Austin Film Festival

NINE DAYS Opens, STARDUST and BROTHERS OF DESTRUCTION Set for Closing Night of 27th Austin Film Festival

Winston Duke and Zazie Beetz star in Nine Days by Edson Oda

Austin Film Festival will kick off this year’s 27th edition of the Festival, on October 22, 2020 with Nine Days from writer/director Edson Oda, with cast members Winston Duke and Zazie Beetz on hand for a post-screening Q&A. WWE Network Documentaries will bring the World Premiere of Brothers of Destruction to the festival’s Closing Night slate, which chronicles the legacy of the iconic legends, Undertaker and Kane. AFF’s Centerpiece film is IFC Films’ Farewell Amor, following the story of an Angolan immigrant reuniting with his wife and daughter after 17 years apart. IFC Films will also be bringing Stardust (directed/co-written by Gabriel Range) to the Festival’s Closing Night programming.

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Austin Film Festival Announces 2020 Lineup and US Premiere of DAVE NOT COMING BACK

Dave Not Coming Back

Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF) announced today the full schedule of films and panels for the 27th annual Festival, this October 22-29, to be held exclusively online.

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Austin Film Festival Reveals First Wave of 2020 Films

Death of a Telemarketer

Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced the first wave of screenings to be included in their 2020 film slate, taking place virtually October 22-29.

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Austin Film Festival Reveals 5th Annual “25 Screenwriters to Watch” List

Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF) announced their fifth annual “25 Screenwriters to Watch.” This year’s “25 Screenwriters to Watch” list includes a roster of promising and innovative voices, featuring writers from diverse backgrounds, mediums, and points in their careers.

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Hannah Dweck’s GUEST HOUSE Documentary Profiles Women Reintegrating from Prison

Maddison and Selena share a hug at the Guest House. Credit: Dweck Productions

Guest House, a new documentary by first-time director Hannah Dweck co-directed by Yael Luttwak, will open at the Hot Springs Film Festival October 23, and the Austin Film Festival October 26.

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26th Austin Film Festival Announces Film Lineup HONEY BOY, YELLOW ROSE and more

Honey Boy

Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF) announced the full schedule of films and panels for the 26th annual Festival, this October 24-31.

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JUST MERCY Starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx will Close 26th Austin Film Festival

JUST MERCY Starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx

The 26th annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) will present Just Mercy as its Closing Night film on October 31, 2019, with screenwriter Andrew Lanham, UT Michener Graduate and 2016 AFF Screenwriter to watch in attendance. Lanham has also been recognized by AFF previously as 2010’s Drama Screenplay Competition winner for The Jumper of Maine.

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Austin Film Festival 2019 Adds More Films + WAVES as Centerpiece

WAVES directed by Trey Edward Shults; and starring Sterling K. Brown, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lucas Hedges, Taylor Russell, and Alexa Demie

Austin Film Festival 2019 has selected Waves as the fest’s Centerpiece selection on October 28. The Centerpiece screening will include the Texas homecoming for native Trey Edward Shults, whose previous writer- director credits include Krisha and It Comes at Night. Set against the vibrant landscape of South Florida and featuring an astonishing ensemble of award-winning actors and breakouts alike, Waves traces the epic emotional journey of a suburban African-American family— led by a well-intentioned but domineering father—as they navigate love, forgiveness, and coming together in the aftermath of a loss.

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Austin Film Festival 2019 Reveals First Wave of Films

A HIDDEN LIFE, Terrence Malick

Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced the first wave of films to be included in their 26th Anniversary edition, taking place October 24 to 31, 2019. AFF will screen legendary writer/director Terrence Malick’s latest film A Hidden Life, starring August Diehl and Valerie Pachner. The film follows the true story of an Austrian farmer who refused to yield to Nazi forces in World War II. Also screening at AFF is the biopic Harriet, written by Kasi Lemons and Gregory Allen Howard and starring Cynthia Erivo, Joe Alwyn, and Jannelle Monáe, following the harrowing journey of American hero Harriet Tubman. In addition, AFF will screen The Truth from writer/director Hirokazu Koreeda starring Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, and Ethan Hawke.

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Austin Film Festival Announces 2018 Winners, THE INTERPRETERS Wins Hiscox Courage Award

[caption id="attachment_32598" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The Interpreters[/caption] Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its 2018 Jury Award winners, Hiscox Audience and Courage Award Winners, and the Screenplay Competition winners. One film was selected to receive the Hiscox Courage Award. Voted on by the audience, the Hiscox Courage Award is presented to the film that best embodies the virtue of courage and to the filmmaker who best embraced the risk to share the story. The 2018 Hiscox Courage Award was awarded to The Interpreters, directed by Andres Caballero and Sofian Khan. The Interpreters is a documentary feature that follows local interpreters from Iraq and Afghanistan who worked with US forces and are now trying to rebuild their lives.
2018 Austin Film Festival Jury Award Winners
Narrative Feature: Clara, written by Akash Sherman and James Ewasiuk Documentary Feature: The Interpreters, directed by Andres Caballero and Sofian Khan Comedy Vanguard Feature: In Reality, written by Ann Lupo, Esteban Pedraza, and Aaron Pryka Dark Matters Feature: Ghost Light, written by Geoffrey Taylor and John Stimpson Narrative Short presented by ShortsTV: Judas Collar, written by Alison James Narrative Student Short: Woman in Stall, written by Josh Boles Documentary Short: Father K, directed by Judd Ehrlich Animated Short: Sister, written by Siqi Song Scripted Digital Series presented by Stage 13: Song in the Sky, created by Samuel Frederich
2018 Austin Film Festival Hiscox Audience Award Winners
Narrative Feature: Above the Clouds, written by Simon Lord Documentary Feature: Care to Laugh, directed by Julie Getz Dark Matters Feature: Alive, written by Jules Vincent and Chuck McCue Comedy Vanguard Feature: In Reality, written by Ann Lupo, Esteban Pedraza, and Aaron Pryka Texas Independent Feature: The Iron Orchard, written by Gerry De Leon and Ty Roberts Narrative Short: Everything Mattress, written by Chase Joliet Documentary Short: Father K, directed by Judd Ehrlich Animated Short: Lost & Found, written by Bradley Slabe Narrative Student Short: Tiny Warriors, written by Jono Chanin Scripted Digital Series: The Gary Gold Story, created by Greg Ash Marquee Feature: Green Book, written by Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, and Peter Farrelly
2018 Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winners
Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Horsehead Girls by Wenonah Wilms Comedy Screenplay Award presented by Sony Pictures Animation: Sex APPeal by Tate Elizabeth Hanyok Sci-Fi Screenplay Award: Our Own Devices by Paul Vance Enderby Entertainment Award (scripts that can be produced under $10 million): Project Horizon by Charles Morris, II Horror Screenplay Award: The Patience of Vultures by Greg Sisco AMC Drama Teleplay Pilot Award: Worth by Stuti Malhotra Comedy Pilot Award: What Will Jessie Do? by Kevin Luperchio Short Screenplay Award: Ruby Throat by Sarah Polhaus Scripted Digital Series Award presented by Stage 13: Epizootic by Dan Young Drama Teleplay Spec Award: The Handmaid’s Tale, “Rebels” by Angela Jorgensen Comedy Teleplay Spec Award: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, “Kimmy Volunteers!” by Maggie Gottlieb Playwriting Award: Particular Disposition by Benjamin Fulk Fiction Podcast Award: The Rest Stop at the End of the Universe by Samuel Suksiri
2018 Austin Film Festival Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship Winners
In addition, producer Barry Josephson announced the selected fellows for the inaugural Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship, which will provide a one-on-one mentorship with Josephson and his team in Los Angeles for the writers of one feature screenplay and one teleplay pilot. The winners were: Feature Screenplay: The Death of Colm Canter by Revati Dhomse & Hector Lowe Teleplay Pilot: Lifers Anonymous by Sean Collins-Smith
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25th Austin Film Festival Announces Full Lineup, BEN IS BACK, WIDOWS, GREEN BOOK

[caption id="attachment_30734" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] L-R: Michelle Rodriguez, Viola Davis, and Elizabeth Debicki star in Twentieth Century Fox’s WIDOWS. Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox.[/caption] Steve McQueen’s and Gillian Flynn’s modern-day thriller Widows, Peter Farrelly’s drama Green Book starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen, Mike Leigh’s period piece Peterloo are among the the full schedule of films announced for the 25th Anniversary edition of the Austin Film Festival taking place this October 25 to November 1. The festival lineup also includes Mickey Rourke-starring boxing drama Tiger, Paul Dano’s Wildlife starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, and Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges family drama Ben is Back bowing as AFF’s Centerpiece selection. Other World Premieres include The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova (a comedy about estranged siblings traveling to Poland to track down the remains of the their grandmother’s childhood dog), F/11 and Be There (a documentary about famed photographer Burk Uzzle), The Amaranth (a thriller about a mysterious retirement community), A Girl Named C (Emily Kassie’s documentary about a family grappling with the discovery that their 11-year-old daughter was raped), and Waiting for the Miracle to Come (Lian Lunson’s whimsical drama starring Willie Nelson and Charlotte Rampling).
Austin Film Festival’s 2018 slate

Marquee Features
And Breathe Normally Writer/Director: Isold Uggadottir Ben is Back Writer/Director: Peter Hedges Boy Erased Writer/Director: Joel Edgerton Can You Ever Forgive Me? Writers: Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Whitty Director: Marielle Heller El Chicano Writers: Ben Hernandez Bray, Joe Carnahan Director: Ben Hernandez Bray Everybody Knows Writer/Director: Asghar Farhadi The Favourite Writers: Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara Director: Yorgos Lanthimos The Front Runner Writers: Matt Bai, Jay Carson, Jason Reitman Director: Jason Reitman Fullsterkur Director: Todd Sansom Green Book Writers: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly Director: Peter Farrelly Happy as Lazarro Writer/Director: Alice Rohrwacher Little Woods Writer/Director: Nia DaCosta The Long Dumb Road Writers: Hannah Fidell, Carson Mell Director: Hannah Fidell Peterloo Writer/Director: Mike Leigh Shoplifters Writer/Director: Hirokazu Koreeda Tiger Writers: Michael Pugliese, Prem Singh Director: Alister Grierson Widows Writers: Gillian Flynn & Steve McQueen Director: Steve McQueen Wildlife Writers: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan Director: Paul Dano Worlds of Ursula K. LeGuin Writer/Director: Arwen Curry
Marquee Television
Counterpart Season 2 Episode 1 Premiere Creator: Justin Marks Executive Producer: Jordan Horowitz Friends from College Season 2 Episode 1 Premiere Creators: Francesca Delbanco & Nicholas Stoller
Narrative Features
Above the Clouds Writer: Simon Lord Director: Leon Chambers ClaraClara Writers: Akash Sherman, James Ewasiuk Director: Akash Sherman The Comet Writer: Torben Bech Director: Bård Røssevold Delia & Sammy Writer/ Director: Therese Cayaba Fishbowl Writers: Stephen Kinigopoulos, Piero Iberti Director: Stephen Kinigopoulos, Alexa Kinigopoulos Last Summer Writer/Director: Jon Jones Laugh or Die Writers: Heikki Kujanpää, Mikko Reitala Director: Heikki Kujnapää Love Goes Through Your Mind Writers: Shruti Swaminathan, Ronak Shah Director: Ronak Shah Major Arcana Writer/Director: Josh Melrod Speaking in Tongues Writers: Nathan Deming, Lawrie Doran Director: Nathan Deming Undercliffe Writer: Bruce McLeod Director: Lisa Mulcahy
Comedy Vanguard Features
Antiquities Writers: Daniel Campbell, Graham Gordy Director: Daniel Campbell The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova Writer: Michael Whatling Director: Zack Bernbaum In Reality Writers: Ann Lupo, Esteban Pedraza, Aaron Pryka Director: Ann Lupo Lost & Found Writer/Director: Liam O Mochain Original Sin (Pecado Original) Writers: Jean Lee, Maia Nikiphoroff Director: Jean Lee Simple Wedding Writers: Sara Zandieh, Stephanie Wu Director: Sara Zandieh
Dark Matters Features
Alive. Writers: Jules Vincent, Chuck McCue Director: Rob Grant The Amaranth Writer: Eileen Shields Director: Albert Chi Beyond the Night Writer/Director: Jason Noto The Black String Writers: Brian Hanson, Richard Handley Director: Brian Hanson The Dark Red Writers: Dan Bush, Conal Byrne Director: Dan Bush Empathy, Inc. Writer: Mark Leidner Director: Yedidya Gorestman Ghost Light Writer: John Stimpson, Geoffrey Taylor Director: John Stimpson The Lake Vampire Writer/Director: Carl Zitelmann
Documentary Feature
A Girl Named C Director: Emily Kassie Care to Laugh Director: Julie Getz F/11 and Be There Director: Jethro Waters Fathers of Football Director: Bradley Beesley For The Birds Director: Richard Miron Ghosthunter Director: Ben Lawrence The Interpreters Directors: Andres Caballero, Sofian Khan Long Time Coming: A 1955 Baseball Story Writers: Jon Strong, Ted Haddock, John King, Mike Quinn Jr. Director: Jon Strong The Money Stone Director: Stuart Harmon Surviving Bokator Writers: Mark Bochsler, Kevin Schjerning, Fernanda Rossi Director: Mark Bochsler Turning Point Director: James Keach
Texas Independent Features
Also Starring Austin Writer: Mike Blizzard, Laura Colwell, Lara Morgan Director: Mike Blizzard The Iron Orchard Writer: Gerry De Leon Director: Ty Roberts Jules of Light and Dark Writer/Director: Daniel Laabs Texas Cotton Writers: Tyler Russell, Jameel Khaja Director: Tyler Russell Waiting for the Miracle to Come Writer/Director: Lian Lunson
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Natalie Portman’s VOX LUX to Open 25th Austin Film Festival [Trailer]

[caption id="attachment_31495" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Vox Lux[/caption] Natalie Portman’s drama Vox Lux will bow as the Opening Night Film of the Austin Film Festival’s 25th Anniversary, running October 25 through November 1. Vox Lux begins in 1999 when teenage sisters Celeste and Eleanor survive a seismic, violent tragedy. The sisters compose and perform a song about their experience, making something lovely and cathartic out of catastrophe — while also catapulting Celeste to stardom. By 2017, the now 31-year-old Celeste is mother to a teenage daughter of her own and struggling to navigate a career fraught with scandals when another act of terrifying violence demands her attention. The film stars Natalie Portman, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, and Jude Law. Writer/director Brady Corbet will be in attendance to present the film and will also take part in a conversation as part of AFF’s Writers Conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ug4-nYbo7g Corbet will be joining a slew of writers, directors, and actors confirmed to attend including Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle) for the World Premiere of thriller The Black String, Adrian Grenier (Entourage) and Zane Holtz (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series) representing Beyond the Night, George Hardy (Troll 2) for the World Premiere of Texas Cotton, and Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars), representing boxing drama Tiger. AFF will also be hosting a team of Icelandic strongmen to present the Rogue Fitness-produced documentary Fullsterkur, chronicling the history and phenomenon of Iceland strength. Cast in attendance includes Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson (Game of Thrones), Magnus Ver Magnusson, Stefán Sölví Pétursson, and Annie Thorisdottir. .
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