Austin Film Festival

What Austin Film Festival does

Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. It operates an annual 8-day film festival combined with a 4-day writers conference, marketed as the world's largest screenwriters conference. Core offerings include script competitions (Feature, Short, Teleplay, Digital Series, Playwriting), a film competition with over 40 annual awards, the On Story multimedia brand (weekly PBS television series, radio program, podcast, and a published book), and year-round programming such as the Galaxy Theatre Screening Series, Conversations in Film events, and Pitch Competition. The organization also runs a Young Filmmakers Program for ages 9-18, encompassing summer camps (Claymation Creations, Filmmaking 101, Script to Screen), digital storytelling with schools, and over 450 scholarships for middle and high school students.

The technology platform is straightforward: a digital system for event management, film and script submission processing, online content distribution, and standard competition judging / audience voting. Beyond the core event, AFF monetizes through tiered badges and film passes, an annual membership program, professional script coverage and consultation services, summer camp tuition, branded merchandise, the Film & Food fundraising gala, and tax-deductible donations. Revenue is also supported by periodic grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Notable industry partners include AMC, Warner Bros. TV, Donners' Company, Valhalla Entertainment, Rooster Teeth, Starburns Industries, YMH Studios, Enderby Entertainment, Universal Cable Productions, the Writers Guild of America East, and Hiscox Insurance. The Documentary Short competition has held Oscar-qualifying status since 2016, and AFF has placed on MovieMaker Magazine's Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee list across multiple years.

Name

Austin Film Festival

Legal name

Austin Film Festival

Website

https://austinfilmfestival.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Austin Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating an annual 8-day film festival and 4-day screenwriters conference in Austin, Texas, serving emerging and professional screenwriters, filmmakers, and young creators ages 9-18 through competitions, educational programs, and year-round screenings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival and Screenwriters Conference Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Screenwriting Workshops (Film/TV/Web) (EDAMAMAE), Playwriting & Scriptwriting Workshops (Stage) (EDAMAMAD)

Keywords

• Film festival services
• Screenwriting competitions
• Writers conference
• Youth filmmaking programs
• Film festival memberships

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Badges and Passes: Sale of festival badges and film passes for the annual Film Festival and Conference. Various tiers including Weekend Badges, Lone Star Badges, Producers Badges, and Conference Badges.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership subscriptions offering exclusive benefits including screenings, script readings, Conversations in Film events, and parties throughout the year.
3. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and grants from organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. AFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
4. Film & Food Fundraising Gala: Annual benefit event for the Young Filmmakers Program featuring food, drinks, and networking, with ticket sales contributing to fundraising.
5. Script Coverage and Consultation: AFF Coverage Program offers script coverage and consultation services for writers seeking professional feedback on their screenplays and teleplays.
6. Summer Camps and Classes: Youth programming including Summer Film Camp, Claymation Creations, Filmmaking 101, Script to Screen, and Full Day Combo Camp for young filmmakers ages 9-18.
7. Merchandise and Publications: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel, posters, books, and DVDs such as the On Story screenwriters book.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Austin Film Festival produces an annual 8-day film festival and 4-day Writers Conference (the world's largest screenwriters conference) in Austin, Texas, along with year-round educational and competition programming. Core offerings include Script Competitions, Film Competition, Digital Series Competition, the On Story multimedia content brand (PBS TV series, radio/podcast, book), the Young Filmmakers Program for ages 9-18, Summer Film Camps, and script coverage/consultation services for writers.

Product overview

Austin Film Festival operates as an event-based cultural organization rather than a software platform. The core offering consists of an annual 8-day Film Festival combined with a 4-day Writers Conference (the world's largest screenwriters conference), supported by year-round programming through the On Story multimedia project (TV show, radio/podcast, and book). The competitive portfolio includes Script Competitions, Film Competition, and Digital Series Competition. Educational initiatives center on the Young Filmmakers Program (ages 9-18) with Summer Camps and Classes. Additional offerings include Coverage/Consultation services, Membership Program, Pitch Competition, Fellowships and Awards, Film & Food Gala, and various Conference Tracks (Game Writing, Playwriting). Badges and Film Passes provide tiered access to events. The organization also runs Year-Round Events including the Galaxy Theatre Screening Series, plus Fiscal Sponsorship and the Uplifting Storytellers Initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• On Story: A multimedia project including a weekly 30-minute television series featuring interviews with today's leading creators, writers and filmmakers; a one-hour radio program and podcast featuring creative minds behind productions like True Detective and The Graduate; and a book series praised by film and media studies professors.
• Young Filmmakers Program

Products and services

• Austin Film Festival (Annual Flagship Event) An annual 8-day film festival in Austin, Texas showcasing narrative, animation, and documentary features and shorts, including premieres, advance screenings, and independent films. Over 40 awards are presented annually across jury and audience categories.
• Writers Conference A 4-day conference known as the world's largest screenwriters conference, featuring panels, roundtables, workshops, and networking opportunities with industry professionals across specialized tracks including Game Writing, Playwriting, and Television.
• On Story

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 awards distributed annually across screenplay, teleplay, feature, short, documentary, and animated film categories
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Donners' CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonners' Company Screenwriting Award partnership providing fellowship opportunity for emerging screenwriters through the AFF competition program.
• AMCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMC provides the One-Hour Pilot Award for AFF's teleplay competition, supporting emerging television writers with development opportunities.
• Valhalla EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry fellowship partnership supporting emerging talent through the AFF competition and fellowship program.
• YMH StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYour Mom's House Comedy Fellowship partnership providing opportunities for comedy writers through AFF competitions.
• Starburns IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult Comedy Animated Series Fellowship presented by Starburns Industries supporting animated comedy writers.
• Big Indie PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig Indie Fellowship supporting independent filmmakers through AFF's film competition program.
• Enderby EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnderby Entertainment Screenwriting Award and Filmmaking Fellowship partnership providing development opportunities for competition winners.
• Writers Guild of America, EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership renewed for screenplay and film competitions, with WGA East providing judging for the Drama Feature Category.
• Rooster TeethcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRooster Teeth Fellowship Award partnership supporting emerging talent in the AFF competition program.
• Warner Bros. TVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarner Bros. TV Pilot Award partnership for AFF's teleplay competition supporting television writers.
• Universal Cable ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual pitch competition sponsor supporting AFF's television writing programs.
• HumanitasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to discover original voices in screenwriting through the AFF competition program.
• Scholastic EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholastic Entertainment Fellowship supporting family-friendly content creators through AFF.
• Hiscox InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm competition sponsorship with Hiscox Insurance Audience and Courage Awards, including Hiscox Filmmaker Blog featuring competition entries.
• KLRU (PBS Austin)Channel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic television partnership for On Story TV series distribution, including season premieres and original programming.
• Galaxy TheatreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYear-round screening series partnership for Austin-based film screenings and events.
• Capital OneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast sponsorship of the Capital One Bank Audience Award for film competition winners.
• EsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast sponsorship of Esurance Audience Award Series for film competition.
• Ghetto Film SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGhetto Film School Fellowship Award partnership supporting emerging filmmakers from underrepresented communities.
• RealmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRealm Podcast Fellowship supporting fiction podcast writers through AFF competitions.
• Vertigo EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDark Matters / Horror Awards presented by Vertigo Entertainment supporting horror genre filmmakers.
• Aduro Studios & Film TexasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAduro Studios & Film Texas Short Filmmaker Award supporting local Texas filmmakers.
• ParamountminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Paramount for Summer Classic Film Series featuring Austin Film Festival programming.
• Vox LuxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOpening night film partnership with Vox Lux for festival programming.
• LIT EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIT Entertainment Guarantees Signing partnership supporting competition winners with industry placement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sundance Film Festival: The largest US independent film festival. Directly comparable to AFF as a major annual film festival with screenplay competitions, filmmaker development programs, year-round programming, and industry networking.
• SXSW Film & TV Festival: Major Austin-based multi-format festival including a substantial film and TV component. Directly competes with AFF for Austin audience, sponsorships, and Texas-based industry mindshare.
• Tribeca Film Festival: Major US film festival founded in the early 2000s with screenplay competitions, immersive storytelling programming, and industry networking — closely comparable to AFF's writer-first positioning.
• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): One of the largest and most prestigious film festivals globally, featuring narrative and documentary premieres, industry programs, and year-round initiatives — comparable in scope and industry significance to AFF's annual event.
• Telluride Film Festival: Prestigious annual film festival featuring narrative, documentary, and retrospective programming for industry professionals. Comparable to AFF's positioning around prestige screenings and industry networking.
• Slamdance Film Festival: Independently run film festival that runs parallel to Sundance, focused on independent and emerging filmmakers. Comparable to AFF as a festival with screenplay competitions and emerging-talent focus.
• Newport Beach Film Festival: Mid-sized annual film festival featuring narrative, documentary, and short film programming with industry networking. Comparable in scale and programming mix to AFF's annual festival.
• Academy Nicholl Fellowships: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' premier screenplay competition awarding fellowships to emerging screenwriters. The most directly comparable screenwriting-competition peer to AFF's Script Competitions.
• Script Pipeline: Long-running screenplay and writing competition platform connecting emerging writers with industry representatives. Directly competes with AFF's Script Competitions for screenwriting submissions and career-launch outcomes.
• Final Draft Big Break Contest: Major industry-sponsored screenplay competition featuring high-profile judging panels and direct studio exposure for winners. Comparable to AFF's Script Competitions in scale, industry visibility, and writer-discovery function.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AustinFilmFestival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/austin-film-festival
• Xx.com/austinfilmfest
• Facebookfacebook.com/AustinFilmFestival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Austin Film Festival