Austin Film Festival presentation — original pdf

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Austin Film Festival Barbara Morgan, CEO/Co-Founder O U R M I S S I O N Austin Film Festival furthers the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and all artists who use written and visual language to tell a story. O U R H I S T O R Y Founded in 1993 – First festival to recognize the writer’s craft as central to the filmmaking process. Known as "The Writers Festival" 32 years of fostering a creative community – Helps aspiring writers and filmmakers bridge the gap from craft to career. Supports writers through all storytelling stages – From idea generation to finding a job. A key force in Texas and the national cultural arts scene – Recognized by the industry as the premier curator of undiscovered talent and a champion for writers. "A writer's film festival, that may be the best idea ever. It's magical... It's the best film festival in the world." - Lawrence Kasdan, The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark A F F B Y T H E N U M B E R S 8 Days of films 37k+ attendance 10,000+ scripts submitted 6,000+ films submitted 182 films screened 200+ panelists 4 Days of panels 173 panels “Austin Film Festival is really about creativity, about trying to help people find their voice. You sense it. There’s a spirit of camaraderie that's palpable. And it's fun." - Ron Horward, director Apollo 13 A F F A U D I E N C E Gender 46% Women Age 10% 3% 51% Male 3% Non-Binary 31% 24% 22% 10% <17 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 >65 Household Income 34% 13% 8% 7% 13% 13% 12% <$20K $20-29K $30-39K $40-59K $60-79K $80-99K >$100k Education Ethnicity Hispanic - 8% Black - 14% Asian - 5% Native American - 1% Other - 2% Multi-Racial - 6% White - 64% 3% 5% 6% 50% 31% 4% Unfinished High School High School, GED Post-HS, Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Advanced Degree Doctorate, Ph. D E C O N O M I C I M P A C T $13,000,000 Economic Impact to City of Austin 5,400 Room Nights 18 Partner Hotels 16 Conference Rooms Conference Sq Ft 41,805 7 Screens 2,114 Theater Seats 9 Party Venues 64,300 Party Sq Ft P A S T A N D C U R R E N T S P O N S O R S O U R P R O G R A M M I N G Film Festival Writers AFF screens over 180 films – Screenings run day and night for the full eight days of the Festival. Diverse film selection – Includes Marquee blockbusters, competition films, narratives, documentaries, animation, comedy, international films, and Texas filmmakers’ work. Storytelling is the priority – AFF curates films that emphasize strong storytelling. Post-screening Q&As – Most screenings feature key creative team members, allowing audiences to engage with filmmakers. Conference Extensive programming – 170+ panels, 200+ industry panelists, and 20+ networking events. Largest educational and professional event for screenwriters Serves multiple writing disciplines – Screenwriting, TV writing, playwriting, podcasting, and game writing. Focus on three pillars – Art, craft, and business of storytelling. Inclusive and accessible – No VIP barriers; fosters open exchange between industry veterans and newcomers. On Story Project On Story Project launched in 2011 – Expands AFF’s mission by sharing recorded events for free. Supports writers and filmmakers – Provides access to insights from top industry professionals. Four major components: TV show – Airs on 87% of PBS stations nationwide. Radio show – Broadcasts on public radio across the U.S. Podcast series – Available on all major streaming platforms. Extensive archive – 32 years of content preserved at The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University. “One of my favorite things about Austin is that, unlike other world- class film festivals where filmmakers are separated from the audience by velvet ropes, AFF encourages their attendees and speakers to mingle and get to know each other. The festival’s social gatherings are how I’ve come to meet so many of the writers who have gone on to become close friends, mentees, and mentors." - Nicole Perlman, writer Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel O U R P R O G R A M M I N G Year-Round Events Bridges the gap from craft to career – Hosts panels, roundtables, script readings, and writers retreats locally and nationally. Industry partnerships – Collaborates with Writers Guild of America (WGA) East & West and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Coast-to-coast industry presence – Keeps AFF connected to the evolving film and TV landscape. Uplifting Storytellers Initiative Supports diverse, marginalized, and underrepresented storytellers – Encourages and uplifts new voices. Key programs include: BIPOC-specific fellowships – Partnered with production companies. Networking events – Connects local writers and filmmakers of color. Young Filmmakers Program Serves 1,000+ students annually – with curated year-round programs for ages 9-18. Focus areas – Screenwriting, filmmaking, podcast creation, film editing, and production. Four key initiatives: Young Filmmakers Competition Annual Summer Film Camp Festival & Conference Scholarship Program Digital Storytelling Program – In-school curriculum covering screenwriting, podcasting, and film production. Empowers students – Reinforces that every young storyteller has a unique story to tell. "I view this as more than a film festival. It is a creative family in flux - attendees, honorees, and panelists return again and again, arriving each time with different projects and goals and each time walking away with more than they wished or bargained for." - John Lee Hancock director The Rookie