recognizes outstanding filmmakers and screenwriters for their accomplished bodies of work and contributions towards furthering the art and craft of filmmaking.  Previous recipients of the Outstanding Television Writer Award include Greg Daniels (“The Office”), David Milch (“Deadwood”), Garry Shandling (“The Larry Sanders Show”), David Chase (“The Sopranos”), Tom Fontana (“Oz”), Darren Star (“Sex and the City”), and Mike Judge (“King of the Hill”), among others.

Hurwitz will be joining a powerful group of television show creators confirmed to speak at the 2009 Conference that includes Matthew Weiner (“Mad Men”), Doug Ellin (“Entourage”), Damon Lindelof (co-creator “Lost”), Michael Green (“Kings”), Paul Feig (“Freaks and Geeks”), and Mike White (“Pasadena”).  Anyone else see a Brilliant but Cancelled panel in the works?

Since 1994, the AFF has been dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers while recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. AFF prides itself on bringing great movies from independent writers and directors to Austin, Texas. Both Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman (writer and director, respectively) of the break-out film Juno attended the Festival in 2007. Danny Boyle was named the 2008 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award recipient by AFF and attended the Festival, where he screened critically-acclaimed Slumdog Millionaire.

The AFF’s Screenwriters Conference offers over 65 panels, craft sessions and roundtable discussions led by more than 100 industry professionals. Focusing on the art and commerce of film and television writing and production, it provides registrants unparalleled access to the best writers in the field.  Past participants include John Milius (Apocalypse Now), Sydney Pollack (Tootsie), Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day), Barry Levinson (Diner), Robert Altman (Nashville), Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich), Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson (Rushmore), Joel & Ethan Coen (Fargo), Russell Crowe (Gladiator), Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio (Shrek), Bryan Singer (X-Men), Oliver Stone (Platoon), and Chris & Paul Weitz (About a Boy).

Already confirmed screenwriter speakers, schedules permitting, for the 2009 Screenwriters Conference include:

•    Jessica Bendinger (writer/director Stick It, writer Aquamarine, Bring It On)
•    Shane Black (writer/director Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, writer Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Last Boyscout)
•    Billy Brown (writer The Haunting Hour, John Carpenter’s Body Bags, “Night Visions”, “Goosebumps”)
•    Jim Dauterive (writer “King of the Hill”, “Monsignor Martinez”)
•    Doug Ellin (creator/writer “Entourage”)
•    Paul Feig (creator/writer “Freaks and Geeks”, writer/director I Am David, writer/director Unaccompanied Minors, director “The Office”, “Mad Men”, “30 Rock”, and “Weeds”)
•    Michael Green (creator/writer “Kings”, writer The Green Lantern ‘10, “Heroes”, “Everwood”, “Smallville”)
•    David Hayter (writer Watchmen, X2, The Scorpion King, X-Men)
•    Pat Hazell (writer “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”, “My Life In 3D”, “Showtime’s Aspen Comedy Special”)
•    Lawrence Kasdan (writer/director The Accidental Tourist, Body Heat, The Big Chill, writer Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi)
•    Damon Lindelof (co-creator/writer “Lost”, writer “Crossing Jordan”)
•    Richard Linklater (writer/director Fast Food Nation, A Scanner Darkly, Before Sunset, Waking Life)
•    Chris McQuarrie (writer The Usual Suspects, The Way of the Gun, Valkyrie)
•    Daniel Petrie, Jr. (writer Beverly Hills Cop, The Big Easy, Shoot to Kill, writer/director “Framed”)
•    Gina Prince-Bythewood (writer/director The Secret Life of Bees, Love & Basketball, writer “Felicity”, “A Different World”)
•    Melissa Rosenberg (Twilight, New Moon, and Breaking Dawn, head writer “Dexter”)
•    Danny Rubin (S.F.W., Groundhog Day)
•    Chuck Sklar (“The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Politically Incorrect,” “The Chris Rock Show”)
•    Kirsten Smith (The House Bunny, Ella Enchanted, Legally Blonde)
•    Matthew Weiner (creator/writer “Mad Men”, writer “The Sopranos”, “Dexter”)
•    Herschel Weingrod (writer Trading Places, Brewster’s Millions, producer Falling Down)
•    Mike White (producer/actor Gentlemen Broncos, writer The School of Rock, The Good Girl, Orange County

For more information about the Austin Film Festival and Conference, purchasing a Badge, and the complete list of confirmed panelists, please call 1-800-310-FEST (3378) or visit the website at www.austinfilmfestival.com/.

About Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships.  www.austinfilmfestival.com/

The Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®, Continental Airlines, Clear Channel Radio, KVUE, and Target®.

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For more information or a jpeg of Mitchell Hurwitz’s headshot, please contact:

Maya Perez
Conference Director
Austin Film Festival
512-478-4795
maya@austinfilmfestival.com

Austin American-Statesman – Tobin Levy – ‎Jun 24, 2009

Sandlot baseball requires a certain amount of trash talk, and there was plenty of it at Parque Zaragoza earlier this month.

Austin’s Texas Playboys were facing off against their favorite Texas rival: Marfa’s Los Yonke Gallos. But despite the brash talk during the afternoon double-header, the competitors were chatting in the other side’s dugout and the fans seemed to be cheering for both teams at once.

In fact, the amity seen at the East Austin baseball diamond reflects a larger camaraderie between the two communities, the effect of Austin’s ongoing love affair with the tiny West Texas town of Marfa.

Take Austin architect Jack Sanders, the founder and captain of the Playboys. He’s currently project manager of Marfa’s El Cosmico, which is “part yurt and hammock hotel, part residential living, part art-house, greenhouse and amphitheater” and is the latest project of Liz Lambert, who was the creative force behind the Hotel San Jose and Jo’s coffee house on South Congress Avenue and Hotel Saint Cecilia just off South Congress Avenue.

Read the rest of the article here.

UT: The Daily Texan – Emily Macrander – ‎Jun 19, 2009‎

“The kids at the Austin Film Festival Summer Film Camp do quite the opposite: They go back to school to learn how to make the programs their peers may…”

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/dt-weekend/cameras-roll-after-bells-toll-1.1764546

The Austin Chronicle – June 19, 2009 – Kimberley Jones

If you want to impress Austin Film Festival Film Program Director Kelly Williams, dangle a good-looking movie theatre at him. The underused Texas Spirit Theater at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum was at least in part the inspiration for AFF’s ongoing Made in Texas film series, and now a new AFF series, the New Directions Summer Film Series, is setting up shop just down the street in the Blanton Museum of Art’s newly completed auditorium in the Edgar A. Smith Building. The gleaming 299-seat theatre boasts state of the art A/V technology, not to mention no scuffed floors or gum jammed under the seats – that is, jokes Williams, until a rowdy crowd amasses for this month’s Silent Light screening.

Read the full article here.

Time Warner Cable Contest Press Release (PDF)

Examiner.com – ‎Jun 16, 2009‎

“But this place is completely normal.” So says David Byrne, writer, director, and narrator of the 1986 movie, “True Stories”, the ironically named chronicle of the fictional Texas town of Virgil on its 150 year anniversary. Byrne claims all the stories in the movie are based on things he read out of the newspaper; banal stories about the oddities of small town life in Texas. But the dream-like sequences and wacky characterizations make this movie seem like “Our Town” on acid. The movie stars John Goodman, the late Spalding Grey, and at least 50 sets of twins (eat your heart out, Doublemint gum).

“True Stories” will be shown at the Bob Bullock Texas State History museum as a part of the Made in Texas film series, a program of the Austin Film Festival sponsored by the Texas film commission. This is the fourth in a series of six films that will be screened throughout the summer which were either made by a Texas filmmaker or shot in Texas (“True Stories” was filmed primarily in Dallas and Red Oak).

Read the rest of the article here.

Dark Hero Studios to Judge Austin Film Festival Sci-Fi Competition

Sci-Fi Heavyweights Preside Over Screenplay Competition at Festival Focused on Discovering New Talent

AUSTIN, Texas – May 19, 2009 - Watchmen co-writer David Hayter and producer Benedict Carver’s Dark Hero Studios will judge the 2009 Austin Film Festival (AFF) Sci-Fi Competition. The Sci-Fi Competition is a sub-category of the Screenplay Competition and includes science fiction, horror, supernatural thriller and fantasy genres.  For sixteen years AFF has provided emerging writers with exposure to and dialogue with industry professionals.  As one of the most respected festivals in the country, AFF supports participating writers by providing unique networking opportunities during the Festival and Conference, which will be held Oct. 22-29, 2009.  Screenplay and Teleplay Competition deadlines have been extended to May 22, with a late deadline of June 8, 2009.

“This is a coup for the AFF Screenplay Competition and our entrants,” said Alex McPhail, AFF Screenplay Competition Director. “David Hayter and Benedict Carver are two of the biggest names in Sci-fi and they will lend an enormous amount of expertise to the judging.  Finalists will have bragging rights not just for making it to the finals, but for having had a script read by major industry influencers.”

About Dark Hero Studios

David Hayter and Benedict Carver’s newly formed Dark Hero Studios will produce feature films, television programming, Internet content, graphic novels and videogames.  Hayter is preparing to make his directorial debut on his thriller scriptWolves, which Carver is producing.  Hayter’s previous screenwriting credits include Watchmen, X-Men, X2, and The Scorpion King. Carver has produced Doomsday and Tekken among other films. He previously was senior vice president of acquisitions and co-productions at Screen Gems, and he has also been a film reporter with Daily Variety. Dark Hero Studios’ focus on action, sci-fi and horror genres makes them an ideal partner for judging this year’s AFF Sci-Fi Competition.

About the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition

One of the most respected competitions in the country, the AFF Screenplay Competition provides emerging writers the means to expose their work to major players in the entertainment industry.  Past entrants have signed with Artisan Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency, Metropolitan Talent Agency, William Morris Agency, DreamWorks Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Miramax Films, and other highly respected companies.

The Screenplay Competition has two categories: Drama and Comedy.  Prizes are $5,000 for each category, reimbursement for airfare (up to $500) and hotel (up to $500) for attendance to the Festival, and the bronze AFF Typewriter Award.  The Competition also features two sub-categories with prizes of their own: the Sci-Fi Award (science fiction, horror, supernatural thriller, fantasy, etc.) and the Latitude Productions Award (open to adult character driven drama or comedy scripts with an estimated budget of $10 million dollars or less).  In order to be considered for these prizes, a script must be entered in either the Drama or Comedy Screenplay categories.  The prizes for these are $2,500 each, reimbursement for airfare (up to $500) and hotel (up to $500) for attendance to the Festival, and the bronze AFF Typewriter Award.

The Teleplay Competition is open to any spec script from a currently airing network or cable TV show.  The two categories are Drama and Comedy, and the prizes are $1,000 each, reimbursement for airfare (up to $500) and hotel (up to $500) for attendance to the festival, and the bronze AFF Typewriter Award.

The extended early Screenplay Competition deadline is May 22 with a $40 entry fee, and the extended late deadline is June 8 with a $50 entry fee.  The Sci-Fi Competition and Latitude Competition entry fees are an additional $20 each.  The extended Teleplay deadline is June 8 and the entry fee is $30.

The AFF Film Competition continues to encourage and advocate the work for new and talented filmmakers.  Categories include: Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Narrative Student Short, Animated Short, Documentary Feature, and Documentary Short.  The film competition has an early postmark deadline of June 3 ($45) and a late deadline of July 3 ($50).

Winners of the competitions will be announced in Austin at the Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 at The Austin Club.

For additional information on the 16th Annual Austin Film Festival and the Screenplay and Teleplay Competition and Film Competition, including entry forms, submission fees and Competition guidelines rules call 1-800-310-FEST (3378) or visit the official website at www.austinfilmfestival.com/.

About Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships.  www.austinfilmfestival.com/

The Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Special support is provided to the Austin Film Festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®, Continental Airlines, Clear Channel Radio, KVUE, and Target®.

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CONTACTS:

Cile Montgomery
Giant Media
Tel: (512) 478-4795
cmontgomery@giantmediallc.com

Alex McPhail
Screenplay Competition Director
Austin Film Festival
Tel: (512) 478-4795
alex@austinfilmfestival.com

MovieMaker Magazine – April 17, 2009

“Now more than ever, with our country deep in a recession, coughing up the entry fees for a number of film festivals can be an unfeasible expense, so moviemakers need to choose wisely and target those fests that can offer a potential return on their investment. But how can you choose where to submit?”

View Article

Target “School Play” Invitation (PDF)

“From Here to Nowhere” Script Reading Invitation (PDF)

Conversations in Film with Shane Black Invitation (PDF)

The Austin Film Festival is pleased to announce its 2008 audience award winners. Votes were cast by ballot following all film screenings. Winners by category follow:

Out of Competition Feature: